No Room at the Inn

Saturday morning couldn't have been described as anything but full of excitement. We were going to LONDON!!! I felt as though I was going to actually meet Sherlock Holmes. I didn't bother myself with silly things like him being a fictional character that lived over 150 years ago. No! I was going to meet him and probably take tea with the queen, become the inspiration for a new sensational character in Wallace and Gromit and J.K. Rowling would ask me to star in a new magical story she was writing that would definitely make the silver screen!! These were just a few of the things I would accomplish in the 6-8 hours I would be spending in London.

So, we set out! Back packs, water bottles, breakfast to go, money, baby carrier, and our dreams, we were ready! We arrived at Jon's school and ate our breakfasts in the cafeteria. Other students started arriving, none of which could understand the seriousness of the day of adventure ahead of us. We finished eating, packed up and walked to the door, pushing past all of the other less enthusiastic day-trippers. Then it happened. Her footsteps were foreboding as they approached us. Slow and heavy. Then she spoke, "I wasn't aware that you were bringing your baby with you." She said it in that voice that really said 'I'm not excited at all about your adorable child. I'm just trying to sound pleasant while I systematically dismantle your hopes and dreams.'

"It's law that you have to have a seat reserved for him that we can put a baby seat in. I'll lose my license. So sorry."

Silence. What could we say? We were heart broken. We couldn't technically be mad at her because losing her license sounded pretty bad but at the time nothing sounded worse than my dreams leaping, suicidally, out of my heart and shattering on the ground. I could see the same blank, melancholy sadness emanating from Jon and Linda.

"Okay, well, we didn't have to bring a car seat the last couple of times we rode in the cars, but I understand. Thanks anyway," Linda delivered the words with such empathy. But as soon as we stepped outside and the sound of our downtrodden footsteps reached her ears tears began welling in her eyes. We remained silent for a few minutes until the disappointed hopes had almost made me cry as well. 

"F that crap! We're going to London! Train tickets on me!" I knew that no matter what we did that day, even if it was watching the last Led Zeppelin reunion tour with Paul McCartney and Jesus, in the back of our minds we would be saying, "Yeah this was super cool, it definitely couldn't have been as cool as all of that stuff we were going to do in London. Who even likes Wallace and Gromit anyway?" (gently weeping).I had caught the scent of London and nothing would keep me from it! (p.s. The Jesus part was a joke. Nothing would be cooler than hanging out with Jesus.)

Needless to say we went to London! We found way cheap bus tickets and it only took about 45 minutes to get there. We went first to Picadilly Circus and walked around a bit before walking through China town and Korea town! Jon showed us a department store that is over 300 years old! It was so fancy and uppity and well to do! Loved it. We met with Pastor Tonye and that was way more awesome than I ever could have expected! Their ministry there is blooming! It's really amazing to see so many people charged and amped for the same cause, and because they are so united they are making a huge difference pretty rapidly!

PT took us out to lunch! He wanted to take us to a sweet Ethiopian restaurant but it was closed and so was the only other Ethiopian place. It must have been an Ethiopian National holiday. Anyway, we got Thai food! So yummy! Then we went to Camden town, where he and the other missionaries are doing their ministry! It was amazing! It was old, like most of England, but had so much contemporary entertainment and had open street markets everywhere. It was full of life and electricity! Bustling with hundreds of people from hundreds of different countries and backgrounds. You could easily see that it was the hometown of Punk! The street markets were my favorite. Intermittently you would find a booth that had the most unique and awesome creations that were made by the booth owners. We saw eggshell paintings and Lego earrings and so much more! Linda and I were able to do some shopping and Tonye was able to do some eating, which appears to be one of his favorite things! After Thai he went and got crepes and then he got some Boba tea and then we went to his favorite tea house and got English tea! He was telling us that in the street markets you can find a food booth that will represent every country in the world! Anything you could ever want to eat is right there!

Their house was amazing as well. 8 of them living together in harmony! Everything was so fluid for being what most people might consider hectic. They were incredibly hospitable and asked us to stay the night! We did of course! It was awesome getting to know the people there after just knowing of them for so long. I'd been praying for them and hearing about them since they moved to Camdentown last April. I really loved talking with Suzanne, Pastor Tonye's wife. She's wonderful!

I decided that I am going to bus out there every Wednesday to help out with their outreach and to be a part of their bible study in the local tea house!

I am really looking forward to getting to know that area a lot more! Be praying for Shoreline North London and the ministry they have there. So many people have shown an outcry for community even in such a heavily populated area!