United with Dan on a Mission

Summer Activities

As August came around, things became quiet. Schools closed, church people went on holiday, the base had its annual break and many returned to their home nations. I had to say goodbye to many dear friends from the student ministries who were also returning to their home countries. It came too fast, and now they are halfway around the world! I too had considered returning to South Africa and visiting my family during this time, which unfortunately did not work out. Airfares were ridiculously expensive, more than double of what I paid before. Suddenly I found myself with more time on my hands than I had had in over a year; so I began looking for more opportunities to get involved in – but I felt God calling me to rest instead. To slow down, to rest in Him, to assess where I have been, where I am going and to make sure I am ready for everything that would come with the new “academic year” in September.  I still find it rather confusing that things don’t run from the beginning to the end of the year here (Jan – Dec). God invited me to be intentional in building the relationships that I had begun in the past year. Many of them were work orientated, convenient and I had had little time to focus on pouring into them. During this season I shared and discussed plans and ideas with many great and wise friends who, knowingly or not, have been a real source of strength, and wise counsel for me. I tend to be visionary, and therefore easily conceive ideas and get fired up and zealous for them, so sometimes it’s really helpful to have people question and give input. I am truly thankful for the local community that God has blessed me with in West Kilbride, Saltcoats, Kilwinning, Irvine, Ayr, Glasgow, Paisley, Edinburgh, Derby, Bex-hill and more. Thank you so much for the part you’ve played in my life and my ministry this past year. 

In the light of all there has been to celebrate during the past few months; August brought an unexpected tragedy. It was a Thursday. I was looking forward to a park-market day event of sorts, where The Bridge church were to have a stall, entertain kids, answer questions and minister. Yet as the morning came about, for some reason I just felt like I should stay in my room. Within a few hours, my mom called to inform me that my Grandpa Archie had passed away. I was grateful that I was in ‘holiday’ mode and that I had time to just be, and to process. It hit hard, yet God comforted me and in the loss I was filled with gratefulness. I had felt a strong desire to buy him a book for his Birthday just days prior. I am so glad I did! He has been one of the most significant male figures in my life. In a way I think not being able to return to South Africa during August, was by God’s grace. If I had gone home, I doubt whether I would’ve returned to Scotland afterwards. 

Sometime over the summer, my attachment to this place changed. Suddenly I find myself really thinking and feeling about it as home; a space that I don’t really want to leave. While I still have the drive and heart of East Asia, I am also quite happy to reach that people group here, as there is no shortage of ‘frontiers’ and unreached people groups in Glasgow. As staff at the Seamill Centre, SSMD (School of Staff and Ministry Development) has certainly kept me busy in the form of assignments and book reports. I have also expanded my English Language Ministry to at least one lesson per day. I have met people from all around the world, and have even had the privilege of meeting one of my online language students, after she decided to come to the University in Glasgow. 

Weeks leading up to September DTS

As September came around, our base rhythms started to come back to life. We began the practical preparation for the new trainees to arrive, and also welcomed new staff entering the community. Somehow, somewhere amongst everything, something amazing happened. It’s hard to put words to, but ‘the joy of the Lord is my strength’. In all things I feel like I have had joy in abundance, despite some unpleasant situations, or being tired. The joy and life from it has been amazing. I have had moments like this before, but never before has it been consistent for as long as it is. It’s as if the presence of the Lord is strongly with me. If this is the meaning of ‘a day in your presence is worth a 1000 elsewhere,’ I finally have some concept of this. People around me have commented that I look much happier and more ‘full of life’.

The Lord has also been really good to me in this space. The new season of ministries has begun really well, with new access and connections to the art faculty of the University of Glasgow; the restart of Sandyford’s student ministry, and new friends amongst that group; some amazing people and stories from teaching English, and doing day trips with students, men’s groups at the church, and more! In terms of the DTS starting, God has given me some great connections/friends in new staff and trainees that have come. I am running a ‘Word by Heart’ (Bible Story Telling) program on this school that has blessed many already. I have found myself part of a relatively new team and have had great awareness of the subtle leading of the Spirit. God has given me significant words of knowledge to speak into people’s lives, it’s been a real privilege. Amongst all this something amazing has happened too! While praying for someone, they said they saw Jesus with me with one hand on me and one hand on them. Another said they saw lions around me, both guarding me and adding to the roar of my authority (Lion being symbolic of the Lion of Judah). I am so humbled by this… I am reminded how several years ago, when I saw or heard about things like this being said about others, I perceived them as being so ‘far ahead of me’ and thinking they ‘had arrived’, they were ‘saints’… yet now I am there – me, with all my faults and in all the ways I still need to grow. I now have a renewed sense of belief, and desire for everyone’s ability to reach and be in this space to also be realised. 

Finally, some major motivation going forward: I was told by a friend that returned to their country over the summer, that they enjoy telling their family, friends and community about Scotland, and me -their best friend here- and what I do, and more. How these seeds have been sown, have been able to travel and multiply! I thank God for allowing me to witness and see some of the fruit of my work.