20 degrees in January??

-Russell Evans, and Bill Johnson, doing his usual stance

Hello to everyone who reads this!
Welcome to another blog post from Redding, California!

What a couple of weeks we've had. I know we updated you a little bit about last week at school, but I just wanted to fill in a few details.

Steve Backlund was incredible. We had him speak to us Tuesday and Thursday and he possesses such a contagious joy. He's so funny and warm. His role at the church is mainly linked with Global Legacy, the network the church runs with other churches and church leaders around the globe. His talks were great and really practical, concerning mindsets we form in our brain and act out in our lives and how these mindsets need to be victorious if we are to live effectively for the kingdom of God. He also talked about hope and what that looks like for us as Christians, and how hopelessness can so easily creep in.
Wednesday was another great day as we had Paul Manwaring speak to us. Paul is a fellow Brit, so it was great to hear a somewhat familar accent from the stage for a change!
He spoke a lot on the subject of glory, some really powerful stuff. It was really helpful to see Paul, and we spent an evening at his house last week with some other Brits that are here too, to see how he and his family have adapted to life in the culture here. Paul really is an inspiration, embracing most if not all of life here and how they do things while at the same time remaining, somewhat resolutely, British. He has certainly taught us lots on how we in the UK can take and live many of the principles out that they have built here in Redding.

After Bill Johnson being away for the last week or so we didn't think we would see him in school for a little while so it was a great surprise that he came and spoke to the class on friday. Bill was his normal, peaceful but powerful self, speaking mainly on the topic of the Holy Spirit and how to host Him. Good stuff.

We had a great, restful weekend, punctuated by Sunday's services which, as always, were amazing. Sunday lunch was different, Josh and Em, who we live with, invited their friends Brandon and Caleb round, so Brandon brought some Venison meat with him. So we had a bit of a roast dinner, something we miss from back home. It was the first time we have had venison, which was interesting. It was ok, can't say I'm desperate to have it again. But we had a great time and the weather over the weekend and into this week has been amazing. It's been about 20-21 degrees! In January! It's like a British Summer! It's brilliant! I can't stop using exclamation marks!

Today (Tuesday) we were back at school again. Danny Silk, one of the senior leaders of the church, was in to talk to us. Danny always has media savvy presentations, full of funny videos and clips which is entertaining. We're currently reading one of his books for our homework, called 'Culture of Honour' (or Honor for the Americans, but I can't bring myself to write it without the 'u') It's a brilliant book so far, highly recommend it. Really like his explanation of the five fold government of the church and his outlining of what the New Covenant in Christ means for us, not a new set of laws but of freedom to manage ourselves as sons and daughters of God.

Really hope everyone is doing well, wherever you all are. We're having an incredible time here, God is so good, teaching us so much. We're still needing money for our missions trips to Ecuador, so if you want to give into that then click on the link to the side of this blog. Many thanks to those who have already given to this and to us in general.

Please do get in touch and let us know how you're doing, what you're up to etc. We love to hear from people!

Until next time...God bless you all.

Izzy and Liam x

'Who shall seperate us from the love of Christ? ....I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to seperate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord'
Romans 8:35,38-39 - That's some pretty Good News!