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Friday, May 13, 2022

A Sunday surprise opens the door to more plant more seeds...

Front view of Cilfowyr Chapel, May, 2022Dear Friends of Wales Awakening,

On Sunday morning we were so happy that Gladys could come to Chapel with me. Much to our surprise, I was greeted in the car park by one of the trustees who said that our minister was not going to be able to come to the service, and asked if could I bring a short message from the word. He also asked if I would be comfortable ministering the holy communion – such an honor and privilege.

Several of those present took part in the service with directing, giving readings, and songs. We put into practice what Colosians 3:16, "...teaching and exhorting one another in psalms and hymns..." Just what I was going to mention at the Tuesday meeting.

The pastor’s text for his sermon was going to be from 1 Peter 2, and verses 1-3 , "…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." So I was given the opportunity to say many of the things which I had hoped to be able to talk about Tuesday night, and lay a foundation for it!

To start the Lord's supper, I prayed the words from the song they have used to start each meeting for generations,"O, anfon di yr Ysbryd Glan…", “oh dear Lord, send the Holy Spirit”. It is God's answer to those words that we have been praying for since we moved here in 2005.

Tuesday night there were 14 of us together at the member's meeting at Cilfowyr which we asked to you pray for. I had not been in a church business meeting for than seventeen years, and forgotten what that is like. The main conclusion of all the practical matters and discussions is that the chapel will carry on as they have done until now. Then the formal part of the meeting came to an end, and they gave me the floor to share the baptism video and say a few words. I started off in Welsh but was quickly reminded that they all speak English perfectly well and to just carry-on with that greater freedom to express myself.

A great place to start an adventure!Because it was all spontaneous, here are bits and pieces that I remember. I spoke about 10 May being so significant and our completion of 17 years here. I shared about Jeremiah 32 promise of redemption of properties, as people come to the Lord and the the land comes under the stewardship of the body of Christ. I talked about the 1932 baptism of Betty Bowen and it's relevance to the video, and of the matters of life and eternity. I briefly mentioned the importance of revival and the significance of how the 1904 and 1859 Welsh revivals changed the history of the Christian world.

I talked about the future of the chapel, which was the main topic of the meeting, and that I believe that the future would see the chapel filled to the brim with new believers and regenerated believers. I also specifically mentioned the two young men present and underscored the importance of their generation. I spoke about the flags of 45 nations which represent people that have come from those nations believing the revival is going to touch their countries through what happens in Wales.

Through the five minutes I had, there was no visible evidence of any impact or reaction or signs of curiosity or interest. I theStorm Eunice from the west into Europen showed them the video of the baptism, which they all watched, although some were talking on the side as they watched. They said "thank you very much, that was nice", and everyone made their way out the door. I had a few conversations with the groups that formed outside, but there wasn't a comment or question about anything I said.

As I said in my last email, we didn't really know what to expect, and had hoped for more receptivity. But after all the nuts and bolts of the physical operation of things, it wasn't a total surprise. But we walk by faith and not by sight, just like Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

However, we are amazed and thankful at how the Lord opened the door for both Sunday and Tuesday night to be able to share all that I did. And we rest in the truth of what Isaiah 55:11 says, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

Thank you for your continued prayers for us, for Wales, and the nations,

Dick & Gladys


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Thursday, May 05, 2022

Surprises of spring, and hidden seeds of seventeen years...

Spring discoveries in our new garden
in Betws Ifan!Dear Friends & Prayers:

As spring really is getting underway now, we are discovering the many lovely flowers and features of the garden in our new home. We've planted some things but are mostly just watching the whole area come into  new freshness that we've not seen before.

Isaiah 58:11-12 says, "The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations...
"

The biggest surprise, however, took place two weeks ago at the first monthly meeting at Cilfowyr Chapel that we've had since January. At the end of the meeting when one of the trustees got up to share about the annual spring cleaning, and that there is going to be a general meeting of the members on Tuesday 10th of May. I was totally blown away to hear that purpose was to discuss the future of the Chapel...and the possibility of closing it down due to the aging and shrinking membership!

I'm sure you can imagine the thoughts that immediately began to race through my mind. Knowing full well that God had everything in hand, I didn't exactly freak out. But it was quite a ride as I entertained a multitude of possibilities in a very short period of time!

The overwhelming evidence of the Lord's goodness and amazing provision over all these years has been a solid anchor for our faith and kept us strong in His grace—from the miraculous provision of our new home to years of unfailing supply of material support, ad infinitum. It would take weeks upon weeks to tell the stories of glory that honor Him and Him alone.

The feshly refinished oor, just in
Chronos time!Another "incidental" fact was that only a week before we had the 140-year-old oak door refinished it was ready for Sunday. This was a job that had been on my mind for a few years, and similar to fixing up the even older baptistry a couple of years ago, it seems very prophetic indeed. And then all the many comments from very pleased members of what a great improvement this has made to the overall appearance of the chapel just made it all the more significant.

Then, within a few days, things started getting interesting! It dawned on me that the day of the meeting, May 10th, was the very same day that we left our family, friends, and home to relocate to Wales in obedience to a seemingly illogical mission impossible. After another day or two, I realized that it will have been seventeen years to the date. And that number began to just hang around like a mysterious tickling in my heart.

Then on Saturday morning, while reading and praying at the chapel, I was finally spurred into action and did a search for the word "seventeen". I could barely believe my eyes when I found Jeremiah 32 in the spotlight. The Holy Spirit gave me an immense revelation on that key portion back in August 2010. Verse 15 says, "For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.'" That verse kicked off an extraordinary chain of events, including the redeeming of the Bible College of Wales.

May 10th is an amazing date of
completion-17 years in Wales!But I wasn't prepared for what I discovered next. Verse 9 says, "...weighed out to him the money—seventeen shekels of silver." Then it hit me like a thunderbolt—one shekel = one year! On the date of the meeting, May 10th, the price will have been PAID IN FULL!!! I was quite overwhelmed, as you might imagine, and just tried to take it all in as the "download" from the Holy Spirit washed over me. While still in the afterglow of this revelation, I tried to capture as much as I could express at the time in a short video. (If you'd like to watch these 3-minutes, please email me and I'll send you the link!)

So we have a special and important request. Would you please pray with us for the meeting, and if so led, even during the specific time. It will take place this coming Tuesday, May 10th, May 10th is an amazing date of
completion-17 years in Wales!at 6 pm British Summer Time (UTC +1). We had an informal discussion after the spring cleaning last Tuesday, and everyone wants to keep on meetings as usual, so that is not an issue, praise God! But specifically, we are asking for prayer about what to share. Also, I will be speaking to the members present in Welsh, so please pray for a "...spirit of power, love, and a sound mind!"

These arched-shaped panels decorate the balcony all the way around the chapel. I've counted them lots of times over the years, but never was able to find any meaning to the number—that is until this Tuesday morning. There are 62 panels, and the Lord directed me to Isaiah 62:1 which says, "For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness ...and salvation are as a lamp that burns." So those will be my opening words and we are trusting the Spirit of God to take over from there...

Thank you so very much for your prayer support during this crucial time. We don't know what to expect, but we are certain that His plans will not be thwarted. And we look forward to discovering what it says in Hebrews 7:24-25, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

Our most sincere thanks for your interest and prayer support. And thank you also for keeping Gladys' health situation in your prayers. She needs a breakthrough.

May God bless you and keep you holding on to Him during these unprecedented times. "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness." (Psalm 37:3 NKJV)

Dick & Gladys


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