As I sit here in Stockholm's airport, I find myself flooded with thoughts and emotions. I have just finished my six month internship in London, and now I'm in Sweden to rekindle several close relationships developed over my year as an exchange student. It was hard to leave London, but I'm so excited to back in Sweden. But before we get to that, I think a quick recap of my final month in London is in order.
As time was winding down, my schedule seemed to be doing the opposite. Chris Lynch (my PRIME mentor) told me at the very beginning of my time to make sure not to mentally leave until I was on the airplane, and I can't thank him enough for the advice. Relationships continued to be strengthened, especially with several members of the Circle (which is doing very well, by the way). One of my friends from the Circle even took me to watch Manchester United get beat by Chelsea, and it was brilliant! Back to the Circle, all of the individuals going to Kenya completed a sponsored run or walk. I ran the 10k with the guys, and we had a blast. Then, on November 21, the Circle put together a massive fundraiser/concert. We had well over one hundred people show up. The music was done by many local artists, both professional and from a newly started music community. I got to play guitar for many of the latter acts (I even got to perform one of my own songs). Although the preparation was crazy stressful for all involved, the Lord really blessed the show. It went without a hitch.
After the show, my duties officially concluded and the goodbyes ensued. The Circle went back to Lucy's flat for hot chocolate and stories. We had a great time, but it was hard to leave. I pray that I will see them again soon. Then, Sunday, I said goodbye to my host family at the vicarage, and I moved into the Pelley's house for the night (they were taking me to the airport in the morning). Again, it was a hard goodbye. They were such a blessing, and they really grew on me over the past several months. At the Pelley's, we had a bit of a goodbye party. It was really nice to get to have some food and some fun with good friends before saying so long. This morning were the final goodbyes. We had a carload take me to the airport to see me off. I truly value each and every one of them, and they will be dearly missed. I am so grateful for my time in London. Thank you so much for your prayers and support!
Now, I'm in the final leg of my trip. It's time for a two week lightning tour of my old Swedish home. I'm super excited to see my host family and friends. Please just pray for the language and relationships to come back quickly. Also, I am going to try to get a good deal of work and research done, so I'd love prayer for that as well. I can't wait to see you all soon (I mean, I will wait, but you know what I mean). We serve a great God!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
When Leaders Leave
"20Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you." 1 Timothy 6:20-21
As Paul closes this letter, he does something that is essential for Timothy: he acknowledges that Timothy is indeed a leader. Paul understands that he will not always be around, so he must teach and grow a new generation of leaders, and Timothy is one of these. Paul does his best to impart wisdom and knowledge upon Timothy so that he might stand firm against the trials and pressures of the day, but I think that we commonly overlook the simple fact that Paul affirms Timothy as a leader in verse twenty, signifying the passing of the torch.
I write this not just as a random thought, although it is in part, but more as a reflection on my current situation. Last Thursday, my mentor left the field for six months, leaving a number of interns and projects to wrestle with the reality of changing leadership. Some will gladly find a new person to guide and direct them, and others will struggle with different forms and focuses of leadership. While these are good and proper reactions, we must not be so quick as to overlook an important reality: Chris equipped and filled us until the moment he left, expecting us to step up upon his departure. He raised us up as leaders, and left us to act accordingly. While it is natural for us to look for new sources of wisdom, we must not hinder ourselves from practicing what we have been taught.
As we assume the role of leadership, we must simultaneously be looking at who is coming behind us as leaders. While we're learning from those before us, we must look for ways to do the same for those who are yet to come. It is important to recognize that the cycle of leadership is constantly underway around us. There will always be people who have led longer than us, and there will always be people just arriving on the scene. With this in mind, it is essential for leaders to purposefully share knowledge and experiences in order to stimulate each other in new ways, creating a deeper leadership with every generation.
As I sit here reflecting on the recent changing of the guard, I am both nervous and excited. It is definitely a challenge to continue what Chris has begun in this wonderful city, but I feel well prepared for the endeavor. Chris purposefully prepared me, and now it is my chance to continue the work he has left for me.
As Paul closes this letter, he does something that is essential for Timothy: he acknowledges that Timothy is indeed a leader. Paul understands that he will not always be around, so he must teach and grow a new generation of leaders, and Timothy is one of these. Paul does his best to impart wisdom and knowledge upon Timothy so that he might stand firm against the trials and pressures of the day, but I think that we commonly overlook the simple fact that Paul affirms Timothy as a leader in verse twenty, signifying the passing of the torch.
I write this not just as a random thought, although it is in part, but more as a reflection on my current situation. Last Thursday, my mentor left the field for six months, leaving a number of interns and projects to wrestle with the reality of changing leadership. Some will gladly find a new person to guide and direct them, and others will struggle with different forms and focuses of leadership. While these are good and proper reactions, we must not be so quick as to overlook an important reality: Chris equipped and filled us until the moment he left, expecting us to step up upon his departure. He raised us up as leaders, and left us to act accordingly. While it is natural for us to look for new sources of wisdom, we must not hinder ourselves from practicing what we have been taught.
As we assume the role of leadership, we must simultaneously be looking at who is coming behind us as leaders. While we're learning from those before us, we must look for ways to do the same for those who are yet to come. It is important to recognize that the cycle of leadership is constantly underway around us. There will always be people who have led longer than us, and there will always be people just arriving on the scene. With this in mind, it is essential for leaders to purposefully share knowledge and experiences in order to stimulate each other in new ways, creating a deeper leadership with every generation.
As I sit here reflecting on the recent changing of the guard, I am both nervous and excited. It is definitely a challenge to continue what Chris has begun in this wonderful city, but I feel well prepared for the endeavor. Chris purposefully prepared me, and now it is my chance to continue the work he has left for me.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Meet Them Where They Are
Last Sunday (September 13) I got to see God in one of the most awesome ways I've ever seen. Throughout my time here, I've been learning about how important it is to meet people where they're at in terms of faith and understanding of spiritual things, but this was by far the clearest lesson on that principle.
I was invited to go to a mosque with two local missionaries to break the daily fast for Ramadan with some local Muslim men. Over their years here, they have built quite a strong relationship with the imam (community leader/ equivalent to a pastor), and he had invited us to join them. More than excited, we eagerly left for the mosque with no idea of what was in store.
We arrived around 7, and we were quickly ushered upstairs. We found ourselves in a long room with many rows of blue tarp on the floor with a plate of food every couple feet. Before long, the room was full of a couple hundred Muslim men either sitting quietly or praying to themselves. However, immediately upon hearing the prayer marking the end of the fast for the day, they dove into their food and drink. Much to our surprise, there was no talking or community. Each man just ate quickly, and in a matter of about ten minutes, the room was being cleaned up.
We were caught off guard by the haste with which they ate, but we shortly discovered that they did so in order to be prepared for the next of the daily prayers. We stood in back while they prayed, because we wanted to thank the imam for inviting us. As the men began to leave, many of them came and thanked us for joining them, even if they didn't understand why exactly we were there. One individual found a shared interest with us because he also does local youth work, so we talked for a few minutes. Then, the imam met us and asked if we'd like to talk over tea. Of course, we joyfully agreed.
He led us into the adjacent room, and as we sat down, we were brought more food and drinks. The conversation started out quite casually, but before long, we were asked about what we believed. I was slightly stunned, but the elder missionary took it in stride and began to share the gospel. After a couple questions, and as a few more Muslims began to edge closer to us, the younger missionary did likewise in different words. Before long, we were having a very pleasant discussion on the nature of Jesus as both parties see him. Surprisingly, there was hardly a tinge of animosity.
After a time, we had to stand up so that the room could be prepared for the final prayer of the day. I thought that this would mean the end of our great conversation, but, thankfully, it immediately resumed with a renewed interest. By this time, there were about twenty Muslims asking questions and sharing with the three of us. The group broke into two smaller groups to ask questions to the two m's, and discussion continued until it was time for the final prayer. After two hours of remarkable discussion, the three of us walked back toward the bus, praising God for how He had just moved in such an unexpected way.
There were so many lessons that I learned from this experience, but it's so hard to describe them all. In brief, we must be willing to meet people where they are comfortable, because God can work in any situation. We must be aware of the Spirit and His promptings, not only for beginning discussions, but also for progressing to deeper matters. Finally, we must listen to others. This will show us their hearts, and it will guide us as to how the Holy Spirit is already working. God is good, even better than we can imagine or plan. We must just be willing to step out in faith and to listen.
I was invited to go to a mosque with two local missionaries to break the daily fast for Ramadan with some local Muslim men. Over their years here, they have built quite a strong relationship with the imam (community leader/ equivalent to a pastor), and he had invited us to join them. More than excited, we eagerly left for the mosque with no idea of what was in store.
We arrived around 7, and we were quickly ushered upstairs. We found ourselves in a long room with many rows of blue tarp on the floor with a plate of food every couple feet. Before long, the room was full of a couple hundred Muslim men either sitting quietly or praying to themselves. However, immediately upon hearing the prayer marking the end of the fast for the day, they dove into their food and drink. Much to our surprise, there was no talking or community. Each man just ate quickly, and in a matter of about ten minutes, the room was being cleaned up.
We were caught off guard by the haste with which they ate, but we shortly discovered that they did so in order to be prepared for the next of the daily prayers. We stood in back while they prayed, because we wanted to thank the imam for inviting us. As the men began to leave, many of them came and thanked us for joining them, even if they didn't understand why exactly we were there. One individual found a shared interest with us because he also does local youth work, so we talked for a few minutes. Then, the imam met us and asked if we'd like to talk over tea. Of course, we joyfully agreed.
He led us into the adjacent room, and as we sat down, we were brought more food and drinks. The conversation started out quite casually, but before long, we were asked about what we believed. I was slightly stunned, but the elder missionary took it in stride and began to share the gospel. After a couple questions, and as a few more Muslims began to edge closer to us, the younger missionary did likewise in different words. Before long, we were having a very pleasant discussion on the nature of Jesus as both parties see him. Surprisingly, there was hardly a tinge of animosity.
After a time, we had to stand up so that the room could be prepared for the final prayer of the day. I thought that this would mean the end of our great conversation, but, thankfully, it immediately resumed with a renewed interest. By this time, there were about twenty Muslims asking questions and sharing with the three of us. The group broke into two smaller groups to ask questions to the two m's, and discussion continued until it was time for the final prayer. After two hours of remarkable discussion, the three of us walked back toward the bus, praising God for how He had just moved in such an unexpected way.
There were so many lessons that I learned from this experience, but it's so hard to describe them all. In brief, we must be willing to meet people where they are comfortable, because God can work in any situation. We must be aware of the Spirit and His promptings, not only for beginning discussions, but also for progressing to deeper matters. Finally, we must listen to others. This will show us their hearts, and it will guide us as to how the Holy Spirit is already working. God is good, even better than we can imagine or plan. We must just be willing to step out in faith and to listen.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
He's moving
I’ve now come to grips with the fact that, as much as I’d like to do it more, I really can only be counted on updating my blog once a month or so. With that said, what an incredible month this has been. So much has happened, I don’t have time to tell you everything. Instead, I’ll just give you the highlights and then tell more about this past week.
Highlights:
-spending time with the local m’s
-working at a music festival, reffing cage football for teens
-moving back into the vicarage
-talking with a group of teens about what it means to be church
-training 18 interns for a week before they head out to other places in western Europe
-camping with youth from World’s End
This past week, I got to go camping in Southwest England with a group of ten youth from World’s End. The overall purpose was to get some time away to talk more about what it means to be and do church. Let me just tell you, this was one of the coolest weeks of my life. The Spirit was moving so clearly throughout the week.
When I arrived at World’s End on Monday, I felt like an awkward outsider. Most of the youth didn’t really know me at all, and I could only imagine what they had to be thinking about this strange American coming with them. Luckily, this feeling melted quickly as the youth are so open and welcoming. Throughout the course of the week, I got to speak with most of them one on one, and we laid great foundations for solid friendships. Most importantly, they are friendships built on the understanding that God will be discussed, and they’re totally fine with that.
Over the course of the week, we got to go on a safari ride at Longleat, swim at a local pool, ride horses in the English countryside, swim in the ocean at Durdle Door (pictures at the bottom), have a blast at a water park, and barbeque and picnic like crazy. Every night, we’d head back to our tents completely knackered. Probably the coolest part of the week, though, was that we got to discuss the Bible twice a day. We would read one passage, and then we’d discuss what we could learn from that passage alone. It was really interesting and encouraging to hear the youth discussing the truth with each other.
As we were heading home on Friday, we decided to have a picnic on Bulbarrow Hill, overlooking much of Dorset. It was beautiful, but it was quite chilly and windy. As we set up our blankets, we grabbed our Bibles to have one last session before our lunch. The mood was a little down, because we were all quite hungry, but we trudged on anyway. Then, it started to rain, further dampening the mood. Lucy prayed for the rain to stop, and after a couple minutes, it did. However, looking at the clouds, it was evident that more rain was on its way. As the group was finishing their discussion, I prayed and prayed and prayed that instead of just taking the rain away, God would bless us with sunshine and that He would make His presence known. Shortly thereafter, the sun bathed down on us, the wind relented, and the rain clouds parted into a circle of clear blue skies. It was unbelievable. Every we looked we dark clouds dropping rain, but we were in a halo of beautiful weather.
This immediately lifted the mood, and the teens got really excited about the possibility that God has directly answered our prayers. Lucy then told the group that we were going to practice listening to God. We were going to listen for what He wants the group to be called, so that when we got back to World’s End, we could invite people to something that didn’t sound off-putting. I immediately thought of the Circle because of the clouds, the fact that there aren’t any strong or weak sides to a circle, the ease of growing a circle, and the picture of sitting in a circle with everybody sharing and growing. Also, it was appealing because there’s no beginning or end to a circle, just like eternity. Anyway, right after thinking this, I was told not to say it, because I felt like the group needed to name it themselves.
As we began to listen, Laura spoke first. She said that she saw a picture of a photo album. We interpreted this to mean that the group would be like a family. Photo albums hold memories and things we value, and we would value each other dearly. Next, George said, “I just keep getting the word ‘circle.’” I couldn’t contain my excitement. We all agreed that this sounded great, especially since it was on multiple hearts. Finally, Alex shared the picture of a group of birds flying in the shape of a sword. He explained that birds are free when they’re flying, and we are likewise free. Lucy and Zac then explained that the sword is a symbol for the spirit (armor of God), and this showed that in our freedom, we chose to come together in the Spirit. After thanking God for the word and pictures, we joyfully ate together. It was an unbelievable week, and such a fitting end.
If you’ve made it to the end of this, I feel the need to congratulate you. I’d apologize for the length, but I’m not really sorry. The Spirit has been moving in great ways, and I am so glad to be able to share such things with you. I hope that this post finds you well, in mind, spirit, and body. Grace and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Highlights:
-spending time with the local m’s
-working at a music festival, reffing cage football for teens
-moving back into the vicarage
-talking with a group of teens about what it means to be church
-training 18 interns for a week before they head out to other places in western Europe
-camping with youth from World’s End
This past week, I got to go camping in Southwest England with a group of ten youth from World’s End. The overall purpose was to get some time away to talk more about what it means to be and do church. Let me just tell you, this was one of the coolest weeks of my life. The Spirit was moving so clearly throughout the week.
When I arrived at World’s End on Monday, I felt like an awkward outsider. Most of the youth didn’t really know me at all, and I could only imagine what they had to be thinking about this strange American coming with them. Luckily, this feeling melted quickly as the youth are so open and welcoming. Throughout the course of the week, I got to speak with most of them one on one, and we laid great foundations for solid friendships. Most importantly, they are friendships built on the understanding that God will be discussed, and they’re totally fine with that.
Over the course of the week, we got to go on a safari ride at Longleat, swim at a local pool, ride horses in the English countryside, swim in the ocean at Durdle Door (pictures at the bottom), have a blast at a water park, and barbeque and picnic like crazy. Every night, we’d head back to our tents completely knackered. Probably the coolest part of the week, though, was that we got to discuss the Bible twice a day. We would read one passage, and then we’d discuss what we could learn from that passage alone. It was really interesting and encouraging to hear the youth discussing the truth with each other.
As we were heading home on Friday, we decided to have a picnic on Bulbarrow Hill, overlooking much of Dorset. It was beautiful, but it was quite chilly and windy. As we set up our blankets, we grabbed our Bibles to have one last session before our lunch. The mood was a little down, because we were all quite hungry, but we trudged on anyway. Then, it started to rain, further dampening the mood. Lucy prayed for the rain to stop, and after a couple minutes, it did. However, looking at the clouds, it was evident that more rain was on its way. As the group was finishing their discussion, I prayed and prayed and prayed that instead of just taking the rain away, God would bless us with sunshine and that He would make His presence known. Shortly thereafter, the sun bathed down on us, the wind relented, and the rain clouds parted into a circle of clear blue skies. It was unbelievable. Every we looked we dark clouds dropping rain, but we were in a halo of beautiful weather.
This immediately lifted the mood, and the teens got really excited about the possibility that God has directly answered our prayers. Lucy then told the group that we were going to practice listening to God. We were going to listen for what He wants the group to be called, so that when we got back to World’s End, we could invite people to something that didn’t sound off-putting. I immediately thought of the Circle because of the clouds, the fact that there aren’t any strong or weak sides to a circle, the ease of growing a circle, and the picture of sitting in a circle with everybody sharing and growing. Also, it was appealing because there’s no beginning or end to a circle, just like eternity. Anyway, right after thinking this, I was told not to say it, because I felt like the group needed to name it themselves.
As we began to listen, Laura spoke first. She said that she saw a picture of a photo album. We interpreted this to mean that the group would be like a family. Photo albums hold memories and things we value, and we would value each other dearly. Next, George said, “I just keep getting the word ‘circle.’” I couldn’t contain my excitement. We all agreed that this sounded great, especially since it was on multiple hearts. Finally, Alex shared the picture of a group of birds flying in the shape of a sword. He explained that birds are free when they’re flying, and we are likewise free. Lucy and Zac then explained that the sword is a symbol for the spirit (armor of God), and this showed that in our freedom, we chose to come together in the Spirit. After thanking God for the word and pictures, we joyfully ate together. It was an unbelievable week, and such a fitting end.
If you’ve made it to the end of this, I feel the need to congratulate you. I’d apologize for the length, but I’m not really sorry. The Spirit has been moving in great ways, and I am so glad to be able to share such things with you. I hope that this post finds you well, in mind, spirit, and body. Grace and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Crazy Month!
Yet again, I realize that it has been all too long since my last post. This last month has been wonderful, challenging, busy, rewarding, frustrating, and affirming. Sound crazy? Well hold on, here’s what’s happened…
We had 17 interns here for the month to lead two separate one-week teams from the States. The interns were assigned, individually or with a partner, to a specific part of town where work has been going for awhile. Then, when the two one-week teams came, they were split into ten or so groups of five to eight students. I got to lead teams with Cameron. The two of us got along very well, and I can’t imagine doing it without him. We got to hang out with the youth at World’s End. Among other things, we started a youth café, which offered fresh smoothies, played sports, and had pizza parties.
In between the two teams, we had a week to relax. Most of us caught up on sleep, did laundry, and hung out around the house. However, we got to have some fun as well. One day, four of us decided to get on the train for Salisbury. This is one of the most popular cities outside London, not for the steak by the same name, but for Stonehenge. It was super cool to see! Below is one of the pictures.
After the interns left, I moved into the house of a family of missionaries (I’m housesitting for them until they come back from holiday on August 9). Also, Uncle Chuck was in town, so he stayed with me for about a week. We got to see several of the touristy sites around town, but more importantly, we just got to talk and hang out. Unfortunately, I was sick for the last three days of his visit.
After he left, I finished recuperating, and then I went down to Wandsworth again to do more ethnographic research. I really enjoyed walking around the city and observing how youth are perceived by the general public. A couple of the highlights were witnessing a group of teens dine and dash at Pizza Hut, accidentally getting hit on by a sleepy 60-year old man, and being told by a grandmother that youth just need a place to ice skate. It all makes sense now! Thanks grandmother.
So that’s a taste of what’s been going here. I’m really enjoying my time here. I can’t believe that it’s a third of the way over, though. If how fast these past two months have gone are any indication of the next four, then I’ll be home before I know it. Please pray for the youth of World’s End, the people I work with, and me. It’s great to see God moving in this city, and I can’t wait to see how He continues to work. I love you all!
We had 17 interns here for the month to lead two separate one-week teams from the States. The interns were assigned, individually or with a partner, to a specific part of town where work has been going for awhile. Then, when the two one-week teams came, they were split into ten or so groups of five to eight students. I got to lead teams with Cameron. The two of us got along very well, and I can’t imagine doing it without him. We got to hang out with the youth at World’s End. Among other things, we started a youth café, which offered fresh smoothies, played sports, and had pizza parties.
In between the two teams, we had a week to relax. Most of us caught up on sleep, did laundry, and hung out around the house. However, we got to have some fun as well. One day, four of us decided to get on the train for Salisbury. This is one of the most popular cities outside London, not for the steak by the same name, but for Stonehenge. It was super cool to see! Below is one of the pictures.
After the interns left, I moved into the house of a family of missionaries (I’m housesitting for them until they come back from holiday on August 9). Also, Uncle Chuck was in town, so he stayed with me for about a week. We got to see several of the touristy sites around town, but more importantly, we just got to talk and hang out. Unfortunately, I was sick for the last three days of his visit.
After he left, I finished recuperating, and then I went down to Wandsworth again to do more ethnographic research. I really enjoyed walking around the city and observing how youth are perceived by the general public. A couple of the highlights were witnessing a group of teens dine and dash at Pizza Hut, accidentally getting hit on by a sleepy 60-year old man, and being told by a grandmother that youth just need a place to ice skate. It all makes sense now! Thanks grandmother.
So that’s a taste of what’s been going here. I’m really enjoying my time here. I can’t believe that it’s a third of the way over, though. If how fast these past two months have gone are any indication of the next four, then I’ll be home before I know it. Please pray for the youth of World’s End, the people I work with, and me. It’s great to see God moving in this city, and I can’t wait to see how He continues to work. I love you all!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Long time coming...
I cannot believe how fast this month has gone. It blows my mind that I’ve been here four weeks already. Where did those four weeks go? Also, I apologize for not updating in such a long time. I’ve really been rubbish at keeping everybody updated. I’m going to try to do better.
Anyway, this month has been incredible. I’ve lived in three different places, worked in several locations across the city, I’ve met so many wonderful people, and I got to go to Wimbledon :). First, I’ll talk about the housing situation. For the first ten days or so, I stayed with my mentor and his wife at their flat. After that, I moved to the vicarage (vicars are the heads of each individual church belonging to the Church of England). I stayed at John and Janet’s (the vicar and his wife) for about two weeks. I really enjoyed getting to know the others that lived there. I get along very well with Jonny (their son) and Armond (a guy staying there while working at a local church). I might move back there in August. Now, I am living in a housing complex on the northwest side of town with the interns who are here for one month. They are wonderful people, a joy to work with. They’ll be here until the 23rd of July. Then, I will housesit for a family of local missionaries for two weeks. After that, we’ll see where I go. :)
Regardless of where I’m living or will live, I’ve really enjoyed working here. I’m getting along very well with Chris. I find it easy to talk with him, especially about what his vision and purpose is here. I’m greatly growing in my understanding of European missions. Not all learning is from talks, though. I’ve had several chances to start on hands-on learning. I’ve been a part of the Bus (refer back to last post), a guys group (non-believing teens, but Christian leaders), the Zone (a local youth group), many prayer walks all over the city, a work project in the back yard at a missionary family’s house, and a research project in Wandworth. The diversity of the projects has kept me very interested (not to mention busy!).
This next month is going to be pretty crazy. The interns that I mentioned earlier are here for one month to lead two one-week teams. The first arrives on Tuesday, and the other comes in three weeks. Altogether, we’re going to have around 180 American high school students coming over to work on various projects around the city. The interns will split up with the teams to make around ten different teams. It’s going to be great, but the days will be long and the work will be tough. In the down week between the teams, I’m going to be going back to Wandworth to begin narrative mapping (ethnographic research), and I’ll also be working at World’s End with the youth.
Please be praying for the interns that are here. Pray that God will make them usable, and that he will make them great leaders for the one-week teams. Pray the same for me as well. Also, pray for the Christian leaders here in London. Pray that God will guide them and keep them focused on sharing Christ’s love with the youth of this city.
Finally, pray for the city and its youth. Pray that there will be a reawakening. The youth here need to understand their need, and after they do, this city could be a shining light in a region of darkness. Thanks so much. I love each of you so much!
Anyway, this month has been incredible. I’ve lived in three different places, worked in several locations across the city, I’ve met so many wonderful people, and I got to go to Wimbledon :). First, I’ll talk about the housing situation. For the first ten days or so, I stayed with my mentor and his wife at their flat. After that, I moved to the vicarage (vicars are the heads of each individual church belonging to the Church of England). I stayed at John and Janet’s (the vicar and his wife) for about two weeks. I really enjoyed getting to know the others that lived there. I get along very well with Jonny (their son) and Armond (a guy staying there while working at a local church). I might move back there in August. Now, I am living in a housing complex on the northwest side of town with the interns who are here for one month. They are wonderful people, a joy to work with. They’ll be here until the 23rd of July. Then, I will housesit for a family of local missionaries for two weeks. After that, we’ll see where I go. :)
Regardless of where I’m living or will live, I’ve really enjoyed working here. I’m getting along very well with Chris. I find it easy to talk with him, especially about what his vision and purpose is here. I’m greatly growing in my understanding of European missions. Not all learning is from talks, though. I’ve had several chances to start on hands-on learning. I’ve been a part of the Bus (refer back to last post), a guys group (non-believing teens, but Christian leaders), the Zone (a local youth group), many prayer walks all over the city, a work project in the back yard at a missionary family’s house, and a research project in Wandworth. The diversity of the projects has kept me very interested (not to mention busy!).
This next month is going to be pretty crazy. The interns that I mentioned earlier are here for one month to lead two one-week teams. The first arrives on Tuesday, and the other comes in three weeks. Altogether, we’re going to have around 180 American high school students coming over to work on various projects around the city. The interns will split up with the teams to make around ten different teams. It’s going to be great, but the days will be long and the work will be tough. In the down week between the teams, I’m going to be going back to Wandworth to begin narrative mapping (ethnographic research), and I’ll also be working at World’s End with the youth.
Please be praying for the interns that are here. Pray that God will make them usable, and that he will make them great leaders for the one-week teams. Pray the same for me as well. Also, pray for the Christian leaders here in London. Pray that God will guide them and keep them focused on sharing Christ’s love with the youth of this city.
Finally, pray for the city and its youth. Pray that there will be a reawakening. The youth here need to understand their need, and after they do, this city could be a shining light in a region of darkness. Thanks so much. I love each of you so much!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
I'm so excited and it's hardly begun
I've been here four days now, but it feels like so much longer. I'm beginning to understand the tube (the train system) and the bus, and I'm way past jet lag (fortunately, it didn't really affect me). Chris (my mentor) has been great about slowly orienting me and Shane (an intern who’s here for a month), and it’s starting to pay off.
Monday, we went to a housing project called World’s End Estate. It is mostly government subsidized housing in an apartment setup. The three of us met up with a lady named Lucy, and we prayer walked around the entire place. We prayed for the people living there, and for anything else as the Spirit led. We also went to some specific doors to pray for certain individuals. Of all religions, Islam is probably practiced the most at World’s End. Among the teens, marijuana and other drugs are overwhelming popular.
Tonight, Chris and I got to go back to World’s End to hang out with teens at a bus ministry. It was so great. A couple guys bought some old double-decker busses, and then they totally renovated them. They now have sound systems, game systems, couches, cool lights, and a table tennis set up for outside. The purpose is to provide a safe space for local teens to hang out once a week. The bus travels to a different area every night of the week. Chris and I met with a whole lot of youth from World’s End and other close homes nearby in Chelsea. I got to talk with a bunch of teens, and I’m really excited to build those relationships and share with them the hope of Christ. God’s moving in London, and I’m so happy I’m here to be help bring Him glory.
Please remember the youth in your prayers. Pray that apathy will be wiped away, and they will see the hope in Christ. Pray for strong relationships to be made with teens, modeling Christ through loving relationships. Also, pray for the leaders here. Ask for them to be given the strength and the courage to keep fighting a slow fight. Most of all, praise God for being bigger than the entire situation. Ultimately, we know that the battle is won, and we must thank God for who He is, has been, and always will be.
If you want to check out the bus ministry, go to http://www.regenerateuk.co.uk.
Monday, we went to a housing project called World’s End Estate. It is mostly government subsidized housing in an apartment setup. The three of us met up with a lady named Lucy, and we prayer walked around the entire place. We prayed for the people living there, and for anything else as the Spirit led. We also went to some specific doors to pray for certain individuals. Of all religions, Islam is probably practiced the most at World’s End. Among the teens, marijuana and other drugs are overwhelming popular.
Tonight, Chris and I got to go back to World’s End to hang out with teens at a bus ministry. It was so great. A couple guys bought some old double-decker busses, and then they totally renovated them. They now have sound systems, game systems, couches, cool lights, and a table tennis set up for outside. The purpose is to provide a safe space for local teens to hang out once a week. The bus travels to a different area every night of the week. Chris and I met with a whole lot of youth from World’s End and other close homes nearby in Chelsea. I got to talk with a bunch of teens, and I’m really excited to build those relationships and share with them the hope of Christ. God’s moving in London, and I’m so happy I’m here to be help bring Him glory.
Please remember the youth in your prayers. Pray that apathy will be wiped away, and they will see the hope in Christ. Pray for strong relationships to be made with teens, modeling Christ through loving relationships. Also, pray for the leaders here. Ask for them to be given the strength and the courage to keep fighting a slow fight. Most of all, praise God for being bigger than the entire situation. Ultimately, we know that the battle is won, and we must thank God for who He is, has been, and always will be.
If you want to check out the bus ministry, go to http://www.regenerateuk.co.uk.
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