London life is fantastic, besides the rushing of the buses, the chilling morning rain, and the carbohydrate-packed traditional English food. No really, life is fantastic. God is constantly showing me that this is exactly where he wants me, even if there is no Mountain Dew and I’m stuck drinking tea…In fact, I have found tea just as addicting. I am being kept busy by numerous youth activities, and am spending my time loving people whom this culture, has no expectations for and with that mindset are setting up to fail. Jesus is teaching me to love the least and the last.
On Friday afternoon, the Southwark, XLP team,as seen in the picture, ventures into a school named Highshore, a school for children and youth with any kind of disability whither it be physical or mental. We just spend our half an hour lunch club playing the simplest games with them such as, limbo and musical chairs. I’ve never seen a more rowdy bunch of youth in my life….SLUMY; they have you beat by far. And I’ve never seen a group of people so happy to see me which has made me realize that Jesus’ love all boils down to spending time with us and telling us that we are worth His time. These young people are constantly told, by the fact that they aren’t allowed in a “normal” school that they aren’t worth it. Jesus says that they are! I was so nervous to lead a club for youth with a disabilities but Jesus again said every youth no matter what their culture and level of ability just want to be loved. We have one young guy, Wong who is very sweet but has turrets. Sometimes it is so hard not to laugh at the things he says and to just love him through his “disability.” So Highshore is always a blessing.
The XLP bus has also been a huge joy to work in. For those of you who don’t know, the XLP bus is a pimped out double decker bus which is kind of like a mobile youth center. We park the bus on the Aylesbury estate (project) and allow the kids in the area a few hours of fun in a safe atmosphere. Please pray that more girls will attend this time, often it is known that the bus is the guy’s turf so few girls have the guts to come on a bus with 20 or so guys. Pray for Christina, our lone girl who is 11 that she would keep coming every Tuesday and that she would bring her friends.
Lastly, besides all the XLP work, I am working, on the youth team at my church, The Well Community Church and so far this is the work that I am most passionate about. The group is small, only 16, which has been quite a change from St. Luke but it is an awesome group of young people who know the Lord and are following Him. This past Sunday, Oct, 12, four of the young people got baptized in the morning service and committed their lives to Christ. Amy, Charlotte, Ula (boy) and Gabriel. The night before we had had a youth prayer meeting as well as a youth club and I was able to pray with and spend a lot of time talking with Charlotte and as she was baptized the next morning, I realized that this was the best moment of these first weeks. She stood up in front of all her friends and claimed Jesus as her Lord. It got me a little teary-eyed and I hardly know them yet. So please be praying for these 4 youth! As of next Friday, I will be leading a life group for the younger youth, ages 11 through 14i(ish) at my house and hope to create an discussion group where together we can discover how to put our faith into action everyday. And of course there will be many trips and movie nights planned! Please pray for me as I lead this group and for the young people that will be involved. Pray for Mariah, Abby, Lucy, Samuel, Amy, and Ben.
I just wanted to write again to thank you for all your prayers and support of this new adventure in my life. And an adventure it is. While everything changes, I have found that Jesus never will. He is the same no matter where I go, traditions, language, clothing styles, modes of transportation, food, and culture can change all they want. Jesus never will. He is my Rock. And I am having a blast. Thanks again for your prayers.
Julie
On Friday afternoon, the Southwark, XLP team,as seen in the picture, ventures into a school named Highshore, a school for children and youth with any kind of disability whither it be physical or mental. We just spend our half an hour lunch club playing the simplest games with them such as, limbo and musical chairs. I’ve never seen a more rowdy bunch of youth in my life….SLUMY; they have you beat by far. And I’ve never seen a group of people so happy to see me which has made me realize that Jesus’ love all boils down to spending time with us and telling us that we are worth His time. These young people are constantly told, by the fact that they aren’t allowed in a “normal” school that they aren’t worth it. Jesus says that they are! I was so nervous to lead a club for youth with a disabilities but Jesus again said every youth no matter what their culture and level of ability just want to be loved. We have one young guy, Wong who is very sweet but has turrets. Sometimes it is so hard not to laugh at the things he says and to just love him through his “disability.” So Highshore is always a blessing.
The XLP bus has also been a huge joy to work in. For those of you who don’t know, the XLP bus is a pimped out double decker bus which is kind of like a mobile youth center. We park the bus on the Aylesbury estate (project) and allow the kids in the area a few hours of fun in a safe atmosphere. Please pray that more girls will attend this time, often it is known that the bus is the guy’s turf so few girls have the guts to come on a bus with 20 or so guys. Pray for Christina, our lone girl who is 11 that she would keep coming every Tuesday and that she would bring her friends.
Lastly, besides all the XLP work, I am working, on the youth team at my church, The Well Community Church and so far this is the work that I am most passionate about. The group is small, only 16, which has been quite a change from St. Luke but it is an awesome group of young people who know the Lord and are following Him. This past Sunday, Oct, 12, four of the young people got baptized in the morning service and committed their lives to Christ. Amy, Charlotte, Ula (boy) and Gabriel. The night before we had had a youth prayer meeting as well as a youth club and I was able to pray with and spend a lot of time talking with Charlotte and as she was baptized the next morning, I realized that this was the best moment of these first weeks. She stood up in front of all her friends and claimed Jesus as her Lord. It got me a little teary-eyed and I hardly know them yet. So please be praying for these 4 youth! As of next Friday, I will be leading a life group for the younger youth, ages 11 through 14i(ish) at my house and hope to create an discussion group where together we can discover how to put our faith into action everyday. And of course there will be many trips and movie nights planned! Please pray for me as I lead this group and for the young people that will be involved. Pray for Mariah, Abby, Lucy, Samuel, Amy, and Ben.
I just wanted to write again to thank you for all your prayers and support of this new adventure in my life. And an adventure it is. While everything changes, I have found that Jesus never will. He is the same no matter where I go, traditions, language, clothing styles, modes of transportation, food, and culture can change all they want. Jesus never will. He is my Rock. And I am having a blast. Thanks again for your prayers.
Julie
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