London!

 I started this blog to keep everyone informed of the work God is doing in my life here in Texas and while I will be in London. I know no better place to start this record then from the very beginning.

 About a month ago I had been conversing with a friend of mine on this incredible urge I had to just pack up and GO! I was willing to go anywhere, I even contemplated selling my car and backpacking somewhere (I seriously doubt I would have lasted one hour)! I knew I would have loved to join a mission but I had no knowledge of any missions that I could hook on to, so I did what any normal American would do when their knowledge of a particular subject reaches an end. . . I googled and I found GEM! The GEM staff got back to me the very next day, we spoke about me and what is going on in my life and about GEM and the impact GEM is helping make in London, after that call I was hooked! I had first called to just inquire about a two week long trip over the summer but during my call I was offered an internship position in the UK! :) I'm pretty sure I walked around in a dream state for the next two weeks. I have been in love with the idea of travel my entire life, and here I am getting an opportunity to go and truly experience another City in a way I've never experienced anything before, on my own! 

 After the initial excitement wore off it was time to really get to know GEM and my possible work place ministries. After being completely satisfied with what I saw in GEM I filled out my paper work and picked a ministry. Choosing one was no easy task, my idea of ministry formed from 24 years of church in the bible belt was completely blown by just reading the list! They have the most bizarre idea of church, church in a coffee shop, church in an art gallery, and the strangest of all, church in a pub! How was I ever going to choose from that list? However, God in his infinite wisdom began to work on my one track mind and open my eyes to see what he was doing through these ministries. To understand the need to think outside of the box in London you would have to understand London. London is a city full of diversity, many different types of people with many different interest, ethnicities, religions, and life choices. Church and God are irrelevant to most Londoners, it is very different from here at home where most people would claim to know and believe in God even if they don't attend church regularly. Here many people may make life choices that are contrary to the word of God, but these same people will quote bible verses on Facebook, get tattoos that claim Jesus is Lord, and they will even turn to church when they hit life's hard times, but how do you reach a people who don't even have God on their radar? The ministries of London have had to step outside of the norm, they have had to reach people right where they are and they do this by leading with love! 

 The most powerful and unfathomable force in this universe is the Love of God! The bible tells us the two greatest things we can do is to love God and to love our neighbor. When we put our love in God he in return teaches us how to love like he does, and out of that love comes forgiveness, confidence, peace, and prosperity. Gods love is what sets Christianity apart from any other religion in the world. there has been no other God who has loved like ours, sacrificed like ours, gave like ours, and forgave like ours, what an amazing God we serve! And what an amazing ministry tool he has given us, we don't need great words to introduce others to Christ we need only to love! But how do you open the opportunity to love on the unsuspecting stranger? That is what I want to learn in London, this is their ministry, to make inviting spaces where people can relax and connect with their ministry team and experience the selfless love of God! I am excited about many things I will experience during my time in London, but none more than the learning I will be doing while I am there! 

 However, I have much fundraising to do and not a lot of time to do this in. This is by far the biggest step of faith I have ever taken! To step out and trust that God will provide is a hard thing to do. It requires me to make myself vulnerable and trust that God will provide. I am beginning to understand the need of the body of Christ in a new way, I have done the math and all it takes to fund my trip is for 150 people to donate $40... Unfortunately, I absolutely hate asking people for money because I know many people hate to be asked, so here I am vulnerable knowing the only way to reach my trip would require people to give and that thought can be discouraging, but then the Lord reminds me that my trip is not in anyone's hands but his, and he will provide the givers! I pray for those who are willing to invest in the kingdom of God, break throughs and blessing come through giving, it is the only time in the bible where God says "test me, and I will open the flood gates of heaven." So my journey begins here, in the step of faith that fundraising is, I am so excited to see God move in this! To those who will give I want you to know you are an answered prayer, I will be praying for you and I know that God will pour out blessings on you and your house!

 Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

 -Tayler

if you are interested in giving you can do so by following the link below!
http://fnd.us/c/1Vbt1