Amazing things happened in Leicester, so heading into Coventry to our DTS Gathering, I was looking forward to and expecting great things. I was not disappointed!
Week Two:
Pulling into Coventry, I was struck by how beautiful and green the city is. Parks and innovation and everywhere. I was in love at first sight!
The DTS Gathering consisted of 150 staff and students alike, nearly half boys and half girls. The girls slept at a separate location from the boys, which was a good 30-minute walk away from not only the boys, but from the leisure centre where we were supposed to shower in the communal swimming pool showers. As I had brought my baby wipes along and had access to a sink, my personal hygiene that week consisted of the bare minimum required to go a week without stinking out the building! Oddly enough, I was very proud that I was able to go a week without a proper shower (I can now officially call myself a missionary!).
Though the housing conditions were less than desirable, I had an amazing time reconnecting with the Impact UK DTS, all of whom been sent out to other locations and YWAM bases the previous week. This has been our first official "outreach" time, and hearing people's stories really got me excited for our main outreach which will happen from May-August (one of the locations being Coventry again!).
The week was very fast-paced, but the prayer and worship times were a beautiful thing. I have felt the Holy Spirit before, but it was so tangible and real this week! Speaking in tongues, hands shaking, weeping were all very present this week!
I took part in two prayer walks around Coventry, one of which was a prayer-tour where we were able to get some history behind the areas we were in and pray into those areas. Hearing the history of Coventry was very intense; in World War II, most of Coventry was burnt down and has been slowly recovering ever since. There's been a really lacking of identity within the city and within the people as well, this becoming very obvious the more I prayed over the city and the people living in it. In fact, the term "sent to Coventry" originated in the early 20th century, when soldiers were sent to Coventry and perceived as unwelcome into the city by its' inhabitants. Though a growing city due to its' university, it is still a city that has come under the curse of feeling isolated and insignificant.
I fell in love with the city and the people in it this week. With so much history, I was reminded how God can rebuilt even the completely and utterly destroyed. And with so many different people of different nationality and backgrounds, I was reminded that God is not one-dimensional and is relevant to everyone at all times!
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