Faithfully Lost in London

I'm ba-ack

Hello all! I apologize to y'all who have enjoyed reading my blog and keeping up that way. I have been horrible at keeping this updated for many reasons. One - its difficult to write about mundane stuff but inappropriate at times to tell anyone who could stumble upon my page the fascinating, but difficult and private interworkings of my life. Two - online time has been somewhat limited lately, and I have been struggling to find time to return emails let alone write in my blog. Three - There is so much to catch up on that needs to go up here. I've done so so much over the last few months and its so hard to figure out how to begin to explain or express it on here. But, I shall try. Bit by bit.

~ January ~
Sick Days - It took me ages to recover from tonsilitis. I have never felt more ill in my life. All I wanted was Mom, Saltines and Gatorade (ha - MSG) - none of which I could get. Thank God for the doctor that is a member of our church who made the housecall and gave me the drugs.

Christian Education Project - I spent a day with Rob who works with the local CEP - an organization that works in several of the local schools to support christian youth clubs within schools and have assemblies for the younger kids. Good work's being done there and it was really a different experience to see how church and school fit together here - unlike at home where they are so separate.

Youth Work - Due to volunteer staff changes, I stepped up to find the material and start leading the local youth club (5 churches together). I've really enjoyed it but it really knocks me out every other Monday night.

Dinner for Fellow Texan's Birthday - My friend Jordan, a fellow longhorn and Religious studies student, is studying at King's College here in London and I joined her and some of her friends for a true Texan birthday dinner and salsa dancing night. It was so nice to hang out with wonderful new people, to have Tex-Mex and to just get out of the house and the church for an evening.

~ February ~
Squash - I spent a Saturday learning to play Squash with my friend Kathryn, who was incredibly patient with me. So much fun. Took 3 days for my bum to recover.

Home - Traveled home for a few days. My brother made All-State Band and my parents and I cooked up how to surprise him - I showed up! The All-Sate Band was amazing. I also got to see my great Uncle Shine, who passed away last week. I tried really hard to spend time with everyone, but it just didn't quite work that way, especially since I was only the country for 6 days and one of those was in Tyler visiting my uncle and 2 of them were in San Antonio for Mike's concert.


March -
Tour of the UK with Bethany - Bethany, one of my best friends from UT, came over to visit me and we spent a few days in London, took a train up to Edunburgh, then hired a car and went to Glasgow (got semi-snowed in), then up to Loch Lomond and Stirling, then down to Oxford and stayed with lovely people there. After that we headed to Bath and Stonehenge and then back to London and to Windsor. We had a fabulous and funny time. I'll have to write more about it later for it to get the blog time it diserves.

Healing Prayer School - I went to a week-long conference at a church here. Really a life-changing experience. My eyes have now been opened to one main thing the church should be. Will write more on that later too.

April -
Holy Week - Well, He is risen and it is finished. Thank God. 17 services later. Seventeen - yes, you read that right. Seventeen services over the week. I don't remember the last time I've been this exhausted. All part of the learning experience.

Anyway, I will write more later. This is just the beginning. I hope.
Much love to everyone!

posted by Shelley @ 3:34 PM