After arriving in England, I was given a day off to unpack and rest, which was lovely-- I actually took a nap (sleeping when the suns out! ah!) and walked around the town. Lincoln is a really cool little town; it's got the population of Waco compressed into a fourth of the space. Within walking distance are the church, the youth pastor's house, Rachel's work, Neil's work (which is that awesome cathedral), the castle (they have a castle!!!), Steep Hill ( a street with all these posh shops and tea houses), as well as Town, where one goes to shop, find the farmer's market, eat, or just hang out.
Friday was my first official day, which began with a trip to see Town with Jonathan (youth minister, my boss), and we went by the library so now I have a library card. Friday night was...interesting. Actually, it was a lot of fun but I almost froze to death! Well, my feet were blue.
The youth hang out at the church on Friday nights and this week there was a water fight-- despite the fact that it was raining, about 65 degrees F, and the sun was no where in sight. But we bravely filled up our water guns and balloons, split into teams (junior high boys against the girls, younger boys, and one older boy-- very evenly distributed). It only rained on us a few times in the midst of this watery war but we all got entirely soaked. Jonathan and another youth leader, Philip, encouraged the junior high boys to make sure I was welcomed wetly... but it was loads of fun involving shrieking, strategizing, breaking the no-man's land to toss buckets of water...lovely. :)
Saturday is my official day off and I was invited on a picnic with a church family who have a daughter my age. We drove about an hour to Clumber Park , which is actually part of Sherwood Forest, and their gift shop was full of Robin Hood stuff! The family was really nice-- it ended up being their family, an aunt, two cousins, grandma, and two university (college is called uni here) friends, so there was the great pack of us. The kids (age 13-22) rented bikes and took of around the lake while the adults watched cricket (I'm beginning to figure out the local sports-- but there are a lot of NBA fans, including a guy who supports the Heat...lol!). The ride was lovely, the company fun, and the day simply fantastic-- sunny enough to actually get hot! Post-biking, we found an ice cream truck and they have the best chocolate here! Cadbury Flake, which gets stuck in ice cream all the time apparently, it like frosting but hardened and really great-tasting! (addicted after having one other Flake with chocolate yogurt this week.... so I don't go into candy stores...) (side note-- this computer keeps deciding my American spelling is wrong-- which it often is, but that spells "yogurt" just fine thanks. And apparently commas are passée here-- because they are not anywhere!)
After a great day at the park, this super cool famalia invited me to come back with them for dinner-- which was a legit BBQ. Ribs, chicken, burgers, and dogs with some of the greatest BBQ sauce EVER!!!! (Thanks for the intro Chris!! ;) And then just hanging out for the evening. So very lovely.
Sunday was the first day of church which was solidly good. Lincoln Baptist Church (LBC) is about the size of Crawford Baptist Church (FBC) though apparently this was a poorly-attended service. So it's just bigger. About half-way through the service, everyone 18 and under (along with leaders, of course) left for Sunday school. With me and three new guys, we played ice-breaking games most of the time. The youth group is very chill-- laid back and fun, but they can be serious and seem to know really well when they can be goofy and when they need to calm down. Lunch was a full roast dinner with another church family, this one with kids 13, 12, and 8-- spaced about like my family and acting about the same at lunch with Important People (calm and polite for the first half, more chatty and fun, by dessert yelling across the table occasionally and everyone talking at once). It was brilliant! I love how people are just taking me in and being so welcoming and friendly-- I feel pseudo-adopted by like four of the church ladies and very much a part of the church family.
Sunday evening, the youth led the service. After singing along a bit during their practice, I was (so reluctantly ;) ) drafted into singing with two other girls, given a mic, and put on stage in front of everyone. Obviously I minded so much, lol. It was great to be singing and sharing my gifts again. I do really love singing and between the water fight, being introduced in church Sunday morning (oh, I was introduced in church Sunday morning), and singing on Sunday night, I feel fully part of this church. I am really excited seeing God's work here as well as looking at plans for the future and how the church and community board are working together to bring help and God's love (well, the council is more about just helping, but it's servant leadership right?) to more people in the area is really neat. I can just see God's hand in getting me here now and am beginning to really dream for LBC. The youth are really legit (really really really). There is so much talent and maturity among these kids (the music at the service blew me away!) and they are looking for God's will and looking for that deeper relationship. They seem friendly, well-grounded as a whole (there's a few goofballs, but ya know, junior high guys, lol). It's been really good overall so far.
Please pray for me as I continue my hyper-schedule (more about this actual week later... and you know, actual thoughts and stuff) and pray for the youth group as they go their separate ways for the summer holiday. Pray they will all return and bring friends!
Now, how can I be praying for you?
Thanks for your support, prayers, and love; I couldn't do any of this without my awesome peeps back home.
Lots of Love to you,
Internationally Yours,
Cait
Friday was my first official day, which began with a trip to see Town with Jonathan (youth minister, my boss), and we went by the library so now I have a library card. Friday night was...interesting. Actually, it was a lot of fun but I almost froze to death! Well, my feet were blue.
The youth hang out at the church on Friday nights and this week there was a water fight-- despite the fact that it was raining, about 65 degrees F, and the sun was no where in sight. But we bravely filled up our water guns and balloons, split into teams (junior high boys against the girls, younger boys, and one older boy-- very evenly distributed). It only rained on us a few times in the midst of this watery war but we all got entirely soaked. Jonathan and another youth leader, Philip, encouraged the junior high boys to make sure I was welcomed wetly... but it was loads of fun involving shrieking, strategizing, breaking the no-man's land to toss buckets of water...lovely. :)
Saturday is my official day off and I was invited on a picnic with a church family who have a daughter my age. We drove about an hour to Clumber Park , which is actually part of Sherwood Forest, and their gift shop was full of Robin Hood stuff! The family was really nice-- it ended up being their family, an aunt, two cousins, grandma, and two university (college is called uni here) friends, so there was the great pack of us. The kids (age 13-22) rented bikes and took of around the lake while the adults watched cricket (I'm beginning to figure out the local sports-- but there are a lot of NBA fans, including a guy who supports the Heat...lol!). The ride was lovely, the company fun, and the day simply fantastic-- sunny enough to actually get hot! Post-biking, we found an ice cream truck and they have the best chocolate here! Cadbury Flake, which gets stuck in ice cream all the time apparently, it like frosting but hardened and really great-tasting! (addicted after having one other Flake with chocolate yogurt this week.... so I don't go into candy stores...) (side note-- this computer keeps deciding my American spelling is wrong-- which it often is, but that spells "yogurt" just fine thanks. And apparently commas are passée here-- because they are not anywhere!)
After a great day at the park, this super cool famalia invited me to come back with them for dinner-- which was a legit BBQ. Ribs, chicken, burgers, and dogs with some of the greatest BBQ sauce EVER!!!! (Thanks for the intro Chris!! ;) And then just hanging out for the evening. So very lovely.
Sunday was the first day of church which was solidly good. Lincoln Baptist Church (LBC) is about the size of Crawford Baptist Church (FBC) though apparently this was a poorly-attended service. So it's just bigger. About half-way through the service, everyone 18 and under (along with leaders, of course) left for Sunday school. With me and three new guys, we played ice-breaking games most of the time. The youth group is very chill-- laid back and fun, but they can be serious and seem to know really well when they can be goofy and when they need to calm down. Lunch was a full roast dinner with another church family, this one with kids 13, 12, and 8-- spaced about like my family and acting about the same at lunch with Important People (calm and polite for the first half, more chatty and fun, by dessert yelling across the table occasionally and everyone talking at once). It was brilliant! I love how people are just taking me in and being so welcoming and friendly-- I feel pseudo-adopted by like four of the church ladies and very much a part of the church family.
Sunday evening, the youth led the service. After singing along a bit during their practice, I was (so reluctantly ;) ) drafted into singing with two other girls, given a mic, and put on stage in front of everyone. Obviously I minded so much, lol. It was great to be singing and sharing my gifts again. I do really love singing and between the water fight, being introduced in church Sunday morning (oh, I was introduced in church Sunday morning), and singing on Sunday night, I feel fully part of this church. I am really excited seeing God's work here as well as looking at plans for the future and how the church and community board are working together to bring help and God's love (well, the council is more about just helping, but it's servant leadership right?) to more people in the area is really neat. I can just see God's hand in getting me here now and am beginning to really dream for LBC. The youth are really legit (really really really). There is so much talent and maturity among these kids (the music at the service blew me away!) and they are looking for God's will and looking for that deeper relationship. They seem friendly, well-grounded as a whole (there's a few goofballs, but ya know, junior high guys, lol). It's been really good overall so far.
Please pray for me as I continue my hyper-schedule (more about this actual week later... and you know, actual thoughts and stuff) and pray for the youth group as they go their separate ways for the summer holiday. Pray they will all return and bring friends!
Now, how can I be praying for you?
Thanks for your support, prayers, and love; I couldn't do any of this without my awesome peeps back home.
Lots of Love to you,
Internationally Yours,
Cait
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