Howdy Cowboy

My new years resolution was (and is of course still) to post more frequently on this blog, so here's to a good start!

At the moment I am residing in Garden Valley, Texas. The Mercy Ships International Operations Centre is based here. I am here to complete the Gateway training program, a mandatory 4 week course with a 2 week field service in Benin.

The course consists of a Basic Safety Training (maritime safety stuff, but lets me be a fireman for a day :D ), some cross cultural training (including working with the poor) and a part faith foundations (to aid us in our personal walk with the Lord).

Its a good way to get everybody on the same page before serving.

We have today just completed the First Aid and CPR part so now onto fire fighting!!!

It was great to be home for New Year! Scots International Church thank you for your everlasting support and love! It honestly brought a tear to my eye seeing you all looking back atme when I was relaying my news. It truly felt like a son returning to a family! Thank you!

Time for bed on this side of the Atlantic! God bless!

Ben

PS Keep reminding me if I forget to post! And expect a newsletter in the next couple days, if you would like to be added to the mailing list let me know.

Prayer request

My new blog thing is on the sidebar: a prayer list. Each time I update my blog I will update my prayer list too. These are things that I would truly appreciate y'all (as they say in Texas) to remember in prayer. Ill try to explain at the bottom of each post what its all about so you dont have to guess.

One of my worries over this last week has been finances, it is still disconcerting not to have a paycheck coming in and as Mercy Ships means selffunding (even this training course and flights) it gets me nervy when I start to look forward. Yet how can I doubt Christ! God has provided amazingly so far, please keep me in prayer that I trust in Him instead of looking for my own solutions.