Day 2 - Connections

Our second day on the ground is largely about getting our bearings and establishing a routine for the rest of the week. After transitioning from the hotel to Capel Gomer, Derek’s local church building about a block away, the group settled in and held our first morning devotional. Gavin led us through the first chapter of 2 Timothy this morning and reminded us to be proud of Christ’s story and rely on the power that comes from his suffering as we share the good news of the Gospel with those around us. 

Derek then led a planning session for the rest of the week where we outlined a tentative schedule for each day. Afterward, three teams split up between the primary Swansea University campus, the Swansea Met campus and a student housing area called the Uplands. Each team walked the area and discovered the most likely places for them to return to and engage in conversation or just “hang out” with the student population, which will be the focus of both Thursday and Friday.

While these teams were out, I had the occasion for a quick visit to the Swansea Market just a few blocks away. The market area in in the heart of the city center and is a main focal point for the community. It is said that the market itself has been operating as a market continually since the middle ages! While looking through the booths of welsh cakes, fresh fish and vegetables, cockles (mini oysters) and laverbread (seaweed), I came across a Welsh-Chinese fusion art exhibit and was offered a cup of Chinese tea from a young artist named Stewart. He was volunteering for a shift in the traveling exhibit. I sat and asked him about his art, which strangely led to a conversation on Christianity (his idea, actually), and I was able to share an invitation to our Friday night event (more on that later). Stewart’s response was typical of many here: an “oh, that’s interesting,” attitude toward Christianity, but with no real awareness of the message or it’s implications or, finally, for their own need. I pray that as we go through this week, we find more Stewarts and have the opportunity to introduce them to the person of Jesus.

That afternoon, we regrouped and headed out to a community that I can barely pronounce and sounds something like “one eye lid” (but, obviously, not exactly) to Capel Seion for Kid’s Club. It was a bit overwhelming but none the less wonderful as a stream of some 30-40 children from the local primary (elementary) school came pouring into the chapel for club. They were so excited to see us, many of whom we’d met and become friends with on previous trips, and welcomed us with warmth and genuine interest. In two short hours, we fell in love with them (again) and all of us could do Club again and again.

After an excellent dinner at a local carvery (essentially a restaurant designed to serve what we’d have at holiday meals), our night got really interesting. While discovering that we were potentially locked out of Capel Gomer (where all our luggage and most of our beds were) for the night, Derek’s car was hit by another motorist. While the damage was mostly cosmetic, it was a new confirmation for Derek that something always happens to his car during an Oklahoma team visit (something he mentioned only hours before). As dodgy as our situation was only minutes before, Huw arrived with a rescue key for the church and got the obligatory hero-of-the-day award. Our final exercise was team discussion of the day and planning for day ahead. We got everyone setup in their air-beds and couches and Chip & I left with Derek for the ministry house where we are staying, leaving the group behind and the room heaters on (keep this in mind for tomorrows post).