Tassie encourages British supporters with the same message she share in Nigerian churches, during her visit at the beginning of 2018.
Every day was a highlight! Our first visit was a catch up with George Verwer who shared insights and wisdom from his 50 years mentoring missionaries and gave Tassie a newly published African study bible.
She used one of its stories to illustrate her talk the following morning at Rye Lane Baptist Chapel. There we joined more than 40 women for breakfast, worship and some fun games before Tassie spoke about being complete through God’s grace and shared stories of Nigerian women who know they are whole in Christ but are also living with HIV.
The weekend we spent in Worthing with Trish and Chris Chatfield meeting with the local Pioneers prayer group, speaking at Elim Worthing’s morning service and sharing during an African-themed evening at St Paul’s church.
At the beginning of the week we took the train to Glasgow and on to Dunblane where Graeme Simpson collected us for the drive to their home in Crieff. It was c-c-c-cold and snowed the next morning; great big soft flakes falling straight out of the sky.
That evening Graeme and Carolyn had organised an African meal at Crieff Baptist Church and Tassie gave an update on our Nigerian work to the missionary prayer group, again sharing stories of how God is transforming lives through Grace & Light.
The following morning, we took trains and a bus back through Glasgow and south east to Cumnock – letting Tassie see how beautiful the Scottish Highlands are, especially when snow-covered. Our evening was spent with the bible study group at Cumnock Baptist Church, a congregation that has faithfully supported Grace & Light over many years.
More buses and trains the following day, this time to York where Sandra and Chris Lemming collected us and took us to their home in Holme-on-Spalding Moor.
Non-stop activities followed the next day; first Tassie spoke at the village primary school, then lunch in the church coffee shop in the heart of the village, speaking at the afternoon bible study group and finally dinner with ministers from all the local churches. Dinner was another new experience – melting Swiss cheese under a raclette grill then scraping it on to bread and vegetables.
At the end of the week we took the train back to London and an international night at St Paul’s Brentford followed by Chatsworth Baptist Church in West Norwood Sunday morning.
Tassie’s final few days in the UK were with St Thomas’s in Trowbridge, speaking at their women’s fellowship and missionary prayer meeting.
Each time Tassie spoke we invited people to support our work through prayer, one-off gifts and regular donations. If you would like to do so you can find out more here.
We are grateful to the many people who invited us into their homes during Tassie’s visit and who gave generously to support our work in Nigeria. We raised over £1,600 from churches and individuals.
