Amazing Week

What an Amazing week! God has gone ahead and prepared our time in ways that go beyond what we could have thought or imagined.

Our drive to the Venue of the New Wine Christian conference took us right by the site of 'Stone Henge' - and through some lovely, rolling countryside and villages. We arrived quite late in the day, and most people had already arrived and set up camp - over 11,000 people in tents, caravans and small motor homes!! Absolutely amazed at the organization needed to host so many people plus all the other logistics of running the conference - hundreds of volunteers needed.

Some of the highlights:
*Day 1 - Evening - main speaker sharing on the importance of practicing hospitality to others and spending time with people in homes versus in church buildings. Being warmly welcomed and introduced to my friend's friends of her church family. In awe of the blessings of how quickly and deeply we can connect with people we have never met before, all because we become part of God's family when we discover Jesus.

*Day 2 - Invited to attend international leaders meeting, and receiving prayer. Discovered a book in the 'Market Place' called God on the Road. Amazing - a story about a small group of Christians going on a road journey into parts of Europe 3-4 years ago - with intent and prayer to be able to share God's love and message with others - very similar to the plans we have for being here in Europe.

*Day 3 - Discovered a country lane off the conference site where I could walk and spend time alone with God. Attending seminars. Chatted with a man seated beside me (yesterday) and shared with him our reasons for being here. He gave me a contact of a couple who live and work at an outdoor Christian adventure centre in the Lake District (our next main destination after this conference). AMAZING THING - We 'happened' to sit beside each other at a main session (5000 people) later that day. AND then connected 2-3 more times in other seminars throughout the week! Plan is to make contact and try and visit this contact. Discovered another book called Legs of Lamb - about a young UK man who was led to do a prayer walk backpacking around the UK coast a few years ago - and the stories he shared really connected with the kinds of things I have experienced. Sensing this is a huge confirmation from God for the things that lie ahead for us. We will be walking and hiking and praying in the Lake District for over 1 week. What kind of stories will we be able to share in about 10 days time from now?

*Day 4 - quote from New Wine magazine (New Wine is the ministry running the conference). On Vision - "Someone once said that unless a vision is too big to be achievable by human means, it is not a vision from God". PROFOUND. The vision for backpackers and being a backpacker - a journey now of over 20 years in my own life - it is impossible to organize or achieve by my efforts or even the efforts of hundreds or people, but the vision has become reality, and many of us are now part of it in different parts of the world.

*Day 5 - met a young couple who have plans to do a major 6-9 month overseas backpacker trip soon - and connecting with them, seeing how we can help them in the weeks and months ahead. Came across a short article in a mission magazine that I picked up from the one of the mission booths - about a team being formed to reach out to a specific group of 'backpacker' travelers into different parts of the world.

Other things - just being encouraged in many different ways from hearing different teachings from the Bible, and from the seminars. So many other seminars I would have loved to attend. Overall - sensing this conference has confirmed the plans we already have, and being expectant and ready for the next leg of the journey. We are 'overfilled' and look forward in seeing how God will use us to share with others what He has given us, and what He has planned.

The next update may be in about 10 days from now as we are not sure how accessible the internet may be in the places we will be. It's time to step out in faith, and put into practice and live out our lives as God intends us to. We are trusting in God for exciting things.