Our GetwellRoad team returned to the land of John Wesley Friday morning after a quick flight “across the pond”.  We were greeted by our friends of North Yorkshire in the town of Guisborough with a lunch at the Methodist church on High Street.  After resting the afternoon and getting adjusted to the six hour time difference, we were hosted to a BBQ at the home of Richard and Juanita Osborne.  Several of the families we have gotten to know over the years were there, and well as some of our teen British friends.

The next day on Saturday our hosts drove us to The Lake District for a day of hiking and planning for the week.  Spectacular scenery caught your eye in every direction.  The landscape is wild and untamed with the exception of the various villages located around the many lakes.  The landscape varies from rocky to grassy with occasional wild flowers dotting the scene, and narrow dirt paths winding through the hills and fells.  

As I was walking I was reminded of Christ’s words in Matthew 13, and our purpose here in England. 

“And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭3-9‬ ESV)

We have come here as sowers of The Word.  Over the four years we have returned, we have begun to see the results.  Some seeds have not taken root, while some have been scorched and withered.  Some have been choked out by the weeds.  But some have taken root and we are beginning to see growth.  Not massive growth but a “budding”, and that’s a start.  We saw some of that growth on Sunday during our times of serving at Guisborough Methodist Church and Guisborough Christian Fellowship.  

We split into two groups and attended both services with our team leading the kids in their version of a Sunday School.  After lunch our whole team led the young children in “Messy Church” with skits, videos, games, crafts and tea.  

  
We ended the day by leading the youth group at the Methodist church.  Hunter Books gave the message and facilitated the discussion.  I have to say it was one of the most meaningful times we have had with many questions being asked and answered by the team.  

Questions and discussions followed long after youth ended.  Some questions asked were the following:

Is God real?  How do we know we will go to Heaven?  What is faith?  Why can’t I go to Heaven if I simply do good? Is there a real Hell?  Why would God send people there?  Are demons real?  What makes you not be scared of dying?

Tough questions.  Seeds planted. Buds growing. God provides the growth. Continued prayers from our Getwell family back home requested!  Stay tuned.  More to come….

Peace