The Rushing Mighty Wind - a Flurry of Activity

 Autumn is upon us here in Devon. With the flurry of leaves scurrying around my feet as I do my daily walk into town, truly its a sign of all the activity that is and has happened to us since last month.

The Uni students are back full swing into school and studies. We have had not only new "freshers" come and visit our church, Calvary Chapel Exeter, but also new kids who are going to University of Exeter to get their masters. We have had students from Uganda, China, Singapore, and even San Francisco. It's  been quite exciting welcoming and settling them in to study and fellowship over God's Word. Bob even got to speak at one of the "Christian Union" gatherings on the theme taken out of John on apathy. It was well received by the students. It really was a kick start into a great year. We also started again Solomon's Porch with the students, in which we had great food and a great teaching in James.

 

 

 

Bible study has once again started for the ladies ministry here in Exeter. The ladies love making new friends, and of course I love serving them with hospitality, tea and crumpets. We have begun an 8 week course studying the book of Galatians.

Throughout this flurry of activity, we have also started an outreach of Exeter Calvary Chapel with our Bible study in Plymouth, about 45 minutes away. The Lord has given us a church building just north of Plymouth on the Dartmoor in the village of Wotter. It had not been used for a long time and the quite elderly Christian man who bought it 7 years ago has been praying for God to use it for His glory once again. So Calvary Chapel of Wotter has begun.

 

 

 

 

"Therefore My people shall know My name; Therefore they shall know in that day That I am He who speaks: 'Behold, it is I. How beautiful upon the mountains, Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, Your God reigns!"

Isaiah 52:7

That not only has been our scripture prayer for this village but also the two surrounding villages in the area.It truly is "the little country church on the edge of town." With sheep at our doorstep and the Dartmoor ponies running around,the Lord amazes me with His beauty and sense of humor. Even at night, as we are driving home, you will find all of the sheep bedded down for the night on the road. As they look up with no intentions of moving, we find as we are carefully driving through and around this maze we continually thank  God for His goodness to allow us to experience this unique work in what  He is doing in this place, in the village of Wotter - sheep reaching out to the lost sheep leading them to the great Shepherd of our souls, Jesus! For we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. May you Oh Lord be glorified in all we say and do, and bless the work of our hands.

Isaiah 58:12 "Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In."

Prayer Requests:
*Passing practical driving test November 20th
*Ongoing Discipleship
*New Families in Exeter fellowship
*New Families in Wotter fellowship
*4 Bedroom Ministry House for incoming assistants, teachers,  

     students and teams in Exeter
*Thanksgiving Outreach

 

 

 

 

As I sit down to write, I can't help but reflect back on this past "summer of service" at the Claycamp's household. It was such a blessing to be able to bless others as they passed through our doors. Truly it was a summer of service as well as a time of preparation... preparing us now for another new season in our lives that is about to begin. 

Throughout the city of Exeter, this summer was certainly a time of reconstruction, preparing for the season when the students would be arriving back for school. As I would walk in and throughout the town, I couldn't help but notice endless scaffolding projects going on at the student's  housing.  Projects  of rebuilding, and planting of new things. Of course there would be a covering you walk under, but overtop you can hear the hammers and chisels breaking down walls, windows and all those bits and pieces of unworthiness, to only be replaced with new bits and pieces. The Lord reminded me how He continually works in our hearts desiring to replace the old rubbish with His new life and character. Although at times it hurts as He chisels away, that tender and sweet fruit of righteousness and His character breaks through. I am  always reminded of that scripture found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:  "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
 

God has given us several opportunities this summer to proclaim His goodness. Creation Fest was a week long event of biblical teachings and concerts, centered toward the youth. We worked in the children's ministry tent, having a full week of VBS teachings, along with kitchen duty, as well as Bob teaching 2 of the 6 nights out of the book of Ephesians. Many people came to salvation as the gospel was preached, and many hearts were stirred up in the faith. Creation Fest this year truly was such a blessing.

Then off to Austria and Italy where we had opportunities to teach and share with the Calvary Chapel Churches serving in those  areas. We saw a great appreciation for God's Word and many people came forward for prayer and encouragement. Overall, we were so blessed by their love for Christ.  Even though sometimes we could not speak the same language, our spirits were truly knit together. What a blessed time!

 

 

Upon returning to England, I found the apple tree in my back yard (back garden, as they say here) bursting with wonderful tasting apples. Psalm 118:23 "This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful to see. "! And really I had not done anything, but to behold and partake of the fruit it brought forth. So I have been picking this amazing abundant  harvest each and every day, delighting in those special smells of apple pies, apple sauce and even apple butter which I introduced to the British. God has even opened doors for me to share my special apple harvest along with His Love with my neighbors. It has become a "fruitful ministry" indeed within my neighborhood as I share. He continually reminds me of that scripture found in Galatians  6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." As I have been praying for ways to reach my neighbors, as simple as it might be, my apple tree has been an answer to my prayers.

 

Autumn is shortly around the corner. The morning air is crisp now and the leaves will soon be turning. The Lord has given Bob and I a couple of days rest in Cornwall before the Uni students start arriving for another school year. Our church has an opportunity to reach out to the "freshers" in the next few weeks to welcome them to Calvary Chapel Exeter during "freshers week". We are praying this will be a great and fruitful time as we extend the love of Jesus to their hearts.

 

 

Thank you again for all your prayers and support. God truly has been good as I reflect back over the past 6 months of being here in England. Looking forward to the next season of serving our church, our community, the land that God has set before us. May He fill all our hearts with gratefulness in all He has called us to do for "faithful is He that calls you who will also do it." In that I humbly serve with joy each and everyday.

Prayer Requests:

New location of the church near the University

Ongoing discipleship

Safety in driving and to learn quickly with confidence

Women's bible studies

Evangelism

Future ministry training school

Plymouth outreach -  new location and growth

Freshers and new students coming to University as well as the students returning, getting plugged into fellowship