When I have the opportunity to speak on the phone (or on the computer via SKYPE, the most amazing invention since the Cadbury Cream Egg McFlurry) with family or friends in Florida, I always get some sort of semi-braggy comment about the weather. Well people, you can HAVE your humid hot weather! I am absolutely LOVING the seasons in England! Autumn felt (and looked) like Autumn, there was a bit of snow in the winter...and now that Spring is on its way, I am AMAZED at the amount of wild daffodils and perfect little pink blossoms on the trees. Sure, it's still a bit chilly outside, and sometimes I worry that I might be getting frostbite in my fingers, but the chill that still lingers in the wind serves its purpose. It helps me to be able to use the newest, most exciting, most effective evangelistic tool known to mankind today. Hot chocolate.
Some of the local youth workers (including myself) have decided to take the church to the streets, and hand out *proper* Cadbury hot chocolate every other Friday night. We meet at a church, pack up the chocolate and other goods (marshmallows and "squirty cream," of course), pray for our journey, and then head out. It's funny, because the Friday nights that we go out are usually the coldest nights of the week! I guess it makes us walk faster, and makes us all learn more about each other since we're holding on to each other for warmth. No matter how cold it may be, there are always kids just wandering around in the streets! We try not to attack or frighten them away, but just gently walk up smiling, asking if they'd like a cup of hot chocolate. Of course, there's the initial "My mom told me not to take candy from strangers" look of reply, but then all the fear melts away when they see the steam coming off the fresh brewed cup o' chocolate. Mmmmm! We always make it extra pretty with loads of cream and 'mallows, which helps to break the ice (literally) and start up a bit of conversation. They always want to know why on earth we're out in the cold, and why on earth we're not asking them to pay for the hot cup of happiness.
We've had a few interesting experiences in the few times we've been out on the streets. Last week, our team gave hot chocolate to a boy who was on his way to work at a lap dance club in the city, and we also interrupted a drug deal...I'm not kidding! We gave them all hot chocolate (extra marshmallows), and actually ended up having deeper God-centered conversations with those kids than we'd ever had before. We've also seen one boy who literally RAN away from us (woops!), some who thought we were crazy, but also others who were so intrigued by the simple gift of warmth that they ask all sorts of questions. I think it's been so long since anyone in this area has seen a practical application of Christian principles. It's also been cool to see their reaction when we tell them that each and every one of us there is a leader in a DIFFERENT church - not two of us go to the same one! So, obviously, we're not there pushing the agenda of one church, nor are we trying to push them to go to OUR church. We just want to show them love in a simple, practical way.
In other news...one of the churches I regularly attend was recently featured in a news segment on SkyTV! One of my vicar friends, Simon, is pretty well known in the area because he's no regular ho-hum Oxford graduate vicar...he's also a racer! The media finds him quite interesting. He was excited to have the chance to speak out in the news about the Christian perspective on debt. The link below will send you to the video clip with Simon and St. Giles Anglican Church. The young people sitting in a circle with Simon are some of my friends from Something Else! Keep your eye out for the girl in the circle who looks bored out of her mind (curly hair, black scarf) - that's my housemate Josephine :)
Click here to see the SkyNews clip with Simon
I hope that you all had a "well good" Easter. I went to St. Giles for their morning service, and then had an incredibly American day...going out for lunch at TGI Fridays. Also, my housemate's parents bought me a load of Belgian chocolate eggs! Oh yeah!! Amazing.
Be sure to check out my pictures (www.flickr.com/photos/sisterhutch) - I finally posted the ones from the castle I stayed in with St. Luke's youth group, and I also put up my pictures from the Cotswolds area of England. Quite nice indeed.
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