Braces and Scrunchies

I came to Starbucks to overpay for a coffee drink and get alone time to write this post. I accomplished the overpaying part, but I'm surrounded by many young guys in very tight pants and a large group of middle school age girls with braces and scrunchies. People watching keeps distracting me.

Living at the house with 11 other people is not something that comes naturally for me even though I like to think of myself as adaptable. For the previous 3 years, I've secluded myself to the comforting depths of my cave basement bedroom. And with my siblings far away, my parents have been the larger part of my social life anyway, but in a not lame/loner way (or at least I'd like to think so). 

I am learning a lot through it here, though. I'm learning that some people (unlike me) process thoughts by talking out loud or like it when people touch them constantly or are morning people. I have none of those qualities even though they can be great things, but I am learning how to love those people properly/they way they want to be loved. I keep repeating learning because its not the way my brain works; it is a process. 

This past week has included some fear-facing/awkwardness-overcoming challenges. The lecture topic was evangelism, and we did a lot more practical learning than I initially would've liked. Our speaker was Jude from Liverpool who had fiery red hair and gentle spirit. She is the founder of a ministry called Pearl Program in Liverpool which works with developing relationships with prostitutes. Very cool. She pushed us to get out and talk to people. I did end up having some pretty bad conversations. For example, one pastry shop manager told me she didn't believe in God and I responded with "That's awesome!" and walked out. How do I even explain that?

However the good conversations I had DEFINITELY made the not so good ones worth it. I talked to a Muslim man about homosexuality and love. I talked to an elderly man about his childhood faith. I talked to a woman who had been bullied even as an adult. I wouldn't of had any of those experiences if I had let my less than superior conversation skills hold me back. The whole week did wear me out, but it taught and is teaching me about evangelizing as a lifestyle and not an agenda to try convert people on the streets. 

This week the lecture topic is on the Fatherheart of God. Our speaker is a man named Emmanuel from London, but originally Ghana. The week isn't even half over, but we've already gone pretty deep into it. We've talked about how God as a father is generous, a man of His word, and especially present in our lives; and that is how He created earthly fathers to act. It's not that I've been completely oblivious to this, but all this talk has made me realize how awesome my dad is. Even though I like to joke with him that I'm the forgotten child, he really has always been so present and a leader and so invested in my life. For him, I am thankful. 

My bunkmate, Rachel, asked me to include how awesome my roommates are, but lying makes me feel sick........I am thankful for my roommates (Kelly and Rachel) and that we are so different but none of us are really morning people or high maintenance or super messy, and that they can put up with me. My parents probably won't believe this, but I am a member of the clean room, thank you very much. 

Not like Legoland

So much has happened this past week, and it all has been so so awesome. It was a local outreach week, therefore we spent most of the week evangelizing and meeting people and doing things in the community which meant I spent A LOT of energy trying to not by awkward. Before I start on that, I have to go back a little bit.

Last weekend, we had the opportunity to go over to Chester, England which is on the Wales/England border, and got to explore and eat (YEAUH!) and shop. It was a super cute but busy town. In this first picture is just some of my team including Kelly and Rachel (my awesome roommates), Dave, Steph, and Robyn.

Then at the beginning of this week, we got to learn some Welsh history and later go on a trek up to Castell Dinas Bran in Llangollen (which is not prononced like Legoland, but rather like thlan-goth-thlan). Dinas Bran is the ruins of a castle from the medieval times and translates to Crow Castle, however we didn't see a single crow. We DID see tons of sheep and thus validated the internet fact that says Welsh sheep outnumber Welsh people 3 to 1. The last picture is almost the entire team except for myself and one other awesome lady.

For two mornings, we had Street Pastors training and learned what an awesome and effective organization it is. We learned how to hang out with the pub goers and how to love/help them properly without being overwhelming. This ministry has had a huge impact on the the night life environment and is respected by loads of people. We even got to do some role play to see how we would react to different situations.

Since my last post, I have been apart of Wrexham Feeding the Roofless twice, and that will continue to happen every Thursday at the Salvation Army. We make around 40 different sandwiches each time and this week got to take them along with crisps (potato chips), chocolate biscuits (candy), and hot drinks out to the people. It was incredibly cold handing out the food, but I was one of the few there that is blessed to have a home and a bed and heating to go back to.

On Thursday, we also practiced a super cool/scary form of evangelism called treasure hunting which involved asking God for an image or name of a person or location, and then going out and finding them. It sometimes involved praying for them, but mainly it was just talking to strangers. More nervous sweating that morning, but it ended up being awesome.

Today, we split up to go to youth groups at 2 different churches. My youth group is the The Community Church and I loved it. There was probably 25 kids there from about 11-16 years old. There were 3 leaders there not including us YWAMers, and they were incredibly nice. This group has 2 Fridays of games and hanging out only, one Friday of only spiritual stuff and one Friday off each month. I'm excited to hang out with the kids more and try to build relationships even though that may be the most daunting age group to talk to.

Next week, we are having lectures on evangelism, I will tell you about it later if I don't freeze to death before.

Dewdrops

I went for a run early this rainy morning. The city was still completely quiet and peaceful. I ended up getting lost in an area I had never been to, and it was a little scary but kind of beautiful at the same time. Also, dewdrops on flowers is something so amazing and simple. It can make living in such a rainy place worth it (among many other things). As Ferris Bueller says, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it." Here are just a couple of the things I saw when I was wandering this morning:

On Saturday, we had a team building day which involved games, exercises, and a long, perfect hike. Our leaders gave us a map and they were at different stops along the way, but we had to figure out how to get there and other little activities along the way. In this picture is Stephanie (American), Becky (American), Me (Murican) , Lauren (O Canada), and Rachel (Brit). Kelly (Brit) is the 6th trainee, but she was taking our picture. All of us are super different, but they're so great, and we've become a weird family. The hike reminded me a lot of The Hobbit scenery the way the trees and streams and bridges were. Very cool. 

This week has been our first lecture week, and Steve Sullivan, a New Zelander and experienced YWAMer, has been our speaker. We have been talking about how we are blessed so that we can become blessings to others and how that is God's only purpose. It is the Abrahamic Covenant. We've also talked a lot about how so many churches have a problem with trying to figure out God's purpose and getting it wrong or putting too much focus on other aspects. Our discussions have made me think a lot about what I believe and my church experiences. Tomorrow, I begin my weekly ministry of Wrexham Feeding the Roofless, which I am so pumped about. Then on Friday, I also start my first youth group helper/leader/servant (and I am equally as pumped). 

Alright, the end.

SO YA

      It's hard to describe what has been happening in the last couple of days. I've been doing a lot of nervous sweating, but in the good way.

      There are 12 people living in the house currently. The 6 trainees are from America, Canada, and England; 6 staff from America, Canada, England, and Brazil. There is also a family that started YWAM here and they are in and out of the house all the time. Sometimes we need some traffic control in the kitchen, but it's great. Everyone is so different, and unique. The house has many small rooms with big comfy couches and fire places, perfect for curling up with a big cuppa tea (or coffee for me).

      I didn't realize how little I knew about the rest of the world until I left America. Not that I'm knowledgeable now, but I'm becoming aware of my ethnocentric tendencies. Sometimes the Americans ask the Brits to repeats words just to make us giggle. I think it's a lot funnier than it usually is.

      After we arrived on Sunday and settled in as much as we could, we walked around the town square (circle?). We are within walking distance of Tescos (Walmart), Pound Land (Dollar Tree), Starbucks (Starbucks), arcades (little alleys of markets) and tons of other shops and stores and cafes waiting to be explored. Close by there is the St. Giles' Church in Wrexham, which is one of the 7 Wonders of Wales. (WOW)
      On Monday, we learned a little of the YWAM Welsh history. YWAM is fairly new here, and some of the staff are hoping to pioneer it in the near future in Cardiff, the capital of Wales.
      Tuesday, we did intercessory prayer for all of Wales (here comes in my lack of knowledge) and the past revivals that has occurred in the country. Its seems like God knows what we are trying to ask for, even when we don't. We also did crafts on Tuesday, so I guess I'll stay.
      On Wednesday, we did an overview of all the local outreaches and it's NUTS how many YWAM Wales does, from Wrexham Feeding the Roofless to kids club to youth group to just giving out compliments to people in the city center to reading the New Testament out loud. We also occasionally do a thing called Street Pastors where we hang out/talk to/care for the pub goers late at night. Our local outreach weeks are going to be packed and it's going to be awesome. We also did a prayer walk around some neighborhoods on the refreshing/rainy day.
      And yesterday, we spent almost the whole day talking about hearing God's voice which was terrifying and incredible and hard to explain.
      Today, we had an excellent cooking class and I rocked at peeling potatoes (kinda not really).

      This has almost no relevance, but Wrexham has THE most beautiful hydrangeas I have ever seen. The houses usually have only one bush, but they are completely full of flowers. They are all a mixture of red and a little bit of violet. Very cool.

Sorry that is a lot to read. I will end this post now with the greatest two words to end every speech, conversation, writing, or especially testimony: SO YA

New Beginnings

Hello friends and family and everyone! (Who am I kidding, my mom is probably the only one reading this. Anyway, I'll just pretend I'm writing to lots of people who are super interested in my life). 

   I am currently sitting in the large Chicago airport patiently waiting through my long layover to Manchester! HOLLER. It might seem pointless for me to write this post because I have not actually done anything or gone really that far from home. Regardless, I'm bored and I have stuff to say. 

    About 8 months ago, I was accepted into the YWAM Discipleship Training School in Wales; and pretty much since then, I have been working very hard (debatable) to raise the money to pay for the tuition. My million dollar fundraising idea was to sell infinity scarves. That worked awesome for about 2 months, and then I wanted to set all the scarves and my sewing machine on fire because it got a little overwhelming. HOWEVER, I have the world's greatest mother (second shout out, Mom) and she kinda pushed/dragged me through the process. I sold close to 200 scarves which is totally nuts. I sold on Etsy, Facebook, at local banks, at PEO meetings, and at my church. I also have some pretty dang amazing people in my life that really helped support and fund my trip. 

    So here I am in this lovely food court, only by the grace of God, with hands shaking from excitement (probably nerves). My journey has not really begun, but it sorta kinda has because I had to say goodbye to everyone I love. I will arrive in Manchester at 8 am their time and from there only God knows. God has blessed me with such an awesome life, and I am confident He will be holding my shaking, sweaty hand as I continue on. 

Peace and Blessin's y'all.