From Across The Pond

Day 15

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Got up really early to drive to the airport in Manchester

Long flight to Philadelphia

Ran around airport for an hour, while our gate kept getting changed

Arrived in Orlando; ate our first American meal in two weeks: Taco Bell

Back in Melbourne!

Day 14

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Traveled to Harrogate for street ministry

Set up a small sound system in front of a local church and played worship songs (John from Calvary Chapel of Harrogate joined in)

Packed our bags in anticipation of an early morning...

Day 13

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Drove to a local park for ministry (skating, basketball, face painting, balloons)

Went to the Stockport City Centre for street witnessing; 3 people accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts! Praise God!

Day 12

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Hiked to a castle at the top of a huge hill (the view from the top was truly breathtaking, leaving us in awe of God's creation)

Visited a farm owned by a Christian family in Stockport, England; ate an amazing meal prepared for us; had time for fellowship with members of Calvary Chapel of Stockport (headed by Pastor Kirk Crager)

Went to an indoor skate park for outreach ministry; our band played an acoustic version of 'No One Like You'; Bethany performed 'The Looking Glass' monologue; Daniel S. gave his testimony; a few kids stayed and talked with members of our team for a while

Day 11

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Sunday morning service at Church On The Way with our band leading worship; teaching by Pastor Mark

Barbecue for members of the community

Visited a bakery owned by a local Christian family, who had prepared a traditional Sunday English Roast for us (the food was amazing!); toured the bakery

Sunday night service at Church On The Way with our band leading worship, accompanied by live chalk art; teaching by Pastor Mark

Had fellowship time with teens from the Church On The Way youth group

Day 10

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Family festival at Church On The Way

KidZone (children's ministry) with our band and drama team (face painting, balloons, etc.)

Joined by Pastor Mark for the last leg of our trip

Purity Seminar for members of the Church On The Way youth group

Day 9

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Long drive to Bradford, England; arrived late afternoon

Ate home-cooked meal prepared for us by women from Church On The Way Calvary Fellowship

Helped out with VBS at Church On The Way (played kickball)

Day 8

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Toured Moriah Church, site of where the 1904 revival broke out; visited Evan Roberts' grave/memorial

Visited local library and viewed archives of Revival News, a newspaper published during the revival

Went back to the city center park for one final time of ministry in Wales

Dinner at Nando's (again) with Calvary Chapel of Cardiff's college fellowship

Going-away party for the team (thrown by our friends from Calvary Chapel of Cardiff) at Tabernacle Welsh Baptist Church; prayer gathering; various testimonies and praise reports; worship (ended by us marching around the room, singing 'Blessed Be Your Name')

Day 7

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Second day leading morning assembly at Glyn Derw High School; 'David and His Brothers' skit; band led worship, accompanied by live chalk art; Gospel message by Michael; stayed a few minutes after to talk one-on-one with students (meanwhile, Beth, Bethany, and Andrew were at a local laundromat and got the opportunity to share the hope of Jesus with a woman doing laundry!)

Back at the city center park; soccer match between the team and a few locals (they won, of course); group witnessing and relationship-building with lost teens

Day 6

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Morning assembly at Glen Darow High School; band led worship; various testimonies; closing statements by Michael

Toured Caerphilly Castle

Shopping in city center

Tuesday night Bible study with Calvary Chapel of Cardiff at Starbucks; band led worship; various testimonies; lesson by Michael

'David and His Brothers' skit on street outside Starbucks after closing; 2 people stopped to watch and were ministered to by Andrew

Day 5

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Gave drama presentations (two 2-hour classes, lunch, one 1-hour class) at Willows High School; 'David and His Brothers' skit; taught mime gestures; played improvisational games; 'The Looking Glass' monologue; testimony by Daniel S.

Day 4

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Sunday morning church service for Calvary Chapel of Cardiff at University Of Wales Institute, Cardiff; home church band led worship first, followed by our band; chalk team did live art during worship; Michael interviewed by Pastor John; teaching by Michael (some members of the team were in another area during this time, taking part in children's ministry)

Lunch with church body in UWIC meeting hall

Open-air ministry at Bristol Bay (face painting, balloons, Joy playing guitar)

Day 3

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Meet with members of Calvary Chapel of Cardiff, led by Pastor John Vickery

Walked around city center, familiarizing ourselves with the area

Lunch at Pizza Hut

Walked to local park; spent time relationship-building with/ministering to kids (most age 13-17)

Band led worship at Tabernacle Welsh Baptist Church; Anjule & Dereck gave testimonies; Michael taught mini-sermon

Dinner at local restaurant, Nando's, with Calvary Chapel of Cardiff's college fellowship

First of our nightly worship circle/prayer gatherings in meeting room at Holiday Inn

Day 1-2

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 03:59:00 +0000

Flight from Orlando to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Overnight flight to Manchester, England

Lunch at airport

Long drive to Cardiff, Wales

Arrive at Holiday Inn, outside Cardiff Airport

Drawing Closer

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 18:30:00 +0000

Well, I still haven't called about my passport. Why? Because it got here on Saturday! Praise God! I got it back in 4 business days (8 full days), when they had originally said it might not get back until the day before we left. What a relief.

Tonight is Powerhouse Senior High. For the second week in a row, the UK band is playing in addition to the Powerhouse band. Problem: Joy and I aren't really feeling in tip-top shape. Our voices haven't been doing that great over the past few weeks. Ah, well; it's not quite a problem, really, but it's definitely a discouragement. It will all work out in the end, I suppose, but we're in need of prayer, nevertheless.

In less than 48 hours, we'll be on a plane (and, God-willing) over the Atlantic.

Let's go, Melbourne.

In Christ,
Aaron

Pressing On

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 18:50:00 +0000

It's officially 'crunch-time.'

With 6 days left before we depart for the UK, the tension is high, and stress-levels are flaring. So what did I think to do about it? Why—I did the only thing a right-minded individual would think to do; I set up a blog, of course!

I've messed around with more of these blasted things over the past year or so than any sane person should ever have to do, but here I go, again! I always feel weird when starting a new blog—like I'm showing off or something (Well, maybe I am). Either way, I'm pretty proud of this set-up (Ok, yeah, I'm showing off), so take a look around. I'll be updating it in the days leading up to and—God-willing—during the trip itself. Pictures that I take while overseas will show up at the side in my photostream, and there's links to other missionaries' blogs and other relevant sites under that. All-in-all, a ~~rather stocked~~ fully-loaded set-up.

Jeez. I'll be out of the country in 6 days. It's a pretty strange feeling, going on a mission trip. This is my first one, so maybe it's normal, but I just don't feel quite prepared. It's going to take a lot to just step out and trust God on this. I think Relient K said it best:

I think we're going somewhere
We're on to something good here
Out of mind, out of state, trying to keep my head on straight
I think we're going somewhere
We're on to something good here
There's only one thing left to do
Drop all I have and go with You

[...]

We're going and I'm never knowing
Never knowing where we're going

It's the truth. I'm going, but I have no possible comprehension of exactly where I'm going.

Okay—enough with the reflective (or would that be preflective?) nonsense. I may not be ready, but I need to get ready. Checklist... go!

Call Passport Agency and make sure I'm going to get my passport in time
Get haircut (ewww...)
Buy guitar strings, picks, etc.
Pack my bags (I decided I'd rather not break that down into a billion steps; one is good enough)
Figure out how in the world I'm going to pay for everything

That's not too bad, I guess. I'll survive. This trip is going to take a lot, but it's definitely doable. Actually, I'm sort of excited. Sort of.

Until next time,
Aaron

The First Post

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron) — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 06:01:00 +0000

Everything appears to be in order. Time to get this sucker up and running...