H-O-M-E

We are home! After a flight cancellation and spending some time in Cincinnati we got home! Now we are just settling in for the rest of life. Come and visit!

The count-down begins...

Its, 5 days and counting!
I can't believe that our time here is almost up!!!!
It seems like we have only been here a few months
instead of half a year. I have been listening to country music to help me re-acclimate! So, get home...the mad rush begins
then after a little bit everything will calm down and I will
get to process everything.
Meanwhile...check out anything from Jill or Stuart Briscoe!
They are great!
Love ya'll

Update

Day 1- We arrived to Bethesda Church in Dinas Powys, Wales. The drive wasn't bad but we are all ready to get out of the minibus after the 5 ½ hour drive. We eat at the church and then have a youth program, called Youthquake, to run. We played games (mostly soccer and dodge ball with a couple games of knockout mixed in) then we had a 10 minute devotion time. After Youthquake we all headed off to our host homes for a good night's sleep! My host's are so wonderful, their house is beautiful and they are very friendly and kind. I also tried Welsh cakes for the first time- YUMMY!
Day 2- Slept in which was great! Then we headed to the church to get ready for the evening event, a quiz night! After setting up, we went down to the bay in Cardiff and got to see the area (a little site seeing and Starbucks) Later we met and went over some of the school lessons for the week. Quiz night was fun! My team did not win but we did pretty well. That night at the host home, I showed pictures of all the family. When I went to bed, my stomach wasn't feeling that great but I thought I would be fine.
Day 3- Woke up feeling sick!!! (not a happy feeling) I was able to go back to bed and miss the Sunday morning service but I was so disappointed. I think I was just over-tired from staying up really late the last few nights.
Day 4- (Monday) We split our team of 8 into two groups of 4. My team was covering all the lessons on “Christians & Worship” the other team is doing lessons on “Suffering”. My team has most of the lessons at the beginning of the week so we had one today. It went well, I think we were all a bit unsure just b/c we had never done anything like it. The freedom that they have to go in the schools is amazing. We were able to share the gospel basically- I am not sure they realize what a privilege it is (but then again, neither did we when we had God in schools). After the lesson we had an assembly at another school, the whole school was there. Then we led an after school club, thank the Lord that I had so many years experience in that area. It is amazing how God prepares us for things that we have no idea we will need; I never would have guessed that I would need to know how to lead an after school club in Wales! It just shows that nothing is wasted in His plan!
Day 5- (Tuesday) 8:30am we had an assembly then my team had three worship lessons. We are getting more comfortable with each one. The kids are really great! It has been a big encouragement for me. I had been feeling a little apprehensive about going home and teaching (I was a bit burned-out when I left) but being in the classroom I was reminded how much I love it! So, I am very thankful for that! God uses unlikely things to encourage us it seems!
Day 6- (Wednesday) We got to have a “lie-in” (or sleep late, depending on what side of the pond you are from) then 4 of us went to a ladies coffee morning. We sang and talked a little about why we came to Capernwray and what we would do when we went back home. The ladies were all so lovely! We have a Christian Union and then a lesson later in the day and this evening we will lead the youth club.

I love East Kilbride, Scotland!

Maybe I should change the title to simply..."I love Scotland!" We went on our weekend outreach and it was better than I could have imagined. The group of students going was great, the church was great, the host families were superb and the town was pretty good too! I also discovered Tunnocks Tea Cakes! They are like the most sophisticated cousins of moon pies. www.tunnock.co.uk is the website (I haven't visited yet) I am now hoping to find a way to get these even when I come home, they are soo good! I am eating one as I write!!
We headed for East Kilbride, which is near Glasgow, on Valentines day. On the way up we stopped at Gretna Green, which any fan of English romances (ie-Jane Austen) will recognize as the famous destination for elopement! That day there were 16 weddings "running through" as they called it. It wasn't really my ideal wedding situation but it was neat and I had to admit that saying you were married at Gretna would be fun.
After Gretna we moved on to the church Westwoodhill Evangelical. The people were the some of the friendliest I have encountered since coming the UK. It was great to get to meet new people and we took several of the church services so that was fun as well. The church had a pretty diverse group of people and ages. I definitely hope to visit again!

I love Wales!

We went on our preliminary outreach weekend. My team (of 8) was going to meet the people we would be working with and see the church and the town. The village we were in was called Dinas Powys, not far from Cardiff. The people were so friendly and welcoming! We will be doing a lot of work in the schools which will be a blast! We will also work with the youth who we met, they are so much fun!!! The weather got bad on the way home- lots of snow. In fact, London was shut down b/c of the snow. We had snowball fights at the service stations were we stopped which was lots of fun! I wish I could put some video on but the internet connection is bad. Next we have a few weeks of training and then off we go for our ten days! In between that time I will be very busy. I am going with another team for a weekend outreach to Glasgow, Scotland. The team is great and I am excited to get some practice before the 10 days in Wales. I will be driving and also working on the dramas so that should be fun. I will write again and let you know how it goes.

We are back...

Sorry, it has taken so long for me to write again. We have been getting back in the routine.
We are about to head out on our preliminary weekend visit to our 10 day outreach destinations! I am heading to Wales. The church I will be working with is called Bethesda. Visit www.bethesdacardiff.org (I think that is the website, if not just google it.) My group has 8 people and we are excited to get started.
Barbara is going to Overhutton, here in England, which is great because she didn't want to be that far away. Other than that we just have assignments and daily life. The weather has been pretty good (until today) it is cold but clear. That gives you a little update, hopefully it won't take me so long to write again. Till I do, look up Ian Leitch. He is an apologist from Scotland and one of my favorite speakers. Enjoy!

Last minute details...

We are about a week away from home (which is AWESOME!) I am very excited to see everyone!
So, here is what the next few days look like for me/us here at school.
Tonight (Wed. 10th)- Netball game. We are gonna FREEZE!
Thurs. 11th- Practice for Christmas production.
Fri. 12th- "Work day" that means 1/2 of us are cleaning the castle and grounds and the other 1/2 are in a seminar.
Sat. 13th- Relax, then dress rehearsal for Christmas program (I think)
Sun- 14th- Service in the morning then Christmas program @ night. (All of us roomies will have an advent celebration)
Mon. 15th- Lectures and then Christmas Program @ night again.
Tues. 16th- Christmas banquet. Secret Sister revealing.
Wed. 17th- Room cleaning/packing.
Thurs. 18th- Leave EARLY in the morning- our train leaves at 6:16am! Get home at 6:30ish!!! SEE FAMILY AND EAT MEXICAN FOOD!
Those are the major things going on so I will be pretty busy the next few days.
I may not write till I get home (not sure)
So, if I don't.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!