Bright and early tomorrow morning Robert, Natalie, Leah and I are headed to Salamanca, Spain. We’ve planned a trip to meet with another Globalscope ministry: En Vivo. En Vivo is a ministry that has been working in Spain for a few years and we want to learn all that we can from them as we’re in our beginning phases. When we get back, we’re going to be happy to share all that we’ve learned from them and hopefully many pictures and videos.

While we’re there, we’re going to ask about things like their initial months and year, factors of team dynamics, exchange student procedures, and how they secured their campus house (an issue that’s really on our plate now). It’s going to be a great couple of days, not just because we’ll be in a beautiful place, but because we’ll be with people who are passionate about reaching out to students. People who have seen successful ministry and authentically changed lives over the years.

Pray for safe travel and a valuable team time while we’re there. Talk with you when we return!

If you receive our e*news (it’s really cool and you should get it here), then you know about our search for the perfect property.  On the 16th and 17th, we sent out a request for prayer as we were in serious talks with a letting (leasing) agency here in the city (that email looked like this). Here’s some more in-depth information about what’s going on and how you can help.

We’re looking for a campus house. Think of a house that is welcoming to students. A house that is located within a short walk to the University. A house that is flexible enough to include small groups and open mic nights. Think of a place that is open most all of the time for students to drop in when they’re bored, lonely, needing help, and just wanting to talk with someone. Think of a place that houses exchange students from America who have come to England to be a part of this ministry. This is a broad overview of what we mean when we say “campus house”.

A couple of weeks ago we found a property that excited us because in our minds it could accomplish all of these things. We went into a letting agency to see what properties they had available that we could view. As we were waiting to speak with someone, we were looking at the properties they had hanging in the windows (looking from the inside of the building to the outside). A property caught my eye. Wow! a six bedroom flat that’s being newly remodeled. That’s quite a large space in England. And it’s on Bristol Road (the main road for student activity)? As I continued to look at the house on paper in the window, I slowly realized that if I were to let my eyes look behind the paper, I would see this very property sitting right across the street from where I was standing. It was right there!

We immediately asked if we could go and view the property and did with great excitement. Here’s the view that sold us. The view from the property toward the University:

This is a view from one of the upstairs bedrooms. Those buildings in the back? That’s the University. That green spot? That’s the University playing field. Perfect location. Perfect house.

Since viewing the property, we have been having many discussions with the letting agency that we hope are actually getting to the landlord. First, the letting agency asked for a letter saying who we are, who we are with and how we intend to use the property  (they are worried about breaking zoning laws). We provided the letter. They then quickly asked for another letter with more detail and a letter from each of our references. It very much feels like we’re being kept busy until the renovations to the property are completed.

It’s true that this property would accomplish many things and would be a long term solution as opposed to acquiring a row house somewhere in this area. Because of this property though, we have learned a few lessons. (1) This is the area we need to be in. We walked all around the University and this is it. This is where the students are, this is the place they know and this is the place that gets the foot traffic. (2) We don’t need to get so specific with letting agencies. We’ll get specific with landlords, but getting specific with the letting agency hasn’t done any good.

Now we wait to hear how the letting agency will reply to our last letter and references. Here’s how you can pray:

• Pray that God would make it clear to us that he wants us to have this property or doesn’t.
• Pray that God would help us navigate our discussions with the letting agency with wisdom.

We’ll keep you updated! Thanks for praying and thanks for believing in the best things for the students in Birmingham.

Today I had a piece of gum from America. As I was chewing, the taste caused a sense of familiarity to rush over me, a feeling I haven’t had since we arrived in England (that’s a very “Willy Wonka” type of sentence, I realize). At that moment, I considered that sense of familiarity - just knowing this or that about my new world, just knowing how to get from here to there on new roads, knowing what to expect from a piece of gum.

To be honest, not knowing that familiarity has not bothered me that much at all. In fact, as I wrote that, I realize that I’ve actually been thriving in the newness. For me, right now, it’s exhilarating.As I kept thinking, I realized that the gum did remind me of other familiar things I miss: my family, having a car, the friends I’ve come to love over 27 years… In those moments, it helps to know that God has set all of this up. I find much rest in that.

That makes me consider the confidence that we can all have as we are pursuing God, hearing his words and responding. We can know that whatever occurs in those places, our God is with us. Our God is able. If our God is with us, whom or what shall we fear?

Going without the experience of familiarity is such a pittance of a price to pay for all that has been done for me. Nevertheless, I’m continuing to savor this stick of familiarity that I do have…as I don’t know when I will experience that again.

It seems there’s a lesson in there somewhere, but hey, it’s just a piece of gum.