Perspective

A bit late once again, but nevertheless here it is. How to express the last month or so in words is always hard for me. So many moments pass and are lived in a context that is also hard to describe. For this outreach time, we have been in London, investing in our city. We have been staying mostly in the the Notting Hill area, but during the weeks have been all around the city. Between times of evangelism in the streets around the church, to intercession walks through St. Pauls, Soho, Camden, Notting Hill, Brick Lane, and all the areas in between, to preparing for an exhibition next week, we have seen God move so much. We have met so many beautiful people that are really longing, and desperate for a change in their lives. Yet we also met many who are not. One of my greatest joys is the Thursday evenings we spend either serving dinner to our local homeless/low income friends or in Soho giving teas and coffees to passerbys. These evenings are full of conversation, of sharing love and joy and hope, giving our own testimonies many of times, and speaking truth into people's lives. Being able to share a few minutes of conversation with someone who is willing to tell you their story, that they are depressed and stuck in alcoholism, desperate for a change, and having the privilege to share with them that there is hope for change, that Jesus Christ came and set us free from all our bondage. That is an inexpressible moment. Have you ever felt God's heart for someone else? It opens your eyes and gives you a perspective that is much bigger than our own lives and our own problems. What is all the grace and forgiveness we have been given worth if we don't ever share it on with others trapped just as we were in our own mess? God has been stretching my heart, and my mind to be honest. I know we usually talk about the heart, but God has been stretching my understanding, my mindset, to see my days and situations as more than just MINE. What we live, how we live, whether regardless of being "in missions" or not, is for the kingdom.
Outreach in your home city is hard. We are comfortable here, we know how to get around, we know the currency and the language. We have such a wrong concept sometimes that missions needs to be outside of where we live. So yes, we stayed in London for outreach. We didn't travel more that an hour to any of our outreach locations or prayer walks or even the grocery store. This city knows us well, the enemies and the strongholds have had their time to get to know how we move and where we are strong, and where we are weak. As a team, we have had learned how to stand up together in our own city, to fight for it, pray for it, and love it deeper. That would not have been possible if we had left to another country. I'm excited to see how God takes this further.
Since we have stayed in the city, I was able to continue working at the same time. This job has been such a blessing. I love to be able to work with more English people, to be in an area of London that I would not normally go to, and to develop more in the coffee/barista area. We have three potential students coming for the barista track in June, and I have a lot of homework to do. The London Coffee Festival was also on last week, and it was a blast. There were so many suppliers, companies, roasters, and cafes to chat with. And SO MUCH COFFEE. Definitely over caffeinated. It was extremely inspiring.
A few prayer points:
-a coffee machine for the track
-housing (we are still growing in numbers and soon out of space)
-upcoming schools/outreaches
-finances for my visa renewal in september

Thank you all so much.