Encouraging Signs

Monday was another day of full ministry on the ground at the main Swansea University campus, the Swansea Met campus and the local student housing area called the Uplands. Before we began, Gavin once again prepared our hearts through a look at 2 Timothy and encouraged us to establish our genuine service in, and only in, Christ. Probably or most successful day yet, several of the team were able to meet and have long spiritual conversations with a number of interested and open students, some of who had little or no idea of what the Biblical story was even about. Two of the ladies that met with Gavin, Stephanie and Sean, later joined out team for sodas as the local pub later that evening to continue to discussion.

Meanwhile, as our team was serving in their respective locations, I was able to schedule and hold several professional conversations with me peers at Swansea Univeristy. The information technology team was so kind and open and spent a good 2 hours with me talking over issues and concerns that we all seem to have in common. After a quick lunch in the student union, I met with Ms. Angela Jones in the International Development office. Ms. Jones is responsible for developing and supporting all of the student exchanges with North American universities, including a grant program in Oklahoma (funded by the state legislature through the OK State Regents for Higher Education) that provides airfare, all tuition and all housing costs for students at Oklahoma regional colleges - including UCO - to attend Swansea university for a full semester and earn up to 15 credits.

After a quick take-out dinner from a local fish shop, we cleaned up Capel Gomer again for the renewal of Derek’s Monday night Bible study, now delivered in English as part of the outreach to the non Welsh-speaking student population. The 10 Welsh, 10 American attendees had an excellent discussion of Matthew 7 and were all challenge to carefully judge our motivations for ministry & service to the Lord. We finally ended the night at the pub again; I believe we’ve all become addicted to a fruit-juice soda called “J20” and will be experiencing the signs of withdrawl when we get home.