Tim Hughes - Living For Your Glory

Hannah and I had the opportunity to go to a different church two weeks ago. During worship this song played and it was the first time I had heard it. The moment I began singing it and listening to the lyrics it just rang so deeply within me. It has been a long time since I felt a song resonate so deeply in me. It was my prayer. I love playing it, because it's my heart. I just want to find myself in a room to myself just singing it over and over...

Lyrics:

What good is it to gain the whole world, but lose your soul?
What good is it to make a sweet sound, but remain proud?
In view of God’s mercy, I offer my all

And take my life, let it be everything, all of me
Here I am, use me for Your glory
In everything I say and do, let my life honor You
Here I am living for Your glory

The road I’m on that leads nowhere without You
And the life I live that finds meaning and surrender
In view of God’s mercy, I offer my all

Seeking first the Kingdom
Seeking first the Kingdom of my Lord

The European Masters Commission directors retreat was held in Brussels, October 8th -11th. A highlight was the official opening of the European Masters Commission headquarters.




There are now MC programs in Finland, Denmark, Spain, England, Ireland, Estonia, Austria, France, Norway, Holland and Bosnia-Herzegovina. New programs could soon open in Scotland, Belgium and Sweden.



Praying for Nolan and I as we are heading up the new office and we will soon be joined by missionaries Dan and Silvana Place.



"This is God's time for Masters Commission in Europe", says Michael McNamee. "It is one of the tools that He is using to turn the youth of Europe towards Him. Our goals are to have 50 MC programs with 750 students in the next few years."

"As the earth revolves around the sun and spins each day around at a seemingly ever faster pace it is great to arrive at points in time where you can press pause and clearly see what totally amazing things that God is doing. The 2008 Master's Commission Europe Directors retreat in Brussels was one of those points in time where paused was pressed and Master's Directors from all over Europe shared about incredible discipleship ministry impacting lives and the church everywhere."
Simon Cunningham

A couple weeks ago Convoy of Hope asked Nolan and I to join them on a trip to Middlesbourgh, England. Convoy of Hope is a humanitarian organization that aids in disaster relief and social work. Our missionary, Michael McNamee, is also the president of Convoy of Hope in Europe. We went to Middlesbourgh through a contact we have with a new church plant there, called Rivercity Church. The pastors, Nathan and Lindsay, are a young couple who really have a heart for the city. The church is right in a dominant Muslim area and right down the street from the church is a Elementary School. Rivercity Church contacted the school about doing some work there for them. At first they were reluctant because a teacher there had had some bad experiences with a Church. In the end they agreed to let us build a playground for them. When we came the school yard was bare. We worked hard for three days planting flowers, digging up turf, building a play house, painting two murals and making the playground look nice. The teachers and faculty of the school were so excited about the work that was done. Here are some pictures of us working as well as before and after pictures of the yard. Be sure to click on the pictures.

After we finished the building project at the school we had a big outreach. There were bounce houses, face painting, dance lessons, soccer trick lessons, free ice cream and we gave out 500 bags of groceries. One of the woman was so moved by the gift she had tears streaming down her face. There was such an incredible spirit of joy and excitement that was there. I spent some time painting faces of the children. There was a whole group of Muslim boys that I painted and as I did they shared with me what it is like in their Mask. It was just evident to me the bondage they experience through the Muslim beliefs. We really believe this event gave a major break through for the church in this community. It put them on the map and gave a reputation of God's love to the area. Here are some pictures of the outreach.

Our prayer is that the church will gain its influence on the community and that God's love will break the barriers between the cultures.

For more pictures. Go to our album of Middlesbrough.

Hannah

Comments

This last week we had an opportunity to go to Paris, and spend some time with the program there. We were very excited going in because we've heard so many great things about the program, but haven't ever had the opportunity to meet them. The director is French and does not speak any English, but he has an Assembly of God missionary working with him, who is fluent in French. Her name is Summer. We met her at the train station and she took us back to the church and Masters Commission housing. We got to hear the miracles they've experienced with receiving the 3 houses to hold Masters Commission students. This will be there third year running and they have 41 students coming this fall! We found this program to be especially unique because they have a national who is running the program and the program was birthed in the heart of several churches around France before they even knew what Masters Commission was. When they learned of Masters Commission and found it was the same vision they had in their heart it was only natural to partner together with us. I wish you could hear the heart they have for France and the desire to see young people being trained in leadership. It was really a blessing for us to spend some time with them. The atmosphere they have created is very positive and welcoming.
While we were touring the facilities we were introduced to a former student and her family that was in town. They were also so friendly and spent some time encouraging Nolan and I, and praying for us. We were overwhelmed by the genuine spirit there. We did not know these people, but they cared for and loved us as though we were family.
After a tour of everything we headed into the city of Paris. The city is absolutely beautiful. We had Starbucks and sat in one of the many artist squares. Around us were many artists painting, drawing, and selling artwork. Then we went to dinner at a Mexican place, which Brussels has very little of. While we were having dinner there was a cat wondering around, greeting all the customers. We asked if it was the restaurants cat, and found its a neighborhood cat that walks in and out of all the restaurants on the street. I've only something like that in the movies. After dinner Summer took us to a few of the main sights in Paris... The Louvre, The Arc of Triumph, and of course the Eiffel Tower. I definitely want to spend some more time in Paris. There is so much to see and enjoy there.
The entire trip was such an encouragement for Masters Commission, seeing the things God is doing there, and through Masters Commission. We're so thankful that we were able to get to know them better and start a deeper friendship.

Monday was our first official Belgium holiday. Its the day they celebrate their independence from Holland. We had been downtown on Sunday and saw the setup of the events that would follow on Monday. Thankfully, our friend Vibeke (a lady from the church we attended in Denmark) decided to stop by and see us, so we decided to see if we could catch some of the action. Unfortunately, the weather was awful... misty rain and COLD! ( nothing new from Belgium)Well, we went anyways and were quite entertained by the parades they had going on. There were so many people in weird customs and on stilts. It was definitely a culture experience that we hadn't experienced in Denmark before. I was able to go get some very-very good red cherries. They were kind of expensive, but worth it. ;) Since the weather was gloomy and bits of rain, we found a cozy little cafe to warm up in until the fireworks would start at 11. The first place we walked into was too packed, but I was excited for the atmosphere, since we always went to cafes in Copenhagen, I wasn't sure if we would find any cool places here in Brussels. We ended up to the cafe right next store, and it ended up being perfect!The fireworks were by far the best we have ever seen. It seemed like for 20 minutes you were treated to a never ending finale from start to finish. What was unique was the touch of music put to the show they put on. It truly was a sight to see. So, for those traveling to Brussels, come July 21st and make sure to catch the festivities in downtown! The evening was fabulous and well worth the cold we had to endure. Seriously, we could see our breath and it is the middle of summer. Something isn't right with that. :)

Hannah and I decided that our Saturday would be dedicated to apartment hunting. Once we moved our luggage to the EMC building where we are staying now, we drove with Albert who dropped us off downtown in the area where I posted about earlier. When he dropped us off we thought we were going to have to buy an umbrella because it was raining ( and since it rains like 200 days out of the year, we thought one would be in call for). We walked in a department store only to find out that the little umbrella's we would want where 25 euro or $40! There was nothing to the umbrella. So if anyone in the states would like to find Hannah a small one to put in her purse, please send one ;)

ATTN: Hannah Tarantino
45 Chaussee de Waterloo
1640 Rhode St. Genese
Belgium

That's the office here. We can always receive mail or packages there. It's the best address to send to by the way.

It wasn't long before the rain stopped and walking downtown couldn't of been more perfect. I am not sure how much we walked, but we went up and down street after street looking for apartments, and admiring the unique characteristics of all the rest. Our goal on each street was always to look for the orange signs saying Tu Huur or Louer! We actually were able to find a good number, so hopefully this week we can get a few appointments going. The majority are close to being out of our range, but we will see what happens. The thing that gets us is that each place is unique in the charges that are on top of the rent vary so much. Charges cover the cleaning of your doorway to electricty/water/heat. The majority of the time it's only the water, but you never really know, and the charges can vary from 25-150 euro! Seriously! Why the huge difference!!!

So keep that in prayer this week please.

All the walking around really gave us an appetite and in the middle of the walking we past a Oriental little shop, and all I remember was looking through the glass at the food they had and it just looked great. I know that my smell of the food was the one talking before my mind was set on what the food actually was though. I was so set on checking it out, that Hannah and I made our way back to the restaurant. It was actually a Lebanese little place. The menu was on the door before you walked in and I just looked at Hannah because I had no clue what any of it meant. It was the type of place where you walked in and just picked what you wanted to eat, so you had to have an idea or else... well it was pointless to go. So after debating wether we should eat or not, we said let's try it. The guy looked at us and asked what we wanted in French and I said I have no clue what to order. So he told us to sit down and he would bring each of us a plate! TALK ABOUT OH NO, WHAT DID I JUST DO!!! Anyways, the wait wasn't too long before this girl brought over a heaping plate full of Lebanese food! I know I was really hungry, but everything on the plate was just amazing! I couldn't of ordered anything better! We loved it. Hannah said it was the best humus she has ever had!

So for those that love Lebanese food, if you come see us we will make sure to take you there!

We have a request for those that check this site. We have found an area in town that we really want to be in but we know that the only way we will find a place is by God's hand in it. I took a picture in google to give you an idea. It's called Elsene. Both Hannah and I love the area. For those that come visit us I know you will just enjoy it as well. Please join us in prayer this next week. Financially we really will need God to move or this area won't be possible.

We did have two appointments tonight at apartments. The first one was amazing! The only problem was there was no real bedroom. The bedroom was the living room and dinig room all together! But it was nice. The second one... well, McNamee didn't even stop, it looked scary and the funny thing was the rent was so high. It was not in the best place in town, so we didn't even bother! Apartment hunting has surely been a new adventure.