Monday, June 25, 2007

A short update - Idaho, the Logos 2 ship, and the island of Jersey -- June 25, 2007

Although this blog has been quiet for the most part on what I've been up to recently, life continues at a hectic pace. Thought I would give you a brief in-between-prayer-letters update here now.

Well, I've certainly been in North America a lot this year. May included a road trip from Chicago to Idaho--a lot of miles--with some key meetings along the way. Why so much time in America? Well, it has a lot to do with the fact that God has chosen to use the States in a major way in world missions. It is still the number-one missionary-sending nation in the world, and it is also a huge source of giving, knowledge, mobilisation and resources. It has also been helpful to me, as a Canadian, to see what healthy, vibrant, God-glorifying North American churches (Pentecostal, Brethren, Interdenominational, etc) can and do look like.

By the way, if you're Canadian don't feel left out. Canada sends more missionaries per capita than our southern neighbour. (We're just 9 times smaller!) Canada also leads the way in inter-church missions conferences (eg, MissionFest). Be patriotic, but give God the credit; and pray for more.

Two weeks ago we came back to England, spent a couple of days here, and then spent five days aboard the Logos 2 ship. Yup, the very ship I was on for 4 1/2 months in early 2004. It was great to be back, but predictably there has been an almost 100% turnover of people since I left. Only one of the 40 people who joined at the same time as me remains.

And for those who know what I'm talking about, the Deal-Bag Room is still there; and it's still called the Deal-Bag Room!

God is using the Logos 2 as much as ever. It is like a bottle full of fireflies, shining for God as it goes from port to port putting on programs and meetings for children, pastors, youth and others; selling low-cost, transformational and educational books to thousands of (sometimes-daily) visitors; and simply being available as a collection of Christians from around the world to be used of God for those unplanned Divine appointments that He so often has in store.

If you are a young person or a young couple looking for a way to serve God in an out-of-the-box way for a couple of years, consider OM ships. Check out the pictures to the right of my blog and visit www.omships.org.

We met the ship in Falmouth, UK and after a couple of days there and a day sailing to the island of Jersey (south of England) left the ship and flew back to England on Friday.

Although I don't get weekly or regular days off in my position, I got this past weekend off to visit my girlfriend Lydia in Leeds (where she lives). I am just on the train back to London now after a really nice time. Of course, I'll be jumping back into the action when I get back to London, and it won't be long before George and I head off to Korea - where George will be speaking to 20,000 young people in a Campus Crusade conference. We will also be visiting the other in-service ship Doulos. Looking forward to it!

And beyond that? Stay tuned for more news, but it looks like I may be finishing my year in Southern Africa (!).

God is good. Thank you for your interest, prayer and support. Let's keep g.o.ing.

- Nigel

-------------------

Sent from my mobile phone.

ar TORONTO, CANADA | 2023+

APRIL


MAY

27 Sat (1) 11am Commencement speaker at R. University, (2) ~3pm+ time w/ V/AR+
29 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer, (2) 3pm mtg DerCh - Mississauga
30 Tue (1) 10am ph call (AA), (2) 5:30pm video mtg (IsTan), (3) 8pm neighbourhood prayer mtg

JUNE
1 Thu (1) 11:30am Zoom mtg (LM), (2) 4pm mtg (VS,KBr)
2 Fri (1) 10:30am ph call (PVDW; SL w/ boys; ~J working)
3 Sat SL w/ boys and MG
5 Mon (1) 9:30am VT prayer mtg, (2) 2pm Europe call, (3) 5pm mtg/walk (YM)
6 Tue (1) 11:30am lunch (GD) - St. Jacobs, (2) 4pm mtg (AF) - Cambridge, (3) 7:30pm worship night
9 Fri ~J's b'day
10 Sat North Bay trip
13 Tue 11am mtg (DAy) (~J school trip w/ ~Co | text BD)
14 Wed 9:30am time w/ BD
15 Thu 4:30pm video mtg (Paul T.)
16 Fri (1) 9am video med appt, (2) 15-km run (Prayer Journey "warm-up")
17 Sat Prayer Journey (my own: 50km GTA bike-ride; Jessie's: 5KM) and speaking at GTA after-party
23-25 Fri-Sat poss. SL
26 Mon 2pm Europe monthly call
29 ... July 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas

JULY
... 7 Thu-Fri poss. holiday in Arkansas
~8-17 SA+ in Toronto; P/H Bell likely visiting too
15 Sat aft+ baptism (Saj; NaB may be coming)
17-21 Mon-Fri Kids Kapers camp
24 Mon 2:45pm med. appt
26 Wed (1) 11am video mtg (SM), (2) 3pm Zoom mtg (SMa,SB), (3) 7pm ~J speaking at Greenhouse/Zoe - UofT downtown
27 Thu 10am video MVT board mtg
31 Mon 3:05pm med. appt
July/Aug CCWM board mtg / AGM

AUGUST
2 Wed 11am video mtg (SM+)
6-12 Sun-Fri Cottage w/ O/DN+ and UB/AC - Windermere; plus Muskoka
19 Sat poss. ~J fam beach day - Brighton area
25-29 Fri-Tue MoveIn staff retreat - southern Ontario

2023+
Sep 21 Thu - MVT board mtg
Sep 23 Sat poss. date of GV memorial
Sep 24 Sun ~Ch's b'day
Sep ~26-28 Poss. time in Lushnjë, Albania
Sep 29 - Oct 6 MoveIn Europe Conference+ - Durrës, Albania
Oct 21 Sat poss./unlikely date of GV memorial
Oct 21-27 Dollar-a-Day week
Early Nov Poss. fundraising event - Niagara
Nov-Jan Poss. time in India - Goa; Philippines - Manila+; Indonesia - Jakarta/Bali; LA/San Diego