3...2...1...and they're off!

This is it; the moment we've all been waiting for. The Olympic Games have finally arrived here in London! Today's opening ceremony is rumored to be a most spectacular event, one which I am thrilled to be present for. I leave with a team of 15 this afternoon to begin our outreach within the city of London for a period of ten days. We will be working with a church, which is relatively closely located to the Olympic Village. We will be running a cafe dedicated to serving the public in the area, many of whom live in poverty in this particular burough. We will also be helping out in a local senior citizen's home and prayer walking as well. This is a particularly rough area of London, an area where the excitement and joy of the Games has seemingly past over or been forgotten here. The story of the church we'll be working in is one of redemption in of itself. 

As I pack my bags, once again, and type up my last blog before I head on out, I cannot contain my excitement. I am so thrilled to see and be apart of what God is doing in this city, in this country, in this nation. How cool is it that the world is quite literally flocking to my doorstep as I type, huh? I can't get over it! GAHHH!!!

Pencil in your Plans.

As you may well know, God has a way of changing plans swiftly and suddenly. Take for example my plans as of recently. For those of you who don't know yet (which would be most of you), I have agreed to staff the upcoming September DTS here in England. This sudden change in plans initially came as a shock to myself, but, after days of consideration, realized that it really is for the best. I am one of three single staff members (Caleb, Jenny, and myself) and then there are four married couples, three of whom have children. Very different from the 13 single staff on this school! Also, this school is going to be even bigger than the current school I'm staffing. 

I don't have many details about what this school is going to entail, but I'm very excited to be challenged in ways that I wasn't during this school. What that all includes, I'm not too sure (but I'm stoked!)

Let the Games Begin!

With the impending Olympic Games here in England, insanity on the base here has hit an all time high. Not that this is a negative; in fact, it's a welcome change from the normal lull of daily life. Since returning to the base, we have been given rooms in the dormitory, which is a relief considering that all other visitors are currently in tents. We may still be on outreach, but at least we no longer need to "rough it".

For the past weeks, there has been a program running here called Circuit Riders. Their vision statement is "Save the Lost, Revive the Saved, and Train them All!". They preach a very heavy message of revival across Europe and America. It was amazing, being able to attend all the lectures and take part in local evangelism. 

To be honest, I was incredibly humbled and, yet, ashamed that it took a group of over 150 American's to show me how wonderful the town I live in is. I've been living here for over 8 months now, and have ZERO friends outside the base. How shocked I was to walk around town and realize that I haven't seen everything and there are so many lovely people here that I've never bothered to get to know. After one particular afternoon of complaining to Kellie, a dear friend and fellow staff, about not being active in the community, we stumbled upon a church cafe, run by volunteers and open to the public. After only moments, I was informed that they were looking for volunteers. Though I hadn't even prayed about getting involved (merely complained and moaned to Kellie), God had answered in a most practical way! I have a vision to work in a cafe, so how perfect would it be to get involved here in town?

Needless to say, my opinion about community and getting involved is shifting and changing, making me more aware of the importance of it and, also, exciting! Can't wait to see what else is in store!

Homeward Bound

My lovely outreach "family" in Portland

 Pulling into the train station yesterday afternoon, knowing that within twenty minutes I'd be back on campus with the rest of the DTS, also returning from outreach, I was struck with an intense "bittersweet" feeling. Outreach, part one, is over. Granted, once I was unpacked and dressed in my favorite fuzzy, blue housecoat, I was happy, thrilled even, to see everyone again after nearly two months of being apart. However, these past couple months have been such an amazing experience, that, I admit, I was saddened at the prospect of returning "home". Coventry was amazing! Never have I felt more at home than with the people hosting us all. Weymouth and Portland are possibly the most stunning places I've been to in a very long time, with cliffside-views of the Atlantic Ocean. Both places were beautiful and filled with the most incredible people, young and old.

The Emily's and myself (Stacy behind camera)

The ten of us on this outreach team went from the awkward first steps of outreach to being a full-fledged family towards the end, including pillow fights late at night and constantly "taking the mick out of one another". As with any family. we had our moments of stress and frustrations, but we worked through it all and walked away from this time having grown in our relationships with one another and with God. 
I was deeply challenged throughout outreach to step beyond myself and make myself "uncomfortable" for Christ. One day in particular, I felt like God was saying to me, "Is one person not worth you humbling yourself and looking ridiculous?". Needless to say, I had to take some serious time to mull that one over. But outreach was amazing, and the people we met and grew to love were worth every moment of it! God loves the UK, and so do I!
But I'm glad to be back in my own bed again...

Yes, I AM still alive, and livin' the dream!

Too long have I been away from the delectable taste of my dear Chai, so I make my glorious, if not impromto, return for a short while! So much has happened in the past month or so, that I truly cannot recap all of it in this short segment. I will relay more to you as time goes on, but, in the meantime, I am quite well and lovin' life!

We, as a team, have done everything from putting on a youth conference for 400 young people to teacing Religious Studies courses in schools to litter picking. It's been incredibly busy and, at times, stressful, but every moment thus far has been worth it!

God has been teaching me humility in a whole new way. I've been so used to constantly serving others, which is, essentially, what we are doing here. However, I've always had a hard time when others try to serve me. In one of the locations we were in, the church and school we worked with catered to our every whim. I was so taken aback by the hospitality that was shown to all of us day in and day out. Everywhere else we've been, we have been equally blessed by the people around us. It's been an amazing oppourtunity to be able to serve alongside such wonderful, servant-hearted, godly men and women wherever we've been! My prayers are with each and every one of them!

Currently in Weymouth and Portland enjoying a well-deserved day of rest after a non-stop scheduale for the past month. The sea is freezing, but, my, how I've missed the sound of water!

And on that note, it's time to curl up with a good book and enjoy a nice cuppa tea! Cheerio and TTFN!

*Here's a little shout out to my sister, Jasmine, who graduates from Gr. 12 today, not only with A-Honours, but with a scholarship as well. So incredibly proud of you, Jazzy! Hugs and Kisses to the best sister in the world!*

My Life.

Left to Right: Me, Cody, Mitch, and Jaime.

 Before I trade in "normality" for outreach in two days, I thought I'd give y'all a quick glance as to what my life has been like for the past five months:
Yes, I've been heavily involved in mentoring the students that have come here to do a DTS, as well as maintaining the dorm building we're all staying in. But life is not all work. In fact, I have had so much fun just living alongside the people I'm working with here and being in a community where creativity and individuality are encouraged to flourish in a safe environment.

Ode to Chilliwack: Jaime, Mitch, Cody, and Me.

 Staff and students alike, here, have been, and still are such amazing people. This dorm building is so full of inside jokes, awkward and loud noises, and just genuinely great people! Being away from home and all, it's a lot easier to live here when the people around you make you feel at home; like you're part of something greater, a family. Cheesy, most definitely! But true all the same!

Me and Stacy, my one-on-one for outreach.

Posing in London: Me, Austin, and Stacy

In conclusion to this blog post, I suppose I'll end with saying that I love what I'm doing and who I'm doing it with! Now that outreach is dauntingly near, it's nice to reflect and remember the times I've had thus far. We'll all be coming back together in about two months time, but after living with the same people for five months, it's a change and a bit of a shock, definitely. But I am so looking forward to outreach and to experiencing something new! So, until I blog again, adios amigos! 

Off and Away!

Chillin' at Giant's Causeway in Ireland

I was able to spend a week away in Ireland this past week. The time away was much needed and I was more than grateful for the time to unwind and relax. I stayed with a family friend whilst there, and they were so welcoming and wonderful to me! They took me up to the north coast for a day, where we visited Giant's Causeway, which is a magnificent wonder! I was able to visit Belfast, which I had visited on outreach nearly exactly a year ago. I am still in love with the city, more so now, if possible! Ireland is a country full of history (they were celebrating the anniversary of the Titanic whilst I was there) and new and exciting things. I love it to bits and sincerely wish to return in the future!
Though the trip was wonderful and much needed, it's time to get down to business; the DTS leaves for outreach within a week. Together, we will all go down to Cardiff in Wales. We will stay there for a week, helping out a few churches as they put on a conference/youth event for the city. After that, my team goes up to Coventry for approx. three weeks, again, working with local churches and Christian unions. Towards the beginning of June, we will head on down to Weymouth and Portland, partnering up with a local bible school and training centre. The details about what we will be doing are still in the works, but I am so excited to get going!
I'm going a tad stir-crazy. Not that I'm tired of being here on the campus, but I definitely can feel that it's time to move on, which, in this case, means I'm ready for outreach to finally begin! With the Olympics coming up soon, I'm so excited to get out there and meet people and just share Jesus in a completely normal way. Not to preach AT people, but invest in people and grow relationships wherever I can. 
God is going to do amazing things this summer, and I still can't believe my luck at being able to be a part of it all!

For more information about how you can get involved with YWAM England during the summer, go to: http://www.forever2012.com/