One Big Family

So this week we had the opportunity to go to the Kings Lodge base and listen to a few key people from YWAM speak. One guy was the founder of YWAM England, and he talked about finances and how we need to be smart and responsible about our money, which is God's money. Then we had the privilege of hearing Darlene Cunningham, wife of Loren Cunningham, visionary and founder of YWAM itself. It was so humbling, to see someone who has so much power and authority, who is so humble and full of integrity. And to know that if she and Loren had not responded to God's call, and if the people who came after them had not, I as a person and missionary would not be where I am today. Of course, you could say that about anything, but this is huge. Our world would be impacted. YWAM is not just "the arts house" where I live. Or the arts house and the station road house here in Notting Hill. YWAM is a huge international family. I say family, not organization. If you want to get technical, it is a Christian organization, but it functions as a family. I am always meeting someone from a country I've never met before. Like this week I met someone from Nigeria, and in coming to London to the internship, I met a guy from Belgium. YWAM is global. And being in a room full of people from different nations who work at different bases, it reminds me why I chose to do this. Why I chose to be a part of this family, and what it means to be a part of the body of Christ. We are the body. We are the Bride. And we want to bring the whole world into this relationship, as a pure and spotless bride to be presented to Christ on the wedding day. I am so blessed.

Fear

Revelation-
I was afraid of not being good enough.
I am no longer.

Complete

Our family is now finally complete! Sebastian has joined from Argentina, having just received his visa last Thursday. We had a long day at the church, Jordan and I sketching a lot of our concepts, in more detail, really starting to get into it. Chris is a really great teacher. He's already pushing me beyond my limits and frustrating me with it, but that means I'm learning. Another thing I'm learning more is Spanish! Since Chris is from Puerto Rico, and Johanna is from Argentina, and Josue is from Ecuador, there's a ton of spanish floating around the house. The kids even are helping me out! Because Melody is only 3, her english isn't that great, and my spanish isn't that great, so we're learning from each other. It's perfect. I love how diverse our house is! We have 14 people, and 8 nations represented. Puerto Rico, Argentina, US, Holland, Canada, England, Portugal, and Uganda. It's amazing. I can't wait until we get our supplies and start our hands on work!

Life Moves

So it's already the second week of our internship. We're starting to find our niches and work out a dance for the house. Thirteen people living in one house has got to be smooth. So for our outreaches, we are going to be doing parades. People in extreme costumes, that we make, walking on stilts, crazy face paint, performing all the way to a designated spot, where we will then minister. Or people will carry chairs, drums, easels, and set up somewhere and minister. "Chair of healing" or "painting for renewal". Stuff like that. It is going to be a lot of work for the build up, and then about 3 weeks of boom boom boom! Done... But it is all so creative! Us interns are going to be doing a lot of leading too, because it's the arts house that is organizing all this stuff. Several teams from different countries are coming to participate, as well as the Station Road house of course, and the arts team is the planners. We make the costumes, organize areas for maximum ministry success, make maps, plan where people will stay, all that sort of stuff. It is going to be so intense and so awesome. Keep us in your prayers!

Heavy

too much time,
too little time-
time is money-
is it really? how much
time do I get
to live out my life
to practice and make perfect
or to fail and learn
and fail again..
how is time measured?
in minutes or years
by
moments and
feelings
in
experiences
or seasons.
is there more time
lost in a year
at school;
or in the embrace of a love...
do we long for lost time
because we feel it
misused
or because
we want to relive
that time.
that moment where everything
felt right
or easy
(or inconsequential)
how is my time best spent.
that is the question
whose answer
I eagerly search for
as I spend
more of my time
looking for the answer
thus is the circle
of my life

Soaking

So last night, we went to the Station Road house, where they do the DTS (discipleship training school) and BLS (basic leadership school). We had a time of hanging out, with a visiting team from Perth, Aust. Then we dove in. Soaking is just a time of being with God, spending time in His presence, really feeling him and listening intently. We did an hour and a half long worship session, where we just sang to God and let him wash over us. I forgot what it was like to be with such a large passionate group as this. It was a room full of people, who love the same God, worship the same Jesus, and live by the same Spirit, raising their voices together to honor Him. We filled the house with our sounds of praise and honor and adoration. Where two or more are gathered, there He is also. Once I got into that setting, I never wanted to leave. Can we not have that all the time? Why is worship not our lifestyle? Because we forget how good God is. Because we leave that room thinking, that was great. But those moments are nothing more than a pit stop. Our life is the race. We should be in that driver's seat, racing towards our Love and Creator, enjoying the ride all the while. those pit stops are when we gather, when we stand together, to awe over his love and mercy. All he wants is for us to trust him. that's really what the serpent stole in the garden. not our innocence, or our purity, but our ability to trust God fully. It was a dirty underhanded trick. And it still plagues us today. We don't trust him to have a good future for us, we don't trust him to love us enough, we don't trust him to provide what we need, we don't trust we don't trust we don't trust. It's ridiculous how easy it becomes when we surrender control and let God have what he rightfully owns...our lives. But when we love him, it's a willing submission. Thoughts for the day.

The City

So I'm not really a city girl...I grew up in the country and a small town. But for some reason, I adore this city! Notting Hill is so charming. And though we're not in Central London, I feel like I will enjoy it there as well. today we walked to church because the sun was out. It was a lovely 65 degrees outside. It is quite a long walk, maybe 45 minutes, but not too hilly. My dumb decision of the day was wearing new flats. It rewarded me with a nice blister that eventually rubbed open and began to bleed inside my new shoes, without my knowledge. Only when I took them off later in the afternoon did I notice. After church we walked through town and got some munchies at the grocery store- humus and bread, meat, cheese, and some olives. We had  a lovely picnic in our little backyard. Until the sun hid from us, then we moved inside and watched tv for a while. The dts and bls girls left for the Station Road house, and me and the other girls had some coffee and cereal. I'll give you a nice rundown of my staff and classmates.
STAFF
Chris Vargas- from Puerto Rico, will be leading the art track, does wonderful abstract pieces as well as fine arts, and also is proficient in the art of tattooing and piercing.

one of Chris' pieces in the front hall

Johanna Vargas- from Argentina, will be leading the dance track, is obviously a dancer, has two beautiful kids with Chris: Gimel (6) and Melody (3)

Heather Mann- from England, will be helping Jo with the dance track, has been a dancer and gymnast since she was little
Juliette Soneij- from Holland, is also going to be helping Jo and Heather with the dance track
Jose Maria- from Argentina, will be leading the music track, plays almost every instrument
Marta Serrao- from Portugal, will be leading the music track
CLASSMATES
Rheanne- has staffed in mexico for the last 3 years, has been a dancer for a long while and is doing the internship to learn how to use her gift better for God
Jordan- from Colorado, did her dts here at the Station Road house and is now back for the internship, she is a painter and will be with me
Peace- from Uganda, I'm not sure what track she'll be doing, been involved in ywam for some time now
Justin- from Alaska, doing visual arts and music, he's a rapper I guess
Sebastian- from Argentina, will be doing the music track, he plays drums for a quite popular band in Argentina, right now he's still trying to get his visa so he might be coming a bit late into the program.

our home

the tattoo room

Hello, from England! So my journey was a little long and tiresome. Definitely had some kankles going on for a while. Easy layover in JFK, then landed at London Heathrow at about 6 am our time here. Got through customs very fast (which I guess is a miracle because they've been turning people down, who already have approved visas!). Then I lugged my 70lb suitcase and 20lb backpack aaaaaallllll the way down to the train station, to get on the blue line. Buying my ticket was very confusing, but I got it worked out. I looked absolutely ridiculous with all my stuff. There were 2 guys on my first train who I swear got in a fight just last night. The one guy had 4 stitches in his brow, and what looked like his finger almost torn off, but securely wrapped in bandages now. Needless to say, I stayed very quite. Transferring trains was a cinch. There was a nice gentleman who carried my huge bag up 2 flights of stairs for me. Then we crossed the street to the pink line, and got on another train, for only 5 stops this time. When I got off, I had to push my suitcase down 4 flights of stairs. As I waited on the street, I wondered if anyone remembered they were supposed to come get me. It was quite early still, maybe 745ish? So I plucked up and used the pay phone. Luckily I got ahold of someone, and one of my staff, Chris from Puerto Rico, came in about 15 minutes. We drove for maybe 5 minutes back to our house. It is so quaint! Chris and I sat in the kitchen and chatted about DTs experiences, while we waited for the girls to wake up so I could go get settled. Our cat, Coco, is insane by the way. The girls are really great! They showed me all my shelves and stuff. It took me a while to get unpacked, but now I'm all cozied in my bed ready to crash hardcore.
It is so weird to be at a different location, again. Knowing I will be here for another three months still hasn't hit yet. Being a part of another team feels even more weird. But it'll become one big family, just like before. Well, that's all for now. Bed time!!! Love you all.
Peri

So soon!

It feels like I just got back from Kenya! Which I pretty much did. It's only been about 10 weeks at home, and yet here I go again. I depart on Friday for England, to do another school with YWAM. A short 3 month arts program combined with ministry. I don't really know what to expect, except God. He's about the only constant in my life. But he told me he would be while in Kenya. I'm not sure if I'm prepared or not. But oh well! Here's to another adventure.