“Christ for the world, for the world needs Christ.” – Eric Liddell
Dear family in the Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the outpouring of your support through financial means and through your many, faithful prayers. The Christian life is always a battle, and I have felt the war with a pointed fierceness since I have arrived in Merkinch. To know you are praying with and for me is such a great encouragement. Thank you! And praise be to God that the war is already won through Jesus and the victory belongs to the Lord. Please pray that I would armor up every day by the power of God’s Spirit with the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the sword of the Spirit, and the shoes of the readiness given by the Gospel of peace. How we need Him, and how good He is to walk with us all the way.
My first week in Merkinch has been very full and such a joy. There is much work to do even in isolation, and that is a privilege to be a part of. And I am more than halfway through my isolation, thanks be to God! Here are some highlights from the past few days.
PICTURES FOR THIS WEEK:
I was able to meet everyone in our “wee” church over Zoom, and what a joy to finally see them after months of prayer for them! The picture below is of everyone except for our wonderful church administrator and her husband (whose picture I’ve pasted underneath). Please pray for us, that we would be knit together strongly as family in Jesus and that we would lay down our lives for one another as Christ laid down His life for us.
Being in isolation, I wasn’t able to gather with everyone on Sunday. Living in the pastor’s house has many advantages, though, one being that I could hear the service by sitting between the double doors that connect our living room to the church hall!
During my isolation work for the launch team this week, I came across this map of our scheme. Merkinch has been rated the 8th most deprived area in all of Scotland, a statistic that is based on several factors like crime, mental health, housing, and poverty. That means that right now Merkinch is the most deprived scheme out of all the schemes currently being reached by 20schemes. Please pray for us; more than anything, these folks need Jesus and the light of the Gospel.
I am looking forward to showing you more of Merkinch and the people here once I am out of isolation. Thank you so much for your prayers! I am grateful for you and your support, and I am praying for you. May the Lord use our offerings to bring many in Merkinch into the Kingdom!
John 17:3,
Claire
Claire in Scotland 