Wales Awakening Updates

Beloved Friends and Prayers:

As the morning skies lighten with the coming dawn just now, God's mercies are new every day for each one of us. His grace and mercy is offered freely to all, for Wales and the whole world.

The fields are green again here this morning, unlike two days ago when everything within this view from our window was white with a mixture of hail and snow. Even the sheep huddled under the trees seemed to be aware that something was different that morning. How glorious will be that day when Wales is covered like this but with God's grace reflected in and through the lives of its human inhabitants!

Now about the door opening a little wider. In my Sept. 20th. update I mentioned that we were beginning to feel accepted by the members of the chapel. Well, we were joyfully surprised last Sunday at the monthly meeting in "our" chapel when afterwards the pastor came to me and asked if I could read a couple scriptures during the December service. This may not seem like a big deal after 30 years of preaching the Gospel, but it makes me feel like a 10-year-old anticipating his first-time participation in church! The simple fact that he would ask me read shows that something is happening - our presence among these native Welsh speakers is more than politely tolerated, and that is a very welcome sign for us.

I immediately asked Gareth, the pastor, if I could read in English, and he said that would be fine of course, but I'm considering trying it in Welsh. That would also curb the temptation to comment afterwards on such wonderful verses as are Isaiah 9:2-7 and 60:1-3! Here's what verses 1-3 look like, so please pray for my mouth to cooperate! " 1 Cod, llewyrcha, oherwydd daeth dy oleuni; llewyrchodd gogoniant yr Arglwydd arnat. 2 Er bod tywyllwch yn gorchuddio'r ddaear, a'r fagddu dros y bobloedd, bydd yr Arglwydd yn llewyrchu arnat ti, a gwelir ei ogoniant arnat. 3 Fe ddaw'r cenhedloedd at dy oleuni, a brenhinoedd at ddisgleirdeb dy wawr."

Our Welsh studies are progressing slowly. We are covering a lot of material fairly rapidly, and it seems a bit overwhelming most of the time, but the teacher assures us we are progressing, so on we go. We do have Welsh speaking neighbors so there are opportunities to practice. Gladys is actually a little bolder than I when it comes to trying it out!

This weekend at the New Life Christian Centre in Cardigan, a brother from North Carolina, Phil Bennett, is sharing about a new spiritual song being birthed here. He is convinced that there is a huge revival coming to Wales which will affect the nations of the world. Now doesn't that strike a familiar chord? Your continued interest and prayers on our behalf and for God's coming move in Wales are very much appreciated!

In His abundant love,

Dick & Gladys Funnell

PLEASE NOTE: Temporarily, our support should be mailed to:

Verbo Ministries - Wales (Please write "Wales" clearly in Memo area) P.O. Box 670207 Houston, TX 7726

For more information on our mission to Wales, please visit http://walesawakening.org

Home: 011-44-1239-810825 Mobile: 011-44-7796-316626

Our new home address is: Genaur Glyn Beulah Newcastle Emlyn, SA38 9QB Wales, U.K.

Dear Friends and Prayers:

It's seems a bit odd that so far away from the major flood disaster that hit New Orleans and the Gulf Coast two months ago, we ourselves are also affected by a flood here last week. After several days of rain, last Tuesday's particularly heavy downpours caused the River Teifi's worst flooding in 40 years!

This step-like ripple across the river is actually the bridge in the village of Llechrhyd, on our daily route to the chapel. By Wednesday morning when I took this picture here, the water had started going down from nearly a twenty foot crest! Many houses were flooded along the river's path, and sections of the main highway to Cardigan from the south were underwater also.

It normally looks like this, but now the bridge is closed until they can repair some damage done to the side walls, sections of which gave way to the trees turned into battering rams which were carried along by the racing current. Hopefully the repairs can be done before long, as it is a major inconvenience for everyone to have take alternate crossings miles up or down stream.

This past weekend marked six months in Wales. It's amazing how the time has flown by! After three weeks in our house now, we are beginning to feel settled in. Last night I put together a small desk, and so will have my "study" set up in a few more days. There are shelves yet to be finished for our clothing, and other details, but it really feels like home now, which is definitely a blessing after our 5 months of transiency. Our guest room is furnished now, and you'd be welcome anytime.

Sitting here in the chapel this morning, I was remembering our children's visit 3 months ago, and found myself suddenly missing them and I was overcome with sorrow. As I wept, my heart was opened up to the much larger picture of things, which quickly melted away my own circumstances. I realized that this kind of grief is just a taste of how God's heart surely yearns for His own "missing children." For He so loved that world that He made the unfathomable sacrifice of sending His only begotten and beloved Son to die for us, and so making access for "whosever believeth in Him" to enjoy eternal love and togetherness with Himself.

Meanwhile the world ignores this marvelous inheritance that is ours for the asking. This nation of Wales is largely oblivious to God's kingdom of love, and their own impending peril. They're trapped by the world system into an existence of eventual or permanent frustration, busily living for the day, seeking personal satisfaction and protection, and trying to suppress the knowledge of their destiny of death. The inner hopelessness innate in birth and life without Christ gnaws away undeterred.

And yet, Jesus is the only worthy goal of every heart. Only He can satisfy man's deepest longings.

And for this we are here praying daily. For this cause we have the privilege of serving here as intercessors and ministers of a lively and eternal hope. What joy is ours to know what is in His heart for this country and the nations of the world. So we pray for the promised "flood" of the Holy Spirit, the unprecedented outpouring that has been promised. We eagerly persevere to see the day when .."And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children," as declared in Isaiah 54:13.