Wales Final Thoughts by Laurel and Peter (J2A Leaders)
On Thursday, we left Ffald-y-Brenin and traveled towards London. We stopped for a “Scottish” breakfast at McDonalds. Afterward we visited a very remote castle called Carreg Crennen. Most of us went down to the dark caves below the castle. Later, we arrived at our bed and breakfast called “The Cottage”. We celebrated our cooking victory at a Thai restaurant across the street.
A journey that began two years ago in a classroom at our church with a group of teenagers who didn’t know each other and two new leaders completed this week on our Pilgrimage to Wales. Before our very eyes my husband Peter and I have witnessed what happens when a community that is built on a foundation of faith in God is set free to discover themselves, one another and God in a land far away from their home. The miracles and moment that unfolded have awed us, inspired us, touched our hearts and given us a strong hope for the future of our young people and our world. If I am to tell you anything, I tell you that God is present and alive in the hearts of our pilgrims. He loves and guides them, humbles and blesses them. He gives them a voice when they think they have none and ears to listen to his voice. He has kept them safe and held them close in the palm of His hand. They return changed from who they were when they left 10 days ago, and I believe all would say for the better. We are proud of the community they are and honored to have had the privilege to guide them on this journey.
Thus ends the Wales blogs…