The day before Hillsong Conference commenced, we met up with our friend who's also from Belfast. Just in front of KFC near Piccadilly (because I had to pee haha).

We caught up with each other as we walked towards Waterstones, because she had to purchase children's books. On the entrance of the store, I saw a sign, saying Murakami would visit the place for a book signing event. It would be held in August.

The four of us walked to a station afterwards; I forget which one, but we went to Lakwatsa--a shop which sells bubble tea and Filipino snacks. Next to it, was the Notting Hill bookshop. I ordered Darwin--at least, that was what my friends called it. It was nice.

Then, the adventure started. Spontaneously, we decided to rent bicycles. We found a docking station, and to be honest, I was afraid considering the last time I rode one was three years ago. You see, I fractured my wrist because of a cycling accident and that caused a major operation to screw my bones back together again. Think Humpty Dumpty except, the soldiers were surgeons and they dealt with bones, not shells.

One bike costs £2.00, for 24 hours. So long as we reach another docking station and swap bikes. We may have done it for four times--maybe five--on that day, for the sake of reaching Piccadilly once again, to meet up with the friends we met in Scotland last 2011 (they were originally from London).

I found it amusing, because all of us had zero experience and we kept on checking the maps near the streets, even the one in Google. It was also my first time, having to cycle beside vehicles such as cars and buses. It injected adrenaline down my veins.

But near Trafalgar Square--by the roundabout, I got scared. So I got left behind, and my other friend led me where the others were.

We struggled looking for a docking station, but we finally arrived in Piccadilly and was able to meet up with our friends, in front of Burger King. We then proceeded to eat in KFC--the same one from earlier, before walking around.

One became our unofficial tour guide for kicks. We stopped to watch some street performers, with one guy copying Michael Jackson. Then we went through alleyways, only to find ourselves near Trafalgar Square, once again. We took a lot of pictures, and some foreigners even joined in. I saw how chill London could be, with helpful people and whatnot. While sitting near one of the lions, we waved at the people in the buses that sped by. Funnily enough, many of them waved back.

We said goodbye to each other in Charing Cross Station.

***

The next day, we all prepared for Day 1. We rented a place in Pontoon Docks, near the O2. So, the travel wasn't that long. We would ride a train to Canning Town, and then switch trains to North Greenwich. Our wristbands came in late--we were already in London by the time it arrived in Belfast. It was still early, so we queued and requested for another set.

By five in the afternoon, the line in front of the gates were long. We finally got in and ended up in Door 112. We met new friends! They were Filipinos, too, and it was really awesome. God really has a way of letting people meet. He has a way of connecting us with each other.

The speaker on that night was Craig Groeschel, and he focused on John 5--the story about the man by the pool:

1-6 Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, “Do you want to get well?”

7 The sick man said, “Sir, when the water is stirred, I don’t have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in.”

8-9 Jesus said, “Get up, take your bedroll, start walking.” The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off.

Now, he focused on problems, and how it could affect us. The longer a problem persists, the more discouraged we become; we tend to make more excuses, and we learn to compensate.

Craig said we cannot change what we are willing to tolerate, and I think it's true. He even asked, "What is the greatest enemy of faith?"

Some answered doubt.

Some said fear.

I thought, "Apathy."

He said the familiar is the greatest enemy of faith. Once we truly get used to something, we learn to live with it. Personally speaking, there is truth in that.

But what really pumped me up, is when he said it takes faith to step away from the familiar; that the healing will not begin until our desire becomes bigger than our disability.

To step towards my destiny, I have to step away from my security. It's something I have known for a long time, but that serves as a confirmation.

What's amazing, is the man did not even ask to be healed. And he expected for the pool to heal him, but it didn't go that way. Jesus healed him, and that speaks to me. With Christ, we are not out.

***

Then, it was Carl Lentz's turn on the second night. He focused on Psalm 23, and I swear being a sheep has never sounded so good in my life. The link was from the conference in Australia, but it's the same.

It's encouraging to remember we walk through the valley, and not stay there. It's encouraging to remember God loves me, and He loves me so much, He changes me for the better. Though it hurts at times, He does it out of love.

What got me, too, was Carl's story. About the shooting that happened right in front of his house. And Ava, his daughter, was sleeping on the second floor. When the police arrived, Carl asked what the matter was, and they said they were just wondering how the house was safe from bullet shots, when judging from the angle of the gunner, there would have been bullets everywhere.

It reminded me of this certain Christmas (or New Year), where my Aunt (she's way younger than me--I think by six-ish years), was sleeping on the sofa. But she suddenly sat up straight, and bam!--a huge stone smashed right through the window. If she had not woken up, her face would have been smashed.

***

There was Craig, once again, and he talked about increasing our capacity. I need the Spirit to increase my commitments, because I swear, I am the type to either skip, or over-commit myself to the point of wearing out. Why? Because I developed the habit of people pleasing. But then again, becoming obsessed of what people about me is the quickest way to forget what God thinks about me.

And certainly, He wants to do more than what my mind can comprehend.

Robert Madu hit the spot. He talked about comparing--about looking at the racetrack of others, instead of focusing on what's in front of us.

Comparison is an enemy of destiny; as a believer, I am here to be more and more like Jesus, and not be unlike anybody God has created.

Here's the thing: I may be the worst someone, but I am the best Alyssa who's nicknamed after a season there is. I'm not saying this out of conceit, but I am thoroughly convinced God made me the way I am because He has a mighty plan for me, and so long as I chase after the Shepherd, surely His beauty and love will follow me, all the days of my life. And it ain't easy, but He gives me grace to run my race.

***

The final night, Robert was the one who preached: I Got More than What I Came For.

Robert had me in stitches, but I left the place encouraged, and even more in love with Jesus.

I am not identified by my issues; I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Give it a shot.

"Whenever your experience does not line up with your expectation, God is trying to give you a revelation of who He is."

***

Saturday arrived, and we went around London. We rode the cable car. A plan in mind did not happen, and so, we cycled all the way to London Eye. We took pictures, until it was too late for us to catch the last train home. It may have been one in the morning already.

What choice did we have but to cycle? We were not all too sure how to get to Pontoon Docks, so we returned to the docking station near Ritz Hotel. I swear God is so good. It took us two buses--more than one hour in total--to reach home and that word: home, never sounded so nice. We were all tired, but we managed to amuse ourselves throughout the ride.

That was quite an adventure. Our feet ached. I somehow lost balance along the way, causing me to stumble on the main road. I already saw a cab speeding by, and I scooted back just in time. One man on a bike was already looking at me with concern in his eyes.

***

Sunday came around, and we were all too tired to wake up early, but we did make it to church. We attended our friends' church, and was reminded to walk by faith, and not by sight.

The fellowship afterwards was awesome. We went to a local carnival, and took two rides. Not everyone went to the second one. I do not know how to explain it, really, but it swings you back and forth at first, and then holds you upside-down later on. And it just freezes for a few good seconds, with you hanging upside-down, and you feel the blood rushing into your head. I didn't scream; I was too caught up admiring the sky with 'dusk' written all over it. And how I feel closer to it.

***

The five of us gathered to talk. Just talked. We shared, and it was nice to hear what one of us had to say.

"I'm thankful I removed my glasses," he said. "Because I won't be able to see your faces."

What we discussed, I would rather keep it to this, but he thanked God, because He let all of us meet. He said he was thankful, because he has genuine friends. And he said he needed help with his character.

"We'll tear off roofs for you," I remarked, referencing Madu's sermon which focused on Mark 2, and we laughed.

The friend I was telling you about, was the one who actually moved to ask for directions when it was too late for us to get a train. He looked calm, but he was actually nervous. But to be honest, at that moment, when it was our first time walking around in London at night (think two in the morning), with no trains to, I wasn't as afraid. I trusted him. But more than anything, I know God will make a way. And I just depended on that.

And thank you, for asking how I've been. You know yourselves.