New Life City Church: Cross Vigil Day 25

DAY 25: Wednesday 7 October

Such a quiet day. I think people are used to the Cross Vigil and almost everyone who passes by, and have done so many times since it began on 9 September, simply expect it to be here. However, I am happy to stand with the cross each day if only for one person and if only to keep the cross in such public view as a constant reminder to all who pass by that God so loved the world.

Believe it not, today I had NO COFFEE! But I did have "hot soup with a roll" delivered all the way from Carrickfergus (ok, maybe it wasn't hot, but it was warm!). Tom even had the salt with him, which reminded me that that's what we are being with the cross; we are being the salt of the earth between the gates.

After the soup Raymond came along - wait for it - with Chicken Curry (but no rice). However, it was delicious! Then I had a Muffin. So today I had a starter, a main course, and a desert. When I started the Cross Vigil I was 121/2 stone (175 pounds); Today I am 13 stone (182 pounds). I'm thinking of setting up a picnic table complete with a table cloth and serviettes etc! Hey I know some would rather see me suffer, but I can assure this is no picnic!

Besides the norm, or what has become the norm in terms of passers by, the Director of a Community Project from the Falls community stopped for a while for a chat. Another woman, a mother of two, from the Shankill stopped for while. Before she left she asked if I was taking donations. I told her not there, but she could come along to the concert on Saturday 24 October and make a donation then. She said she would be there.

While all this is going on the work in the building behind me continues. We did have a set back, which puts the project back by at least two weeks and put us £30,000 over budget as we have had to sound proof the roof. We are still hopeful that, although not totally finished, we will still be able to move in immediately after the concert.