God is God, all over the world.

the team :)

How do I sum up five weeks of getting to see God move and answer even my smallest prayers?  I feel like I could have written a blog EVERY day in London... if I had the time :) But as I sit and think back on what God has done in this time, I am so amazed! 

Honestly, it was hard for me at first to hear that we were going to London.  My heart is in jungles and villages, among people who have never seen a white person, or heard the name of Jesus... but a city??  How could I see God move in a place that has had the Gospel for so long?  What could I bring them that they haven't already heard? 
Thankfully, I was humbly reminded in London that once again, it is never about me!  But when God calls us to do something, He prepares the way. 

dancing with Project Dance

Dance: I had learned so much about how it could be used in ministry during my six months in Montana, but I actually got to apply it and see it with my own eyes in England!  Our team partnered with an organization, Project Dance, where we were able to do our dances in an outside stadium right next to the Tower Bridge in London.  Throughout the day hundreds of people stopped to watch our dances and listen to messages about hope and the meaning of life.  We also partnered with all the churches in the area where we were staying to put on a festival.  It was a two week event where we had facepainting, music bands, a place to watch to olympics, and our dances.  The most suprising thing to see was when people, even men in the audience would cry during our dances.  Afterwards they told us they didn't know what was happening, they just felt something stirring in their hearts.  We were able to share with them that that was Jesus and He can speak through the arts.  We also got to perform in different churches around the city and share how they can use the passions and the talents that God has given them to reach their community, and share how much it is needed!

Pastor Edwin from the Kenyan church :)

Africa:  The hardest thing for me was knowing that if I went to London, I would not have an opportunity to go to Uganda this year.  I asked God in my heart as we were on the train into London, "God, could I just meet one Ugandan while we are here?"  Well, God is amazing like that! I got to meet not only one... but multiple Ugandans!  I actually met Ugandans in almost every place we went!  Not to mention the fact that we lived in a Kenyan church during our whole time in London.  I was so blessed to get to build connections with people that have moved to London, and will be returning to Uganda and Kenya in the future.  The choreography of heaven never ceases to amaze me! And it was just a blessing to try to speak Acholi with people for a while :)

because taking a picture of telling someone
about Jesus would be awkward...
this is Buckingham Palace.

Evangelism:  Honestly, as an American, doing "hut to hut" evangelism in a relationship-focused culture is a lot easier for me than trying to stop and talk to a person in a western culture about Jesus.  I think one of the things that makes it hard our ideaology that people can "have it all together" and maybe they don't "need" Jesus.  I think in the west sometimes we have this mentality of "we can only tell people about Jesus after we do charity work."  Don't get me wrong, the idea of digging wells and helping build schools is amazing!  But I think I need to remember that Jesus cares for so much more than just the physical needs of people.  He cares about their souls.  I was able to see this in London.  Even with the people that "had it all together" there was something missing if they didn't know Jesus.  Lisa said it so well when she said "people just need to be heard"  And as a short-term mission team... we can't always hear people out after we leave, but we can point them to the One who will always listen and will never leave them or forsake them.  It was so great to be able to tell people "you know, you can talk to Jesus any time you need to!" And for many of them this was something they had never heard! They thought that talking to Jesus was reserved to the people who go to church on Sundays and don't drink at night.  But the beautiful thing is that Jesus wants to meet us right where we are.  Whether that is in a mud hut in Africa, or in an office building in London.  Jesus came that they ALL may have life, and have it in abundance!  I think this was such a good lesson for me to learn, knowing that I will be in the states for the next few years.  Mission exists because the worship doesn't...and there are people all over the world that don't know what a life of worship is.  I am just thankful that God is teaching me that lesson now!  Whether it be in our own home town or country, or in a jungle somewhere... our calling is to Jesus and to making Him known.  THAT is what a life in abudance looks likes!