Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

This week is off to a great start! We had a leadership meeting yesterday, the chemistry between the leaders is so great. It makes a huge difference when everyone works together so well. I spent today with the Scarfe family and my friends Matt & Tom from Richard Hale School. After a long day around Hertford and Stevenage, we headed back to our homes! On the way  home it started snow flurrying for a couple minutes and it was great!

Then about 30 minutes later, giant snowflakes started pouring out of the sky nonstop! I called Jack and his sisters and we decided it was definitely time to bundle up and play in the snow. Coming from the South, I have never seen so much snow in my life. In a matter of minutes, kids from all over the neighborhood came to join us in the snowball throwing, snowman making, snow angel creating festivities! Then Michael decided to come play with us and we got the wonderful idea to obliterate him with snowballs all at once. So after a couple hours in the winter wonderland we all piled in the Hunters living room for hot chocolate and sweets! It was really cool to see the house being used as a place of ministry. We sat around and laughed and talked and it was the perfect ending to the perfect day.

Earlier this week I was reading in Captivating about receiving gifts from God personally for our hearts. I prayed yesterday to experience God's love first hand, a kiss form my heavenly father so to speak. "He has already given me all of creation to speak of His great glory and love, and he had given me the word of God in all its depth and beauty, and here I was, asking for more. And God loved it. He is ready and willing to reveal his heart to us again and again." Tonight I got God's gift, His kiss. 5 hours of fluffy snowflakes falling from the crisp october sky. The rolling hills are covered with a blanket of beautiful, pure white snow and I had the time of my life rejoicing and playing in this wonderful gift!! :)

Life is good...

It has been a great week so far! I was able to spend last weekend with one of my dearest friends, Becky Turner. We went into London on Saturday and had a blast together! We got to see a show, my first show ever :)

Campaigners Bible Study on Monday nights keeps getting better and better. I love being able to connect with people from Younglife more than once a week. We had Younglife Club tonight, and needless to say it was ROCKIN! It's crazy how all the leaders are from such different parts of the world. From England, to New Zealand, to South Africa, to Scotland, to America... we are so diverse. I think it's really cool how we all have a different reason for showing up on Thursday nights but we all have one thing in common, we have a passion for these teenagers.

Living with the Hunter's has been such a pleasure. They treat me like family! I have become a huge fan of Chinese Food Sundays and I love more than anything when we all pile on the couch and gather around the laptop to watch the latest downloaded iTunes episode of Survivor! It hasn't even been 3 weeks and I can easily call this place home.

When I was preparing to come over here, one of my biggest prayers was that "While I'm in England, I want all of me to be in England." I didn't want to have a dislocated heart for things going on back at home. When I have to get on that plane and head back to Atlanta, it's safe to say that a huge part of me will still be in Hertford, perhaps with the parts of my heart I left here in August.

There must be something in the water, I love this place.

I love/miss/can't wait to catch up with all of you!

-Stephanie

I lift You high, and bow down low...

I AM SO HAPPY!!! The Hunters are amazing. Beth Ann is teaching me her ways to master the kitchen and Michael has put me to work at the Younglife office.

Learning to develop a servants heart has been the most humbling experience and my prayer is just to decrease so He may increase! God is doing so much here and the Hunters are a family that truly practices what they preach. The way they live love toward one another, toward me, toward  the teenagers of this town, and toward the people that they pass walking down the street is jaw dropping.

It has been wonderful to reconnect with friends from the past two summers, it's funny how I can feel so close to people that live 4000 miles away from me.

Zoe & Me in downtown Hertford! :)

Miss you guys, but loving every minute of this journey.

love always,

Stephanie

"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

what a day!

This week has been so beautiful. The weather has been perfect! The combination of the leaves changing colors, the rolling hills of beautiful england, and the bright sunshine is jaw dropping. No picture could do justice to all the magnificent things I saw in the English countryside today. 

Isn't it MARVELOUS! This is in Cambridgeshire.

Beth Ann is in Hungary  at a Women's Conference for Younglife so I have gotten the chance to spend a lot of time with Maddie and Mckenna. I definitely have so much more respect for mothers after playing mom for a couple days! Last night was the Younglife committee meeting and boy, was it intense! The first couple hours of the meeting were pretty tedious and you could cut the tension in the room with a knife. Finally one of the men on the committee suggested that we just pray because we had reached such a stalemate in the decision making. I am just in awe of the power of prayer, we came to an answer minutes after praying. It was so humbling to watch the Lord move in such an intimate way.

Now for today! Kelly & I planned to spend the day shopping and eating yummy food in Cambridge. About 30 minutes into our trip, we were driving down a beautiful road in the middle of nowhere on the countryside when a man driving a big BMW failed to yield and drove right into the side of our car. I've never been in a car accident in america, yet me and Kelly get into a smashing one (literally!) my 4th day in the country! (Side note, Kelly is the perfect driver and it was 100% the other guy's fault.) The wreck was serious, no doubt.. but we miraculously walked away with out a scratch. The front end was smashed in, yet the 4 feet of panel where Kelly was sitting remained untouched. We had to wait about an hour and a half for the tow truck to come. But we decided to make the best of it. We got a blanket out of the car and laid it in the grass and relished in the beautiful day. We sat there and prayed and thanked God for his undeniable protection and for bringing us to a point where we had to just stop and take a breath, and breathe Him in!

Kelly & me waiting for the tow truck

Kelly said, "I believe it takes a lot more faith to say that it wasn't God that created all of this wonder and beauty." That hit me so hard, because honestly I think it's true! I will never forget the most beautiful day of my life. And I spent it with an incredible friend and our wonderful maker.

Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

love you miss you,

stephanie

Finally Here!

My flight went wonderful and we even landed 45 minutes early! Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement. Today was such a beautiful day. I arrived at the Hunter's house around 1 and we had a relaxing day to help adjust to jet-lag. Younglife Club is tomorrow and I am SO excited to see everyone!

I love you and miss you all, but it's bedtime for me.

-Stephanie

Take off!

A common theme for this trip seems to be to expect the unexpected. I found myself talking to a friend complaining that "everything that could have possibly gone wrong, has gone wrong, and in the worst way!" In reality all I was concerned with was the destination rather than the process. All the little mishaps and change of plans moments were God ordained life lessons.

Amidst the rescheduling of flights, refusal of a visa, wrong addresses, and utter chaos... I have been able to experience God's provision and faithfulness in a way I never imagined possible. I am getting on a plane at 10:20 tonight and I will be living with the Hunters until November 14th. Rather than working as a Younglife Intern, I will simply be a volunteer serving.

So many people have been a part of making this call to England a reality whether it be support money, skymiles, calling delta for me, words of encouragement, or holding me accountable... none of this would be possible with out you guys. I love you all.

I will be sure to write as soon as I get to London!

Love,
Stephanie

"make of me, Your hands and feet. Lord I want to be, to the people around me, what You want to be, to the people around me." -prayer of st. francis