So for the last three weeks, my team and I got the opportunity to travel through Europe on outreach. We visited Amsterdam, Paris, Lyon and Barcelona to connect with people who want to start up arts ministries or already have them, and share what we are doing. In each city we were blessed with amazing housing and fellowship, and lots of beautiful places to see. We walked miles of each city, looking for places we could potentially perform and bring the internship next spring for outreach. We also visited key artist places, like the national ballet or modern art museum in Amsterdam, the old opera house and the mountain of the martyrs in Paris, and La Rambla and Gaudi's architectures in Barcelona, to connect with the flavor of the cities and to pray for our passion- the arts.
We connected with several different groups of people in each city. In Amsterdam, there is a team in the YWAM base that want to begin an arts focused DTS. We spent some time chatting with them, showing how we function together as a team and family within the arts, performing and studying and growing together. In Lyon, we were hosted by the YWAM arts team that they have already. We participated in a workshop after church on Sunday, where they had invited some of their artist friends to come and learn with us. We had a word from Chris, salsa lessons with Johy, and a great time of worship and expression. The rest of the week we shared with each other different strategies for cities, learned about the history of Lyon, and spent some time evangelizing in the city. In Barcelona, we met a few young girls who are in university, but also really want to reach their city through their art. They talked with us about their ideas for short films, theatre productions, and art exhibits. It was so good to find so many people who have the same heart and passion as us. It confirmed in all of us that we are going in the right direction, and it reignited our fires. God really blessed us so much and gave us many future opportunities.
Europe is definitely on our hearts. In Barcelona we encountered such a heavy spirit of death. Even the streets on the map made the shape of a coffin! We went to a few different cathedrals and in each I felt like I was suffocating. They all had Jesus dying on the cross, Mary and the disciples weeping. There was no joy. Only death and punishment, no hope of redemption. We as a ministry, as a family, want to shine the light and life and hope of a resurrected Christ into these cities and cultures.
On one of the bus rides in between cities, Chris received a huge revelation from God that we are like the Levites. We are a family set apart by God, artists and musicians and intercessors, who go in front of the battle, spy out the land, and open the doors for the army. We are praying for a new, fresh wave of Christian artists to rise up and join together across the nations, to open doors and lead God's army into battle.
We are planning on visiting many other key cities in Europe, like Berlin, Budapest, Rome, and Madrid just to name a few. But this, I cannot pay for on my own. I know God has called me here to London to be a part of this team, and that He will provide. If you could, please pray and see if God wants to use you to be a part of that blessing for me financially. Thankyou for your prayers and support.
Love aways, Peri
