Soul Touch

New Blog

This is the moment we´ve all been waiting for. Soul Touch finally has a blog we can upload photos onto.

http://soultouch.blogspot.com

It has only taken us nine months to work it out but better late than never. We have another five months of work to do! Love you all and hope you enjoy following our journey as much as we love living it.

Erica and Lorna x

Bolivia

Thursday, March 13, 2008
Bolivia is Baltic
Just to let everyone know we´ve arrived in Bolivia safe and sound! Arriving in La Paz in the wee small hours of Monday morning the Soul Touchers huddled together for body heat. Our first port of call was a clothes shop…to buy warm jackets. Despite reports of political unrest we still managed to buy them for about $10 each so we´re on budget! Later we met the team in Oruro, where we will be working with our WWW partners who minister in the local University, Prison, Christain Union and drug rehabilitation centre. Our stop in Oruro was short but sweet. We enjoyed meeting the team over some pizza then after a short bus journey (only about 9 hours) we arrived in Sucre, where we will be staying for the next four weeks studying Spanish and getting involved with the activities of the CU here. Sucre is beautiful but baltic; it´s a home from home! We´ll be in touch! Erica and Lorna xxx

Posted by Soul Touch at 12:21 AM
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Leaving Brazil but staying connected

“You have to plan this strategically!” A precious pearl of advice given to us recently by our friend and in many ways mentor Pedro Bousoño. Despite what you may be thinking Pedro wasn’t talking about out trip nor planning our route from his home in Sao Paulo to our next destination, Bolivia, or even how we were getting to the airport. Pedro was simply referring to the buffet we were about to devour before we set off. Admittedly Strategic Planning is not a concept that either Lorna or I relish however, despite what many of you may think, it is something we do…from time to time.

OK so there is evidence to the contrary: a small matter of deportation (out of India) and an unfortunate incident with bleach have been the consequence of lack of planning and “strategic-mess” on our part. We acknowledge our weaknesses and recognise his strength (Thank you God) in those times. But lets (please give us the benefit of the doubt) consider the fourteen countries we have been to in the past nine months and the other seven we are in pursuit of in the days and months ahead. The reason I juxtapose our rather blonde moments with the latter is not so you acknowledge what we have done but so you might appreciate what he has accomplished despite of what we have not.

“Pedro is amazing! Pedro and Analiá are a wonderful couple. You will love Pedro and Analià, they are so committed to the church.” (I´m assuming we´re all on global by now.) These were just some of the comments made by their friends (and fans) at San Andrés, Argentina. Comments that in truth excited us to meet the legendary couple (I previously described them as “ordinary”; I’ve since learned they are ordinary legends!) but that also slightly intimidated us at the thought of sharing our vision with them, given their knowledge and experience in youth ministry.

Of course as we shared with them, exchanging stories of their involvement with youth, not only in Argentina but Brazil and Spain too; listening to their personal testimonies and answers to an interrogation into how they met, how many siblings they each have and how many children they are planning on having – never let it be said that the Soul Touchers are too personal – we discovered they were anything but intimidating. Rather they were hugely welcoming, wise and as everybody said completely and wonderfully committed to the Kingdom. And so in the space of a week these two ordinary legends connected us with people- thus making them legendary.

Hardly a prolific task you may think but one that is imperative in bettering our church and ushering in the Kingdom:

Connection (relationships and partnerships) is not union. Connection is better. Connection keeps differences and appreciates their value. Connection does not shrink distances but uses distance to counterbalance parochialism (parochial attitudes). Connection seeks complementary partnerships and long term support… Connection is the way to completion. What we gain from others will increase what we have. What we give to others will elevate who we are. What we do with other will increase our impact. But how we connect with others will complete us.
(Church Distributed, Dr Joel C. Hunter, 2007)
Not an entirely new way of thinking: appreciating difference, maintaining cultural sensitivity and recognising the necessity of each connector’s contribution in order to make the whole complete is what Paul taught. (1 Cor 12- The body) However, what Hunter seeks to remind us of in his book (thank you a million times Annette!) is not only the value of relationships but the necessity for them:

We are not just individual inventors of solutions anymore; the unpredictable benefit of our service together is the most important part of the solution to any world problem. It doesn’t just solve the problem; it prevents many new ones from arising because we have become interdependent.”
(Church Distributed, Dr Joel C. Hunter, 2007)
For those of you have been following our blog you may remember that a few weeks ago I quoted someone saying to me that I would never change the world. Isn’t it more exciting then to realise that I was never intended to but that we were.

For many the word “interdependence” or dependency of any sort is a frightening thought. This fear is not given from God. God gives us a spirit of confidence to depend on him (Prov 3:5) and of “timidity, power, of love and self discipline.” (2 Tim 1:7). Pride is something that is taught by the world, humility is something that is demanded of us by God: (James 4:6-10 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”… “Humble yourselves before God and he will lift you up.” Mathew 18: 4 “Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven”) As parts of the body we must humbly accept support from the other parts whilst recognising our responsibility to partner them in their need.

Before I set off on this trip I read: “It is not the healthy that need a doctor but the sick. But go and learn what this means.” (Math 9: 12) I never imagined that in going I would discover it was referring to me; to us: parts of the body who have become wounded by years of tradition, conflict caused by denominational rivalry and bigotry. I’m painting a somewhat bleak picture I know- I intend to focus on the health we have within our church (Scotland and Europe) in due course. It is simply that this week and indeed in Argentina we have learned a great deal about the importance of humility in order to strengthen one another and to be able to depend on one another, as God intended us to.

We are so blessed that we come from a church (Scotland) that not only recognises the need to partner but also seeks opportunity to do so. We want you to know that your obedience to the call for connection and your excitement for partnership is shared by many and seen by God:

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. Our desire is not that others may be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much and he who gathered little did not have too little.”

Slowly but surely Lorna and I are learning, gaining a global perspective for what this means for the church (world wide). In each of the places we have visited there have been needs as well as identifiable areas we can see clearly where we can contribute, physically, financially and spiritually. We have also been blessed to see the abundant ways in which we can, and are, gaining spiritually. Last week we visited a small church in the centre of one of the many favelas (slums), which wash the banks of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Having walked the short distance (a hop skip and a jump) from Igreja Baptista Morumbi Church (a larger more affluent church where later we would be speak to one of the pastors and mission co-ordinates, Marcos Amado- an amazing man!) we were asked to share something with the small congregation. Trying to remain un-phased by the intense heat (despite having almost 2000 more congregants Igreja Baptista Morumbi Church is surprisingly cooler than the humble favela church.

Both however as equally as welcoming and connected in ways to numerous to recount!) and a woman who was noticeably very ill being prayed for in the corner, we talked. As we were talking, sharing a small presentation about our trip and leaving them with the message that we are all part of the same family (Eph 1:5) I got the stark impression that the twenty young (almost all of the congregation were under 25) people infront of me did not fully understand what I was saying. Reciting Corinthians 12 whilst flinging my arms and legs about, desperately trying to convey how important they really are to the kingdom and to us (the church worldwide) I could not help but think that they saw things slightly differently from me. Me, someone who comes from a house with a bathroom and one that is not shared with neighbours or the extended community. Someone who eats well (evidently) and has been educated (unfortunately not always as evident). Little did they know that the cry form my heart was that they would know their significance and that they would see how much God needs them.

And so I left slightly dissatisfied until I was reminded that God sees them. He sees their efforts and he knows their needs. What´s more he is planning the connections, not us. I was not at all surprised then some thirty minutes later (you do not want to know the details of the missing 30 minutes but rest assured it involved action songs!) to be sitting in a room with Marcos discussing the way Igreja Baptista Morumbi Church co-ordinates their missions programme, preparing (in every way possible this thing is like NASA!) missionaries before they are sent out onto the battlefield, sorry I mean mission-field. The programme definitely involved strategic planning. Needless to say Pedro and Marcos are friends.

The meeting made us thankful for so many things: the fact that there are people who actually enjoy planning and being strategic; to see there are people being prepared as we speak (well, as you read) to go out and meet some of the many needs we have seen and described over the past nine months (one of the things that can be quite daunting on this trip is the amount of work that needs to be done). We shared with Marcos how much we’d enjoyed meeting the youth group there, either through kind invitations to share at small house groups or because of the presentation we were able to give at their youth meeting on Saturday night (gatecrashing Saturday night youth meetings is becoming a habit the Soul Touchers love!). Our meetings with these young people, both in Brazil and at San Andrés in Argentina, has given us a glimpse of the many workers are getting ready for the harvest. At one of the small groups in Brazil the young people (16-28yrs so we’re officially youth!) shared their thoughts on the message about Faith and Deeds in James. ( James 2: 14- 26). (A bit more than a coincidence don’t you think, that they chose this particular passage on the day two random Scottish girls stopped in to share with them the needs we’ve witnessed over the past nine months.)

They, like the youth in Argentina and those we were blessed to meet in Australia and New Zealand surprisingly share the same compassion. Despite being oceans apart it would seem that God is stirring something in the hearts of all nations: a responsibility to respond. To rise up and to be the salt and light he requires us to be.

What excited us more than the missions programme and even the amazing response form the young people however were the names of friends that cropped up as we shared about our trip and the work of their church. People they know that we knew. Organisations involved that we two are connected with. Congregations from the other side of the world that we have met that they two have relationships with. We even joked that were we to draw a family tree with the churches being connected at this time no book or computer programme could contains it. And so although we have learned that strategic planning is essential, in some instances, to develop the standard of excellency required of us by God and expected of us by the world, there are some things we just cannot plan but despite our efforts, big or small, they will surely come to pass:

Look at the nations and watch- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.
Habakkuk 1:5
We are truly amazed and blessed to see what we have seen and we want you to know how grateful we are that you (as parts of the church) are connecting with us.

Together we are Better
Love in abundance Erica x

Posted by Soul Touch at 11:17 PM
Thursday, March 6, 2008

Igreja Baptista Tastic

It’s 12.35pm, and I just woke up 30 mins ago. Erica has tied on her sprinting shoes for a bit of ´Soul Touch Body Workout’(full details on the workout DVD will be coming to you soon) but I have barely made it to the next room. Oi, suck back in the ¨LAZY!¨ you were just about to shout out and let me explain the reason why last night has made me turn today into a ‘duvet day’ and almost turned out to be another Hoddit and Doddit fiasco.

Are you sitting comfortably? Good, lets begin.

Yesterday started out well. It really did. Analiá, Pilar (Analiá’s cutest baba!) Erica and I made it to ­­­Igreja Baptista Morumbi Church and we were welcomed by our gorgeous translator of the day, Christina (nicknamed ‘Chrish’ ) who has the ringliest ringlets you have ever seen, no hair tongs needed, her hair is a natural masterpiece.
Ballet classes for kids from the local community was first on the agenda and we found ourselves in a room with 10 of the sweetest marshmallow dancing girls in town. Tempted to join in for a first time experience of ballet I held back in fear of the other girls showing me up. And the fact that their tutu might only fit around my ankle.

After an hour, of Swan Lake with 5 year olds, Erica and I pirouetted our way into a fine luncheon some other children were having, causing our usual chaos. We had a question and answer time for the children to see who these strange looking girls were. I would just like to say now a big ‘sorry’ for devastating a wee boy when admitting neither of us knew how to play the bagpipes. We rocked the little lunchtime club with the Flintstone´s rendition of ¨God´s love is the best love¨ and left the little bairn´s in peace.

In the afternoon we visted the ´Favela´s’ also known as the ‘Slums’. We were kindly invited to two families homes where we heard stories of how life is there; how children as young as eleven were used to smuggle drugs and how they fear for their children´s future.

As we manipulated our way around thousands of houses, constructed using carboard and steel, each boxed up one upon the other we filmed 21st century children writing on chalk and slate. What made the reality of what we were seeing much worse was that the children living there weren´t oblivious to what other people have; they live side by side with their neighbours. Sao Paulo is a city where the dividing line between luxury and poverty is literally made of the cardboard wall from the
side of the favela.

Making our way back home we were invited out by two stunnin’ chicas of Igreja for a very Sao Pauloinein night to the….Steak House! Yeah! We dug into a fine dish of ribs and fries, with our diet coke refill glasses in hand we chatted and exchanged thoughts on youth movements within our churches. We told stories of different missions that we all had been on and shared visions and desires that God had placed in our hearts. The night ended with a brownie ice creamy dessert thing, two kisses on the cheek and a farewell until Sunday!

Physically and emotionally exhausted by an amazing, yet challenging day Erica and I were ready for bed! I was all up for aeroplanin’ straight onto the mattress however there was a wee delay. Making it up to the 8th floor, Erica placed the key into the door and turned twice…the door wouldn`t open. After several attempts of doing exactly the same action I took over expecting to enter effortlessly. But nope the key was definately not opening the door! Not wanting to wake up Analiá or little baby Pilar, we went down to the security guards and asked if they could help us. So all of us ended up outside Analiá’s door. The security guard, equipped with tool kit managed to totally break the handle off the already distressed door, failing still to open it. Analiá had fallen into a deep sleep after an exhausting day with not only beautiful Pilár but the Soul Touchers too and so managed to sleep through phone calls to the house and persistent ringing of the flat bell! So in great Soul Touch style, Erica and I laughed at the fact that we were going to have to sleep in the lobby that night.

Hold on…..there is a happy ending! Analiá (finally) woke up and we were ecstatic to see her ready to take us to our comfy bed!

Oh yes… so you see, my ‘duvet day’ is well deserved.

It’s going to be another busy day tomorrow, so my duvet and I are going back to bed….Buenos noches!

Disco Ball Vision

¨God has a disco ball vision of the world!¨ A hilariously quirky and realistically profound statement made by Anette (Gulick) as we sat sharing té, eating torta and exchanging stories at she and Tim´s, her husbands, apartment on our last night in Argentina.

This disco ball image has spun (couldn’t´t resist!) in my head all day today; as we said our final Adios to friends in Argentina; as we flew to Brazil and now more than ever, while having dinner with Pedro and Analia in Sao Paulo. Pedro shares some of his insight and passion for youth ministry here in Sao Paulo. Although we will never be able to encompass God´s multifaceted, holistic view of the world I believe that more and more he is enabling us and connecting us so that we can at least share in a fraction of the revolution that is taking place - in truth I think that its just as well as it´s about as much as we (or at least I) can handle at anyone time.

As he talks, sharing about his involvement in youth ministry and leadership training ( I say this in the broad sense of the definition in that any ministry that involves nurturing the faith of young people is a form of leadership training, as they are the leaders of tomorrow.) his words project a little light onto this disco ball image in my head, illuminating another tiny glass square in the globe shaped Mosaic.

He is sharing about his experiences in Argentina - where he and his family ( he has the most beautiful wife and baby daughter Pilar who, at 8 months old, is the only noise to interject her daddies captivating narrative, demanding his and everybody else´s attention) have come from. Her baby talk does not detract from the intensity of the story - if anything it is a innocent reminder of how real this revolution is. You see Pedro and Analía are ordinary (not in the mundane boring sense of the world - far from it, they are young, stunning and overly generous) but rather I mean they are a young couple who work hard and have a young family. However, the generosity Analiá showed us when Soul Touch landed on her door step and now hearing of their commitment to the youth and to the church (worldwide) shows how God is using them extraordinarily.

Pedro´s story skips from country to country almost as much as Soul Touch does. He describes youth, youth pastors and youth initiatives: materials used and the people involved in sharing the gospel with young people in Europe and South America. Although geographically the area he talks about is huge they become surprisingly small as he effortlessly describes how they are all connected through people within the church (stay global!).

As we chat we share stories of friends we share in Argentina and he concludes, putting Pilar to bed, ¨You´ve been given a gift from God¨. He´s referring to our journey around the world; the opportunity and privilege we have to see God at work throughout the nations. He is exactly right. W e´ve been given a gift - something we never ever want to take for granted; something we can enjoy. But as he says it I´m reminded of how freely I received this gift (¨Freely you have received, freely give.¨ Mathew 10:8) and as a consequence of this statement I´m challenged: what can I give?

Because of this gift Lorna and I have had the opportunity to see more of the squares on the disco ball than most. I´m assuming you grasped the image by now. A disco ball is made up of thousands - maybe hundreds depending on the size of the party - of little glass squares, like a Mosaic. When the disco lights shine they reflect off the glass and it is so bright everyone at the party sees it.

Now imagine the disco ball is the world. God has a holistic view of it. When he shines (pours favour upon) on a person or a church community we reflect his glory for people to see. Until now only the people near that particular light have seen it (¨Let your light shine before men, that they may see of your good works and praise your father in heaven.¨ Mathew 5:6). We believe now is the time that God has chosen for the nations to share in the good works and whats more we have the means to do it; the Internet and travel have never been so accessible.

Secondly, the disco ball is made up of tiny squares that reflect the light - it isn´t a giant piece of glass. Similarly the church its fragmented into little bits. However, like any Mosaic - each piece fits together - they are joined and without one the picture is incomplete. On a disco ball if the light shines and the glass square is missing nothing reflects back, only darkness glares.
Similarly with the church - each part is connected regardless of denomination, language spoken or even distance between them. If one part is missing God cannot reflect off of us and so no light is seen.

Just as Paul describes (1 Cor 12) the church is a body made of many parts. If one part is not working properly the whole body is effected (1Cor 12:12-31). I assume he used this analogy simply because disco balls had not been invented. Paul stresses the point that: ¨the eye cannot say to the hand, Ï don´t need you!¨(verse 21) In fact he goes as far as to illustrate the importance of each member and how God intentionally ¨combined¨ them to be of equal importance despite their different purposes (v 27-31). In short they rely on each other; they need each other.

Just like the girl who created the disco ball ( I imagine it was a she and a total diva!) made it so that the whole room would be lit up and the dance floor would be a blaze of reflecting lights for all of the people to enjoy the party together! So God intended us (the church) to be connected - though fragmented physically because of oceans, mountains and even Sunday morning traffic - spiritually we must get together (1Cor 1:2) in order that his power is reflected (1Cor 2:4)

Each place we visit we see God reflecting off little pieces of the church. More exciting than the light however is seeing the way in which these little lights are all connected. And so my hearts prayer is for two things:
Firstly that we´d always work together to support the parts not yet shinning, supporting with a spirit of gentleness and valuing one an-others participation in seeing this thing ( the bride, the temple) completed.
And secondly that we- Lorna and I- would be able to share this gift with you as freely as we have received it.

Lastly we must thank all of those at San Andrés and now here in Sau Paulo for allowing us to physically see how you are shinning so brightly for God. We´re connected to you, which means we need you in moments our lights begin to fade but also because God sometimes just needs you to know how awesomely you´re reflecting his good works!

Love in abundance Erica

San Andres

Sitting in the quiet waiting area, comfortably admiring the tattered spines of old books, arranged artistically on a bookshelf above the open fire (unlit), Lorna and I admire a painting hung neatly on a crisp white wall. Within the delicate frame, two tartan shawls lie deliberately folded upon large brown leather cases marked ¨Scottish settlers´. Beside which a couple of pairs of old walking boots stand at ease although the creases across the toes suggest they have travelled far.

As we scan the painting more closely guided by Tito - a youth pastor (one of the many volunteers committed to ministering to the group of youth here which easily swells 100 young people between the ages of 15-26) our attention is brought to two ponchos hanging above, two beautifully depicted books. One is labelled Holy Bible and the other Santa Biblica. What this painting conveys and what Tito so articulately explains is the collaboration of two cultures, united becoming one church.

Here is San Andres Iglesia - St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Argentina. A Church where we have had the privilege of worshipping and sharing fellowship over the past week or so. Situated in Olivos, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes outside the centre of Buenos Aires where we are staying (or one under-ground, one train and a short walk if your travelling Soul Touch style). Founded by Scottish settlers San Andres is now occupied by a community of Argentines, many of whom have Scottish (or English) descent.

Now I daren´t go into the history of either culture or how the church has become what it is - a group of people who boast Gods goodness; a place of worship and sound teaching where family´and community merge into one. I daren´t, mainly because I fear insulting Tito and the others who have taken time to explain in detail the rich ancestry of San Andres and, at times, the tradition¨ ¨surrounding it. However I will say that the collaboration of those two cultures, Argentine and Scottish as so beautifully detailed by the artist whose painting we enjoyed, this church is homely yet completely foreign.

Homely, not only in the sense that the St Andrews cross is to be found upon the door but homely because of the welcome we have received. Unlike the wonderful dancers we´ve been entertained by on arrival to India or the floods of children we´ve embraced on arrival in Uganda San Andres is home because it´s a lot more like our church: Forward thinking yet sensitive to tradition. Changing and meeting the needs of their community yet uncompromising in their roots which are of course the gospel the the tartan clan by whom it was brought. Some may argue that the roots are Scottish and as a Scot I´d love to take credit for that however as a Christian I recognise that they were simply the vessel through which God chose to carry the word.

Lorna and I have joked however that unlike the Scots the gospel never made its way back home again. Maybe the holy spirit was left over here and we need to retrieve it.
Of course this was said in jest. We know many of you are ¨holding the fort over there¨and running the race with extreme determination. However we also know that within the church at home there is a longing. A longing to see an awakening. To see some umph put back into things. That doesn´t necessary mean a change of tradition. It doesn´t even mean a lot of loud noise or the introduction of raising hands. Nor does it mean we need to change the building or times of service. It requires something much more frightening that stripping out pews. The change that has to occur in order to see “umph” or revival is within our hearts.

On entering San Andres, which by the way has moved from the original church building to the school hall (also founded by Scots and is called San Andres school) to accommodate the growing congregation, there is a sign which reads, Gracias por traer a la Iglesia a este lugar.¨ Translated this means: thank you for bringing the church into this place. Interestingly for a church who recognises and embraces its roots they are not so concentrated on protecting them that they fail to allow freedom for the branches to grow. And the exciting part for us to see is that the branches of this church bear fruit. So where do the branches reach to?

Into the community. A tree is not designed to grow into itself. Nor is it necessary to water the roots over and over again - you´ll only drown it. Structures have been set up here that enable the church to partner the school and university with which it was originally associated. I see something of a pattern emerging of what they are doing and what we are doing. We are not reinventing the wheel, nor are we laying new foundations. That´s all been done before. (1 Cor 3: 11) We´re simply reconnecting. Trying to unite the people. Recognising that together we are really better.

Another reason I describe here as “homely” is because I recognise a lot of the same needs. Unlike the other places we´ve been the needs are not immediately obvious (I´m talking about this particular area not Argentina as a whole). Educated, articulate and immaculately dressed, the distractions for the the people here appear similar to those we see at home. For most God is unnecessary as money, family and the world satisfy their needs. This scene is familiar and for us a whole new challenge. Reaching out to people who apparently have no need for God.

Here at San Andres they neither estrange themselves from the world or become öf¨it. Reaching out to some of the most intelligent and privileged children in the country the ministry of San Andres concentrates on meeting these people where they are. They go into the schools and into the universities offering support for initiatives set up, or run if you like, by the educational establishments. They draw alongside, offering support and in doing so have experienced powerful opportunities to share the gospel through friendships. We´ve seen that ministering to these communities requires a level of excellency and professionalism although focus on personal relationship is never compromised. Despite polished floor boards, many meetings and incredibly high standards not one person has failed to welcome us with a kiss. Literally! everyone here kisses you on arrival and adios! So apart from the kisses it´s a lot like home.

Having said all of this for Lorna and I this week has been a real struggle. I think mainly because we fail to see what we can give them. Physically and financially they don´t appear to need our support - spiritually they are wealthy too. And so amidst a lot of prayers, tears, phone calls home and confusion we continue to trust God that we were meant to be here.

We have learned so much. We´ve exchanged ideas with the church and testimonies with some of the young people. We´ve attended worship rehearsals for both the youth band and Sunday worship team and even a leaders meeting , conducted entirely in Spanish. Hence the reason I called this church foreign! We love Spanish and will endeavour to learn. Mainly because we know that the contact (friendship) we have made here goes deeper than the roots of our ancestors or any tradition depicted in a picture. The unity of nations is written in the word: All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble! Isaiah 43: 9

Even more exciting than arriving in Argentina is the news that the Church in Scotland is having a party. OK so their not called it that. I think it´s a ¨conference¨ and that some of our friends from San Andres will be joining you all there. It´s gonna be huge! We know that the conference will be a place for people to share ideas, vision and enjoy being with other believers. We hope that our friends from Argentina will feel at home there not because of tradition or history but because of our shared vision for the future.

The best is yet to come!
Love and blessings in abundance
Erica x

Hakka Birthday!

“And I would walk 500 miles, and i would walk 500 more, just to be the man that walked a 1000 miles to fall down at your door! Dannanannananana!’

Ever done “Strip the Willow” in the middle of New Zealand? To the Proclaimers? In the middle of really nice restaurant? Well welcome to my birthday celebrations of last night! I would like to thank Erica’s family so much for givin me the best Kiwi birthday, your Scottish dancing is better than my Hakka! Oh my, the Hakka, have you ever seen it??!

Erica and I went to visit a Mauri Village two days ago, part of the visit was a nice welcoming show that the Mauri’s put on. Nice dancing, even nicer singing, but one of the main Mauri traditions is a dance called the ‘Hakka’. Some of you may have seen the All Blacks rugby team do it before matches to scare the opposition? Yup thats right, the dudes stick their tounges out and pop their eyes out in an act of defiance and intimidation to enemies. They slap their bodies to get the blood flowing and stomp to show their fiercness. Well….me and Erica were in the front row of the wonderful performance. At one point i forgot i was in the show and believed that my wimpy face and Erica’s paparazzi moment had stirred up the warrior action back into these guys, i thought that we had really upset them! Erica was gripping onto me and so excited with sticking her tounge out when the Mauri guys were doing it, i was gripping back onto Erica trying to roll her tounge back into her mouth in fear that we were disrespecting the Mauri’s! It was such a great show and at the end, these marvelous people invited us to take a photo with them, its a good one, and if we had figured out how to put photos on this blog them im sure that you would like it.

I love Erica’s blogs, don’t you? I know, for me, the inspiration and the challanges that come from her posts just make me so hyped about what God can build into my life and where he can take me on my journey! I would like to share with you how God is using past stages of my journey, stages that i never thought would be part of my future and is bringing good out of situations that i just wanted to forget about. You’re on the footpath God has put you on too and i pray through my experience you will find encouragement and comfort knowing that God uses your struggles to be your strength.

I’m going to take you back to summer of 2006. That particular summer i was looking for something different to do. At that point of my life i guess you could call me a ‘jelly Christian’. I call it ‘jelly Christian’ because i was a wobbler, there wasn’t much too my christian life, i would mould to any situation that i was put in and i would melt when the times got too hot.

I decided that i had enough of working in the bank, and was going to bite the bullet and go into the youth working industry that i had always desired to be in ( it is only now that i know that it was God that was pounding that desire to be in my heart!) So in great adventure style i signed up to do Camp America! Camp Wabenaki, New York, was the camp that they placed me in and it was a camp for disadvantaged youth.

Being a Scottish lass fresh out of her small town ways was big enough shock to the system when i arrived in New York but once i was placed on the camp i also realised that i was the only white girl surrounded by the ‘flyest’ streetwise urban kids in New York. It was awesome. But i struggled. I was a haggis in the middle of all these hot dogs and it just didn’t mix, in any way or form! I didn’t know my R ‘n’ B music, i didn’t know how to play ‘B” Ball or know the street words that was flowing everybody. I had to look after 6 young girls that only answered to screaming attitude and after my first week of camp, i was stressed and i had a stye on my eye! I didn’t know at that point that i could turn to God for help and instead, i tried to turn myself into Opra Wimpfrey. Which made me even more stressed. I was out of my depth, out of every zone imaginable, but i was jelly and moulded to the situation i was in.

So, i got through the 3months at camp, at the end of the time at camp i was the whitest black person you would meet! I had a blast in America but not without much struggle. Through my time there i guess i had developed issues about my personality, my attitude towards life and the way i treated people to gain respect. I had accomplished my desire to work with youth but i had diminished my ability to use the gifts and qualities that God had uniquely given to me, leaving me feeling very weak and lethargic. I doubted if working with youth was my desire and i wasn’t sure if i would work with them again - and definately not in a different country!

Shortly after this trip, i gave my life back to God. Recognising my gifts and qualities that he had given me and realising that i couldn’t try and use someones elses gifts or qualities because it just wasn’t me and during our trip, God has put me in many situation where if i didn’t know who i was in him then i wouldn’t know my identity. He has put me on a trip where i have to work with youth from countries all over the world! And through one of the toughest times of my life, i now find peace and conifidence in my ability to work through similar situations because God has turned my struggle into my strength!

You may be in a situation right now that you are feeling out of your depth in, that is making you feel so run down that you are getting stye on your eye! Or is there is maybe a part of you past that still brings on a cold sweat? You might want to put this part of your life under the ground, make it so weak that it has no power but God wants to bring strength to this part of your life to glorify Him. He makes the problem your power. Let your backbreaker be your backbone!

And for today, me and Erica are getting prepared to go to the Parachute music festival! We have our tent and backpack packed. Our singing voices on, or its more yellin’ than singing at festivals right?! We are so excited! We will be sure to let you know how it all goes shortly……….

Much Love, Lornaxx

Indescribable catch up

“You have a lot of catching up to do!” Many a word spoken in jest. These were the words of my Uncle Jimmy, (well second cousin really) a relative I never knew existed until five minutes before we boarded the plane from Sydney to New Zealand on January 3rd. Jimmy and his beautiful family have become more than just relatives we’ve been reunited with; welcoming us into their home they have been our hosts (we’ve kinda gatecrashed their house as only soul touch can) our family, our grandparents, hairdressing advisers (due to a unfortunate accident I had with a bottle of bleach) and our dear friends. Jimmy was referring to the fact that we hadn’t updated our blog since arriving here in NZ and that although it’s a mere fortnight a lot has happened, starting with discovering his, my, our (Soul Touches) wonderful family! Jimmy’s stories about the grandparents I never met, tales and photos of a young Bob Bonnar (my dad) and facts outlining some of our family history have been amazing to listen to. (I’m more determined than ever to discover some of my ancestry having been mistaken for everything and anything except Scottish throughout our trip including: Spanish, Italian, Israeli, Egyptian, Indian, Sri Lankan and the latest Mauri!)

So catch up we must…
Reluctantly we left Oz, experiencing the familiar upset we feel every time we leave a country, worsened greatly by the fact that we were saying goodbye to Caroline (Lorna’s outrageously gorgeous, spirit filled sister), our other soul sis Emily (Young), Hillsong church and the whole host of amazing friends we made there. Filled with anxiety, excitement and the anticipation of what lay ahead in New Zealand we mumbled our way through the airport completely delirious from sleep deprivation. Before you begin to sympathise let me briefly explain why exactly the Soul Touchers became “zombified” over New Year. Hogman-nanny (day) was spent camped out at Sydney Harbour with a picnic under glorious sunshine surrounded by our friends. In the evening we, along with the other thousands of people there, enjoyed watching the indescribable array of fireworks (yes both showings!) blasted over the Opera House and Harbour bridge signifying the New Year. We then sped off to palm beach (will spare you the details of the crazy Mexican Driving aka our new,dear, unintentionally hilariously funny friend David. I don’t remember writing ‘near death experience’ on the itinerary for the new year celebrations but never the less we did it, enjoyed it and survived it so “‘Thank God for Jesus!”) David’s driving did however have it’s benefits; we caught the sunrise on Palm Beach and even some waves before heading up to The Blue Mountains with Lisa and Mel, Samuel and Nina (some of the stunning girlys who blessed our time in Oz) where we marvelled at some of God’s indescribable creation.

Marvelling over beautiful sunsets, roaming mountains, endless ocean and indescribable views is something Lorna and I have become expert in most recently; seriously New Zealand is Scotland… on the rocks! Never one to allow comparisons to be made between our beautiful homeland, Scotland and countries we visit I have succumbed to admitting that the beauty I have witnessed here surpasses any other I have seen in the world- yes Roy even Scotland on the sunny day!

Having said that working with Scripture Union in Mangawhai heads (a campsite situated in the most idyllic coastal area North of Auckland) has probably tainted my judgement. Our mission was Scripture Union summer camp; our destination was Mangawhai Heads; our team had boundless energy, talent and even dressed up as pirates! The result of this combo was The Best Camp Ever!

On arriving in New Zealand Lorna and I were bombarded with leaflets about bungee jumping (which we did in Uganda… that was so last year!), surfing, sand dune surfing and all sorts of insane extreme sports. Written on most of these leaflets , and the words on most backpackers mouths, was “The real Kiwi Experience”. Little do they know that the “extreme” packages they are offering to these 20-30 year old tourists are indeed tame in comparison to the challenges undertaken by the 30, 11-16 year old, children we were leading at camp last week. Kayaking over the estuary, climbing a sand dune (which we did before plummeting face first back down it on a boogie board), surfing a wave, playing volleyball on the beach, undertaking the flying fox and water slide challenge and even managing to clean up for cabin inspection were some of the activities the kiwi kids enjoyed… and all that before lunch! The kids boundless energy and the leaders dedication was a privilege to watch and a blessing to be part of. Each day started and finished with the ultimate high adventure. An experience I didn’t see advertised in any of the backpackers guides. It came free of charge and was, and is, available to all those who turned up. It’ s called encountering God and, as the children and I witnessed, it surpasses any thrill of any extreme sport!

Sharing with these children, trying to answer their questions about faith and witnessing them journeying with God has to be the ultimate high of our Kiwi experience! It was ‘far out” as they say! Hearing their eagerness to know God more and to serve him better completely saddens and excites me. It excites me to know that they are going to be soul touching, travelling around the world and serving in ways more significant than we can even imagine. It saddens me however to know that there are still so many people still searching; still flicking through Adventure guides trying to find another high. People clinging on to relationships that are “good”, “fine” and never knowing a relationship with God, the “far out” one that is there for them if they just turn up.

The reality of peoples reluctance to turn up hit me when we left camp. On our journey home (which by the way was detoured because of a spontaneous and extremely exciting road trip which I’ll tell you about later) someone said to me, “I don’t really need God in my life ’cause my life is sweet and I don’t want to have to give that up”. That’s great if your satisfied with “sweet”.

The truth is God does not want you to give up your life so you are miserable he wants to give up your life so that he can take you to the next level. Sometimes we have to give up the good to get the “sweet”, then give up the “sweet” to get to the “far out”. Then give up all of those things to get to where God wants us to be. I don’t have vocabulary adequate for that level, it’s truly indescribable. I know this because I’m living it, or trying to and I’m not even half way there.

I can’t remember if I’ve told you guys before but when I was in Peru last year I read a book called, “If you want to walk on water you ‘ve got to get our of the boat”. It’s based on the story of the disciple Peter walking on water with Jesus. Peter was in the boat. He was with his friends (the other disciples) and he was safe. Then Jesus called on him, challenged him really, to walk on the water. Now Peter was someone who knew Jesus well and he’d seen Jesus perform miracles yet he was still reluctant to get out of the boat; walking on water with Jesus required trust. Peter had to be confident that Jesus would make it possible (I assume everyone knows that walking on water, apart form on this occasion is impossible). Eventually Peter got out of the boat and he walked on water with Jesus. Happy ending eh…or not. it wasn’t completely smooth for Peter. He took his eyes of Jesus for a second (his confidence faltered) and he began to sink beneath the waves. In that moment Jesus reached out his hand and rescued Peter.

I want you to imagine your life is your boat. You think it’s safer than walking with Jesus but in actual fact by convincing yourself of that your denying yourself the experience of walking on the waves. I remember for years I sat in my boat (not literally) surrounded by things that made me feel safe, things that were “sweet”. “Sweet” relationships, a “sweet” job, basically things that made me comfortable. I didn’t want to give them up incase I failed, incase I fell flat on my face really. Then I discovered that God “isn’t in the business of making fools of people” (my angel sister reminded me of this as I sat in my boat) and that indeed “all good gifts come from him”.

For me camp was amazing because I got to share with the kids their journey. Some are so bold it’s frightening. They are way out on the waves trusting in God and all he has planned for them. Others were going through moments that they needed Jesus to rescue them but what was amazing was that none of them were in their boats. This summer they stepped out by going to camp; by doing so they stepped up!

Finishing camp is usually a bit of a depressant. You immediately forget about the mozeees (mosquitos) round the camp fire remembering only the toasted marshmallows and testimonies. You miss the shower song at 7am (Thanks Bella), forgetting the 14 (at my last count) spiders singing along with you while you bathed. Most of all you miss the delicious hourly camp food. This time however Lorna and I did not experience the post camp lull. Instead we set off on our road trip (courtesy of Shane and Crystal Gauld who generously gave us their daughter Lizzy’s car…thanks Lizzy!) Our bags and mattresses safely packed up in the boot we set of with transport and accommodation!

I won’t bore you (or rather depress you) with the details of our adventure, sleeping under the stars in Russell, swimming with dolphins in the Bay of Islands or quad biking along the 90 mile beach, lets just say we had and are having an amazing time.

Right now we’re enjoying some more time with the family! Next week we’re off to Taupo to swim in the largest lake in the southern hemisphere. And after that we’re going to work at Parachute www.parachutemusic.com/festival/2008/ No not sky diving, the largest Christian music festival of 2008! We’re loving every second!

I am so glad I got out of the boat! I’d rather live my life walking on the waves, allowing Jesus to recue me when I stumble than sitting in the boat wondering! Would you?

Love you all!
blessings in abundance Erica xx

Reflecting 2007…bring on 2008!

To our precious friends and family,

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and recover sufficiently in time to start the festivities again for New Year! Before we enter into 2008 we’d like to share with you some of the projects that we, because of your faith, generosity and support, have been able to accomplish in the 2007. Thank you for your continued love and gentle guidance on our mission so far.

Soul Touch, known to many adorable African children as Auntie Erica and Auntie Lorna and to friends as Hoddit and Dottit, is the name of our project. We have been traveling now for six months and are almost at the half way point of our round the world trip. So far we have survived Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Israel, Egypt, India (deportation out of India to Sri Lanka), back to India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Now at Hillsong church Australia we are being challenged, encouraged and questioned about our trip. Starting with the name!

Why Soul Touch? Well for those of you who know nothing about our mission (shame on you read our blog- www.worldwithoutwalls.net) let us explain briefly what we are doing and why the name is much more than a title; it’s become our way of life. Our aim is to significantly touch people lives by contributing practically to the work of either their charity and/or church, creating opportunities for them to experience Christ’s love in action.

In each place we visit we work alongside the local community and church helping with a huge variety of tasks including: teaching, acting, singing, painting, brick making, bricklaying, talking and most importantly listening. As Ambassadors for World Without Walls, a ministry birthed out of St Andrew’s church Bo’ness Scotland we are striving to capture, on film, the stories of the people we meet. Stories of children rescued from the streets of Uganda now educated and looking forward to the future. Of children who once thought they were invisible, forgotten by the world and by God; living in the jungle of India alongside wild animals, now expressing wishes of going to university, becoming doctors, missionaries and “bus drivers”. Stories like Rita Nkemba’s. A Ugandan women who set up an orphanage in Kampala, the countries capital and who has dedicated her life to looking after the some two-hundred abandoned children now in her care. The stories we have heard and captured on film will then be used to bring awareness to the worldwide church about the needs of the people it’s serving. We aim to strengthen relationships with WWW partners aswell as expanding its partnership network; identifying projects that you can be involved in supporting.

Brooke Fraser (Singer/songwriter) sings in her song Albertine: “Now that I have seen, now that I have heard I am responsible.” We believe it is the responsibility of the church to change the injustice that exists all over the world. We appreciate that not everyone can visit these places; that’s why we’re capturing it on film! The films show that amongst all the poverty and amidst, what appears to be, the most desperate situations there is hope.

We saw hope in the little ghost town of Pebane, Mozambique where we started our trip. There we joined a team (Team Moz, led by Jennifer and Alasdair Tollemache) from Stirling Baptist Church. For the past three years this Scottish church has been partnering a local hospital in Pebane, providing medical facilities for them. This year the aim was to supply the hospital with a much needed surgical unit. Disease is rapidly spread there because there is simply no sanitation and, before the teams visit, no running water. A 42 foot container, filled with medical equipment (most of which was surplus in the UK but still in excellent condition) was shipped from Scotland to Mozambique. Within a week it was converted into a fully furnished, working operating theatre which is now used to serve the local community. Team Moz continue to raise funds and dedicate their time and prayers to their partners in Moz. It was a challenging yet encouraging way to begin our journey for lots of reasons; it certainly acclimatised us to work on the mission field: working in the heat, gathering water from a well to shower, using a rather less conventional toilet than we are used to and living, breathing, eating and sleeping side by side! (http://themoznet.blogspot.com/)

We saw hope in the camp we visited in Gulu, a place in Northern Uganda which for the past 21 years has been in civil war led by terrorist Joseph Kony. Kony, in his attempt to overthrow the government, has captured and enslaved thousands of children turning them into “child soldiers”. These children are forced to pledge allegiance to his army demonstrating their loyalty by murdering their own siblings and/or cutting of the limbs, ears, noses and lips of their parents. Yet even there we saw hope of Christ, demonstrated by KPC (Kampala Pentecostal Church). KPC, lead by pastors Marylin and Gary Skinner, recently opened in Gulu. They are dedicated to breaking the chains of injustice and saving the lives of the people there.

And of course as many of you all have witnessed the hope that exists in Peru because of the partnership and faith of The Vine Trust, Scotland and SU Peru. You have seen street boys rescued and placed in homes and most recently a second medical ship cross the Amazon joining its sister-ship there to provide medical care for some of the worlds poorest people, living on river. This is the place where the mission really began; the place Lorna and I met and the place we first witnessed how powerful and constructive small groups of people can be when they work together (www.vinetrust.org).

We hope that you will see a pattern emerging here; a pattern we have witnessed. In each place we have visited there is need yet there is also a response to that need. All over the world seeds have been sown; small groups of Christians are living out the gospel in real, practical and powerful ways. We trust that you will join us in continuing to support some or all of these projects. Start by following our journey. Log onto our blog: www.worldwithoutwalls.net (go to the Soul Touch link). We pray that you will be as inspired by these teams of ordinary people doing extraordinary things as we are.

Finally we want to wish you a wonderful, prosperous and very blessed new year. We are looking forward to all that God has planned. The next stage of our journey takes us to New Zealand where we volunteer for Scripture Union on a children’s summer camp, teaching them water sports (you might want to pray for that one!) We then head to South America: Argentina; Brazil; Bolivia; Peru; Guatemala and finally Mexico. We know that hearing the stories of these people will change our lives and we pray their lives will be enriched by our by our responses to them.

Love and hugs in abundance Erica and Lorna
Soul Touch xx

soul_touch@yahoo.com

Have a Wonderful Christmas!

To all our dearest, most precious friends and family. Wishing you a very happy Christmas. Lorna and I are far away- Sydney Australia to be exact- but tonight as we wrap the few gifts we have for each other our thoughts are with you all more than ever. It’s Christmas eve…with a difference. There is no tinsel in sight and the shops are surprisingly (and refeshingly) quiet. We’ve spent a lot of our time here at church, for several reasons. Firstly the stunning spirit filled worship and teaching; secondly beautiful Caroline (Lorna’s sister) and many of her friends are students at Hillsong College and so they are completely involved in everything and lastly we are here to serve. Although Australia is by no means a developing country (however they haven’t developed enough to know that mullets went out in the eighties!) people here, like everywhere in the world, have needs and poverty and injustice does exsist. So over the past few weeks we’ve absolutely loved being involved in the ministry of the street teams, led by Camokazi (Caroline’s nick name ala Soul Touch!). We’ve been wrapping pressies, generously donated by members of the congregation. It’s one of the many outreach community care projects that Hillsong bless their neighbours with every year. It’s similar to the Shoe box appeal that we all get excited about at this time of year at home. I am picturing you all now stuffing goodies into carefully wrapped boxes for children less fortunate than yourselves, goodies which have been hand picked and bought with love! The concept is is similar in that the gifts are given out to children and families who are in need. However the practicality of it all is something we discovered to be very surreal. Instead of sleep socks and cosy slippers being packed into stockings we carefully wrapped beach cricket sets and volleyballs as we sat toasting in the sun outside on the church lawn. I know “outside” may be a foreign concept to you all at the moment. You will (or should) be curled up on couches watching star spangled episodes of Dancing with the Stars and X Factor, oh how we miss it!

…but not that much. More than turkey, snow and our favourite shows we miss you, each individually, personally and an incredible amount! Christmas is a celebration, a time for family and for most a time of reflection and so despite the physical ditance between us you are still the ones in our thoughts and prayers. We pray this Christmas you will be abudantly blessed and God will continue to enable you to bless others as you have blessed and enriched our lives! We love you all so dearly and being away from you simply reminds us of how fortunate we are to have all of you in our lives.

Enjoy every second of Chirstmas! We will be in touch before the new year to let you know more about our adventures so far and the ones we are looking forward to in 2008!
Love and many, many blessings to you all!
Erica and Lorna xxx

“Together We Are Better!”

In Africa (sorry to drag you all back there. Don’t worry you didn’t imagine all of our escapades since leaving that place. As Lorna has pointed out we are infact in Oz although there have been no sightings of the Wizard as yet. A lot of time has passed and a lot of miles have been flown since then but since arriving here in the Oz it’s made me think heaps about the friends we’ve left and the things we saw there.

In Uganda we spent time with the King Alfred team on a building site constructing a boarding house at Butagya Primary School. (Scroll back there’s lots more info about it earlier.) Although some of us tried to boss on site there was only one real boss: John. John was a Ugandan with a chubby tummy, a huge smile and a lot of responsibility. It was John’s job to oversee all of the work on the site. He had to ensure each brick was put perfectly in place in order to support the ones being placed on top.
Now at the time I thought John was a ultra pernickety. To me the building of the boarding house was a matter of urgency for two reasons. Firstly the children needed somewhere to sleep and secondly our time there was limited. As I looked around the school (which we had now turned into a building site) and assessed the situation it looked like we needed to work fast.

At least forty school girls, between the ages of 5-14, were now scattered amongst the human chain that had been formed to transport the bricks from one end of the site to the other. Dressed in sunshine yellow dresses which matched their smiles, the girls giggled and laughed at the mazoongos (turning pink beneath the hot African sun) who were struggling to keep up passing the hundred ton bricks (they told us they were made of mud but I think they lied!) to the children who effortlessly tossed them onto the site to be used. Some carried them on their heads, cushioned with leaves to protect their scalps. The mazonngos even had a go but the less said about that the better eh Pastie!? The girls in line were currently sleeping in their classroom, huddled together like animals but with poorer sanitation.

My eyes could only see the immediate situation. These beautiful girls needed a boarding house (somewhere to sleep) and fast. So you can imagine my frustration and confusion when John (site manager) insisted on checking each individual brick put in place and then proceeded to adjust any that were placed incorrectly or were “rubbished” as he would say. John was an expert bricky and an awesome teacher. He was even patient with me when I couldn’t get the hang of the tools (I know now that string is an extremely important tool in every brickies toolkit). This string thing had a weight on the end and I am told it measured something. I was also told the name of it, which I’ve momentarily forgotten but know doubt my brothers will remind me of it once they’ve read this. Anyway, it was used to make sure the bricks were straight, which most of mine weren’t

For a week John and the team laid the bricks….slowly. They used the process of laying one, checking it with the special string and so on…and on …and on! And so we left that site with the boarding house unfinished. It did leave me slightly dissatisfied as I would’ve loved to see the girls in it and the roof on but I was content with John’s promise that the job “would get done”. Looking back I’m so glad John was there. I’m thankful that he corrected my bricks and that the men finishing the build know how to use the string thing correctly. You see I know that when that building is complete it will be magnificent. It will be a beautiful home for the girls and they don’t deserve anything less than magnificent. So imagine that is one small group of dedicated people building a boarding house for school children- imagine the church (think global, think massive!) rebuilding the temple for Christ coming. (Nehemiah 6)

Since arriving here at Hillsong Church Australia we’ve been receiving amazing (although challenging) teaching and we’ve met some beautiful (ridiculously stunning) men and women who love God. People who believe they are like the bricks. No not square and made of mud (although I’m sure some smart theologian could come up with a sermon out of that n prove me wrong what with the murry clay n all that!) but they believe they are people placed perfectly where God wants them to be.
More so they believe that the brick that follows- the next generation of believers- will be seriously effected by whether or not they are in line. I know you guys back in Scotland are imagining the same thing. I know that you are fighting hard to get into line with God and to position yourself in a great place so that you can bless future generations. So I want to thank you first of all for your example and your vision, that you are trusting God and believing his promises (Isaiah 43: 5-7, Jeremiah 29:11-14)) but also to challenge you. Remember we are not the foundations: we are part of the build.

For centuries Christains have been spreading the gospel to all nations so we can trust that we have some amazing foundations. Some of the greatest people who ever lived have laid them- the most obvious and strongest rock ever Jesus- and that’s just the start. Since his death (and resurection) his disciples have been building: Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Billy Graham to name a few and that’s only who my wee brain knows about.

I want to encourage you that wherever you are in the wall make sure your contribution counts cos it will most definately effect those that follow. It is up to you whether or not it effects them in a positive way or a negative one. What’s more it doesn’t matter if you are not the cornerstone, someone taking extra weight and responsibilty, (although well done if you are) without you and your contribution the cornerstones would fall too.

That’s a huge lesson I’m learning here: “Together we are better!” (Brian Houston)
The church (and I’m talking globally) is one team and like the bricks we can all support each other. If you look around the church and you’re squirming in the position you’re in maybe you need to think about repositioning yourself. If you see everyone else and wish you were where they are or doing the job they are doing, or worse still you don’t want their job but you don’t want them to be blessed by it either well I suggest you find a John. Find someone who will help you get in line (or how to use the tools we’ve got on our site- trust me the bibles a whole lot easier to use than the string thing ‘n’ it makes more sense, well to me at least!) Like John they will be patient and take time with you. Remember they are overseeing the job- they don’t want you to fall cos that only holds up progress. We want a church that is constantly progressing! We have no time for “regressors”! (Ephesians 5:16)

If you feel, wait a minute I’m not even a brick yet. I’m still in the mould ‘n’ I’m not sure I’ll be able to fit. Remeber the one who made you, made you perfectly just how you’re supposed to be. He made you to be part of the build. (Phillippians 1:6)

In Africa materials are expensive so they waste NOTHING. A couple of time a few of the mazoongos (not naming any names) would spoil a brick, dropping it from the cushion on their heads. Others were damaged when the human chain started laughing hysterically! Nobody cast them aside. Never once did John say “Oh well that one’s damaged we can’t use it.” No! He simply sanded off the rough edges and made it fit. He even went to the trouble of adding a lil extra mud to a couple and reshaping them so they could be used. Most often these “damaged” bricks were used as the cornerstones cos he said they were the strongest. How much more does God love it when he can reshape us and use us to make something magnificant!? (Math 18: 10-14)

When we first arrived at Hillsong we were immediately challenged by a vision they have here. They call it The I heart Revolution: (www.iheartrevolution.com)

“Imagine a global church and the impact it could have on the world!”

I thank God that you guys are imagining a global church and together we are witnessing how it is changing the world. Although we are not the foundations we are part of the build and we’re progressing. We are building on what’s gone before and preparing something better for the future.

God is building a global church and we need each other. If we unite we are stronger. The world is watching and like me on the building site they are becoming impatient. They can see (and feel) the immediate needs. They want an answer like the girls wanted somewhere to sleep. I believe we have the answer- Jesus!

Are you committed to the build?

Aussie Barbie? Na pass me the waterproof poncho please!

G’day! Howz it ga’in dudes?! Yes o yes we have arrived down under! That whole ‘ we at the bottom of the earth’ thing makes me feel dizzy when i think about it too much. The weather out here is scortchio…na im joking, its actually been rain storms everyday since we arrived, which is actually making it feel a little more like Christmas for us!

We met up with my sister Caroline on arrival at the airport, its been 5 months since i seen her so the skies reverberated with high squeals and laughter when she found us lying on the benches sleeping our tierd little heads since we had decided not to go to sleep on the plane but do an 8 hour movie marathon. Can you believe that they show ‘The Neverending Story’?! AND ‘High School Musical’?! Im not ashamed of my film taste at all..cough cough! But we turned Malaysian Airways into broadway as we watched ‘Hairspray’ and ‘High School Musical 2′! Yeah we got an encore, but our dancing had to calm down as the pilot thought the plane was going through turbulance.

So we have been in Oz for just over a week now and our days consist of, church, church, church, a day in the city and more church but when your local church is Hillsongs you start to cry when the services are over! To be honest with you guys, when Caroline was taking us to our first service which was last Saturday night i was nervus…yes i admit…i was nervus about going to church! I had seen Hillsong on TV and it looked massive, everybody uber confident and i just felt like it was my first day in school.

The first thing that i noticed about the church is that it was so welcoming for first time visitors. Outside the church they have proper coffee wagons, table and chairs and a burger stall where you can meet church members or just chill out before for what will undoubtably be a powerful sermon. When i entered into the main church it actually looked more inviting and homely than what i had imagined it to be, yes there is an overall congregation of 10,000 people per sermon - 4 sermons a day, but there was a seat for everyone and we weren’t stuck right at the back at the fire exist doors but we comfortably founds seats 4 rows from the front, where we pearched on our seats eager for the worship to start! They have massive wall screens that boom on powerful versus in the bible that prepare your heart, mind and soul for hearing God.

So im standing there all hyped up, and then……( everybody get your air guitars ready) Hillsong United come on stage and bring you further into God’s presence with their powerful worship! The legend that is Darlene Zschech was leading it also, i felt so blessed to be there. I looked around and saw that most of the congregation are youths. This church had done it, this church had made God more attractive than the world for young people and it was awesome.

We have plans made up for Christmas, we are going to Annette’s Mum ( the lady that owns the house that Caroline is staying at) is taking us in for Christmas dinner and then we have been invited to Terry Scott’s who is one of the worship lecturers at Hillsong College for a gathering! It looks all good!

Hope to update you with more later!

Lorna xx