Training Week

Hello Everyone,

Today was the first day of training. Before I get into that, however, you're probably wondering what I've been up to these past few days. (Apart from tea with the Queen and all the usual things visitors from the States are expected to attend, of course.)

Mostly, I've been getting to know the people I'll be working with this year and walking around the city. I'm trying to get comfortable and be wise in these new surroundings. There's a lot to learn, and I would rather not look every inch a tourist for the entire year. One example - I've got to get used to looking right, then left, then right before crossing the street. However, I can't always remember which way to start looking. As a compromise, I end up whipping my head back and forth about five times before crossing at all.

There's also the language barrier. Who out there actually knew a gherkin and a pickle were more or less the same things? I had one very confusing exchange operating on the assumption a gherkin was a kind of fish.

Alright, back to my original point. Today was the first day of training. We began with singing, then Graham Miller, the CEO of LCM, opened the meeting in prayer. In his introduction, these words stuck out to me,

"We have been brought together today for an overwhelming task..."

An overwhelming task.

Including tourists and people who may not show up on a census, there are an estimated 9 million people living in the City of London. It is known worldwide as a "Super-diversity" due to the incredible mix of cultures found here. In short, to quote Douglas Addams on space, London is "big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is." 

The task is too large for us. However, as Duncan Cuthill, one of the Ministries Directors, reminded us, "Many a mickle makes a muckle." Or, "Many little things make a large thing." We are many little parts, and weak on our own. Together, however, with God's grace and help, it's a different story.