Wonder Voyage 2009 Summer Blog

Despite the Tube Strike, the largest London disruption in recent history, the team from St. Mark’s shined this week in England.  They whole-heartedly gave themselves to serving London’s poorest through the Missionaries of Charity.  They visited deeply historical sites and threw in a few off the wall adventures to boot.  They sought the face of God with all their strength and served each other like true brothers and sisters in Christ.  Their outstanding leadership team (youth minister Ayana, Father David, Hugh- Go Naught, Malik, and our ministrel Sam) set a great example and definitly displayed an incredible tone for the voyage.  And their pilgrimage to Canterbury proved a time of deep healing as we remembered Allison and acknowledged that we are God’s masterpeices.

I am sure St. Mark’s is proud of their kids and we at Wonder Voyage hope to travel in the future with another St. Mark’s dream team.

This morning (Sunday), the group attended a sung eucharist at Canterbury Cathedral.  Before and after the service, Shawn regaled us with the story of Thomas Becket, who was martyred at Canterbury Cathedral.  We saw the place where Becket died, and then each of us said a prayer and lit a candle down in the crypt to symbolize our vow to do at least one thing differently when we return home. 

Tonight we will be taking a gondola ride (!) through Canterbury, and ending with a proper celebration dinner. 

Saturday was the day I had been looking forward to for a long time–a trip to the cliffs of Dover.  We made a short hike in, and then we sat down near the rock’s edge.  Fr Dave led an amazing discussion about how we will spread the lessons we’ve learned once we return to Jacksonville.  At the end, he asked us to each pick up a stone.  He told us that our stone could either represent something holding us back from God, or something that we want to do once we get back.  To symbolize our vow to follow God more closely, each one of us threw our rocks off the cliff into the river to remind us that we have given our lives completely over to God.  After that experience, some of us hiked all the way down the cliffs (pictures definitely coming when we get back), and some hung out at the cafe at the top.
 
After the cliffs, Shawn and Jason (our Wonder Voyage leaders) had a surprise–we got to do some castle raiding at Dover Castle!  It was absolutely gorgeous, and the castle had views to die for.  As Malik put it, “There’s almost too much beauty!”  Literally everywhere that I turned, I wanted to take a picture, to document this moment.  I restrained myself, but just barely.  Dover Castle also had special tunnels focused on Medeival Times and War that several of us visited.
 
On our way back to Canterbury late Saturday afternoon, we stopped in the town of Sandwich for about 45 minutes.  I have to say, if I lived in a town that was the birthplace of a worldwide food staple like the sandwich, I would probably market it a little better.  There wasn’t even a plaque telling the story of the sandwich!  But Sandwich was a quaint little town, and one of the groups had afternoon tea (no cucumber sandwiches, though).  I went into one of the churches that was displaying local youth art from pre-school through high school.  When the lady at the entrance signed me in, she said that they had never had someone from Florida at this annual art show–I felt proud.
 
Saturday night was the final night for two of our youth–Carrison and Travis–so we did the usual last night things for the group.  We discussed again how we can make service a part of our daily lives in Jacksonville, and the youth had several ideas. We ended by laying hands on Carrison and Travis, and sending them off in prayer. 

We arrived in Canterbury on Friday around noon, and then we walked into the city (our hostel is actually just outside of the Canterbury city walls).

We made our way to St Martin’s, which is one of the birthplaces of Christianity in England.  St Martin’s Church is surrounded by a cemetery, and we did a devotional there about how we want to be remembered.  Everyone’s emotions were high as we discussed loss, and how we endure.
 
That afternoon, we got a chance to explore Canterbury.  We found shops (many of the girls bought dresses), and basically absorbed the history that permeates Canterbury.  Everyone had a great time experiencing the city, but we were still anxious for more.
 
Our Friday night ended with dinner back at the YHA Canterbury, where we met an interesting group of women called the Canterbury Crowes!  The women (who actually hail from Matlock and Derbyshire) are an over 35 field hockey team also staying at the hostel, and let’s just say they know how to have a good time!  Sam played for them in the YHA back yard, and he made about 7 pounds (or $12) in tips.  It was really funny seeing the ladies sway back and forth singing to Sam’s music–he even threw in a worship song!

Today was a great day, full of activity.  We split into our groups for the last time as we went to our Missionaries of Charity locations, but we soon realized that the Tube was packed (due to the ongoing strike)!  Group A had to split up into four groups (with four adult leaders) on 4 separate trains just to get to our destination.  When each of us finally got on, we were so cramped that no one could move.  As Malik put it yesterday, “You know it’s crowded when you feel a hand on you, and it takes you a minute to realize it’s your own!”
 
After that adventure, Group A spent our time peeling potatoes and making prayer cards, while Group B spent the morning cleaning the Missionaries of Charity main room.  Serving with this organization was absolutely amazing!  The sisters at both places spoke about what an inspiration our group has been to them in their faith and ministry.  WOW! 
 
After our morning at Missionaries of Charity, both groups split to various activities.  One group had the honor of seeing a crypt of Christian martyrs, a private event that was set up by the Missionaries of Charity nuns.  Another group went on the London Eye. Yet another group went to the London Bridge and a fourth group went to the London Aquarium.
 
After our fun events, we settled in for a Sung Eucharist at Westminster Abbey.  We had great seats right next to the choir (the lay vicars group), and the music was heavenly!  As I walked up for Communion, I was so in awe of the Abbey’s beauty and grandeur that I actually choked up!  Fr Dave pulled some strings, and we got to meet the Dean of Westminster, who was nice enough to pose with us for a group picture.
 
At the beginning of our journey, Fr Dave gave each of us a small cross.  He blessed the crosses, and explained that our goal this week was to give away the cross to someone who inspired us to do greater things.  Today, our adult leader Hugh gave his cross to Arthur, one of the workers at the Soup Kitchen.  The crosses have been a very moving and loving part of our week together.
 
Tomorrow morning we leave for Canterbury!  We are all having a great experience, and we are so thankful once again for everyone’s help.

We started the day by figuring out the bus schedule for our journeys (since the Tube Strike was on).  We knew that it might take up to 3 hours (!) to get to our destinations by bus, but we were willing to do whatever it took to serve London faithfully.

Group A (who had morning service) barely got on a bus, and they were on their way.  Group B (which I joined today) waited at the bus stop for a few more minutes before someone told us that parts of the Tube were running!  It turns out that some of the Tube workers were willing to defy the strike in order to get Londoners to their destinations (Thank God!)

Group A arrived (a little late) to their Missionaries of Charity post, and they heard an amazing talk by Sister Georgina (I told you she was awesome)!  Several of our youth were touched personally by her words. 

After lunch, the youth participated in a Catholic prayer service where they led prayers.  For their fun activity, the group split up between the Tate Modern (Art Museum) and the London Bridge Experience (a historical experience and scary haunted house).

Group B started off our day by going to St Paul’s Cathedral.  Next, we walked over the Millenium Bridge to the Tate Modern Art Museum.  We only had an hour there, but the group had lots of fun on the hands on activities like a huge cylinder that you could step in and roll (like a hamster), a tight rope, and several climbing apparatus. For our service, we served Salisbury Steak and mashed potatoes to many hungry homeless people!  Malik and I had to literally sing for our supper when one of the nuns taught us a song (with hand motions!) about five minutes before the meal. The nuns were amazing, and we met a lot of nice people.

There are many funny moments, and I’ll try to add them in future updates. 

Today we woke up bright and early and had breakfast at the Highbury Centre before going to our two separate activities: serving with Missionaries of Charity and visiting the Tower of London. I was in group A, which went to Missionaries of Charity first. We served lunch, cleaned 40 rooms used to house homeless men, and even cleaned a few bathrooms.

I was particularly amazed (I think the word I used was “obsessed”) with one of the Sisters at Missionaries of Charity named Sister Georgina. She really exemplified the light of Christ in her 47th year as a nun (36 with Mother Teresa in India)! She told us that one of her favorite Mother Teresa quotes is (in my far less poignant paraphrase) : “God doesn’t ask for checks or money–what he really asks for is hands to serve and a loving heart.”

The Tower of London was a lot of fun for everyone! For dinner tonight, we went for the quintessentially English dish of fish and chips (yum)!

We’ve all done a lot of walking (but not a lot of sweating, which is a nice change).

P.S. We just found out that the London Tube strike is on, so it is going to be very difficult to get to our mission organizations tomorrow. Please pray for safe and timely journeys as we overcome these obstacles!

St. Mark’s landed early and started with a classic English fry of bacon, sasauge, fried toast, egg boiled whole tomamtoes and beans. Courtney yelled: beans for breakfast? Brilliant! I have a feeling that kind of zeal is normal in this group.

We went to our London home, the Highbury Centre in north east London. After orientation and a small lunch we jumped on the tube for tubular orientation.

We took a walking tour of Trafalgar Square, Parliment, Westminter Abbey, St. James Park and Buckingham Palace. We finished the evening early with nightly compline. Tomorrow starts a few days of intense outreach.

I just received a text message as we await the team from St. Mark’s Jacksonville Florida.

Shawn –
 
Hey, I don’t know if you will get this or not, but I just wanted you to know that I read your blog a few minutes ago, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude that my children will have this incredible experience!  They are part of the St. Mark’s Jacksonville group that is on its way to London right now, and I’m happy to say that the whole group is very excited.  Thank you very much, and know that all of you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
 
Ashley

Thanks to all the parents who trust us with their prescious children. As a father of three I know what a challenge it is to let them go for such a voyage. In handing them to God during this time you open endless possibilities for their future.