I have always struggled to make decisions in my life. It seems like I remain undecided if I don't have a time restraint and it isn't until there is one that I finally decide. It began with where to go to college and continued in what I should major in and has now progressed to where to go for spring school. As you know, Michael and I applied and were accepted to Tauernhof for spring school. In an effort to prevent my inclination to avoid change I made sure we applied in the second week we came to Capernwray, but as the months have progressed Michael and I have had a change of heart in our location for spring school. We will no longer be attending Tauernhof for spring school but will instead remain at Capernwray. I am very confident in our decision and feel a real peace about it as I feared for so many months leading up to the decision actually making the wrong decision. As time went on I realized that neither decision would be detrimental to our growth. Michael and I both highly value the biblical teaching we are receiving from Rob Whittaker and for several other reasons did not see Tauernhof as the right place for us. So Capernwray it is!
Each day we get closer to Christmas and the reality that Michael and I will not be coming home becomes harder to avert. This will be our first Christmas away from home and to be honest it is going to be hard. I don't know exactly where we will be, but I do know we will be in England. The first half of winter term commences Dec. 17th, at which point we will be heading down to London via train. I am excited because except for the 2 hours we were getting from Heathrow airport to the Euston train station to catch a train to Capernwray, I haven't seen my home away from home. Michael has never seen London and it will be great to show him around. My hope is that I will get to show him the flat I lived in when I was there last, Ability Towers, off Macclesfield Rd (that one's for you Scotty).
Our friend Josh, that we met here, will be joining us for this 3 week adventure in which we begin to explore Europe. I say begin because we will only be going to two new destinations for the both of them: London and Rome. The plan, which we just confirmed this week, is to spend Christmas in London, then on the 27th catch a flight to Rome, Italy where we will spend New Year's! The last time I was in Rome we just happened to be there for "White Night" which is basically a night in which a huge party takes place in the streets of Rome and lasts through to the wee hours of the morning. Being apart of that and surviving was crazy, I can only imagine how New Year's will be. We plan to visit the Cinque Terras as well as Milan before heading to Bologna for a day. I heard from Wes that some of the best food lies in that area so I must check it out and I figure at this stage in my food consumption, a little flavor will make the trip.
Then beginning on the 4th of January, we will be flying out from Bologna to head to Frankfurt, Germany (yes, again) to visit Samuel. Samuel is one of my good friends here that lives just outside of Frankfurt. He will show us around the neighboring towns and the hope is to visit Cologne during this time. Shortly there after (Jan. 9), we will be heading back to school but this time arriving in Manchester airport, not Heathrow as the journey back to campus is far less.
So there it is, our adventures beginning in two short weeks. The travel will be interesting as we will only each be carrying a backpack a piece as most of the airlines charge you an arm and a leg to check bags. The journey is sure to be challenging but I think we are going to have a blast. I think what I look forward to the most in visiting these places a second time around is how much more I notice, remember, and most of all appreciate from the last time. It will be comforting and also a completely different experience having Michael there this time and I can't wait for it!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone!
The holidays are when I feel the most home sick here. Today has been different. It’s different to wake up 5 feet off the ground admiring your blanket on the ground, it’s different hearing the first ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ come from your good German friend, it’s different to see boys go out and celebrate the strike of midnight on this holiday by mud sliding on the futbol pitch, it’s different to see hail, it’s different to be rehearsing for a dance lesson you will be hosting for international students come Saturday, it’s different to go to class, it’s different to search every room of a castle, and even more different to never smell the amazing aroma this day brings, it’s different not being able to hug your mother, it’s different not having a television much less an interest in watching the Cowboys with your dad. It’s different to be on the other side of the pond this time with your brother and not friends, it’s different receiving a care package from your sister on this day when all you wanted was her to be inside. It’s all different and yet I still feel at home.
The kitchen staff did an amazing job tonight making our thanksgiving feast as much a feast as they could. The tables were ordained with fall leaf confetti, tea candles, flowers, and festive napkins wrapped as turkeys. We enjoyed turkey, gravy, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole…and for some reason rice. Don’t ask.
I want to thank each and every one of you for your friendship, support, prayers, and love. While I am not physically home to show my love I do wish you all a joyous day. Don’t forget to count your blessings. Start with your family if you struggle to begin.
I’m so thankful for my mother, my father, and my sister Manny!
As part of the curriculum here at Capernwray every student must go on a 10-day Outreach, in small groups, to churches primarily in England. One group of students has the opportunity of going on a 14-day Outreach to Kenya, Africa during that same time.
I have had a desire to go to Africa for several years now and upon arriving to Capernwray the first evening I actually ate dinner with the Outreach coordinator, Carolyn, without initially realizing it. She mentioned the Africa opportunity that night and said we would all be receiving information later in October about it. Well I attended that information meeting and learned a bit more about the missions trip and left there seriously thinking about the opportunity. I prayed about it for a couple of days and then picked up an application because they could only take 10 students. I filled out the application and turned it in knowing that if Africa was where God wanted me then I would be chosen.
Just recently, during announcements, 10 students were called into the backroom of the conference hall and my name happened to be one of the 10. We all fit snugly into that small room and as the door closed I counted the other faces in the room and immediately felt my heart begin to race as the word ‘Africa’ almost fell out of my mouth. I immediately felt like I do before exams; my hands become clammy, my face gets hot, and my stomach feels empty. What seemed like an eternity passed and then Charity, the RA, announced we were all chosen to go to Africa!!!! Now I know most of you could have guessed that well before I said it but being in the moment and not knowing whom all applied I was in shock. All I could say is, ‘Thank you Lord.’
The last few days have been realization days. What was once a dream that seemed so far fetched, if I was honest with myself, was now a reality only months away! I will keep you updated as I learn more about the trip but I have confirmed my place on the team.
Is this for real?
I was speaking to Kinsley, a friend of mine here, this past Sunday evening about my greatest fear. I don't fear dying or if I will get married as I have come to terms with both of these common 'fears' and feel a great sense of comfort with them. On the other hand, I must say I have not come to terms or felt as great sense of comfort when it comes to public speaking. This is my greatest fear. Even now, as I talk about speaking in public, I find my stomach beginning to turn. It's the same feeling I get when I am being thrown about on a roller coaster and my stomach goes into meltdown.
I have learned that whenever my name is called during afternoon announcements that God has a challenging opportunity for me in the very near future. I was asked by the dean of students on Monday to preach Sunday, November 29th during the morning service at a local church. My first reaction was ‘there is NO way!’ Did God not hear me the night before talk about how terrified I am to speak in public? He did hear me and that is why I was asked to preach.
But then I think about the fact that I have qualifications. I sweat when I am in a small group and everyone has their heads bowed and I am praying out loud. What never-before-seen physical reaction is my body going to endure when I am standing behind a pulpit looking out at 50 wide-eyed and bushy tailed people staring right back at me? Let me die now is my physical reaction.
As I sit here typing, I have no idea what topic I am going to speak on. Maybe it will be on how even the most unqualified people are used for God’s glory. Nevertheless, this whole experience is not for my glory but for God’s. He has given me an amazing opportunity and I must act upon it faithfully.
Make sure the next time you express your greatest fear, you are prepared to face it.
Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
For anyone not from England, this past Thursday, Nov 5 was Guy Fawkes Day. This day is not a national holiday in the sense that no working individual gets a day off, but none-the-less the Brits celebrate it as such. The celebration is quite ironic as Guy Fawkes was one of a group of Roman Catholic restorationists from England who planned to displace Protestant rule by blowing up the Houses of Parliament while King James I and the nobility were inside. Guy Fawkes and his conspirators saw this as a necessary reaction to the systematic discrimination against English Catholics. The Gunpowder Plot’s execution failed due to Parliament receiving an anonymous warning letter in the early hours of Nov 5th, 1605 thereby catching Guy Fawkes in the act.
In celebration of this evening, the International Café outreach I am apart of went to the Lancaster Castle to watch the fireworks. It was a typical English night, which simply means it was raining. There wasn’t a light drizzle but rather a torrential downpour. But unlike Colorado, the rain had no effect on the Brits determination to make the fireworks show continue. I felt like such a foreigner as three Americans fought to stay dry under an umbrella made for one.
I must admit that the show was really good. I have never been that close to fireworks before and, as is British tradition, you must accompany the show with music, I found the whole experience much better than the celebration of the 4th of July. I can’t believe I just said that but I think my fondness of this country is becoming greater and greater each day. Of course my patronage is still with the USA so hold your drawers.
