Home Sweet Home

Ever since we arrived in Scotland, 3 weeks ago, I have been quite homesick. It’s strange because I really do like the city, the people, the church, and life here; but at times I have found myself depressed, thinking and crying aloud “I just want to go home.” To say the least this has not been the easiest of transitions for me. I miss Rochester, my friends, family, and church family back home. (However I’m not missing all the snow that is still falling;)

BUT this week has been a bit of a turning point for me. I still miss “home” but God has been so faithful and is really helping me to see Glasgow as my “home” for the next year, and I have felt much more settled this week. Apart from God’s grace and faithfulness a few practical things that have helped this week are:

1. Moving into our flat! Check back next week for a video tour of our flat
2.  Going grocery shopping and cooking our first meal in our new home
3. Setting up our baby room
4. Getting registered with a doctor. Huge answer to prayer we are covered by the NHS and do not have to pay for any health care including baby costs!
5. Getting some defined roles and specifics as to what are jobs will be here and diving into that.
6.  Lastly our church family at Harvest Glasgow. On Sunday we had an outdoor baptism service after church and I remember just looking around at everyone and feeling this sense of home. In that moment, I believe God was showing me the beauty of the church and was telling me to allow myself to be a part of this family, get to know these people, and grow with them. I felt so encouraged in that moment and excited to see what God is going to do during our time here.

Lesson of the Week

This week I have been thinking a lot about my prayer life and how I have become so complacent with prayer. I was encouraged by a friend to continue praying BIG prayers and I was reminded of the last time I started asking God for BIG things. That is when he revealed his plan for us to come to Scotland. I want to become more dependent on God and I know the only way to do that is to seek him in prayer and allow him to change me and do BIG things in my life. I don’t want to leave here in a year thinking that was a fun year. I want to leave knowing that this was the year God changed my life, brought me to a greater place of dependence on Him, and used me to build his kingdom. I was also challenged in church on Sunday about my beliefs on prayer. As Pastor Scott said when we pray we activate the arm of omnipotence. If I truly believe that somehow my prayers move the hand of the Almighty then my prayer life should look different.

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

Prayer Requests

•  Praise God that we are registered with the NHS and do not have to worry about paying hospital bills for any baby costs. We previously thought we were going to have to pay out of pocket for all maternity check ups and the delivery.
•  Continue to pray for our bank situation as the bank mailed our debit cards to the US. Pray that we will have full access to our money this week.
•  Pray BIG! Pray that we would become more dependent on God through prayer, that God would change us, and that God will use us in ways we can’t even imagine.

Picture of our flat

  

First meal of spaghetti and meatballs

View of our clinic from our bedroom window. That is where all my appointments will be.

The church building we meet in every Sunday

Grace being baptized

You are loved!

If you would like our new address please email us or send us a facebook message. benarant@gmail.com or daniarant@gmail.com

A Changed View

The Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, fueled by the writings of Martin Luther and John Calvin, set the stage for Scotland to produce a rich Christian heritage. From martyrs burned at the stake like Patrick Hamilton and George Wishart, to John Knox who basically brought the reformation to the Scottish church, and David Livingstone, who brought the gospel to Africa, we see no shortage of Christian heroes produced from the great country of Scotland.

I say these few words about Scottish history to provide an unfortunately stark contrast to the current spiritual climate of this country.  Churches are either not growing, or closing their doors. A giant cloud of apathy, towards religion, seems to have crept its way into the hearts and minds of the people. An old Glaswegian motto reads "Lord, let Glasgow Flourish by the preaching of the word." Today the motto has been changed to, “Let Glasgow Flourish.” Secularism is quickly taking hold of this country. *PRAY FOR THE NEXT REFORMATION*

Even in these first two weeks of being in Glasgow, God has shown us more clearly why He brought us here; to reach out to a spiritually poor city with the gospel for the glory of God. What an amazing calling God has placed our lives for this next year!

THIS PAST WEEK
We had another great and encouraging Sunday this week.  One of the elders stepped in to preach literally the day before due to illness from pastor Scott.  God anointed his words as he preached on the armor of God.  The rest of the week was consumed with spending time building relationships, figuring out our roles and responsibilities more clearly, and attempting to set up our bank accounts.

LESSON LEARNED
No matter how difficult the transition is, no matter how much you know or don't know what you are doing, no matter how difficult it seems or even if all of it makes sense, when God says GO...you GO! Learning that if we exercise the faith that God has already given us, and take active steps towards seeking God's will for our lives, He will honor that and we will see the fruit of that in our own lives! #gohardorgohome

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Continued diligence with spiritual disciplines

2. That we would be faithful in seeking out discipleship (building relationships)
3. We would be able to move into our flat soon
4. That our bank account stuff would all get resolved

5. That God would use us in mighty ways to reach the lost in Glasgow

*pictures from Wikipedia

New sights, new sounds, new...COUNTRY!

We arrived in Glasgow last Wednesday! Our flights went very smoothly and the journey was quite an easy one Praise God! 

This week we have spent most of our of time catching up on sleep, getting somewhat acquainted with the city, meeting lots of people from the church, and looking for a flat. We found a great flat for a decent price that was fully furnished. It is a little bit of a walk to shops, public transportation, and the church, but nothing too far or unmanageable. We will hopefully be moving in by the end of the week and hope to start a "normal" work routine next week. We've met a lot of great people; Glaswegians are extremely friendly and like American accents which works in our favor:)

Lesson of the Week
If you know me very well you will know that transitions are not easy for me. Saying good-bye is difficult, meeting new people is difficult, and I get overwhelmed by new circumstances pretty easily. So needless to say this past week has been a challenging one for me. However when I think back to how God has been faithful in the past I am encouraged. 

When we moved to Rochester it wasn't easy. I didn't know anyone besides Ben's family and it took quite awhile for me to make friends and feel at home in Rochester. Now when I think our time spent in Rochester I think of the place where God changed me and grew me in so many ways and where I have so many godly friends that have made such a lasting impact on my life. And that was just a small step of faith to move to Rochester. I am confident that although this year may be difficult, God is going to do so much in our lives and grow us in ways I can't even imagine. In that sense I hope it is just as hard to leave Glasgow as it was to leave Rochester. 

In the difficult times I am reminded to remain faithful to God's calling in my life, and to surrender my fears and anxieties of being in a new place at the cross and trust in what God is doing. Easter Sunday was a perfect day to leave Rochester with such a great reminder of why we moved to Glasgow. We want the whole world to know that Jesus Christ is alive!

1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Prayer Requests
-For our bank accounts to get set up so we can have access to our money
-To build lasting relationships 
-For boldness as we share Christ with those around us
-New birth in the city of Glasgow

Highlight of the Week
-Worshipping with the people of Harvest Glasgow for the first time
-Seeing Prince William and Princess Kate...twice!...well their motorcade


We will be updating our blog every Wednesday so stay tuned. Ben and I will be rotating from week to week!

You are loved! 
Ben, Dani, and baby Arant

Its a.....

 BOY!!!!!!!

Ben and I are so excited to reveal the gender of our baby that is going to be born in September over in Glasgow, Scotland.  God has done so many amazing thing in our lives over the past 6 month and we are so thankful for all of the wonderful, loving, and godly friends we have made along the way.

"This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes." Psalm 118:23

Since you all have been a huge part of the journey thus far, we want you to continue this race with us by visiting our blog often, and praying for us even more! Together, let's all grow closer to God in this next year more than ever before!

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works..." Hebrews 10:24

YOU ARE LOVED!