So much has
happened in the last 3 weeks: Britain voted to leave the European Union and
David Cameron (the prime minister) resigned; the England football team got
knocked out of Euro 2016 and their manager resigned; Top gear need a new presenter.
It appeared to some that life was so desperately falling apart that an
interviewer during Wimbledon asked Andy Murray if he was Britain’s last hope!
If you haven’t seen it you can watch it here by clicking the link below
Well,
yesterday Andy Murray won the Wimbledon men’s singles title for the second time;
Heather Watson, another British tennis player, won the Wimbledon mixed doubles
title; and Lewis Hamilton won the British Grand Prix. Perhaps things are
looking up?
In
Madagascar, thanks to your support, there is more hope than there was this time
last year. Mercy Ships could have been some people’s ‘last hope’. But thanks to
the training programs Mercy Ships instead has left ‘lasting hope’. Sustainable
programs to continue without us.
The final
statistics are in and we have achieved an incredible amount and I am proud to
have lead the hospital and medical capacity building (training) teams to touch
thousands of lives.
You can read
the numbers below. It brings a tear to my eye when I remember some of the
faces behind the numbers.
Lives changed forever.
Grateful hearts.
Mine and theirs!
I have been
back in England for a few weeks now, on vacation seeing friends and family. I have also found it moving to re-connect and hear some of your stories too. Stories of
hope, love, reconciliation, healing, provision.
Some have described tough situations, but still known hope in the midst of it.
Today I reflected on two years in Madagascar, and deep
and lasting transformation in that nation; I reflected on my own journey and
deep and lasting friendships with many of you and our own stories of
transformation. As I reflected two bible verses came to mind:
Psalm 121: 1-2
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Deuteronomy 31: 6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or
terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never
leave you nor forsake you.
Help and provision. Lasting hope in a God who will never leave us or forsake us, not you or me, or those I have just said goodbye too in Madagascar.
In my
opinion, God is our ‘last hope’ and without him there is no true ‘lasting hope’.
