The builders/plumbers arrived at around 9am and began to dig a one metre hole outside our back-door... the latest attempt to find the source of the sewer-stink in our house. Joy.
Esther, our German student-friend woke up to her first day of a four week visit with us. She emailed me months ago asking to come and join in with 24-7 prayer, learn, pray, talk, hang-out with some of the wider family. So I arranged for her to start out with the Stanford Boiler Room community, where she's been for a few weeks, and now she's over with us.
My sister-Ruth was also here for the first 'official' day of her Wild Goose internship with me and 24-7 prayer. After making loads of new friends at 24-7's global conference, Magnify, and feeling like she may have heard God speak to her a bit about some of the path ahead, we marked out yesterday to do a bit of teaching/scene-setting and a simple exercise based around the question, 'who am i?' Esther joined in as well.
We paused for lunch when Mike arrived. He's from Colchester originally, and part of 24-7's Colchester Boiler Room community, but has been in North Africa for the last two years. We munched on sandwiches and drank tea as he told us stories about the wonders and the challenges of the world in which he lives. As we asked questions and listened to his honest answers, we sensed the Holy Spirit's presence. It wasn't difficult to stop and pray for Mike, and to speak words of life into his heart and soul and plans for the future.
A bit later, Mike got chatting with the builders/plumbers, who by now had dug their enormous hole, fed cameras and all-kinds down it, and were still trying to solve the mystery (they did, by the way). They were from Colchester too, it turned out. And one of them had a holiday home where Mike is now based. Coincidence? An interesting conversation unfolded...
Meanwhile, my sister-Ruth was inside, telling Emma how she'd found the 'who am i?' exercise quite emotional... but that this was probably the Holy Spirit at work. Standing out in the hallway, they prayed together. A very good way to embark on a learning year... raw and open and welcoming God to get to work in every area. :)
In another room, Megan and her cousin Zak had finished their maths workbooks for the day. I'd been in and out of where they'd been working - both of them are home ed-ing, and I've been helping out with their maths a little bit... (i love maths! Ha ha)
...home education ...prayer and hospitality ...people staying for a few weeks, others dropping in for the day ...intentional learning and discipleship ...Christians and those who aren't ...story-telling ...new connections and friendships ...'God moments' and Holy Spirit speaking/ministering.
And then, after Poppy and Angel arrived back from school, brimming with their own stories and energy (and homework!), we all squeezed around the dinner table... Emma and I, Esther from Germany, Mike from North Africa, Wild Goose sister-Ruth, Megan and Zak, Poppy and Angel. And Megan began to pray... "Thank you Jesus for being with us all today..."
Yes, I prayed to myself, I thank you too.
And then, after dinner, Emma and I were in the kitchen clearing up. She'd obviously been thinking about the flow of the day... "If we get to stay in this community house, i think today has been what i imagine it to be like." I really hope so.
Loving it - sounds like crazy, busy fun :))
Posted by: Misty | Wednesday, 22 September 2010 at 07:51 PM