Saturday, July 28, 2012
By the way...
This has nothing to do with Olympic ministry, but I wanted to pass along that the opening ceremony for the Olympics was truly amazing. I am sorry that NBC did not show it in it's entirety. Being able to watch it whole and with no commercial interruption really allowed the show to gel for the viewer, but apparently the network felt it could do that for you instead. London did a phenomenal job and should be very proud of the show they presented.
Dig A Little Deeper
"So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." (1 Corinthians 3:7 HCSB)
I promise I won't carry the song theme as a blog title on for long, unless it keeps working.
As this is only Block 1, it has been two slow, but very intentional days for Games Pastors. The first day was about the station personnel getting used to our presence. Today was again establishing that presence and just reminding them that we are there to assist them and help people enjoy their experience at the games. In a spiritual sense, the ground is being tilled. Our hope is that the planting will start soon and the watering can begin. Regardless of our timetable, it is all part of the process.
You can pray specifically for walls to come down that would serve as a hindrance. There are perceptions about the church and Christianity that have to be overcome, and our hope is that a smile, a kind word, a hand with luggage, might be what starts that thought to turn.
We have had some good conversations with several of the official volunteers and station staff. Another team had the opportunity to minister to a man who was contemplating suicide and talked through with them what he was going to do. The team was able to step in and help him realize that his life is too valuable.
On the other side of SC team activity, we have people involved in passing out water with the Salvation Army and they are also fortunate to work as official pin traders in the Coke pin zone.
Continue to pray for the team members who will join us here next week for Block 2 for community outreach.
Also, feel free to ask questions through the comment section. If there is something you would like to know, we'll tell you!
I promise I won't carry the song theme as a blog title on for long, unless it keeps working.
As this is only Block 1, it has been two slow, but very intentional days for Games Pastors. The first day was about the station personnel getting used to our presence. Today was again establishing that presence and just reminding them that we are there to assist them and help people enjoy their experience at the games. In a spiritual sense, the ground is being tilled. Our hope is that the planting will start soon and the watering can begin. Regardless of our timetable, it is all part of the process.
You can pray specifically for walls to come down that would serve as a hindrance. There are perceptions about the church and Christianity that have to be overcome, and our hope is that a smile, a kind word, a hand with luggage, might be what starts that thought to turn.
We have had some good conversations with several of the official volunteers and station staff. Another team had the opportunity to minister to a man who was contemplating suicide and talked through with them what he was going to do. The team was able to step in and help him realize that his life is too valuable.
On the other side of SC team activity, we have people involved in passing out water with the Salvation Army and they are also fortunate to work as official pin traders in the Coke pin zone.
Continue to pray for the team members who will join us here next week for Block 2 for community outreach.
Also, feel free to ask questions through the comment section. If there is something you would like to know, we'll tell you!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Just Keep Walking
"Fast car driving
Sleek and modern
Public Transit
Photos Waiting"
-INXS
We started our deployment as Games Pastors today. Because we start so early,there is no shuttle from our lodging to the train station. We got up around 5:30 a.m. to get ready and then walked the close to two miles to catch the train. Upon arrival at King's Cross Station, we walked about a half mile to our briefing zone and then walked that half mile back to St. Pancras Station. We walked around the station looking for people who looked to need assistance or a smile. We did get opportunity to fix a bicycle chain. As we continued walking we spoke to the police officers, station workers and Olympic volunteers that we will see daily for the next week. Today was really about establishing a presence in the area and letting people know we will be around if they need anything.
We finished up at 4:00 p.m. and will have the same early start in the morning.
The opening ceremonies are tonight and people are incredibly excited, as you would imagine. Of the thousands of people here, you never know which one we may have the opportunity to impact. So we'll just keep walking to find a chance to do that.
The photo is of St. Pancras Station, which is a magnificent building from the 1800s that was intended to be used for government, but was almost torn down due to the design. A poet laureate (who else?) fought to save it and it serves as a major thoroughfare for public transit thanks to his efforts.
Sleek and modern
Public Transit
Photos Waiting"
-INXS
We started our deployment as Games Pastors today. Because we start so early,there is no shuttle from our lodging to the train station. We got up around 5:30 a.m. to get ready and then walked the close to two miles to catch the train. Upon arrival at King's Cross Station, we walked about a half mile to our briefing zone and then walked that half mile back to St. Pancras Station. We walked around the station looking for people who looked to need assistance or a smile. We did get opportunity to fix a bicycle chain. As we continued walking we spoke to the police officers, station workers and Olympic volunteers that we will see daily for the next week. Today was really about establishing a presence in the area and letting people know we will be around if they need anything.
We finished up at 4:00 p.m. and will have the same early start in the morning.
The opening ceremonies are tonight and people are incredibly excited, as you would imagine. Of the thousands of people here, you never know which one we may have the opportunity to impact. So we'll just keep walking to find a chance to do that.
The photo is of St. Pancras Station, which is a magnificent building from the 1800s that was intended to be used for government, but was almost torn down due to the design. A poet laureate (who else?) fought to save it and it serves as a major thoroughfare for public transit thanks to his efforts.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
London Fog
Today brought an early start as we had to make our way into London for a full day of training.
In addition to being briefed on our role as Games Pastors, we had sessions led by representatives of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association.
At the training, we met a wonderful couple, John and Elizabeth, who were more than happy to give us a walking tour of downtown London. We walked over Tower Bridge and under London Bridge (funny, as a kid, I was told it was falling down). We learned that the original London Bridge was sold to a man in Arizona. Later, walked around St. Paul's Cathedral, then crossed the Millennium Bridge and went to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. We heavily considered buying a standing room ticket for £5, but at three hours, thought the play was too long for that. After that, we headed back to our lodging and walked the last two miles on foot.
We are getting acclimated to the transit system, but still foggy on most of it. I should think that it will be second nature when it's time to go home.
We have enjoyed beautiful weather the past couple of days, so please pray that will remain the case more often than not.
As of now, tomorrow is a free day before the madness (that's a good thing) begins. I love Olympic Ministry! There is nothing like it!
In addition to being briefed on our role as Games Pastors, we had sessions led by representatives of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association.
At the training, we met a wonderful couple, John and Elizabeth, who were more than happy to give us a walking tour of downtown London. We walked over Tower Bridge and under London Bridge (funny, as a kid, I was told it was falling down). We learned that the original London Bridge was sold to a man in Arizona. Later, walked around St. Paul's Cathedral, then crossed the Millennium Bridge and went to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. We heavily considered buying a standing room ticket for £5, but at three hours, thought the play was too long for that. After that, we headed back to our lodging and walked the last two miles on foot.
We are getting acclimated to the transit system, but still foggy on most of it. I should think that it will be second nature when it's time to go home.
We have enjoyed beautiful weather the past couple of days, so please pray that will remain the case more often than not.
As of now, tomorrow is a free day before the madness (that's a good thing) begins. I love Olympic Ministry! There is nothing like it!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Let the Games (Pastors) Begin!
After smooth flights, arrival in London took place 7:45 a.m. local time. Upon sailing through customs, I learned that some of the other volunteers I am meeting had delayed flights.
The journey to our lodging took a little over two hours and consisted of subway, train, and taxi. At the end of that journey, we arrived at a beautiful missions training college where we will be "indoor camping."
This will be where we start each day as we serve as Games Pastors.
During Block 1 (July 24-August 3) of the Olympic ministry, about 300 people will be deployed as Games Pastors to serve the people traveling to London for the Olympics.
Training will take place on July 25 and on opening day, we will work shifts in high traffic transit areas to provide assistance, but we will also be on the lookout for people who appear to need more than just the direction of a venue; we are looking to give people direction for life.
Please be in prayer for all of the people traveling to London. Pray specifically for those who will meet a Games Pastor and that many doors will be open for ministry.
The journey to our lodging took a little over two hours and consisted of subway, train, and taxi. At the end of that journey, we arrived at a beautiful missions training college where we will be "indoor camping."
This will be where we start each day as we serve as Games Pastors.
During Block 1 (July 24-August 3) of the Olympic ministry, about 300 people will be deployed as Games Pastors to serve the people traveling to London for the Olympics.
Training will take place on July 25 and on opening day, we will work shifts in high traffic transit areas to provide assistance, but we will also be on the lookout for people who appear to need more than just the direction of a venue; we are looking to give people direction for life.
Please be in prayer for all of the people traveling to London. Pray specifically for those who will meet a Games Pastor and that many doors will be open for ministry.
Monday, July 16, 2012
No Excuses
With the London Olympics just days away now, it is time to brush up on the blog and see if it can be something worth your time to read. As you might expect, since the last post over a year ago (I know, not an Olympic effort at all, but I make no excuses) so much has taken place to get to this point.
A team has formed and is ready to go through training in London and to work alongside a church that will be holding community festivals as part of its local outreach. I know the people of London are excited for this huge event to finally arrive after years of planning and preparation. It will be great to share this with them.
Before that takes place though, I'll be heading over to volunteer as a Games Pastor. I will go through training as part of a team of some 300 Games Pastors who will assist in busier-than-usual transit areas directing people to their destinations, answering questions, and hopefully helping things run smoothly. I am really looking forward to this opportunity. It will be the longest volunteer time I have spent at the Olympics.
Aside from making it harder to say goodbye, having a four-year-old has been helpful. We have watched a lot of "Peppa Pig," a really cute cartoon out of the UK, that has helped me recognize some of the different terms I'll hear while I'm there. For instance, a shopping cart or buggy here, is a trolley there. I won't be driving a car, so I won't need petrol. When I have trash, I'll put it in the rubbage bin. I decided to go the economical route with my lodging, so I will be indoor camping. As I pick up more terms, I'll share them with you.
My goal, at this time, is to keep the blog updated as often as time and Wi-Fi allow, from first flight to returning to the US.
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