Hi friends & fam!!!

I am so excited to finally be writing to you from the UK! I landed in London about a week ago with my mom, and this first week has been a whirlwind.

I wanted to say thank you to all who joined me in praying for safe travels and for a smooth transition

– it truly means the world to me to know I have so many people who love me and are praying for me!

As I said, my mom and I landed in London on Monday morning and were greeted by one of the staff members at Dundonald who will be my supervisor during this year of the Ministry Training Scheme. We got to join him and his family for dinner at their home on Tuesday evening as well. We spent the first day resting & getting oriented with Wimbledon, which is where I am living this year. Wimbledon is most widely known for being the host of the tennis championship each year, but is also home to many families and young professionals, and is only a 20 minute train ride from Big Ben & the London Eye.

On Tuesday,

I got to go to the church and tour the building for the first time, as well as meet many of the staff members of both Dundonald and the Co-Mission Network.

 I also got to learn a bit more about what my weekly schedule will look like, with going to different training workshops and ministry events, as well as serving in the church’s donation-based coffee house and setting up for Sunday services and events throughout the week. Also on Tuesday I got to pick up my Biometric Residence Permit (which made it all feel very official!).

Wednesday I got to show my mom all the sights that made me fall in love with London, from Big Ben to Buckingham Palace, to Soho and Covent Garden! We even got to see a show on the West End! It was such a fun day getting to go back to all of these places and reorient myself with the city centre.

Thursday was a much more logistical day, making sure I got a UK bank account set up, as well as getting a new UK sim card for my phone.

Now I can be reached on What’s App, Instagram DM, or GroupMe, as my US phone number will be out of service in a few days!

Also on Thursday, we went back into the city to go to Borough Market to explore & buy a few gifts for family & friends. We ended the day eating dinner at the home of one of the church elders and his family, whose daughter will be doing the Ministry Training Scheme with me at Dundonald!

On Friday, we had a slower day as we checked out of our hotel and decided to go to the Wimbledon Tennis Courts & Museum. This truly is the main attraction of Wimbledon for those who aren’t from here, so it was so fun to get to visit and even go out onto Centre Court! Friday evening I finally got to meet the Stephenson’s, who are hosting me in their home this year, and have been at Dundonald Church for 30 years! It has been so lovely getting to know them as I moved in just a few short days ago.

As my mom left this morning, I realized just how much happened so quickly this week! It truly flew by, but I am so grateful that she got to come with me to make the initial journey and come to see my new home.

I am eager to get started at Dundonald this Monday, and am so looking forward to all I will get to be a part of at Dundonald & St. Johns this year during my time as a Ministry Trainee.

Love, Hannah