Wow…another
week down. I can hardly believe that time is going by so fast! Our assembly
this week might have been my favourite one that we've done so far. We're
talking about the Ten Commandments in the assemblies, starting with number ten—"You
shall not covet." I got the distinguished role of being the extremely jealous
person. Christine and I compared our iPods, and I got jealous that she had a
pink case as well as both High School Musical films, whereas I only had some
episodes of Hannah Montana. Then I got even more jealous when I saw that Josh
had a much better scarf than I had.
The best part was that each time I got jealous; I got to paint my face green to
show that I was "green with envy." The kids really seemed to enjoy it, and I
had a lot of fun getting into the role except for the day that I used paint
that was obviously not meant for skin because it felt like my face was on fire
the whole time! :)

After school
club at Brentnall, the one we had much trouble with last semester, gets better
and better every week it seems! We've had so much fun there lately, and I think
it's honestly one of my favourite ministries now. Thank you so much for all of
your prayers for that  :)

I have a
somewhat large prayer request for you all. Yesterday when we were at lunch club
at North Grecian Street, I got to thinking, "Man…it's going to be really hard
to leave in May…I don't know if I'll be able to do it!" I eventually came to
the conclusion that I don't think I'll
be able to. I've invested so much time in them; so much of myself, and I love
them so much. It's hard to explain to anyone who hasn't experienced what I have
firsthand and seen what these kids' lives are like. I see the direction that
many of them are headed, and I don't want them going there. I want them to know
God so badly; I want them to know how much He loves them more than anything
else in the world; I want to spend eternity with them; I want them to know the
greatest love this world has ever known, like I do. There isn't going to be an
FYM team here next year, so a lot of our ministries this year will be
nonexistent a year from now. There will be no one here. No more lunch clubs; no
more after school clubs. I see the lives that so many of the older kids we work
with are living, and if we want to turn this generation around, not only do we
have to help them, but we have to
keep going into the primary schools and doing assemblies and having the lunch clubs and after school clubs.
In many cases, the only place the children hear about God is through us. And if we're gone next year, what do
they have?  

We're doing
a study on Acts this semester, and lately we've been talking a lot about how
the apostles truly did lay down their lives and follow Jesus—they left their
families and everything they've ever known to follow Christ. We've been
encouraged to ask ourselves if we would be willing to do that. I know I have
said that I'm going to the University of Arkansas next year, but now I'm
reconsidering. I know that God has called me to England, so I was planning on
moving here after I graduate, but is that God's
timing or my timing? In 4 years,
I don't know where the people I'm working with now will be, so I would have to
start over. I know I'm expected by many people to go to school next year and
get a degree, but do I honestly really need one? What is the point? To help me
get a good job and earn money? I'm going to be a missionary…I already know that
this job doesn't pay well! (Financially at least.) When I go to heaven, I don't
think God is going to ask, "Hilary, did you get a degree from the University of
Arkansas and have a good job?" I think He's going to ask something more like, "Hilary,
what did you do in my name?"

Anyway, my
point in all of this is just to ask you to pray for me-for God to clearly
reveal to me where He wants me, and for me to have a willing heart to go—whether
that's going to the University of Arkansas next year or staying here. I know
that God will use me-and every single one of you-wherever you're at in your
life and wherever he has called you to be.

Praise be to
our King, who loves us all more than we could possibly know!

Any Road,
Any Cost

(Point of
Grace)

Leaving the
safe and familiar

With their
hearts set on a heavenly prize

There were
some who laid down their nets

And some who
laid down their lives

Not sure
where they were going

But they did
not have to know

‘Cuz they
knew who had called them

And they
said

We will go

Down any
road, at any cost

Wherever you
lead, we will follow

Because we
know

That You've
called us to take up our cross

Down any
road, at any cost

It may be
fear that we're feeling

When we see
what we must sacrifice

But You
promised You'll go with us

So we'll
trust with our lives

Down any
road, at any cost

Wherever you
lead, we will follow

Because we
know

That You've
called us to take up our cross

Down any
road, at any cost

It's Your
love that compels us

To what You've
called us to do

And we
completely abandon

To You

Down any
road, at any cost

Wherever you
lead, we will follow

Because we
know

That You've
called us to take up our cross