Brilliant Weekend

Jess

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to share my first weekend in London with you. Before I unfold it, I need to introduce Jess to you. She is one of the Christian's along my travels who has agreed to open their (her) home up and accommodate a complete stranger (me). Much love and thanks to my NY friend Stan who basically hooked the two of us up. Jess is a missionary, recently back in London from serving 2 years Peru, has been involved in YWAM all over the world and been on the mission field on and off for over 10 years. Therefore, she can relate to the joys and struggles I've only just started experiencing. She's simply wonderful and is inspiring me in many ways, mostly in the area of learning languages. Yet another example of God's providence, in just 4 short days we've become so close, I'm blessed by this sister in Christ. God is good!

Saturday was started out with a bus ride to Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens. Beautiful bustling park with tall old trees, long walk ways, a boating lake, fountains, formal gardens, biking trail, horseback trail, Ferris wheel, playgrounds, you get the picture. Central park would be the closest example in the states. On a whim, Jess and I rented bikes for an hour and rode around the park, visiting the Peter Pan statue, Princess Diana Memorial fountain and Italian fountains. Magnificent! I haven't been on a bike in several years so it was fun and not even 3 minutes into it we almost crashed into each other! Anyways, it was great and the breeze helped cool us down in the hot sun.

The Tube

Two girls out on the town, of course we went shopping at Primark (dept. store) along Oxford Street then took The Tube (subway) to Leicester, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden which is probably my favorite place of all the 4. We enjoyed a proper English dinner, savory English pies. Jess had the classic steak and Guinness pie with a side of creamy mash and Liquor (parsley cream sauce), I had the butternut squash and goat cheese pie with a side of string beans in oil and lemon juice.  Flaky crusts, flavorful fillings- yummy and hit the spot.

Both days I was praising God for the warm sun and blue skies He was blessing us with. Sunday really blew my socks off. We met up with two of Jess's friends and attended Hillsong London Church for their Sunday morning service.  We were quite the international group; one person each representing Peru, England, America and Rwanda! Worship was spectacular, what you would assume. It was the first Sunday service I've been to that encouraged people to jump to the music. The second Sunday service I've ever been to where I heard rap.

Hillsong London Youth Performance

Just so happens that Brian Houston, lead pastor of Hillsong is traveling with his wife Bobby, touring and preaching at the different campuses world wide and he gave our Sunday morning's message. Too cool. The amount of scripture he used (95% from memory) was the most I have ever heard in a service thus far. The book we were mostly in was 2 Corinthians. The topic was living in/building on the grace God has given you. Which we know His grace is enough. For instance, being comfortable with who you are and who you are not 2Cor10:1-4; realizing you are valuable and God's calling is important (not the other way around); being comfortable to boast in the Lord and not yourself.  All in all the worship songs hit home (Jesus be the center, light will shine, all i want is You) and the teaching was powerful. A little side note- at one point during the service Ireland, Berlin, Kiev, and Surrey, locations were all plugged into ours- pretty cool.

Westminster Abbey

After the service the group of us toured the sights; visiting Big Ben, Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and a few of the squares we did the night before. I love the city of London and definitely see myself coming back here. The history, the buildings, the gardens and the people! As we were window shopping across from Buckingham palace, I spotted an elegant 3 tiered serving tray filled with scrumptious foods for afternoon tea. After we said our goodbyes to Jess's friends we did afternoon tea.


Giggling like school girls we had an amazing time. Sipping fresh brewed tea, sampling some delightful sandwiches, scones and desserts as we listened to a live pianist and shared testimonies of God's grace in our lives and what He has brought us through. It was the absolute perfect spontaneous gift from God that allowed us time to relax from running around and have some lovely girl talk. He has already begun making precious memories in my heart!
We rushed back to Battersea, where Jess lives to catch the 6:30 evening service at St. Marks Church. Once again, great worship songs and this time I actually know one of them, Hosanna. We prayed for famine in Africa and specific missionaries that are there. The theme of the service was to be strong and courageous Jos1:1-9. Very solid message and afterwards we connected with a few of the pastors about possibly serving in some food related areas and once again God opens the doors.

It was a busy weekend and Jess and I couldn't have been more full of joy and the Spirit, walking home amazed at the weekend we've been blessed with. Praise God for who He is and what He's done!

- look for more pictures of London in the slideshows on the right.

God Bless,