Last Day of Ministry

Today we head out to our ministry sites for the last time.  The Royal Docks team will join Dave and Sally in preparing for a cookout on the village green.  All week we have been extending invitations to local people, so we are hoping for a large turnout.  Twinkles will be there with face paint and balloons, and word always spreads quickly when she shows up. 

The evening service is at 6:30, and we are looking forward to worshipping with our new friends at Royal Docks once again.

Children playing on the green at Britannia Village

Monday – Royal Docks Team

Today the RD team split into 2 groups.  One group volunteered with the children attending Summer Scheme at the Community Center.  Sixty children kept the activity level high!  Near the entrance a group of boys tested their skills on a video game.  Close by was the crafts table where children were invited to design their own flags.  There were board games in the hallway and action games in the gym, as well as sports on the green.  Our job was to spend time with the children doing whatever activities they chose.   Most of us are grandparents, so we just did what came naturally. Each of the 6 volunteers was rewarded with smiles, hugs, and sometimes a precious piece of art created by a child.

The other group worked along the route traveled by visitors to the games at ExCel.  “The Gift Box” is a freestanding open box that displays promises on the outside (such as might entice vulnerable young people to leave their homes and families), but when visitors step inside they are presented with stories of human trafficking.  This traveling display is one of several created by Stop The Traffik, and used to raise awareness of the human exploitation problem around the world.

Another activity in this area was a quick survey.  Volunteers asked passersby two things:  “What question would you want to ask God?” and “What wish would you make to God?”  From these questions and the responses they elicited, the volunteers were often able to open conversations about God and these conversations sometimes led to prayer.  If the visitor was willing, the volunteer wrote down the first name and prayer request and we will be sharing these with you.

Tuesday is a free day for the RD team, so we will do a little sightseeing and try to soak up some Olympic atmosphere!  Then on Wednesday we will be back at the Royal Docks area to continue our ministries.

Ready To Shine On London

The weather's been quite lovely, and it's common to talk about the weather here. We've had an occasional shower, but it's been pleasant and mostly sunny overall.

While in training today, Ish (the Methodist liaison for More Than Gold) told us that when the churches here in the UK were preparing through prayer before the cross-country Torch Run, their prayer came from Isaiah 60. "Arise and Shine" became the heart of these churches, not knowing that the theme of the theme of the Torch Run would be "Moment to Shine." This has brought great motivation and encouragement to all those (including us) who are shining their lights here.

Tomorrow is our first day out in the city to do ministry, and our group has been split up into 2 smaller teams: the Royal Docks team and the Westminster team. The RD crew will attend a training time in the afternoon tomorrow and will then join in the Royal Docks evening worship service. Royal Docks is a Baptist church plant near the docks. Throughout the week, the RD team will assist the outreach efforts of the church.

The Westminster team will spend some time close to Westminster Abbey and surrounding areas, ministering to and having conversations with people. Half of the W team will also participate in some training tomorrow for the More Than Gold Communications Center, with the primary purpose of fielding phone calls and directing the media and other outlets to the right people for answers to their questions.

Prayer Requests

We spent a substantial amount of our time today in prayer.  Here are specific areas we prayed about, and we ask you to add your prayers to ours.

Churches:  Pray that we will be a blessing and encouragement to the local churches, and that these churches will see fruit from our joint labors as souls come to know Christ.

Protection:   Pray that any evil plans for violence or other disruptions will be exposed and halted.  Pray that these coming days will be peaceful, not only for the sake of all the people here in the city, but also for the sake of the gospel.

Divine Appointments:  Pray that God will provide opportunities for conversation with those needing an introduction to the Kingdom of God, and that we will meet those appointments with thanksgiving, expectation, and faith.

While the Games' Torch Run mantra is not necessarily God-centered, it's a great call for us all to Shine On London!

Greetings from London!

Hello from London! All 24 team members arrived safe and sound in spite of a few obstacles. There were some delays; three members arrived late for their Atlanta connection, but made it on the flight (albeit without their luggage).

There were other challenges today as well. Navigating the London rail system (officially the London Underground, but locally called the Tube) required climbing numerous flights of stairs with luggage. We helped each other, of course, but there were also many Good Samaritans who pitched in. Three of our teammates suffered falls on an escalator, and two of them received first aid from the London Transit Team. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, and all were able to continue their journey.

Our lodging is at the High Leigh Conference Center, located in Hoddesdon, a small town north of London. The center provides several levels of accommodations, including hotel, dorm, and "bronze" level, which evidently involves sleeping bags. We are fortunate to all have beds.



High Leigh Conference Center

The WMU group is only a small component of More Than Gold's efforts to bring Christianity to the Olympics. Approximately 250 missionaries representing several countries are housed here at High Leigh. There are 3 additional locations hosting More Than Gold volunteers in London.

Tomorrow's orientation topics include safety, understanding London's cultural diversity, ministering to other faith groups, and pin trading as an evangelism tool. The day will conclude with prayer time and a commissioning service.

Prayer Requests: Pray that we will overcome the fatigue of a long day of travel. Pray too that we will find unity as we work together.

Kim Wilson is collaborating with me on this blog for the duration of the mission trip. She's a campus minister at California University of Pennsylvania and will provide both blog content and photos.