Some more from week one!

Wow!  Our first week here has been an absolute whirlwind.  We have met so many different people from so many different backgrounds, all working for the cause of Christ.  We've met Brummies (people from Birmingham), Persians, Indians, Arabs, a Bangledeshi, an Aussie, Kurds, Korean, Finnish and others.  One guy we met who works here with OM in the Kurdish community had a Canadian mother, a father from the Faroe Islands, and they were missionaries so he grew up in the Philippines!  
Our first week consisted of meetings, ESL classes, serious networking, cultural immersion, church and prayer meetings...and a little bit of sightseeing.  God is showing us how big the world is and the importance of taking our work one day at a time.  He is also showing us how vital patience is in working in the ethnic communities.  When witnessing to the Muslim community specifically, relationships are essential, as is continual prayer.  What's been amazing is that every time I've had to head into a situation where I felt like I would just be so far outside of my comfort zone, I've actually ended up having a great time and really enjoyed the people I've worked with.  God continually reminds me the importance of just simply loving people.  
On a lighter note, we are really enjoying the culture differences here in England.  The language here is so surprisingly different, for instance:  the trunk of your car is called a 'boot', the hood is the 'bonnet', gas is called 'petrol' and it's priced by the liter, dessert is referred to as 'pudding', and when you go to eat you 'tuck in'.  'Pants' are actually underwear here, and so they call pants 'trousers', and a sweater is a 'jumper'.  They go by a 'stone' which is 14 pounds, and instead of saying 'how are you?' they ask 'are you alright' or even shorter as 'y'all right'.  And that's just a few examples.  Recently, we went into a store and saw the American section, it was filled with peanut butter, jelly, marshmellow cream, instant pudding, cake mixes, cereals, and more.  Jake and I had a great time there seeing what typical 'Americans' eat.  A box of Lucky Charms in the American section cost about 8 pounds which is about $13!  We just had to get some pictures.
Overall, it's just been huge learning experience.  Everyday is like school, just constantly taking in new information.  Wherever we have been needed, we go and help.  Our prayer has been that the Lord shows us what it is that He wants us to do and accomplish while we're here.  Please continue to pray that we are open to the prompting and guiding of the Holy Spirit, and that we will know what to say when opportunites present themselves.

Blessings!
Em