Sisters, Sisters

Just a little gem from July 6th! 

Surrender

I know I have not posted in a long, long time. And I know that I am not "over the pond" anymore and am in the not-quite-as-exciting Fredericksburg. But I do want to continue to blog occasionally and to share the things I'm learning and the adventures Jesus takes me on. Because if I learned anything in London, it was that Jesus has purpose for me. And that purpose isn't just when I'm thousands of miles away, walking up boldly to university students and initiating conversations with the hope of sharing the Gospel. But now I am back in the routine...taking classes, attending volleyball practice for 3-4 hours a day, and doing Young Life. And the Lord wants my heart here. He doesn't just want me to lean on Him and look to Him when I'm doing designated "ministry." My life is a thank you offering for what He did on the cross. 

This idea of surrender has been a theme throughout my summer. Surrendering my pride and desire for control are daily things.  I came across this passage while reading a book this summer and I feel like it eloquently explains my prayer and desire for my senior year. 

"Can we give up all for the love of God? When the surrender of ourselves seems too much to ask, it is first of all because our thoughts about God Himself are paltry. We have not really seen Him, we have hardly tested Him at all and learned how good He is. In our blindness we approach Him with suspicious reserve. We ask how much of our fun He intends to spoil, how much He will demand from us, how high is the price we must pay before He is placated. If we had the least notion of His lovingkindness and tender mercy, His fatherly care for His poor children, His generosity, His beautiful plans for us; if we knew how patiently He waits for our turning to Him, how gently He means to lead us to green pastures and still waters, how carefully He is preparing a place for us, how ceaselessly He is ordering and ordaining and engineering His Master Plan for our good--if we had any inkling of all this, could we be reluctant to let go of our smashed dandelions or whatever we clutch so fiercely in our sweaty little hands?"
--Elisabeth Elliot, The Path of Loneliness 

People

It's funny because when people hear I went to London, they immediately ask if I saw the "big sights" (you know...Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham, etc.). I naturally begin to answer and expand about how truly wonderful each sight was. But what leaves me with a weird feeling is that the sites of London are not what has stuck with me. That's not what I think of when I think back to the wonderful month I spent there...on the 7th floor of a flat in central London...going out and telling university students about the hope of Jesus. I think of the people I encountered. And saw. And bumped into. And asked directions from. And smiled at. So many faces float across my mind sometimes as I think back to my time in that wonderful city and all I can do is lift those people and those names I remember up to the Lord.

Our project director showed us this video on our banquet night at the end of our month. I want to share it with you because I think it shows the city I called home for a month the way I see it. As a moving, thriving, bustling, lost city full of all kinds of people. [The video has a unique/artsy style--it was all shot from London buses with a handheld camera].


London Bus Tour from moritz oberholzer on Vimeo.

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