So a day turned into a week. Seems about my blogging style. Sooo much has gone on. My goodness. I was thinking what to say and I’ll just give a fluffy life summary.

Well last weekend our tiny little church put on a conference. Rolland and Heidi Baker (With Iris Ministries, whom I worked with in Africa) are old friends of my Pastors so they came in with a lil team to be the speakers. It went really great. So Eleos style, as it had free admission and the first three rows were reserved for the homeless. Laura and I ended up running most of it as Kurt and Asha caught up with the Bakers. We joke that the pictures below best represent the practical part of the weekend “Eleos-Iris Style”.

Things here are still going amazing. New little development, I’m now the keyboard player for my church. Haha. I guess they’ve been praying for a keyboard player for quite some time and even though I haven’t played in a worship band or even really practiced for about two years for some reason I agreed to do it. It was funny as I arrived at church about a half hour before the service the Sunday I was suppose to play and even though everything was set up, nobody had any intention of practicing. I noticed the piano was well, a tad tiny and missing a pedal so I asked if I could quickly have a go at it. I sat down only to discover, they don’t have sheet music. They sort of laughed and asked if I could play by ear. We started practicing and turns out they only have one monitor for two vocals, one guitar and now a keyboard. I don’t know which was more difficult, trying to learn a new song by ear or simply trying to hear myself over the bongos and guitar. One guy was sent on a mission to find music to a song that I didn’t know and came back claiming he was successful. Only one small problem. “Can you transpose music?” “Can I what?” Turns out it was the right song, wrong key. So they gave me a pen and about 5 minutes to try and transpose this song. In the end I did figure it out (proof alone that God is in love with me) and they find music to another song. Except with this song the cords are right but in the wrong spot. “Well you just sort of make it up” The drummer tells me. And the lead vocalist/guitar player agrees, “Yeah just make it up”… Not reassuring. So we play around a bit, made a total new song list and then just waited for people to show up.
Lol Was funnier at the time I think.
It was really good though, I loved every minute. God totally showed up and did his thing and we worshiped for the next two hours, completely skipping the sermon.

A couple weeks ago I also got a chance to leave London and see some country side as Laura and I took a train to visit her parents in Oxfordshire. It was great, her parents are moving to a new little village that we visited that is all thatched cottages! No joke. The whole thing looked straight out of a movie, topped off with a 16th century pub next door and a castle up the way. Below are some pics.

Work is going better. I’m working part time now while secretly looking for a way to love on babies and annihilate poverty in London. No luck as of yet but I’ll keep updates.
Laura and I went with Kurt and the team to “Church without Walls” last Saturday. In short it’s breakfast, a short talk and prayer with about 40ish homeless guys under a tree at about 7 in the morning. Kind of similar to what I did in S’toon.
The shear quantity of homeless people in London though, has been quite the issue lately. There is a solution, I know there is, I just don’t know what it is yet. Giving up my futon isn’t it and neither is throwing a pound or two at their feet. Lol I’m not going into that now but man, I refuse to sit on the fence for this one.
Anyway there’s some of life’s basics, below are some pictures. Cheers

-The location of the conference was moved across the street so to avoid confusion we posted a sign, we feel this picture sums up the practical aspect of the weekend.
-The place that it was held in was an old anglo-catholic church probably older then my country. The bathrooms were ancient and a joy not only to use but also to clean.
-Just got off the train and still a little tired and cold. (laura’s parents new cottage)
-16th Century Pub

Floods in Mozambique

Hopefully most of you know about the floods in Mozambique, probably through Rolland and Heidi's email. If you didn't get the email, the pictures or you have no idea what i'm talking about, you can go to www.irismin.org.

but here's my friend Jessie's update. I'll try and write about my little London life tomorrow.

There has been serious flooding in one of our southern regions because of all the rain we’ve been having in this part of Africa. It has affected not just Mozambique but Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia as well. But, with the rain in those nations, because of the river systems, a lot of their excess water comes to Mozambique and adds to our flooding problems here. It has washed away over 4,500 homes as well as a lot of crops. There are people even now still isolated because of the swollen rivers and thousands of displaced people living in temporary camps until they can rebuild.

Iris sent a team down to Zambezia, the province that was hit the hardest. I was so happy that I got to go! I found out Thursday night before and left 12 hours later. (There were issues because I was the only girl, but Josham went so they said I could.) There were 8 of us with 1 Land Rover and 1 camiao/truck. On the way we stopped in Nampula, a large city, and bought rolls of plastic, rice, sugar, salt, soap and cookies for the kids. Going down we had no idea what we would find or even what we would be doing. It took us two long days to drive down to our center there. We worked with the provincial pastor in talking to the Governor and getting approval by the government, as well as actually visiting the camps where the people were.
We got permission to visit 12 camps where people had set up temporary residence. Since their houses were made of mud, with all the wind and rain they either melted or blew away/apart. They had built temporary ‘houses’ out of bamboo and the grass that grows everywhere. The conditions in the camps were so bad. Some of the people had lost everything as their houses were carried away in the flood, they didn’t even have a way to cook food. Some had more than that, but still it wasn’t much at all. We tried to visit about 7 camps, though we couldn’t get in to all of them. Even though we had the blessing of the head of the province, we still had trouble with the local governments leaders. They wanted us to leave the food we brought with them instead of giving it directly to the people. If we did that, food would disappear before it got to the people, or the corrupt officials would turn around and sell it to the people. Who, by the way, had just lost everything and had no way to buy the food they needed to survive. It was heartbreaking. In one place we ended up driving 3 hours back home with the food still in our truck. That was one of our worst days.
At the camps we visited we always gave food, and in a lot of them one of our team was able to preach. Even though we brought them food, it wasn’t much for all the people that had been displaced. But they were so thankful, there was always clapping and cheering African style. We visited some of our churches and were able to give them food as well. We also bought some supplies for them to start rebuilding some of the churches that were washed away by the rain. Even though we couldn’t do much, the people were so encouraged that we had come all that way to help them. We were the first people in a lot of places, even though there were other world aid organizations there and aware of the problem. They were still in the planning stage while people were starving. So when we came with what food we had, they were encouraged that they weren’t forgotten and that more help was on the way. Even though we gave out food everywhere we went, our main purpose was to share the love of God with the people there. He’s the only way they can get through the next few months or even year of trying to rebuild their lives.
I’m still trying to process what I saw down there.I’m still trying to process what I saw down there.
I’ve never been faced with such poverty, devastation or overwhelming need. I still cry when I think of the conditions down there. Even with the realization that God is the only way that the people can get through the process of rebuilding their lives, I’ve realized that He is the only way I can get through it too. How do you see things like that and keep going on? Even with what we could do, it seemed like so little in the face of such great need. But then I think back to the face of one of the children as they received a roll, or the face of a mother as she’s able to give a roll to her crying child and that alone makes it worth it. To be able to help the one if front of you, it makes a difference in one life. I don’t have to do it all, I can’t do it all, but I can be the hands, feet, smile of Jesus to that one person in front of me. So on I go with Jesus holding my hand as I embrace the heart of Iris Ministries and stop for the one in front of me.

The more people I meet and the more places I visit the more sure I become that the only thing I can be sure of is the love of God. That he loves me unconditionally and that I can trust him with everything. All my hopes, all my fears. The desires that everyone knows and the ones that I’m even afraid to admit to. I’m learning that if I do nothing for the rest of my life but love him and the ones around me then that’s enough. Whether it’s the Queen of England or the homeless man by the tube station. It’s all about love. I always thought I had to become something fancy or do great impressive things but now I know that if I do that then fine but all that matters is that you love. And love selflessly. Not expecting anything in return. And extravagantly, going above and beyond what’s “normal”. Love is always a risk, but when your hearts in the hands of a trustworthy God we can afford to take that risk.
There are such extremes here. The extremely rich and the extremely poor. In the past we’ve gotten annoyed at the poor. Thinking they’re a “burden to society” or something, completely missing what they have to offer. In my little “London adventure” I hope to be taught by some of the best. (of the west that is) I hope to never forget the presence of God at church last Sunday when a little broken “homeless” guy stepped up to the mike and softly sang a song to Jesus. With his thick Scottish accent I barely knew a word of what he was saying but I did know that that place became electric. Something about the pure love from this man got all of Heavens attention. There needs to be such a balance though. To be completely satisfied yet to live with complete dissatisfaction. Loving Jesus and those around you has to be enough yet you must always be desperate to see more, to have more and just know more of God. His presence and his power. Talk is not enough. Talk is never enough. It must always be backed with action. Love requires action. Such a simple revelation but for me so profound. Love is so huge and like God, we’ve often made it small. In the words of Misty Edwards [God] “Won’t you let me love you more”! I love the fact that he’s everything. He’s my “enough” and everything else comes from that.
Guess I’m rambling and I’m sorry but words can’t properly describe what God’s up to right now.
Anyway… My first week at work is over (sigh of relief) It wasn’t bad just super stressful. I just kept looking around thinking “Do they know who I am and my qualifications?” as I typed up “Urgent Cancer” this and “Brain Surgery” that, desperately praying I didn’t make a mistake. Not to mention learning new computer programs and formatting new templates at the same time. Yeah, almost cried at first, lol but no it was fine. I think the worst part was just being chained to my desk all day. They offered me long term, which I thought I wanted, but now I know it’s not.
Last night Laura and I went to see Rolland Baker speak in Eeling. (area in London about two hours away) Gotta love Iris, Laura and I were quite a scene. (sloshed, not groupies;) Kind of been struggling with keeping my emotions for Africa in line though, and that certainly didn’t help. So in the meantime I’m going to ask God for English babies. Might as well, at least until I hit up the Sudan I guess. ;)
Well that's a lot and i'm running out of time.
*NOTE to mum* -Got your parcel! Fell head over heels at the sight of the Sweet Chili Heat Chips!
*NOTE to others*- I normally don't ask for specifics but if God puts it on your heart to send me Sweet Chili Heat chips, I won't refuse them. :)

Saturday I was fully immersed in London shopping. Laura and I went to Oxford Circus and tackled the shops and…crowds. I have never seen so many people in all my life. Or at least never so many people with the same goal of shopping. It was like the entire population of my hometown in Canada on one street. I felt so small town as I gazed at the massive stores. Every time I lost sight of Laura I thought I was a goner. But the shoes! All the beautiful shoes, floor after floor after floor. I didn’t buy any as I didn’t want to spend money until I was making it, but after a few hours I got used to it all and fell in love with the never ending racks of clothes.
Life is going great, pretty intense at times but good never the less. I love London and my area is really growing on me as I learn my way around and have even been asked directions! It’s sort of strange as some areas look and smell so much like Dar Es Salaam in Africa, it kind of pricks my heart and makes me fully want to pack up and head South. Really, what I wouldn’t give to love on my orphan babies. (lol I know, Tanzania in London, but Laura agrees, it’s really strange)
Anyway, I’m pretty much settled in now. I got a job last week and start tomorrow. It’s only part term doing a “special project” at a Mission Doctor’s clinic (paper pushing I think) for about two weeks and then they’ll see if something opens long term. Honestly I think they’re just checking me out as the job I applied for is above my qualifications and they probably don’t want to spend crazy amounts of time training me if I’m a dud. So I’m praying they love me and maybe offer me full term. :)
(It’s a “Mission” clinic meaning it works in the inner city, which is great because I can walk to it and not have to pay for public transport. That and if I get into any human relations I’ll be working with the poor which would be perfect)
It’s not my dream job as I don’t quite get the child interaction I want but its neat how God worked it as it was the only job I applied for. ;)
That’s all the generic stuff I can think of for now. I still love the little church that I’m now calling family. They are so pure and so raw. None of the fake phony stuff, God just loves hanging out with them. Funny how you’ll get a big Church that says all the right things and does all the right things yet God is absent and then you get a little group of “nobodies” and Jesus just rocks the place. I so love that, his heart is so great. Sort of sad how easily we can miss it though, to chase after a religion instead of a relationship. Get stuck in “religious routine”. Lol Not with this church. Honestly, if you ever get a chance to visit London, add “Eleos” to your list of places to visit.

Police accessing the scene
Laura accessing the scene
Cassandra enjoying her camera

Ok, so i'm not the technical genius I thought I was. Hopefully the pictures work this time.

As for her car... It's a write off. Sort of sucks but we know God will totally use this situation for our good so we're not really worried. The gang is still a problem as they insist on trying to terrorize the neighbourhood at night provoking fear in all the residents. Again, we're not really worried, we're not being stupid, but we're definitely not living in fear.