I've Hit The Big 3-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I had the privilege of celebrating my 30th birthday in London! We didn't do much celebrating since our day was full of scheduled activities, but they did sing to me at dinner and I opened the cards from Michael and others I received in the mail before we left. Major brownie points for Michael, he packed all the cards I got so I'd have something to open here. My two singing cards were particularly fun!

I wrote a super long post the other day about the street evangelism we did at Leicster Square, but we can't get the wireless internet to work on our laptop here at the London School of Theology, so you are spared from my long ramblings. Thankfully we do have access to the internet on their school computers.

I'm going to make this short, since I need to get to bed, but numerous things have happened since I last wrote. We have begun to be immersed in the Southeast Asian culture in Wembly and Southall (both areas of London) where the World Harvest Mission team is working and doing church planting. Yesterday we went to the largest Hindu Temple outside of India. It was made of marble shipped to India, handcarved and fit back together here in London. We had a tour guide who showed us a video and answered questions about Hinduism. It was extremely interesting to hear him talk about his own faith. I am uneducated as far as what Hindus believe, so I was particularly curious to find out how he explained his own faith. At the same time, it broke my heart to see people prostrate on the floor in front of marble statues painted to look like people and half animal half humans. Our prayer as we went through the temple was, "Father, give me a heart of love for
these people, and bring your kingdom to this land and glorify your name." Tonight we heart testimonies from two men, one who grew up Hindu and one who grew up Sikh. Both of them said they eventually found Christ (or were found by him) because they were looking for meaning in life, true peace and a God who answered prayer. After many Christians poured their lives into these men, they found Jesus to be the answer they were looking for. They said they were initially held back by the fact that they thought Christianity was only for westerners, and they could not follow Christ because they were Indian. But that Jesus broke through all barriers and reached them. It was so encouraging to hear these men testify of God's work in their life and the difference Christ made in their lives.

It has also been eye opening to hear the missionaries talk about the ways they present the gospel in a way that reaches people where they are. For example, when speaking to Hindus, one way of explaining Christ's sacrifice is to say that our bad karma was taken away by Christ and he gave us his good karma in exchange. Obviously it doesn't explain every aspect of Christ's death, but it speaks in terms that Hindus understand. Most think it's ridiculous, because in their religion there is no forgiveness, it an equation of you get good for doing good or bad for doing bad.

We will have much more information and stories to share when we return. This will have to do for now. We are so glad to be here and soaking everything in. It is such an encouragement to see God at work here bringing people to himself from all over the world.

Also, most of you probably know that I found out I'm pregnant a few weeks before we left. I'm 8 weeks, due Feb. 21st. Please pray for supernatural strength to keep up with our schedule. So far, I have been blessed to not have much morning sickness, but today was my worst day yet. Please pray for me. I know God will answer and give me the strength to do what he has called me to do.