Wednesday 28 September 2011

Connected with the world

I decided to have a reflective day. It is not easy to be still and as you know me,  I do not really do ‘time for myself’  thing. September was rather busy and full of excitements month. Today looked like a brilliant day for rest in the garden (shoveling gravel), reading, praying and connecting with  you! 
A little bit of explanation: you opened our letter and first thing you saw was ‘Facebook’ logo. I bet your first reaction was, ‘What the...?’ And if you had never seen Facebook...??
Many of you have seen the messages below, but some of you are not part of this amazingly useful and sometimes annoyingly ‘taking  all of your time’ interconnected world. So, I thought instead of deeeeeep reflection on what was happening in our part of the world I will copy and paste our Facebook diary messages. Some of you will trace back Lord’s steps once more and others....well, I hope you will enjoy reading this. 
1st of September, 2:41pm
September...well, tomorrow we are heading for the wedding to Leeds and .....from Monday on as Rugile will go back to school I will sit down to write a reflection on a year that passed by and what wonderful things God has done in Gloucester.
Meanwhile, we are settling  into our new home, which is absolutely gorgeous cottage type house, about a hundred years old ....we have already met almost all of our neighbours, who are very lovely. Today I chatted with a man, who is also retired and keen to make friends and chat about his family and etc.
Please, if you are in town pop in for a cup of tea!!!! We will have an open house day as soon as we unpack and tidy up around the house! However, if you really want to see us earlier just come....we are always happy to see you!
Blessings to you all!
7th of September, 11:44am
we had a very good church leaders meeting and it seems we have a big green light to start doing something amazing together!!!
12th of September, 11:45am
Hi all, there is not much news yet about what is going to happen this year, but there are things that are happening, but it is too early for the public announcement. Please, pray for wisdom and discernment, peace and joy for we are thrilled for the Lord is in action. Big Time!
Tonight we are having our ECM missionaries in Gloucester prayer meeting and of course plenty of food for us all to enjoy fellowship.
14th of September, 12:19pm
had my first Polish lesson after very relaxing summer... will I ever learn this language? I did remember some stuff, but I really need to repeat repeat and repeat again and again....so, please, pray for me!


Facebook is a social networking site intended to connect friends, family, and business associates’. 
‘My goal is not to be popular, but to be connected, so that relationships built there can bear the weight of the Gospel’ B.McAnally.

15th of September, 8:56am
yesterday afternoon was brilliant! I met up with my Polish friend and her kids, we talked about churches, families, God and I gave her 'Realna Nadzieja' journal, which is produced in Poland and has John's Gospel in it as well as stories about people finding God in foreign lands and what difference He has made in their lives. Please, pray for my friend to come to know the power of stories for God is the director of each of them:). Thank you!
15th of September, 12:45pm
I am bursting with joy and 100% hipper! This morning I had a good skype talk with church in Poland and there are good stuff happening and hopefully, I will be able to go for the weekend in October to discuss missions.
And then I was on my way to meet another Polish lady, instead I met Pavel, who has lived here for 10 years, married to a Romanian and have a cute daughter. As he said to me, 'I am a Christian and I go to church, but sometimes I lack understanding of God and I would love to meet with you to talk about him and our relationship' and than I met Agnieszka, who is a Christian and lives near us. She is married too and has a cute son. So, they are both keen to meet up with someone for prayer and a meal, which I think we'll arrange one for next week! Oh gosh, this is so amazing and when I said that God is in action I meant it! He is here and He is with you and us! You are the most amazing support team on Facebook!!! So, guys keep praying!
26th of September, 9:13am
This week is a little bit calmer and I can reflect on the past few weeks. It seems all is falling into places and we are exited to see God at work. As much as God is working in peoples lives that we meet He is changing and shaping us too. Today Vidas is having his first lecture on Spiritual Formation at Redcliffe College. I am very proud of my husband, as you can all imagine!:) I am looking forward to hear and see more of God in his life.
On Friday we are having a Polish family for dinner to get to know each other and hopefully we'll be meeting on regular basis for meals and prayer. And of course, I continue Polish lessons on Wednesdays and having people around our place; enjoying fellowship with many strangers.... they teach us a lot about grace and love and this is the best bit of being in full time ministry! Such a blessing to have you all with us!
28th of September, 12:27pm
tonight we are having Redcliffe volunteers for Bible studies. We are studying Hebrews 2, ‘so we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it’. Sometimes it is very hard to hear His voice and sometimes His voice becomes ‘flesh’ that we could see Him at work in our lives. He is amongst us. We do not see Him or do not hear the Voice because we are too selfish and passive in our walk. We pray that each of these young people hear His voice to keep them walking forward in the steps of His Son Jesus Christ. Pray for them to grow into men and women of God! 

New home
Here are some pictures of our new home: one of the most important places in the house is a kitchen! The garden as you can see needs a lot of work and I am working on it step by step. Our bedroom is spacious and I have a working space! Rugile loves her room very much! Please, come and visit us!










Our address:67 Deans Way, Gloucester, GL1 2QA, UK                                              
Email: rita.rimkiene@ecmi.org             
ECM Britain
50 Billing Road, Northampton, NN1 5DB, UK
p.s. Thank you for your ongoing support! By the way, our support is coming up slowly and if you would like to join us on this remarkably rewarding journey, write to us or ECM Britain. We still need 58 people with £10 per month. Is it too much? What about as little as £5 per month? 
Blessings to you all!
Rimkai 



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Tuesday 6 September 2011

A year in ministry

You have already noticed from images in this letter that our theme is water, waves, ships and sailing... Well, just to be clear neither Vidas or me can sail, but I think the image of being on a big Ship with God is the best way to describe a year in ministry. Let us remind you what happened during the year of 2010-2011. 
  1. We have been set of for the ministry in September, 2010. 
  2. What is our ministry about? I am sure you know it, but....we are in Gloucester with the European Christian Mission working amongst the Polish community and other Eastern and Central Europeans, but also amongst the locals. Sharing God’s love with everyone who is thirsty...
  3. Our crew had grown after we approached St. James church, Brunswick Baptist Church and Pulawska church in Poland. Rita visited Pulawska church in April for two weeks, where she helped them with the Labyrinth outreach. But we cannot stop here, we are looking for more churches to join the crew. Please, tell your church about us!!!
  4. We hosted two Polish nights! 
  5. We had over 50 dinners! We have been blessed to meet people from various backgrounds and faiths. Sharing a meal with people that we knew or did not know was the most exciting adventure (more for Rita than Vidas). It is a good test of faith when someone says, ‘do you really believe in God? Why? Look, the world is a mess, where is your God?’ 
  6. From April, 2011 Rita began her Polish language studies. Ok, I am not brilliant, but I will get there!  
  7. We made friends with 4 Polish families. God has been taking Rita into a very strange waters and she met the most extraordinary people, who are open to hear God’s Word.
    8. We visited number of churches. Cambray Baptist church invited us to their prayer evening and we are looking forward to making friends with them. 
    9.We have enjoyed ECM retreat in May. We learnt more about God’s marvelous work across Europe and been encouraged by other ECM missionaries. 
    10. Rita preached, spoke at conferences and was invited to be one of the speakers at the World Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission consultation in November in Germany.
    11. We had visitors from Poland. Kinga is praying for her future ministry and it seems she would like to join us!!! However, this is more her will at the moment, please pray that she would receive an answer from God.
    12. We led people to the Lord. The best feeling ever!!! 
    13. We moved house, which was a true provision from God.
    14. Finally, You have joined us on the ship, helped us to raise our sails and trust in God that wherever He will take us we will have assurance of Him being the Wind, the Anchor and the Captain of the Ship. Thank you for being the best crew ever!

    The wind is strong...
    Every morning we have to raise our sails of faith and ask God for direction. By now, we know that we have enrolled into a ministry that perhaps we will not see many people joining the Ship of God.  We all would like to see people coming to God, but we should not forget that God has its own timing. What we really ought to do is not aimlessly drift with the world, or row our ship without a compass to give a direction. The results can be very disappointing: ‘Drifting will take you wherever the current of the world goes. Rowing - that is, trying to make progress by your flesh—is just as perilous, because you don’t know what the destination is or how to get there, so any rowing effort will be in vain. If you don’t let God chart your course, you can end up rowing in circles or into dangerous waters’ (Robin’s blog, www.heartofwisdom.com).  The world has drifted away from God so far that it hurts to look at it. We are the crew of God ready to take people on board and direct their paths towards the Captain.

    A year passed by and we can say that God took us through mild storms. We have seen Him in peoples lives and we were able to show people that He is the Captain of their lives. 
    Of course, we drifted away, but we got back to our compass and looked for the wind to take us back on the track. We see the land of God searching for hope and love, but we are still not able to drop the anchor for several reasons: first of all we need to raise support, secondly we need people to join us in prayer for us and with us and also be part of us not only in word, but in deed too. Come on, let God surprise you, let Him raise your sails!

       
    Financial Support!!!!!!

    When are we going to drop the anchor and start our ministry in full capacity? Our dear fellow sailors without you we are not able to reach the land! The anchor is still very high up and is not even touching waves.... Now, how much do we still need? We still short about £600! You might think is a lot, but what if you give us £10 per month? Will you help us to reach the shore for people are waiting to hear the Message?  If yes, please join us on the ship that is sailing towards the people in need of God’s Word, love, grace and without your support they will never hear the Good News. 

    Pray with us:

    There are several things that we would like you to pray for:
    1. pray for our financial support. Please, join us with little as £10 per month!
    2. pray for our new neighbours and us settling into new home.
    3. pray for Rita preparing for the November consultation, which is a quite challenge for her.
    4. pray for developing friendships with the Polish families. 
    5. pray for Rita’s attempt to learn Polish, which is very rusty.
    6. pray for Rugile. She is in Y5 and looking forward to a new adventure. Pray for her friendship with Maria, a Polish girl that they have been friends since reception. 
    7. pray for Vidas work, as he is the main supporter of this ministry and we need him to be healthy and happy. 

    Thank you very much for being part of us and taking time to read our newsletters, pray for us and encourage us. Please, do not be shy to join our crew by giving and releasing us to full time ministry.
    May God bless you!
     In the land of England (original text: Zebulum and of Naphtali), beside the sea, beyond the Severn River (the Jordan River) - in Gloucester (Galilee) where so many nations (Gentiles) live - the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where the death casts its shadow, a light has shined (Matthew 4:15-16).


    for Sailing with the Rimkai family

    67 Deans Way
    Gloucester
    GL1 2QA, UK
    Mobile: Vidas 07896300189



    ECm Britain, 50 Billing Road, Northampton, NN1 5DB, www.ecmbritain.org

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