Going to the Chapel...

...and [Laura's] going to get married!

I can't believe that in SIX days, my older sister is getting married. We are full-swing into final preparations and getting geared up for the big day (July 6). Love you Laura loo! So excited for you and Seth. 

With my sissy at Matt's wedding ('09)

Adjustment

Today marks the 1-week mark of being back in the U.S. Here are a couple random observations about my great country as I've been getting readjusted to life here in America. 

--Strangers initiating conversation in an elevator? People giving a friendly smile when you pass? What is this? 

--"Queue" means nothing here. 

--Portions: significantly larger. 

--Over my month abroad, I wore sweatpants once. I repeat, once. If you know me at all, you know this is a record. So since I've been home, I have only worn....sweatpants. 

--I'm not as enamored by British accents as I once was. 

--I miss our flat and my teammates terribly. What I don't miss is living on the 7th floor, with the stairs often being the quickest way up. 

--Fun fact: Zero was the number of times I heard the following words while in the UK: NBA/Finals/Lebron/Basketball/Heat/Thunder. 

--Words I did hear: Football/Manchester/Chelsea/France. Repeated many times daily. 

Here are a couple pictures I never posted that I thought I'd share: 

Practicing Soularium with China before we went out on campus!

One of the buildings at London School of Economics, where we did a lot of ministry

Representing YL! Oh, and check out the background.

One last thought. During our weekly women's time in London, we talked about God's will and direction in our lives. This seems especially pertinent to me as I enter my senior year at Mary Wash and the age-old question will inevitably increase in its frequency: "What are you doing after you graduate?" We listened to a great Tim Keller sermon ("Your Plans: God's Plans") that gave great insight (you can download it for free on Keller's podcast on iTunes. I'd highly recommend listening to it!). All that being said, I found this prayer/poem by Thomas Merton today. Its simple but has profound Biblical truth: 

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going. 

I do not see the road ahead of me. 

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following

your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you

does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything part from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the

right road, thought I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though I may

seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and

you will never leave me to face my troubles alone. 

Home Sweet Home

Home again, home again, jiggity jig! I had a full day of traveling yesterday which ended at the Richmond airport last night. I've been getting used to the jet lag today--I was wide awake at 7am because my body thought it was noon!


It was definitely bittersweet leaving Europe. Sad to leave my team who I'd gotten close to and sad to leave the students at the London universities that I had been developing friendships with. But also exciting to be coming home and being with my family and friends again...and to step it up on my co-MOH duties (MOH = "maid of honor"...for Laura's upcoming wedding!).


Recap of the last few days: For our time of debrief, the London team arranged for us to take a 3-day trip to Paris to debrief. Sounds crazy because its Paris...but really its only a 2-hour train ride via the Eurostar. So last Sunday, we attended church in London in the morning and then went to King's Cross to catch the train. We arrived in Paris and made our way to our hotel. Then we met up with the Paris summer project team at a small church. They led us in a time of worship and prayer. It was so cool and encouraging to connect with this team and to spend time listening how their ministry on Paris campuses was going and sharing how our time on London campuses had gone. There are definitely similarities in the types of students that go to Paris and London universities...as seen in the widespread apathetic views towards spiritual issues or deeper questions in life. I loved this night we spent with the Paris project. So cool to see how we could connect with these brothers and sisters in Christ--even though we had never met before.

Praise & worship with the Paris summer project team

The next morning we spent debriefing with a few members of the London staff. They wanted us to evaluate the project and give them feedback on things we liked and didn't like about how the trip. It was a good and honest conversation and I appreciated the humility of the staff to listen to us and respect the suggestions we voiced.

The rest of the day was spent walking around (we saw the Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame!) and we had pizza beneath the Eiffel Tower and then walked up it! I loved experiencing this incredible structure. What was especially cool was watching the sun set while we were up at the top. I loved seeing all these people around me--from all parts of the world--becoming so excited about the sunset and the picturesque scene it created. It struck me even while overlooking this gorgeous city...it was seeing the beauty of something not created by human hands that stirred something deep within all of us. It brought to life Paul's words:

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." --Romans 1:20 

View from the top of the Eiffel Tower

The next day about 7 of us went on a Fat Tire Bike Tour around Paris. This was probably the highlight from the brief stay we had in Paris. I loved following our guide (from Texas...said he led Young Life in college!) around the streets and seeing all of the major sites. I would highly recommend doing these bike tours whether you're in any of the European cities they have them in (Paris, London, Barcelona, and Berlin).

Bike tour

With Liz on our bikes

The next morning we spent a long time in the morning debriefing. We spent time alone and in a big group discussing what the Lord taught us over the past month doing ministry and living in community. I have learned over the past year or two that I am often slow at processing. So I know that there is still a lot more that the Lord will keep showing me and that I'll keep realizing...but one thing/lesson keeps popping up. When looking back over this month, I've learned that it is okay to be weak. I have trouble asking people for help or admitting weakness in any way. But through things over this past month (my infected eye, being out of my comfort zone in a new city, being rejected by people while doing ministry, becoming emotionally, physically, and mentally drained) I have realized that I am weak. And that is okay. No, not just okay. The Bible tells me to boast in these times of weakness. Not to be ashamed that I can't do it alone. But to rejoice because HE is able and is meeting me in those times.

I am so thankful to each and every one of you who have supported and prayed for my time in London. Thank you for the kind notes and emails I have received. They mean more to me than you'll ever know. I still can't believe that the Lord made it possible for me to go to such an amazing city and to meet people from all over the world and tell them about the hope of salvation through Jesus. Please join me in praying for London whenever you can. It is a city full of people putting their identity in money, job status, and possessions. Pray for their hearts to be opened to the Gospel. Pray also for the full-time London Agape staff. They are a small team and there is a huge need. Pray for the seeds my team planted in people's hearts while we were there. God bless!

One of my favorite verses is John 3:30-- "He must become greater, I must become less."

London

Pip Pip Cheerio!

Yesterday we had a fun picnic in Hyde Park and invited staff and students to say goodbye. The weather was beautiful and we had a great time of eating, interacting, and playing fun "American" games like ultimate frisbee. :)

Hyde Park

With Talitha (center) and Yensy (right)

Last night was our last night in London and so our group went to the London Eye! We went on it while the sun was setting and had a "compartment" all to ourselves. It was so fun to look out at this expansive and incredible city. They told us that people in that 30-minute time slot of riding the Eye, people do all kinds of creative things. Birthday parties and weddings are common!

In the Eye

Daily running route along the Thames!

Beautiful view from the Eye (Big Ben on the left)

We are off to Paris today (via the Eurostar) for about 3 days! I am excited to not only see that new culture, but I'm so thankful for the time we'll be spending debriefing/processing/thinking about the last 3 weeks of ministry here in London.
"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving." --Psalm 62:11-12

Winding Down

It is crazy to think that I only have only 1 full day left in London! We leave Sunday for Paris for a few days of debrief and being able to briefly experience another culture. This week of ministry was wonderful and I'd love to share some highlights.

On Wednesday I went around UCL/SOAS (the campuses are right next to eachother) with my teammate Libba. We had such an encouraging conversation! We approached this girl sitting by herself and smoking, so we thought it would be a good time to see if she wanted to take our worldview survey. Right as I began to introduce ourselves and explain what we were doing, she looked up and it was obvious she had been crying. I stopped and Libba and I asked if she was okay. She was sweet and began wiping tears from her eyes and just said that she felt like she had failed the exam she had just taken. She said her name was Nadia as we sat down next to her and we were just going to comfort her--but she really wanted to take our worldview survey (I think she just really needed something to distract her). As we began talking, it was so cool to see her open up. She said she considered herself agnostic, yet was very familiar with the Christian faith because she grew up Catholic. After the survey, she began to ask us questions. She asked if we had adhered to all of the rules of Christianity. We chuckled and assured her we had not. We used her question as an opportunity to talk about what sin actually is and its effect in our lives (the brokenness we see and experience). Libba and I were both able to share our testimonies and the Gospel with Nadia and she listened very attentively and asked a lot of questions. She admitted at one point that she wanted to "experience" God...to be "moved" by Him and  that would encourage her to believe. She said she was an "all or nothing" person and would only say she believed if she truly did. I loved her honesty. I've been praying for her the last few days--especially that she would be sensitive to the tug of the Holy Spirit and respond to the free gift of grace God offers through the cross. Please join me in praying for Nadia. One side-note/thing I learned from the interaction: Libba and I talked after our conversation that it seems like Nadia is very lonely. She is older (close to 30) and took time off of school to dance as a professional ballerina. As she talked about giving ballet up, I felt like I could really relate to her. This coming fall is my last season as a collegiate/competitive/legit athlete. I have had mixed feelings about it so far but I realized throughout the conversation with Nadia that I am so thankful for the hope that Christ brings. That even though it is inevitably going to be sad, I'm also struck with the fact that my identity is not built on volleyball. This project has stretched me because its taken me way out of my comfort zone. I haven't been able to rely on my family, my reputation, my sport, Young Life, or my friends from the states. Jesus has been gently reminding me that even though volleyball is and has been a wonderful blessing in my life--its not me. 

Thursday night was our last student social over at our flat. We had a bunch of students come that we had met on campus over the past couple of weeks. I had a wonderful conversation with Phoebe, a Chinese student at Birkbeck. We talked for a long time and it was so cool to hear all about her life. She emphasized the loneliness she feels here in London and how "warm-hearted" we (the summer project team) all were. How encouraging to hear that she experienced love from our community! She is going to get connected to Student Life (CRU) as she continues to explore Christianity and what it would mean to follow Christ.

Our last Thursday night dinner 

Phoebe and I at our Thursday night social

Today I had a follow-up appointment with a girl named Laura that I had met on LSE's campus last week. She is from China and is studying for her Masters degree. It was a great conversation. We laughed and chatted about movies (her favorite is Wall-e), her course (British way of saying her "major"), and swapped random funny stories. We also spent a good bit of time talking about faith. She said she doesn't know if there is a God. However, she said she loves hearing about people's experience who do believe in God so I shared with her how my life before Jesus was different from my life now. I left her the Knowing God Personally booklet that lays out the Gospel very clearly. We exchanged e-mail addresses so I pray that she'll read through the booklet in the coming days and email me with questions or whatnot. I loved sitting there with Laura and thinking that out of everyone we see at LSE on that given day, the Holy Spirit led China and I to approach Laura last week...and now there I was, getting to share a meal with her, telling her about the freedom I have experienced in Jesus. I am so thankful that the Lord placed Laura in my life and I'm excited to be praying for her throughout the year and to give her contact information to the full-time staff to follow up on how she is doing.

Tonight was a farewell banquet for our project team that was hosted by the London staff team. It was a great night of memories and laughter. We also spent time in prayer for the city of London, the students we met (and the ones we didn't get to meet), and for the full-time staff. My heart for this city has really grown over the weeks I've been here. It truly is one of the greatest cities in the world. I've also learned about the strategy behind doing mission work in London. Countries from all over the world send their brightest men and women to study at these London universities and then these students most often return back to their countries to become the political and economic leaders of their country. Reaching out to these students means you are literally reaching out to the nations. They announced at the banquet that over our time here in London, we talked to students from a total of 46 different countries and we had over 200 spiritual conversations. Praise the Lord!

All of the girls of Buckinghot Palace

Paige, my running partner!

Andi, my roommate

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' 

--Lamentations 3:22-24

P.S.--Just a little comic relief: they gave out funny "awards" for each of us tonight [think of SB2W cabin awards] and I received the "Most likely to learn someone's life story in 3 minutes" award. Apparently Covenant's superlative of "Friendliest" has set a trend...

Thoughts...

Here are a couple prayer requests I have as we our launching into our last full week of ministry in London (crazy how time flies!). This week the schedule is purposefully pretty open so that we can follow-up with students we have met on campus from the past 2 weeks. Pray that I would have great conversations and interactions while on campus and while hanging out with students. Wednesday night we are inviting people we've met over to "show a film" (the British way of saying "watch a movie"). Thursday night is our last weekly social where we cook dinner and open up our flat to students. Pray that on these two nights, students would see the love my team has for one another and that this community would look different. I think community can speak loudly of Christ's love because of the unique way Christians are able to love eachother despite differences and despite circumstances...because (as Paul says) "Christ's love compels us..." I feel like I've experienced that first-hand during this summer project. For example, it might sound silly but for 10 girls to still love eachother well in a stifling hot flat during a London heat wave pointed to Jesus and how we can treat eachother with love and grace because He did first (1 John 4:19 talks about this). Small example, but I saw love put into action over the course of those uncomfortable days.

Thanks for your prayers. I feel so blessed by the support back home in the states. Ya'll are so wonderful!

P.S.-- During that heat wave...we jokingly nicknamed our flat: "BuckingHOT Palace." :)

P.S.S.--Exciting story: Went back to the eye hospital this morning for a follow-up...and the doctor looked at my eyes with the microscope-thingy and saw that there was an eyelash deep in there that was apparently contributing to the scratching of my cornea...which was causing the discomfort! Not sure if that was the only reason my eye has been having issues--but it certainly was a huge part. So she removed it and its felt so much better today. Yay!

View from our flat's balcony this evening!

The British are Coming!

Here are a couple of pictures from today's Diamond Jubilee festivities.

With the Queen...no big deal. 

Seeing Kate when they arrived on the screen!

With the Union Jack and the Queen in the background!

So many people

Jubilee, PETE, & Red Eyes

Hello! As I'm sure you are aware, it is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (June 3-5). It's cool because I feel British being here for the weeks leading up to it and being able to see all the preparations that were made. There are British flags everywhere and lots of crowds expected tomorrow for the Regatta. We are hoping to go and try to see some of it in the afternoon!

This past week was Project PETE (Post-Exam Training in Evangelism). It was an awesome and simultaneously exhausting week. Monday to Friday consisted of waking up, running with Paige (we ran our route the fastest ever on Friday!), and then meeting at LSE around 9:30 for the morning session to begin. We had a seminar until lunchtime and then we would be split into a few different groups and went out to the different campuses to go around initiating conversations with students. We usually were on campus for about 2 hours so then were free for the evening. I absolutely LOVED the morning seminars and the curriculum we used. It was compiled by Agape staff and they did a great job of giving us a big-picture overview of the Bible (how the story of redemption is woven from Genesis to Revelation) and then also equipping us with tangible how-to’s for methods to get into spiritual conversations. A couple of the tools we were taught to use and then used around campus: Soularium, Perspective Cards, surveys, Knowing God Personally booklets (formally called the Four Spiritual Laws), and our testimonies. What I especially loved about this week was how encouraging it was to learn and then serve alongside current students that are apart of Student Life. Maybe because so many people we randomly approach are apathetic, hostile, or bitter towards thoughts of Christianity, it is so wonderful to see and listen to people my age living for the Lord in this city that needs Jesus so badly.

Project PETE (one of the highlights? Snacks were provided!)

On Thursday I got to go around LSE with China, a UCL student studying medicine. We approached 3 girls and had 3 quality conversations. The last conversation was one of the coolest ones I’ve had so far. China and I struck up a conversation with a girl named Anna outside LSE’s library and asked if she would answer a few questions for our worldview survey. She was very chatty and willing to converse with us. However, her answer to the first question (“Do you identify with any major world religion?”) was a quick and definitive “No.”  Her reluctance at first to expand on this answer made me think this would be a short conversation. However, it was so cool because we ended up talking to her for the next 30 minutes and discovered that she had attended a Christian youth camp in Sweden (her country of origin) when she was 12. She described feeling the “love of the community” and a “contentment” with what was being taught there. But she felt that once she left that “bubble” and went home, that she “grew up” and realized that there is no way of proving God’s existence at all. At one point she said: “I believe in science. That we are all here by chance.” Then she paused and added: “Do you know how hard it is for me to say that? I wish there was a reason we were here.” That broke my heart. Anna was parroting what has been taught to her…yet there is something in her that is aching for it to be different. After she brought up the point about science, China was able to articulately and intelligently explain that as she continues her studies to be a doctor, she realizes that God and science don’t contradict one another. Anna respected that and verbally acknowledged that if she had more Christian friends, she felt like they would be able to give her an accurate picture of Christianity. I loved that she realized that. China and I have been praying for Anna since we met her and praying specifically that Christians would come into her life who could walk side-by-side with her and love her without abandon. After the conversation, China and I were blown away. I could literally feel the Holy Spirit working in her heart. Getting her to talk about walls she has been building up against Christianity since her childhood was huge. Towards the end of the conversation, I challenged Anna to peel back the layers of church and tradition…and to simply look at Jesus. Who He is and what He did. She really listened to that and seemed to take it to heart. I am so excited to keep praying that Jesus would capture her heart with His wonderful grace. [One cool side note: As China and I walked up to Anna, it had started to lightly sprinkle. In London terms...steady rain is close. But what is so cool is that it didn't rain for our entire conversation. Anna was able to smoke two cigarettes and we could all three sit comfortably on a bench without the weather being an issue and possibly ending our conversation prematurely. Such a blessing.]


There were many other interactions/conversations throughout the week that were really cool. I'm excited to share some of these with ya'll in person whenever I see you next! And by the way, our social on Thursday was AWESEOME. We cooked loads of taco meat and had a lot of toppings for people to make taco salad. A bunch of students came over and a lot of them were ones we had met on campus over the past couple weeks. So cool. It was just a really fun night of enjoying good food and community. 

Thursday night social at our flat 

I got a text message from my dad today that said, “The thorn in Paul’s flesh may have been eye trouble!” Let me explain. I’ve been battling an eye infection in just my left eye over the past 2 weeks or so. It felt completely better a few days ago so I tried a new pair of contacts. Well…I guess that was the wrong move. I woke up yesterday with my left eye very irritated again. It was red and would easily water. So after Project PETE on Friday I began what I will dub “The Eye Adventure.” This quest for a cure took me to Moorfields Eye Hospital…yes, you heard right. An entire hospital for eye injuries only. So interesting. I used the Tube and ended up waiting for about 3 hours in the hospital. The doctor assured me that it was not disastrous (I asked, with a slightly panicked tone, if I was going blind) but that I did indeed have a cornea infection. I am on strong drops now and will be wearing glasses for the remainder of the trip. What have I learned? That the Lord is with me. Sounds simple, right? While I was sitting in the hospital waiting room, all I wanted was to be home in Charlottesville where my mom could easily make me an appointment with my eye doctor and all would be taken care of and it would be familiar and safe. Instead, I was sitting in London and not feeling super friendly vibes from everyone around me. It was then that I realized that I wasn’t alone. That even though my eye is red and puffy and I am almost 4000 miles away from home, that I can draw comfort in the fact that my Heavenly Father sees me and is with me. I needed that reminder. So the cool thing about my dad's text is that Paul's response to his thorn is what I want mine to be in this not-so-ideal situation: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." --2 Corinthians 12:9

Today (Saturday) was our day off. Started off in the Imperial War Museum (obsessed..it was awesome)  and then went to Victoria & Albert Museum (art and design). In the V&A, a group of us took time in the afternoon to enjoy the lovely British tradition of tea. Then, Kenna and I decided (as the two theater lovers) to go to Leicester Square and look for cheap and available tickets for a show that night. We went on this adventure and decided to go see The 39 Steps. Our tickets happened to be on the first row, which made it so memorable! The show was hilarious and poked some fun at Hitchcock movies. I'm really glad I got to have another theater experience in the West End!

Afternoon tea at the Victoria & Albert Museum

Criterion Hall--where Kenna and I saw The 39 Steps