Birthday!

Wall of Cards

Invites, very posh, designed by Neil

I turned 21 last week and it was quite a big deal. To me anyways. :)  It was my first birthday to not be at home, but everyone here made me feel so incredibly loved while friends from around the world flooded me with birthday wishes on Facebook. Thank you everyone for making it special! 

Thursday night, Hilary and I had a sleepover where we had Chinese take-out (I've never had Chinese take-out before! Thanks Dad...lol) and watched princess movies until one AM.


Friday morning, I woke up two more birthday cards (I got several cards with gifts on Thursday-- someone even gave me proper biscuits and chocolate!) and scones for breakfast. My famalia woke up extra early so we could Skype and I opened presents with them online. Thanks for waking up and making my day extra special! I then wandered off and spent some time writing post cards home in the Arboretum (I hope you've got your post card! I found some really nice ones) where I found this cool castley bit that actually had a play ground behind it. 

Look at that sky!

A rose, just for me and my birthday 

A nifty old castley bit....

Is actually a post garden shed! 

I stopped for tea with scones, and more library books on the way back to the house, where we had sushi and stir-fry for dinner before Rachel and Neil pulled out this fantastic cake! Chocolate with frosting and raspberry between the layer, Cadbury mini-rolls for turrets and 21 silvery candles. Living with artists means they lit the candles for me to blow out when they presented the cake, then we relit them an hour later before eating the cake just to watch them burn beautifully. 

Saturday was a lazy day and Sunday was THE PARTY-- Jane Austen-style Low Tea with costumes, cute cakes, and tiny sandwiches. Rachel led the charge and Neil and I helped get it all baked, decorated, and assembled before we head out for Hartsolm park. There we met the rest of our party, all dressed to the nine, and proceeded to picnic, amused by the bemused glances tossed to us and by the capricious antics of the kids in the group (almost 3, 2, and 1 years-old-- they were wonderful!) 

The ladies and litlles

so cute!

like watching a movie!

Jonathan and Ewelina-- her dress is gorgeous!

Cheeky Mya helped me open presents

The weather was perfect, the food was lovely, everyone looked fantastic, and we had a marvelous afternoon. All too soon, we packed up and headed back, the end of a truly lovely birthday.  


I really felt the end of being a kid (I know, that's supposed to happen when your 18 but as long as your in college, you are a 'college kid'). I think it really hit me the worst watching the last Harry Potter movie though, almost a month ago. I grew up with Harry. And the end of his childhood-- the last movie-- felt like the end of mine. I loved having this birthday-- it was a grown up party but just as much fun as my hula party or my fifties party when I was little. It's bitter sweet in a way and I'm glad I felt that in the movie so I was free to enjoy the birthday, but there really is no going back.


I can't believe I've already been here for more than a month; it feels like longer but less too. I think I would move to England if I didn't miss my family achingly every time I entertain the thought. I have no idea what happens when I get back in December. A job, maybe an apartment. A grown-up sort of life. 
Please be praying God gives me direction and wisdom as I pray about the future. Also, continue praying for us at LBC- the youth just got back from mission and school starts back soon. I've been teaching Sunday School but soon there will be a lot more going on! It's been a good summer-- let's see what the autumn brings!


How can I pray for you this week?


Internationally Yours,


Cait

Ireland! (and other neat stuff)

I went to Ireland last week and it was fantastic! Greer, over in Melton, wanted to go and invited me to travel with her. Since it's not like I can come to the UK every year, I jumped at the chance.  Since Ireland isn't an actual part of the UK, there were all kinds of fun new lines at the airport, but since we weren't UK citizens, our lines were a lot shorter.

A part of the trip I:

Rode a train for the first time EVER

Wandered through an open-air market in Melton that smelled like the HOT Fair and Rodeo (because they were selling livestock too...)

Got to see the Book of Kells! (It was beautiful-- the colors were so rich and it is a 1300 year-old illuminated text!

Rode in a nifty tour bus all around Dublin (we really only saw Dublin-- we need to go back and see Ireland!)

Tried to learn Irish from all the street signs

Visited the Guinness Factory-- and decided that while Guinness itself is not very nice at all, Guinness stew is awesome!

It was free-- I took a sip and it was soooo bitter-- we were the only ones who didn't finish our drinks though! Thank goodness for the choice of sodas up top where the complimentary pint was served.

Visited vaulted Cathedrals and lovely church grounds, though none of the cathedrals or castles in Dublin were as great as our own Lincoln Cathedral and castle

Walked all OVER the Temple Bar district (which is not actually a bar, though it is full of pub-- it's an arts/shopping/cultural center) (there is a pub called the Temple Bar too)

Acted like a total tourist and bough scads of cool souvenirs and post cards. Also, Greer and I bought a chocolate bar just because it had the odd sheep on it that turned out to have it's own (the sheep had, that is) souvenir line-- that I cannot find anywhere online sadly. This was the most colorful cartoon sheep ever. For realz.

Of course I found the Disney Store! I couldn't find it a second time though...

Made Greer take tons of pictures because A) my camera battery died and B) I sort of fail at taking pictures anyways.

Existed on less than eight hours of sleep from Tuesday through Thursday (Tuesday bedtime was midnight, then up at 4 AM, down at 2 AM the next morning, back up at 6 AM because a girl in the hostel had her trunk under out bunk, and thankfully asleep by 10 PM the next night.) I managed to function and even be pleasant-- the Irish air helped I'm sure. 

I loved wandering all over this ancient city and learning about Celts, Vikings, Normans, and the dreaded English (apparently Ireland used to rise up about every 30 years to through off the oppressive bonds of the British. And failed. Every time.) The accents were lovely and lilting and we even went to the pub where parts of  P.S. I Love You was filmed. While I did not fall for a dashing Irish boy, I did have a lot of fun dashing around Ireland and being a tourist for two days. Next time, you should come too!

Internationally Yours,

Cait

PS: I'm done with school! Thanks for all your prayers so far-- I can slow the pace a bit now but Holiday Club is coming up and I am second-in-command for that. Please pray things go smoothly, the kids have fun, and that they actually come up with a deeper understanding of Jesus. How can I be praying for you this week? (you do have to tell me, or else I just pray over my five followers... Hi Mom! Love you!)

PPS: This is easily my favorite song right now. And my favorite singer/songwriter/musician-- he's just really cool! :)

Pictures!

In lieu of a long, wordy post, I give you: Pictures of Lincoln!

This is a really pretty rose I pass on the way to the church

Monk's Road-- this is the main thorough-fare for our area

The Arboretum has a great fountain

As well as this really cool stone fountain!

More from the Arboretum.

Really pretty; this is the Abbey Access Center in the Arboretum.

Terraced Housing:  a lot of young families, older couples,  and immigrants live in this kind of housing. I love the  Bay windows.

More of Monk's Road, these are houses and shops. The road is so narrow!

Phone Booth! 

First Few Weeks

Hello everyone, sorry to not write sooner. 


These first two weeks have been packed: I'm putting together a community profile, planning Holiday Club, and helping with/attending church programs. I have met so many amazing people and really been welcomed into this little church family.


One family has a daughter about my age who is in town from university for a year long internship and we have been able to hang out. On Friday, we scoured the local bookshops and visited the library so I am set on reading material for this week anyways! She is working on a music degree and we like a lot of the same books and movies-- we are even planning on doing some music recording stuff and working with her new recording equipment! 


Neil and Rachel, my hosts, are also really great. Neil is a conservator at the Cathedral and Rachel works in the  YMCA but both actually have art degrees, Neil in sculpting and Rachel in textiles. I've brought out my sketchbook some and we talk about (and admire) art in TV, books, and other people's houses. So that's neat. Neil has a very dry sense of humor, rather sarcastic, which is fun. Rachel is really kind and seems quiet at first, but she is really funny and has definite opinions. We've been out shopping and she even came with me to the Harry Potter Midnight Showing (we dressed up of course!) which was marvelous in itself!  Such a great night that was. 


Jonathan, the youth pastor, is a really nice guy-- great people skills. He doesn't like the administrative side of things, so my strengths balance out working with him. He knows like everyone in the community and has connections everywhere; he really represents the church in the community and does a fantastic job.


There aren't many people here my age other than Hilary-- the young adult group is Neil and Rachel, Jonathan and Evalina, Libby, Hannah, Hilary, and Me. Hilary's younger brother is 18, so he may join in too. Libby and Hannah both are out of school with jobs and kids and lives-- while it's a university town, many of the college kids go to New Life church, which sounds a bit like TCAL but more liberal. I'd like to meet a few more people my age to hang out with on off days, but I know God will take care of all that (and yes, this means no cute guys around, which is good, I focus better without them lol).


I have been invited to have dinner or Sunday lunch with several families in the church over the past two weeks and I've made friends with many of the people there during the week working with toddler-and-parent ministries or senior citizen ministries. This church is full of life and tons of exciting things are going on already. Right now, I am fitting in, getting to know people, and learning about the ministries. I may have a hand in getting more going for the young adults, but I am excited to already be a part of the thriving youth and children's ministry here.


This week, please pray for Jonathan and the youth because they are on mission to Poland. Pray God will give me the strength to finish this last of my classes this week and just for the church and God's work here. I am so thankful to have so many people back home who care and are supporting me: I love you all! How can I be praying for you this week?


I hope things are well and everyone is wonderful,
Lots of love and internationally yours,
Cait

Baptism with Water AND Fire

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

Arrival

Here! In England!
(Note: I'm going to over-excite you with exclamation points by the way... be careful if you have hypertension, are on meds, or may be pregnant... Or just enjoy the update, ya know.)


So the last day with mi familia was a little hard-- I kept getting super sentimental and shoving it back down. Admittedly, lunch as fabulous Pappadeux helped ease my nerves. My parents dropped me off and I choked out a "Goodbye, I love you!" before heading through security (not too hard, actually, but I had to pull my external hard-drive out of my carry-on bag and remove it from it's nest of scarves. Sure the other guys in line looooved that...). Then I waited. For like three hours. Because we get nervous about time like that, lol.


About ten minutes after I finished my novel, they called for us and we got on this gigantic plane. (My carry-on aka hand luggage aka small wheeled suitcase aka wheelie bag <-- (my fav!) didn't even have to go in the over-head bins but got tucked into a cupboard because the overhead bin over me was full. On the other flight, there was enough space for me to have my own bin. So we really didn't have to sweat over the strict airport size regulations.) The seat next to me was empty, which was MAGNIFICENT on such a crowded plane.


The guy in the window seat was really cool; he was leading a mission trip to East Asia with a ministry called the Burn which seems like a fairly legit ministry. We swapped called-by-God, God-is-awesome, look-what-God-did stories for the hour before dinner and now we are prayer buddies for our trips. Oh, and he knows Gilbert Morris! This  dude. Pretty cool-- I gave him my writer's card to pass along to friend Gilbert. (Dinner was curried chicken... it was pretty good, thankfully the one kind of curry I actually like, lol. The cheesecake was good; the roll saddened me. Mom, you or Allie would have been depressed by the quality of the carbs offered...) Watched a movie (thoughts at www.ellakkat.blogspot.com) and slept, my dreams punctuated by one of the kiddos on board about every hour. Breakfast was served (about par with dinner) and then I was in London, a nine hour flight that took me fifteen hours into the future. :)
London to Manchester was a hop, skip, and a jump, though we had a nicer plane than Waco to Dallas. Arrival was easy (customs and all happened in London) and I wrestled all my bags out to the pick-up area.


Rachel picked me up along with James, a gentleman from the church. The ride to Lincoln found me sleeping again and then we got here, to this wonderful little house I'm staying in. With these fantastic people who are becoming quick friends.


So more about settling in when I write tomorrow (this is waaay too long already but it's an adventure! Within an adventure!)


For now, please be praying I won't be overwhelmed by my work here, that God will do great things here, and that I will be obedient and draw near to the Lord.


How can I be praying for you?


Internationally Yours,
Cait

Tomorrow!

I leave tomorrow! For England! For five whole months!


It's a little scary-- I've never been so far away before or been away from home for that long. But I trust that God will take care of me and I hope this will be a wonderful experience. I've heard a bit from the youth workers and ministry leaders at the church (yay Facebook!)  as well as my host family and everyone has been very kind and welcoming.


Earlier this week, I was having some doubts about whether I was supposed to go, but then a dear friend made a very generous contribution and put my last-minute fears to rest. God has prvided the means, the way, and the work- I can't wait to get there!
Please be praying for me and let me know if I can pray for you :)


Talk to you from across the pond!
Internationally Yours,
Cait