Christmas is Coming!

The Christmas Tree is up at our house, although Ann, the boys, and I have yet to spend time to put the decorations on the tree. Erin and I just finished up our last assembly of the term last Friday, so we're done with assemblies for 2011! Crazy! Tomorrow I am looking forward to the Potters Bar Town Carols, which are sure to be a treat. You have to work extra hard to make it feel like Christmas when the weather is cold and rainy and there's still a lot of green to be seen.

Things are slowly wrapping up in schools, the office, and around town as everyone is gearing up for the Christmas Holiday. For those who may not know, I am spending the holiday in Spain with Megan Mundt, one of my wonderful friends from Gustavus. We will be touring the southern coast for an entire week, spending Christmas in Granada. I'm super excited to say the least! :)

My diary for the past few weeks has been full of things to do, for which I am very thankful. Mondays I have been helping with a local Youth Club, which finished tonight. Erin and I joined our supervisor, Luisa, at Zumba last Tuesday to "be more American" and let loose. Wednesday I joined my host, Ann, to watch the boys in their school's Christmas Play, which was quite adorable to say the least. Thursday was Samantha's 14th Birthday (Samantha's father is one of Act 4's Trustees), so we celebrated with her and then went to her performance of Oliver, which was actually quite impressive. This past weekend, to finish up a great week, Erin, Emily, Bekah, and I went into London to check out the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Although we didn't get to see Santa, as he was on his tea break, we did enjoy some Bavarian bratwursts and English biscuits along the way!

Last but not least, on Sunday, Erin and I made our way to Christ Church Little Heath for service and lunch with the Vicar and a few others. I wish I could say I've taken pictures of the church building, but I just don't want to be a tourist so close to home. I have no shame snapping pictures in London, but not here in Hertfordshire. :) Life is becoming pretty normal and I continue to look forward to all the wonderful events that are yet to come! Happy Holidays!

Happy December!

Today is the official three month mark of being in Potters Bar! Hard to believe so much time has flown by!

Last night, I was fortunate to talk to one of my Bible Study groups about Christianity and my church in the United States. Thank you to everyone who gave me advice or information for my presentation! I spent a while making myself nervous about it all, but in the end, the small group was the perfect audience for my information. The group was blown away by the sheer numbers, how many children enrolled in GodZone and Confirmation, as well as the baptized membership statistics. I am so thankful for Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church and for all the support they have given me in the past and continue to give me in the present as I live and serve in England.

At times, I'm beginning to forget I'm a foreigner, but then an off-hand comment or advert will remind me that I'm different. Last night, it was talking about my church back home, tonight, it was Zumba. I knew Zumba took off the in United States long before I left, but I hadn't realized how difficult it would be for Zumba to take off in the United Kingdom. The instructor, at the beginning of class, told us to lose our inhibitions and be more like an American. With such a reserved culture, my instructor later told me that some Brits struggle to get into Zumba with all the hip shaking and shimmying, whereas Americans typically have no trouble moving their bodies and letting loose.

Even though I may be an outsider, I really am starting to feel like Potters Bar is home. I even found a church! After a dozen or so churches, I am willing to make the two or so mile trek to worship at Christ Church Little Heath. Erin and I even went there on Thanksgiving for an event called "Come Dine with Me" where I managed to win the raffle! The event was filled with tutorials on how to cook Christmas dishes. During the breaks, we were able to go into the narthex to try out the dishes and sip on wines. I even managed to Skype with family both before and after, making my Thanksgiving a great one!

This past Saturday, I decided to make the most of my day and bought a return ticket to Cambridge! Although I managed to go on Graduation weekend, I still got some good pictures. Here's the river where students go punting. I also managed to check out the Fitzwilliam Museum which was gorgeous inside! Fitz!

Finally settling in.

See! I told you I've been rubbish at updating this thing!

Where to begin? Last week, Erin and I finally returned home to Potters Bar after a week in Muswell Hill for the Time for God Conference, a week on Holiday, and a week in Shropshire to learn our new assembly. As I had promised Chrissie, my Field Officer with Time for God, I tried to settle into my community and really get connected.

I had high hopes for Monday night, as my plan was to go to a local primary school and join in on a game of adult netball. Instead of basketball here, they play netball. I'm still not quite so sure on the rules, because I went to the primary school only to find out that the newsletter of events in Hertfordshire was wrong. Dressed in my sport kit, I decided instead to take a jog to check out a Bible Study at the URC where our office is located. Tuesday night was another Bible Study, although that time I walked, and on Wednesday, Erin and I went into London to meet Emily for a show. I spent Thursday recovering from my nights around town and then Erin and I spent Friday night in, watching movies. Overall, I'm beginning to feel like I belong here in Potters Bar, but it only took a good two or so months.

This week has been filled with assemblies, sometimes three in one day, like today. I again made it to Monday night Bible Study this week, jogging again despite the horrid weather. Tuesday I trekked into Little Heath in hope of finding a "Traditional Crafts" club, only to find that the same Hertfordshire newsletter had led me astray yet again. Tonight was a bit more productive with a Bible Study that meets fortnightly, one that I hadn't been to in a while due to my earlier travels. I actually have the pleasure of talking to the group on 30 November about churches in America. If anyone has any suggestions, I am open and willing to listen, by the way. :)

Tomorrow and Friday will hopefully go off without incident, as we only have one assembly both days. Again, I apologize for not updating this more regularly, but when my routine is beginning to feel normal, it doesn't seem as exciting to write about! Maybe when I finish Hunger Games, I will be more tempted to write a more thoughtful and reflective entry. As my mother (and Tigger) would say, ta ta for now. :)

Where has October gone?!?!

My blog updates have just gone from bad to worse as life continues to become busier and busier here in England!

Last Friday, Erin and I finished up the last of our "Potential" assembly after spending four days in Muswell Hill at the Time For God Conference. It was refreshing to spend time growing closer with other volunteers as well as in our relationships with God. As last Friday was also the last day of this half term, I have enjoyed the past four days in Bath and Bristol as part of my half term "holiday". With a few other Young Adults in Global Mission, I was blessed to see the Roman Baths, Jane Austen Centre, Fashion Museum and Assembly Rooms, as well as to go on a Tower Tour of the Bath Abbey.

I am falling in love with the history of this country, a history far longer than the one in America, as was pointed out by our Bath Abbey tour guide. Although I may feel like my travels sometimes are not fulfilling my responsibilities as a young adult in global mission, I constantly have to remind myself that with every new person I meet or stranger I may smile to in passing, I am shining God's light wherever I go. Even by explaining why I am here and what organization supports me, I am able to share God's message and my faith to others in the most unlikely places. I am thankful for the opportunity to spark something in the lives of others, even if I may never know what kind of impact my words had.

In closing, I am going to preemptively apologize for being away from my blog in the coming week. While kids in America are Trick-or-Treating on Monday, 31 October, Erin and I will be traveling to Shropshire to stay with Sam, Act 4's Director, to learn our second assembly. We will spend the week up there, hopefully not freezing, as the weather starts to change. I will try to update this, but no promises!

It's hard this time to find one picture, but here's one of my favorites. In the upper left is the Bath Abbey and the bottom is of course the Roman Baths. I kept seeing this picture on postcards and couldn't wait to see it for myself. Later on in the day, we actually went on a Tower Tour to the top of the Abbey and got to see the view from the other side!! How cool is that?!?!?! After lots of rain and spotty showers, the sun finally came out for this picture! Such a beautiful city!

Falling into Autumn!

Get it? :)

Things have been hectic here in Potters Bar over the past week or so. Last Monday and Tuesday, we were in Reading doing an R Rights Day as well as a Star Citizen Day at the same school the Middletons went to! On Wednesday we came back to do a full day at a school in Cuffley, a local town, where the Year 6's put on a performance for the school and their parents! Needless to say, I was proud of all the work they had done and really came to enjoy managing all the acts for the day's performances.

Thursday, Erin and I were back to doing our assemblies and were excited to meet a new Act 4 volunteer named Anna Lisa. We showed her around our office at the United Reformed Church and even went out with her for dinner. On Friday, we finished in Reading with a 5:45 am start and ended up in London on our way back home. The weekend went by so fast and this whole week has been filled with assemblies and getting to know the Act 4 Server.

Tomorrow marks the end of seven weeks in England and I still can't believe how long it has taken me to transition into this new life and culture. When Beckah, one of the UK YAGM Alum, told me that things may be tough and that I should expect to be homesick, I was headstrong thinking that I would somehow be immune to the difficulties this transition would bring. I am now, however, comfortable with admitting defeat and that I am, in fact, homesick. Although I may miss the comforts of home, I know that each day spent in England is a blessing, something that I should not take for granted. In a few short months, more quickly than I can ever imagine, I will be boarding a plane to come home and who knows if I'll ever have the opportunity to make it back to England again. So even on the days when I feel cold, sick, and tired, at least I am here and here for a reason.

As always, I will leave you with a picture. I haven't taken many pictures lately as we've been so busy, but here's one from my walk back from St. Thomas a Becket Church in Northaw.

How Time Flies!

Can you believe it? I've already been in England an entire month! So much has happened, but there's still so much left to experience!

This past week, Erin and I had our first assembly on Monday and two more on Tuesday. Wednesday, we spent the day at a local school working on the first day of a two day workshop/program called R Rights. Being new to Act 4, the day was a learning experience for both the children and for me. Thursday and Friday were spent doing another R Rights program with a different school in Watford. After such a busy week, Erin and I ventured into London on Friday night to spend some time with other YAGM friends. Saturday was spent exploring London as well, where we finally got to see Platform 9 & 3/4.






 
On Sunday, I ventured into Northaw to St. Thomas a Becket Church. Erin and I had the good fortunate to meet Reverend Rachel, who showed us around the beautiful church we had passed on our way to the school. This past Sunday was a national effort called "Back to Church Sunday", complete with invitations, biscuits, and a welcome committee. Although I still find myself returning to my home congregation via the internet (shout-out to Shepherd of the Valley), I really appreciated the personal invitation to worship in such a beautiful church. I apologize, however, that I did not manage to take an photographs of the inside of the church. You'll just have to settle for a picture of the church from the outside. :)

This week is nearly half over and I have enjoyed the much slower pace. Yesterday, Erin finally went to the doctor to find she had a fever and severe sinus infection, meaning that our assembly for the day was canceled. She pulled through today to perform our one assembly, and hopefully she'll be feeling well enough for the two assemblies we have tomorrow!

 I'll now leave you with a picture of St. Thomas a Becket Church as well as the countryside I saw on my walk back to Potters Bar. Enjoy!

First Assembly and Much More

Oh goodness me! I haven't posted in a week! So much has happened, so where do we start?

Erin and I spent the majority of last week practicing our assembly and learning how to set up the stage and equipment. After a few trial runs, I have become the electronics guru, hooking up the computer, projector, and speakers for each assembly. We spent numerous hours setting up the stage, taking it down, moving to a different space in the church, and setting up again. All of our practice may have helped as today was our first assembly! Aside from being a little nervous and speaking a little too fast, I believe we did quite well. Apparently our American accents will take a little getting used to for the kids, just another reason to slow down our speech.

This past weekend, after our long week of rehearsing, Erin and I welcomed our friend and fellow YAGM, Jess, to Potters Bar. As a treat, we journeyed to this spectacular place on Saturday. Although we got hailed on and spent the remainder of the evening quite soaked, it was definitely a worthwhile experience. We finished the weekend off with a trip into London to worship at St. Paul's Cathedral and bid Jess farewell before getting on our train back at Kings Cross Station, the same one in Harry Potter. :)

Act 4 has a busy week ahead filled with two more assemblies as well as three days of performances and workshops to finish the week out. I can't wait for my nerves to settle down and to actually start enjoying all of these performances!

As we finish our assembly, "Thanks for listening!"