a new home

12 days into 2010 began a new journey for us... we hopped on a plane (1 day after our 3rd anniversary) and stepped into a new world (and new home). we left everything that was comfortable, safe and KNOWN, and moved in with about 40 or so other people. we didn't know anyone except each other.

and yet we have never felt so at home. so welcomed. so safe. isn't it amazing how god can do things like that? we choose to say YES - even though everything seems strange and crazy and doesn't really make sense - and he comes and meets us in that exact place and says, DON'T WORRY, I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU. BETTER CARE OF YOU THAN YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOU. we're so silly sometimes. thinking we can care for ourselves better than he can.

we have been at holmsted manor in cuckfield (pronounced cook-field), west sussex, england for 10 days and yet it feels like we've been here for months. relationships have been formed, memories have been made, and god has done some great things. we are so honored and thankful to be a part of this amazing adventure. sometimes i really can't grasp the fact that god CHOSE us and WANTS to use little ol' us. what a loving and redeeming god we serve.

here are james and i in the front of our new home... it's quite a breath-taking place. very easy to find jesus here. this particular morning (all these photos), it started snowing and stuck for the entire day.... it was beautiful. the top photo is the long driveway leading up to our home and the second photo is the rolling hills surrounding our property. thank you jesus for your beautiful creation.

we feel like we've jumped in with both feet and are fully embracing all this season holds for us. by god's grace we have transitioned so smoothly. thank you to our dear friends and family for loving us and praying for us so faithfully. we are fully aware that without your faithfulness we wouldn't be here. we pray you are blessed just as we are through this process.

we love you and miss you ~ james & rachel noel

"for this reason i kneel before the father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. i pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. and i pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of god. now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in christ jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! amen." ephesians 3