october 2011 update
DESCRIPTION
I am in London and the work has begun!TRANSCRIPT
October 2011Sarah Willson
Happy Autumn, Family and Friends!
It's hard to believe this is already month two in England. The first couple weeks were spent in Harpenden, about an hour out of London, at a Youth With a Mission base. I went through staff orientation and got acquainted with the Forever team, which I am working under. On October 1st my team-mate, Lucie, and I moved into our flat in Stratford, London! Stratford is an old factory neighborhood in East London which will be home to the Olympic Park next summer. Our flat is situated about a mile from the Olympic construction, which you can even see a bit of from our windows. It's exciting to be so close to the action!
Lucie and I decided upon a name for our ministry to women in prostitu-tion: Esther's House. In the Bible Esther was a young woman who was taken from her life and placed in King Xerxes' harem. This is not unlike the modern trafficking of women. Esther persevered, though. She showed dignity, courage and wisdom, and God not only made her a queen, but used her to save her people from genocide. The focus of our ministry is for vulnerable women to experience the Lord's love for them. We are starting by getting to know the women that work on the streets in Stratford, and will progress to hosting a drop-in center, and then the dream is to be able to provide refuge for those that feel trapped and want to get out. We would love to open a tea-shop, that would doubly serve as both a place for the women to rest, feel wel-come, and be ministered to, and as an alternative form of employment for them. We went on outreach for the first time a couple days ago and it was great to start meeting the women!
Our days thus far have been filled primarily with prayer; we really desire to have our endeavor be Christ-centered. We have also been researching the history of the area, to understand the people, and the spirits at work here. The first record of human trafficking in London (of female slaves sold for sex) was nearly 2,000 years ago. This was just a couple decades after the time of Je-sus, when Roman soldiers were encamped in 'Londinium'. This is not a new battle! There has been a stronghold over the misuse of power and sexu-ality in London for a very long time. We could really use your prayers!
Lucie and I visiting the Olympic
Park construction.
In faithful-ness he will bring forth j u s t i c e ; h e will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes j u s t i c e o n earth.
(Isaiah 42: 3b-4a)
Other things we have been up to are meeting with pastors and ministry leaders, and hanging out in the Salvation Army, which is a community center that we live above. The church in Strat-ford is active and it is so exciting to be entering into this community! The Salvation Army is teaming up with two local churches to pro-vide a homeless shelter this winter. The shelter will be open for three nights a week, one night at each location. The churches will literally be opening their doors to the homeless and providing a meal and safe bed for them. I am so ex-cited by this act of radical, Jesus-like love, and can't wait to help out!
This weekend we are going out with Street Pastors, an organization that works across the UK. It is made up of local, Christian, community members that go out at night on the weekend and display Christ's love. This can be any-thing from befriending the homeless to helping a vulnerable young woman into a taxi that will take her home. This winter a new casino is opening in Stratford, which will likely make for many inebriated and upset people out late. I expect the work of Street Pastors will soon be invaluable.
Thank you all for your support of my work. Reading these updates, praying, sending messages, and helping financially; it all so appreciated! Please let me know if I can partner with you in prayer concerning anything.
Points for Prayer
• We need several key pieces of furniture still for our flat: a bed for me, a table and chairs, and a larger refrigerator.
• For our internet situation to be resolved and the wifi installed. It is difficult to work or keep in contact without a connection in our home/office.
• Cost of living in London in high, especially after the exchange rate. I have found I need about $300 more in support each month.
• For wisdom, guidance, and protection in these early days of Esther's House.
Personal Email: [email protected] Ministry Email: [email protected]
Web: facebook.com/sarahwillson -- sarahwillson.tumblr.comUSA Address: 163 Elm Street, Mechanic Falls, ME 04256 USA
UK Address: 1 Paul Street, London, E15 4QB, UK
View from our kitchen window.