Debrief with the Paris STINT team near London

We must confess.  The pictures from our meetings with the STINT (Short Term INTernational) team just aren't very interesting.  However, the pictures from our two days in London are really a lot of fun.  It was a great way to celebrate Holly's birthday.  And, we happened to be there for the Queen's 60th Diamond Jubilee!

This team (pictured at the bottom) helps provide operational support for our ministry in some of the places in the world that are most closed to missionaries and the gospel.  They had such a good year together as a team and in their ministry.

The classic picture of London...Big Ben standing over Parliament.

Couldn't resist including a second picture of Big Ben!

One of the buildings in "The Tower."  This building actually houses the Royal Jewels.  We were at The Tower on the Friday of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee so we saw The Today Show broadcasting live while we were there.  Dan resisted the urge to run across the grass to show off his Cardinals sweatshirt on national television back in the US.

Holly loves Sherlock Holmes so we took several pictures of this restaurant.

Westminster Abbey was founded in 960AD.  It is the burial site of people all the way back into the 1,300's.  Famous people from David Livingston to George Frideric Handel to Charles Darwin are buried there.  Kings, Queens, Generals, and Scientists--so many are buried in the church.  It was a fresh reminder that, "Only one life will soon be past only what is done for Christ will last."  God entrusts a brief season of life to us and we want to make the most of our lives for His kingdom.

Parliament

Buckingham Palace.  We didn't get to go in, but we were there when Kate's first official Tea Party was exiting.  Apparently, there were over 6,000 people in attendance.  They were dressed up in formal attire.  We picked the right time to be there!

Holly in the Captain's chair in the HMS Belfast

Dan and Holly posing with the Tower Bridge in the background.

You just can't go to England without eating Fish and Chips with Mushy Peas...okay, these peas weren't mushy, but we did eat mushy peas at another time.

Our 2011-2012 Paris Operations STINT team posing on the bridge that inspired AA Milne to write the Winnie the Pooh series.  Yes, we were staying in the Hundred Acre Wood!

The STINT team posing with their "post-it's of praise" as we celebrated what our heavenly Father has done this year both in their lives and through their service.

A group of students that we met in the Student Union at the University of Brighton.