London {chunks of my heart} part 1

It's been 3 weeks since I returned from London. I can hardly believe that because every day my heart longs for it so much it feels like I've been here but a few days and am still recovering. Instead, the reality is I've been here 504 hours and have thought of London well over 504 times. So, it suffices to say I may have left a chunk of my heart in London.

 I arrived in London a day earlier than the majority of the team. This was good for me, cause it turns out I'm not immune to jet lag like I once thought. I got to hang out in Shepherd's Bush, visiting with friends and joining a beginning church plant meeting. Buphinder and I snuck over to a cafe to grab some ice cream before the meeting. Dessert before a delicious dinner was not a brilliant idea but sometimes you have to live to learn.

When everyone arrived we went to the Hindu temple in Wembly. I don't know if you've ever seen a Hindu temple up close and personal but it is some kind of beautiful! The hand carvings are so intricate and delicate. Absolutely stunning when you think that human hands created this. Something that I appreciate about God is that He has an ability to bring glory to Himself even in places that seek to honor other gods. I love that He can lead us to worship Him, in awe of how He's created people with various talents and abilities to create beauty.Worship Him, YAHWEH, not that which He's created. So here's how you can pray:  Isaiah 2:20  That one day very soon they would cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they have made for themselves to worship. Isaiah 40:25&26, 28 That they would experience the incomparable Holy One. That they would lift their eyes and look to the heavens: recognizing the one who created all. That they would worship the one who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Pray they would know the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

 The following day we went to Southall to visit a Sikh Gurdwara. (I would be remiss to not mention my sadness of hearing the evil that lurks in mans' heart.) Here we covered our heads and removed our shoes, shuffling throughout the building taking in the sights, sounds, and smells. They begin cooking at 4 a.m. to feed those who will come in throughout the day until midnight, both Sikh's and non-Sikh's alike. The atmosphere is very quiet in prayer with exception  to the people singing from their holy book at the front. You can pray that these beautifully generous people would know the Savior. And Hebrews 9:27 &28  That man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement. And that Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time to bring salvation to those
who are waiting for Him.  


Afterwards we went to a Muslim Mosque and were able to ask questions to the treasurer and Imam.  Pray that they would know the assurance of salvation through Jesus, something Islam can never offer them. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.

And all along the way these first few days were these new beautiful friends of mine The Solos (Anne, Lisa, Emily, and Kay). Kay actually didn't join us until later but whatevs. You'll read of her story later.

So, that's my first 3 days in London. I have to say I walked away from those visits feeling overwhelmed and under qualified. Could God's hand actually extend here and bring people to himself? I had my doubts, but as was a theme for me throughout the trip, God was ready to meet me in the midst of my doubting.

 Isaiah 59:1 "Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear."