In July, we went on outreach to Paris for 10 days, participating in an evangelistic event named Paris Je T'aime. For two weeks, different teams came to perform on the plaza called Trocadero, looking out to the Eiffel Tower. We brought our team performance called Obsession, which includes dance, theatre, and music. As a visual artist, I was painting during the times on the plaza, different images that God gave me for the city and for the people. Each time, God brought someone to me that I was able t speak to on the topic of the painting, and it always touched their hearts. The people that would come and watch were so ready to recieve the word of God for their lives. The only time I personally was rejected was when the person only spoke German! It was a huge opportunity for the all the teams to share the love of God, through our arts and skills.
After Paris, we had a few days at home in London, then we went off to Edinburgh, Scotland for the Fringe Festival. The city is so beautiful! And the festival is amazing. So many performers and artist, just being in the atmosphere is so inspiring. But the city has a lot of demons and oppression. It was a battle the first few days to get a slot to perform on the streets, and to find what works for the audiences. We had to adapt a few things to keep the attention of the people, but God was faithful. We could see Him at work in the city, and in our lives as well.
the last two weeks of August we were working very hard towards the Notting Hill Carnival. We had over 90 people in the camp, prepping costumes and building floats, painting, cutting, gluing, and practicing music and dance. This year, God gave Chris a word that we needed to stop working each night at 12. We could stay up later if we wanted, but only to be in community and spend time together, no working. It was such a blessing! We built a ship, and a costume of a giant raven, and many colorful costumes, as well as the puppets from last year, and warriors on stilts. we had drummers, on foot and on stilts, leading the procession. At one corner of the church was the guy on extra tall stilts in the raven costume, with the evil stilts warriors, and several people costumed as slaves. The rest of us walked around the block with the boat, with music and celebration, and confronted the evil at the corner. the warriors fought, the good triumphed, and evil fled. The slaves were set free, and we had a massive celebration of color and sound and life. In the evenings, we would talk to the people in the streets, and we even did a flash mob! In the late nights, when everyone was coming off of being high or drunk, I ahd some really good conversations with people. The carnival is always really hard, because it is so sad to see all the people searching for something, but filling it with everything that is bad for them. that's why we go in, to share that there is something more.
So the internship is graduated, and we had a few weeks of holiday, and the first wedding in our base! It was a beautiful time of more celebrating everything God has done in the past year, and looking forward to the next one. In these months until January we will be planning our tracks, and working on our own personal skills. We are developing a fashion track for the next school, and seeking God for inspiration and open doors. The next school will start at the end of January and the outreach will be to Argentina! We will be going to a national YWAM Argentina retreat, and then visiting a few different areas to work and evangelize. This is going to be an expensive outreach, but God has always been faithful and we continue to walk in faith in what He has called us to. If you feel led to support me or my team here in London, please write me. After that, I will be returning to the States in May to renew my visa and work and raise up support, so I will see many of you very soon! God bless.
