It's not an easy thing to experience so much, to live through so much and to be changed both inside and out and then return to a place you once knew. But there are times when God calls us back to places. For me, God took me on an incredible journey across the pond to experience him in a whole new and different way than what I was used to. But then, his voice called me thus to return from whence I came.
As I sit in a very familiar Woods Coffee in my very familiar home town, I can't help but become slightly sentimental, at times even wondering if everything that happened over the past eight months really happened or whether it was all just a dream. In some ways, nothing has changed in my home town and in some ways everything has changed. Now comes the challenge of readjusting to life here. There's the challenge of jobs, of friends, of church, and how to navigate in amongst everything differently with all that has happened.
The last few weeks of DTS were awesome and rather intense. We had our exhibition where we performed a drama that our theatre track wrote and put together, we performed dances and covers, had art pieces up, and some of our writing. It was an awesome experience and a wonderful way to culminate what the past five months of DTS and eight months in total has meant to me. At the same time, God reminded me it wasn't just the ending of things in London but it was the beginning. The things he's taught me about theatre and performing apply to coming home as well as to outreach and London. During the exhibition, we were able to speak to people in the community who wandered by and including a lady who was also a very creative person but was really looking for a community of believers to get involved with. Hopefully, God will keep putting that desire into her heart and encourage her to reach out to a church.
Besides the exhibition, we had deep cleaning of the house, debriefs, and the "going home" lesson. We also had graduation which was a fantastic meal and a reminder of where each of us where when we started this DTS. The next couple days involved a lot of hanging out, eating awesome Argentinian food, and just being together. Then the fateful day came when I had to leave my family in London. My friends woke up early to say goodbye and three of them came with me to the airport which was such an amazing blessing.
I could recap everything we've done, seen, experienced or everything God did and showed me over the time I was in the UK, but instead, I just want to say thank you. I want to say thank you for all the prayers that were sent up for the team and for me. I want to say thank you for caring. Coming back into the States has not been the easiest transition ever. But it's been good. I'm thankful for friends and the community I have here and the one aboard as well. More than anything, I'm so thankful for all God did. He allowed me some amazing moments and to learn some really hard lessons that ultimately have brought so much more freedom. The time could be easily sugarcoated that everything was wonderful all the time. However, to do that, would be to deny the moments of brokenness and the fact that God loves the humble and the broken because that's when his glory shows up in even greater ways.
God was and is still in London. God is and was in Whatcom County. He has big plans no matter where we are and I'm excited to see what he has for me here. I hope to go back over and continue my adventure in London but for now, this is where God has me and I can't wait to see what's in store.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Christmastime in the City
With two weeks left to my time in London, I cannot begin to think where the time has gone. It's been ages since my last post, I realize so much has happened. We traveled a bit, had some wonderfully traditional American meals, attended the premiere of the Hobbit, sang loads of Christmas Carols, and worked with a group who serves the homeless. But as things here are winding down, 2014 closed, there are a few things that have happened over the past few weeks that really stand out to me. The interesting thing about YWAM life, you feel like you've lived loads of lifetimes in a very short amount of time.
1. Bristol Outreach: We were able to spend a week in Bristol which was a city I really enjoyed. We met a lady who is a painter and paints beautiful cityscapes. As we began to talk to her about her art, about what we do, we offered to pray for her and as we did, we learned she is a Christian. But from all she had said, she was struggling in her walk to find hope and joy. As she encouraged us, we were able to encourage her and speak truth into her life. We went back and visited her a couple days later to exchange emails. She was absolutely thrilled. It was a moment that reminded me why we are doing what we are. Being an artist can be lonely, but we need to step out and make sure we're encouraging one another and find fellowship with one another.
2. The Hobbit Premiere: Yes, this really happened. We stood around for hours in the cold to see some of our favorite actors walk the Green Carpet and not see the movie. But it was amazing to be a part of it. We were in the second row of the pens, right across from the press. Eve though some of the actors didn't come through our section, we were able to watch them interact with each other and several of them did come our way. It was however, one of the most interesting environments to be in. The idol worship of these people was very real. We spent a lot of time in intercession for both the stars and for the people around us. We were exhausted at the end of the day, but it was amazing. Two of our team members had really cool interactions with the Producer for the film as well as Billy Boyd who played Pippin in the Lord of the Rings film.
3. Holidays away from Family: Thanksgiving and Christmas are a big deal in my family. It was hard to think about being away from them. But the leaders of our house know that. We had an awesome Thanksgiving day just gathering around each other and saying what we're thankful for. A couple of days later we had an epically delicious traditional American style Thanksgiving! For Christmas Eve, we were serving the homeless but after we came back for appetizers and Secret Santa, and loads of dancing. Christmas was another delicious meal, dressing up and just enjoying each other's company. It was hard but at the same time, it was a really good Christmas.
4. Earls Court Community Project: The day before Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve we were helping with the Earls Court Community Project serving and performing for them. It was amazing! We interacted with them, learned their stories, and were able to bring joy in a really hard time. In turn, I met a Christian woman who had been homeless for about two months. Her story touched me and encouraged me. She offered to pray for me as I told her I wasn't quite sure what the future held for me. Being able to serve in this way though was awesome. We were told any entertainment we provided couldn't be longer than five minutes because their attention span wasn't that long. A twenty minute performance, we kept their attention throughout the whole thing and they really appreciated it. It was an excellent way to spend Christmas Eve.
5. New Years Eve: We could have partied inside the warm with food and drinks. Instead, we were at the top of Primrose Hill in Camden, overlooking the entire city by two in the afternoon with drumsets and guitars, saving our spot at the top of the hill in the cold. But come 10 in the evening, we were joined by a couple other YWAM teams and we had worship on the top of the hill. Surrounded by loads and loads of people, we had conversations with people, random people joined us in worship and the fireworks went off from the London Eye. All of which were amazing! People may not have known what we were singing but it totally changed the atmosphere of what could have been a really heavy day. It was one of the best New Years Eve Parties I've had in a while.
As I prepare go home, I know God has things for me there as well but there's still things to do here. We have an exhibition in a week where we will be showing some writing pieces, performing some covers, and doing a small skit. It's a way of culminating what these last eight months have meant and all the freedom and work that God has done. To him be the glory, always! It's been amazing and I wouldn't trade this time for anything. Even though I'm leaving now, I know that London and I are not done with each other. I'm just excited to see when and how God leads me back here.
1. Bristol Outreach: We were able to spend a week in Bristol which was a city I really enjoyed. We met a lady who is a painter and paints beautiful cityscapes. As we began to talk to her about her art, about what we do, we offered to pray for her and as we did, we learned she is a Christian. But from all she had said, she was struggling in her walk to find hope and joy. As she encouraged us, we were able to encourage her and speak truth into her life. We went back and visited her a couple days later to exchange emails. She was absolutely thrilled. It was a moment that reminded me why we are doing what we are. Being an artist can be lonely, but we need to step out and make sure we're encouraging one another and find fellowship with one another.
2. The Hobbit Premiere: Yes, this really happened. We stood around for hours in the cold to see some of our favorite actors walk the Green Carpet and not see the movie. But it was amazing to be a part of it. We were in the second row of the pens, right across from the press. Eve though some of the actors didn't come through our section, we were able to watch them interact with each other and several of them did come our way. It was however, one of the most interesting environments to be in. The idol worship of these people was very real. We spent a lot of time in intercession for both the stars and for the people around us. We were exhausted at the end of the day, but it was amazing. Two of our team members had really cool interactions with the Producer for the film as well as Billy Boyd who played Pippin in the Lord of the Rings film.
3. Holidays away from Family: Thanksgiving and Christmas are a big deal in my family. It was hard to think about being away from them. But the leaders of our house know that. We had an awesome Thanksgiving day just gathering around each other and saying what we're thankful for. A couple of days later we had an epically delicious traditional American style Thanksgiving! For Christmas Eve, we were serving the homeless but after we came back for appetizers and Secret Santa, and loads of dancing. Christmas was another delicious meal, dressing up and just enjoying each other's company. It was hard but at the same time, it was a really good Christmas.
4. Earls Court Community Project: The day before Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve we were helping with the Earls Court Community Project serving and performing for them. It was amazing! We interacted with them, learned their stories, and were able to bring joy in a really hard time. In turn, I met a Christian woman who had been homeless for about two months. Her story touched me and encouraged me. She offered to pray for me as I told her I wasn't quite sure what the future held for me. Being able to serve in this way though was awesome. We were told any entertainment we provided couldn't be longer than five minutes because their attention span wasn't that long. A twenty minute performance, we kept their attention throughout the whole thing and they really appreciated it. It was an excellent way to spend Christmas Eve.
5. New Years Eve: We could have partied inside the warm with food and drinks. Instead, we were at the top of Primrose Hill in Camden, overlooking the entire city by two in the afternoon with drumsets and guitars, saving our spot at the top of the hill in the cold. But come 10 in the evening, we were joined by a couple other YWAM teams and we had worship on the top of the hill. Surrounded by loads and loads of people, we had conversations with people, random people joined us in worship and the fireworks went off from the London Eye. All of which were amazing! People may not have known what we were singing but it totally changed the atmosphere of what could have been a really heavy day. It was one of the best New Years Eve Parties I've had in a while.
As I prepare go home, I know God has things for me there as well but there's still things to do here. We have an exhibition in a week where we will be showing some writing pieces, performing some covers, and doing a small skit. It's a way of culminating what these last eight months have meant and all the freedom and work that God has done. To him be the glory, always! It's been amazing and I wouldn't trade this time for anything. Even though I'm leaving now, I know that London and I are not done with each other. I'm just excited to see when and how God leads me back here.
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