Adventuring!

First off, thanks everyone for all the responses to my last post. It was a gross 24 hours but but the end of it, I felt so loved and taken care of-- thank you thank you thank you! 


Now, for more cheerful fare: 
I got to go to OXFORD! And STRATFORD-UPON-AVON! And Cambridge and to Cotswolds were pretty too. 
Ah-- I really like traveling, being new places, meeting a few people, or just wandering about on my own. I have a whole 5 day adventure right through the soul of England. 


Day 1: Depart for Oxford


I have longed to be in Oxford since reading these lovely books (careful, the link comes with Narnia music). Oxford is where CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien and so many other great minds were and are. It's been a center of learning since the 1100s-- wow!!! It shows up in so many books and authors' bios that I had to go. We followed a CS Lewis-themed-print-off-from-some-blog-tour that actually took us to some great places. The city was full of beautiful buildings-- ever so often I would just stare up in wonder, silently adoring the dreaming spires. 

Bridge of Sighs

Magdalen College

The Bodliean, Radcliffe Camera

And in the midst of marveling at the wealth of beauty and brilliance, we made a few Lewis-inspired stops:

We didn't do an official tour of Lewis' house and the church was closed but I got a quick picture of The Kilns (and probably accidentally creeped on Dr. Naugle....) and the grave. The church was lovely and there was just this gathering tranquility in the twilight. I am really glad Neil drove me all the way out there.

Going around Magdalen College was lovely and I really enjoyed seeing the treasures of the Bodleian Library (they had a First Folio of Shakespeare!!!!). I left Oxford quite worn out and extremely pleased with the day.

Day Two: Rest, as it was Sunday, church with Neil's parents (who opened their home to Neil and Rachel and I since they live smack between Oxford and Stratford-Upon-Avon), and a nice driving tour of the Cotswolds. 

The Cotswolds are an area of England full of charming little villages, old churches, and lots and lots of fields. The scenery is lovely and they were just beginning to dress up for autumn so driving over little hills and around quick corners provided no end of pretty country sites.


Day Three: Neil and Rachel dropped me off in Stratford-Upon-Avon and headed back to Lincoln. After dropping my bags with my B&B, I set off exploring.


I mostly did Shakespeare stuff and it was marvelous! Anne Hathaway's Cottage was my favorite-- it was a short walk out from town and this lovely house with a large garden and friendly guides. They had a scary walk through the woods set up (for kids) with figures from Shakespeare's tragedies along the path. The house itself held so much history-- it was all restored to it's 14th century glory and there was quite a bit about the romance of Will and Anne. It was a pretty, peaceful place.

The other houses were neat but nothing much stands out from them. They had much of the same furniture and same details about the life of The Bard. At Hall's Croft, I learned a bit more about 15th century medicine to add to my knowledge from "Matilda Bone" and  "The Midwife's Apprentice" while creating my own cure for the plague. Nash's house had some nice details about Shakespeare's post-retirement life and a cool dig for the house Will actually lived in once he got back from London. Shakespeare's Birthplace was actually chosen randomly but had a lot about his early years and what life would have been like for the boy Will. And Mary Arden's farm (Will's mum) was also quite nice though quite far out-- I took a short train ride. This was my second favorite for similar reasons to Anne's house: lots of nice places to walk about outside. There were lots of fun, silly things going on for kids for Halloween and I did a few but for the  most part, I enjoyed breathing in the history of Shakespeare and walking through the world he came from. 

That evening, I had a fun, fancy dinner where I tried pumpkin ravioli (I'll stick to meat or cheese or mushroom but it was interesting) and looked around the Royal Shakespeare Company's theater. In the morning, I got up early to visit the church where Will is buried before my train left for Cambridge. I got there so early that I hopped up level with the grave markers and was taking pictures before the caretaker could shut the gold-do-not-cross-this-ever bar! He was really kind about it and the staff thought it was funny that I was there at opening time but I got some great pictures and quite enjoyed an early morning visit to the greatest writer ever. 

A few pics for you (my camera didn't get batteries till about halfway through my day--- so I bought waaay too many postcards-- so nothing too exciting):

The grave curse! 

the church

actually at the grave...

Day Four: Early visit to the grave, then on the train to Cambridge. I spent most of the day on the train, writing and reading, and then the evening in my hotel room because it was about two miles out of town and I didn't want to walk back in after dark! It was nice to have time to just rest, especially after my frenetic tour of Stratford the day before.


Day Five: Cambridge did not have the soaring beauty of Oxford or the rustic charm of Stratford. It almost felt like a wanna-be Oxford until I got on my handy dandy hop-on-hop-off bus tour and began to listen to the commentary. Oxford was full of amazing minds but Cambridge holds it's own: Newton, Watson and Crick, Byron, Milton, Darwin, Marlow, Jane Goodall, John Cleese, Samuel Taylor Colridge, CS Lewis himself, and many many more brilliant minds studied or worked at Cambridge. I spent most of the day here taking pictures of grand buildings (less airy than Oxford but still lovely) and doing the bus tour. King's College was absolutely magnificent but I was also pleased to find this legit old round church built by the crusaders!
Some photos:

King's College

About 2 pm, I hopped on my train and headed back to Lincoln, back to real-life and rude people and hanging out with friends and work that is *hopefully* making a difference. I loved visiting around England I can't wait to do it again. But I also like having a place I belong (for now) and work to do when I am done. 

And look what was waiting for me in Lincoln! 

Seen through a grimy train window. I read a lot of Lewis on the trip as well as a dash of Shakespeare and I think both would see poetry in this picture--the lovely bright rainbow viewed through a grimy window-- promise of a magnificent world to come if we can only deal with the window for a little while more (it was stunning in real life, oh just wow).

So that was my grand adventure last week! It was marvelous!

Thank you again for your prayer and your concern. Please continue to pray I finish strong and also for direction for January-- it's getting close and it's a bit terrifying! Let me know how I can pray for you!

Internationally Yours,

Cait

PS not matter what I do to arrange these photos, they do silly things! Any tips?

Ouch

Not gonna lie, it's been a fairly cruddy day. Yesterday I had an old lady be rude to me at the train station. I deserved it-- I left my bags on a bench rather than putting them on the nasty wet ground while I waited for my ride. I let her and her friend have the seat I was going to sit in but left my bags out of thoughtlessness, germaphonia, and a whole host of other stupid reasons. Rather than ask me to move my bags, she made a really cutting remark as they left. She probably had a bad day, her feet hurt, there was a big group of them and she wanted to be alone. But I chose to be selfish and leave my bags. She chose to be nasty about it when leaving when there was no way to fix the situation. She could have noticed my distraction (racing from door to window), she could have asked me to move them. But she didn't. And I wasn't noble, thoughtful, smart, kind, etc. enough to do it on my own. Now I am dwelling and trying to forgive myself for being dumb and her for calling me out on it in a mean way. But it's really hard.

Today is gray, drizzle as far as the eye can see. I have a looooong post-vacation to-do list and part of this included getting my dance shoes looked at because part of the heel came out. I called the dance shop and he told me to come by and he could work with the shoe company from there. I thought I adequately explained what was wrong with my shoes on the phone (the spindle and rubber bit on one heel came off) but apparently jot. I walked the two miles out to the shop (other errands meant going via foot rather than bus was less confusing). I showed him the shoes and he lectured me in a thick accent on how this is just wear and tear and how could I expect him to do anything and why was I wasting his time and he couldn't believe I would even bother him with this. I said okay about 20 times and walked out pretty much in tears. I didn't know that dance shoes wear out so quickly-- my Capezios lasted though two musicals and three months of swing dancing. These lasted two months. When I tried to explain my other shoes lasted much longer and thus I expected these similarly-priced and -advertised shoes to last as long but obviously not, I will just go now, sorry to bother you--  he continued to rant about how I wasted his time and it was just wear and tear. Ug. I felt so stupid and so looked down upon.

Between those two encountered, the long drizzly walk, and immense wave of homesickness, I found myself despising Lincoln (because people are so much nicer back home... Not so much. People are people everywhere and they are grumpy or rude or thoughtless everyday, everywhere. Welcome to the fallen creation known as Earth.) And because Oxford and Stratford are so much prettier. And there I could be the young American tourist. Here I have to be something of an adult.

I picked up the box from my mom, found a coffee shop and had peppermint tea while opening the box and reading the comics, which did actually make me laugh. And I put on my music and got two great songs right off the bat: Let it Go by Superchick and Sunrise by Brandon Heath. Now Falling out by Reliant K is on.

I just got back from a great trip around England and I loved the trip. But I didn't make time for my usual Bible study routine and my exercise routine while away, so my spiritual barriers were down. Little things have jerked me sharply back to reality and my emotions are not at all being logical. I feel like I'm on this roller coaster of being really happy and wanting to collapse and cry (yeah, the whole month thing doesn't help). Today, and last night really, I jut felt wry homesick and weary, very much under attack. On my end, I have gotten back into my Bible study and prayer routine, I've got my Air 1 (Christian radio) mix on my iPod, and I am going for a nice jog this afternoon. Could you please be praying for me? I have a month and two weeks left and I refuse to let Satan pull me to pieces. This trip to England is not about me-- it's about living my life for Chris, about sharing Him with the kids that come to our church, and about pouring my gifts and strengths into strengthening this church. God doesn't need me but e gave me this awesome opportunity. So please pray I stand strong and not be afraid to share my struggles. Pray thy God reveals his face and power to me and then through me. Pray that I just feel better.

Thank you for reading, for caring, for praying.

I would like to be praying for you as well-- just let me know what I can pray for.

Thank you.

Internationally yours,
Cait

PS sharing all this rather than bottling it up has helped as well. Thanks for reading.

PPS Since writing this, I looked around my room at all my cards, listened to some really good music, had lunch, and cleaned my room. I feel much more sane now. But the whole point is that what I feel doesn't matter! God is in control and it is what He feels and He wants that I need to be focused on. And in the end, what is a terrible, horrible, no good day really depends on my perspective and how I chose to react to what I cannot change!

A Bit about the Whos and the Whats and the Wheres and the Whys

Hello everyone, 


Someone recently asked me about my work here and what specifically to pray for. Thus the second blog in a week! Yay!


I don't have a nifty title but I do a bit of everything. On Mondays, I have a team meeting with the pastor and youth pastor where we go over what's been done in the past week, what is coming up for the current week, any problems, and then pray into the issues, plans, and other stuff for the new week. Then I make a nice to-do list and get it approved by Jonathan, youth pastor and my supervisor, and do that over the week, inter-spaced with actual ministry events. This list could have 'design website page for children's ministry, write children's talk, prep for middle school Sunday school, plan youth event, email that guy about university stuff, run college/uni group, and organize a corner of the office' or something along those lines. Throughout the week, I do my list, adding things and crossing things off as they come and are accomplished. Some things are easy-- call the school to check on my background check (remember to dial 9 to get out of the church!)-- and others are harder and more time consuming-- write this weeks Bible lesson for the university group. 


As the week goes on, I also answer the telephone and the door, make sure we have supplies to run our ministries, and generally get on with things. We also have regularly run programs that I attend every week. These are:


Monday: Mother and Toddler Group
Tuesday: Young Adult or University group (they meet on alternating weeks)
Wednesday: Senior Citizen's Luncheon, After School Kid's Club
Thursday: Elementary Aged kids club in the evening at the church
Friday: Youth club in the evening at the church
Saturday: My day off! Except when the church has something going on, which it does almost every other week
Sunday:Church, possibly running Sunday school, then evening church or Youth discipleship class


Every day I get either morning, afternoon, or evenings off and then I take a full day off once a week. I do have plenty of time to read (I read a lot!), Facebook (kind of addicted), Exercise-y things (just starting up on that one), hanging out with my hosts Neil and Rachel, watching TV, writing my blog, thinking about writing my book, and hanging out with my friend Hilary (just one). I also go swing dancing every Wednesday night and this is really crucial away time I think. I love working at the church and with all these different ministries, but my job doesn't really end if I am not at the church building or off the clock. With swing dancing, for four hours every week, I am completely away from work.


All that said, I really enjoy working for a church. It's casual and friendly (I can wear my Writing Center gear to work!) and I interact with a lot of different people. I can retreat to my office or even take a walk around the block if I need space to myself and scheduling is quite flexible. I have responsibilities and the freedom to work how I like, though I am accountable to no few number of folks and very accountable to God. I am learning a lot about God too, and about people, as I write these Sunday school plans and live in the midst of a church family. Occasionally I wake up on a Sunday and grumble about going to work, but honestly I really love this job and would like to look at working for a church when I get back. It suits me. 


As for prayers, any prayers are much appreciated. Specifically, you can pray for the church:


Children: that children are cared for at home, excelling in school, loved by those who look after them, and open to hearing the word of God.


Parents: that they will send their children to us, that they will come and interact with us, that God will soften their attitudes and turn their hearts to Him, that God will provide all they need to care for their children.


Pastors: that our pastors will get enough rest and be constantly refreshing themselves with the Lord, that God will give them wisdom and will speak through them in mighty ways.


Leadership: that God will give them strength and wisdom to make wise decisions, that God will inspire those leading others, and that they will seek God daily and in all they do.


The Church: that God will grow our faith and teach us to trust in him, that we will make a wise decision regarding staffing and leadership, and that we will grow in unity and outreach. That we remember our call to the community.


Obviously, much of this can be applied to any church but prayer works and moves mountains and if we are faithful with the humdrum, we will be given more responsibilities. 


Pray for me specifically: 
Direction: I still have no idea what to do in January. Options and ideas involve a job in London, coming back here, living with family, getting a job back home, a job in Dallas, or grad school (though that would be fall because I need to take the GMAT). India has also come up in my prayers so that's terrifying. 


Stress: I got really stressed out a few weeks ago and my body reacted. I didn't realize how stressed I was but yeah. So I've added exercise to my daily routine and am taking more time for myself in the evenings. I usually don't feel very stressed but I may need to slow down a bit.


Pray for Rachel, my hostess-- she is in the hospital and they really aren't sure what's up so that's not fun at all. 


My family: they miss me. I miss them too. 


My leadership: pray that I am a wise, listening leader who does not jump to conclusions or try to simply solve problems but one who waits on the Lord and follows his leading and wisdom. Pray that I give the first portion of my time and talents to the Lord and to the church here. 


England in general: There really is such a strong apathy and even antagonism towards Christians here. Pray that Christians will be unashamed to stand up for their beliefs and that Jesus will strengthen them in prosecution. Pray people will see Jesus in the lives of His followers and will want to know Him as well. Pray that people are having their needs met and not settling for living off government hand outs and pray the church can step in and help meet those need. Pray for the apathy, pray that Religious Education (a school subject here) begins to teach the truth and not just a watery blend of religions. Pray for England. 


hmmm... For the most part, I think this is where I am. There is so much to pray for and so much going on, but this is my life for now.


If there is anything I can be praying for you about, let me know-- I would love to pray for you as you pray for me.


Grace and Peace and Blessings and lots and lots of Love,


Internationally Yours,
Cait 

London!!! (I even have picture of Big Ben!)

I went to London this past weekend!!! Seriously, it's so cool-- London has been around since the Romans, so much history is smelted into it's streets. One weekend was never enough but I got to see some sites, go to Covent Gardens and Oxford Circus (shopping places lol), and made it to the Globe!!! Ah, Shakespeare... We also saw The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) in a little pub and I rode the Tube everywhere! (We actually spent about half the trip getting on or off the tube). At one station-- the deepest on the line-- one of the guys in our elevator to the surface pushed the "help" button and rather than wait for another lift, Jenny, Hilary, and I decided to climb the stairs to open air. All 193 of them. Yeah, that hurt.


So I went down to London with my friend Hilary and we stayed with her friend and my new friend Jenny. We left on Friday and Day One was spent travelling with about four hours in London (including getting Gelato!) and Day Two was spent walking around London (wish Sushi for lunch-- yum!) while Day Three we actually spent in Jenny's town, a little suburb-town called Harpenden, where we went to a wedding fair (because Jenny just got engaged!) and then out walking. Jenny's mom made a splendid roast dinner and we did facials and manicures in the evening. Day Four was return trips and laundry and on Tuesday I was back to work!


I didn't really make it to the Tower or Buckingham Palace or anything so I need to go again... (who wants to come with!) but for what we did do in London, I had a lot of fun and loved being part of such a vibrant city if only for a weekend!


With no further delays, pictures:

Hilary on her way to Hogwarts...

The First thing we did was find Platform 9 3/4

Covent Gardens is a pretty cool area-- lots of shops and performers and food all around. We found a nifty paper-doll theater shop and the Disney store (of course). I loved watching the living statures and this Charlie Chaplin impersonator was pretty funny. I was simply dazzled by London at this point. 

For a while, I went around and just took pictures of stuff. All these cool buildings and statues and history and creativity were just everywhere. Some made me smile, some were just awe-inspiring, and then there was ordinary stuff that kept it all grounded.

St. Paul's Cathedral (Thames side)

Cait getting artistic with her shots

This handsome gent guards Lord Nelson

Artistic shot of Nelson's statue. Sadly this is my best shot too.... 

More handsome lions... and speaking of lions: 

Big Ben! I got creative there too. :) and had my picture done with a charming phone booth (these things are all over the place, seriously!)

Cool bus

Super cool cab-- they are usually black.

Oh, did I mention we stopped by two different Disney stores? Yeah... the one in Oxford Circus was soo cool though! They had this sillouette of London on the store and then the Disney Characters who went there as well. So there is a sillouette of the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Garden and then the shapes of Peter, Wendy, Jon, and Michael swooping over the stature. Mary Poppins, Basil Mouse, Dalmations, and more show up on London via Disney as some point or another. 

of course Captain Jack was there! 

As we moved to more Elizabethan (and older!) sections of the city, we found all kinds of cool stuff. This is Sir Francis Drake's ship, the Golden Hind (great fairy tale too!!!).

A stature of Laurence Olivier... such a great Shakespearean! 


























Then.. The GLOBE!!!!

The last evening we went to:

Then went back to the station and left London for now...




So yes, my first Great London Adventure. It was wonderful! 
I have more pics from various other activities so there will be another blog this week hopefully. For now, I get to go home and make some nice Chinese Chicken wings. 


Thanks for all your prayers everyone; I know they are helping to keep me sane and in the Spirit and just where I am supposed to be. I still don't have a clear direction for January so please be praying about that. And keep praying for our church, our program, and all the kids who come here. They are great and God is working here-- it's palpable, it's glorious, and I am so blessed to be a part. None of this would be possible without my support from home and I cannot wait to see you all again. But I also am sad just to think about leaving. Maybe God will let me come back. Anyways, life is full here. I appreciate your prayers and I would love to pray for you. Let me know and I will put you on my prayer list! 


Grace and Peace and Gentle rain Blessings galore to you all,


Internationally Yours,


Cait

Hey, I'm still here

....just quite distracted from writing for a while. I have been back in the office for the past few weeks and working out details to events that go on during the week. My week begins with a staff meeting on Monday morning and then helping with the Mother/toddler group in the afternoon (there are two brothers I keep and eye on in particular). Then on Tuesday, we have young adult group or a college-age group (we've just started it and I am the leader! ack!). Wednesday is kid's club at the school weekly then a kid's club at the church the following evening, a youth club on Friday nights, then Sunday school and Bible study on Sundays. Saturdays are my day off, but even then I end up at church events some times! I try to take at least one block off every day of the week (morning, afternoon, or evening) but some days my workday has gone from 9 am to 9 pm! (oh, I some times go to the senior citizen luncheon club too... )

I really like the work though-- I get to read Youthwork magazine and other relevant books, study and adapt Bible studies, put together power points, make up crafts, and find games. I am the snack-lady/unruley-child-minder/ actress/ story-teller/singer/designer/ police officer/ organizer and more. Being able to try new things and introduce new ideas is fun but I also like learning about what works here and what's coming up.

Apart from work, I do have time for fun stuff. Two weeks ago, there was a Shakespeare festival and I got the see Taming of the Shrew, Midsummer Night's Dream, and Street Scenes (just bits from the Bards' greatest hits). I also sported lovely wild flowers painted on my face for half the festival because I ended up going from the Community BBQ Saturday and the Community Sunday straight the Shakespeare stuff! So much fun though-- and a really nice lady at Taming of the Shrew even gave me her program! (Then she won free tickets at the raffle and I smiled with God.)

Also, I go swing dancing most Wednesday nights-- love it! I did manage to pick up an admirer at the last dance and now I am busily trying to dissuade him. He's shorter than me! and like 30! and Mom says I can't have a boyfriend in England...lol. I have friends I look for out swing dancing now. Neil, Rachel, and I also do a movie night about once a month and have dinner at a pub before going to see a film. We saw "Jane Eyre" last night and it was brilliant!  I do love that book and they did a really excellent job with the film. I read a lot too-- I need to sit down and write!

Overall, things are going well. I do miss my family and friends back home buy Skype and Facebook help immensely  And I love being here, working and hanging out with all my wonderful new friends. I love the history, I love the flowers, and I love my work~ I also can't wait to see what God has planned for me next!

This week, just pray that I stay healthy and energetic-- I have been surrounded by people lately and need to find a bit more time to myself. Also, please pray for our various clubs and all the great kids who come-- that God will open their hearts and that we will show his love to them, that they are safe, happy, and healthy at home and that school goes well from them!

What can I be praying about for you? (also, congrats to Katy and Jeff!!!! I cannot wait to meet your darling girl at Christmas!)

Internationally yours,
Cait

PS I am going to Londay tomorrow!!!! So exciting!!! So do pray for traveling mercies and all.... :)

Holiday Club

Holiday Club was great! It was a ton of hard work but it all paid off. For four days, I got to dress up as a spy and share a Bible story on stage and then make sure everything went really smooth. We went through the story of Moses (Undercover, Your Mission, Mission Accomplished!) and the kids did a really great job of learning and remembering the story. They listened in the morning, participated in games, music, and crafts, and behaved beautifully! We had maybe two discipline problems all week and one issue with timing-- it was a really smooth week! With around 30 kids, we had a small club but it was a good number for the amount of adult volunteers we had. 


Friday was a quick trip to Skegness for the beach. Unfortunately, it was wet and freezing! The rain did stop after lunch but the sand was too wet to be any fun. Instead, we hung out in a fair-type area where we rode carnival rides and got hot chocolate. It was a fun day over all.


This Saturday, I went to Grapevine with some of the families in the church. This group of families is like we used to be at Western Heights-- they all hang out together and have known each other forever. They come to everything at church and their kids are either in attendance or helping out at most events. One of the moms picked me up and I joined the crew of older teens (as well as Hilary) for the day. The Shepherd's got me there and got my ticket while the Bridgewoods made sure I got fed. We went to a mid-day worship session and then two afternoon seminars before an evening session and then a late-night worship for teens. The speakers were really good and the music was great too. It was like being at church camp, but for families. Most of the families from the church are camping out but I had to be at church this morning. Hopefully I can go out again tomorrow (it's a bank holiday) and share some baking with them this time. :) 


This week has been long and busy-- my iPhone broke too and it was really frustrating because the closest Apple store is like an hour away and I obviously can't drive myself. Not having my phone made me feel really disconnected from home, especially with everyone my age on holiday and few people around to just hang out. But getting psudo-adopted and going to Grapevine helped and hanging out with Neil and Rachel is always fun. Today has been a resting, refueling, cleaning, and organizing day. Yesterday was great for unwinding and hanging out and this week will be more of a getting-ready week. Stuff starts back up at church next week, events and things. 


Thank you all for praying-- I know the prayers help! I am enjoying my time here-- I like working for the church and I've been spending some great time with God. I have time to read for fun too :) It's been a great adventure so far!


How can I pray for you this week?


Internationally yours,
Cait

21 and counting

Hello dear friends and famalia (fam-ah-lee-ah, because I'm like my mom sometimes),

I miss you all. I miss simply hanging out with people my age for fun. I miss being surprised by parties with family friends when I was home for the weekend. I miss skipping through the halls and saying hi to all my previous teachers. I'm okay--don't worry, I have lots a friends and things going on here. But it is odd seeing all the back-to-school posts on Facebook and not being part of that busy, preparing, nerve-wracking, exciting time. I hope the Pirates go all the way in play-offs so I can make a few tail-end games. I can't wait to get back and see my church families in Dallas and in  Crawford.

It's been a slow week for activities-- pretty much spent all day every day getting ready for Holiday Club (our VBS) and reading library books. I've read a good bit (surprise surprise) and got to re-read Howl's Moving Castle which is one of those books that reminds me why I am a writer. I discovered a long-suppressed almost liking for Country Music after watching Country Strong. Good movie. I'm sure there was a splash of nostalgia and a dollop of it's-after-ten-pm which promoted me to buy the soundtrack but I do like the music.

Not having tons to do has left me some time to think. For the first time I can remember, there is no set course for me after what's going on now. In school, there was always another grade, another year of college, and plans in place. But God really re-mixed my plans with England. I am officially a college grad now, though I will walk in December. This put me in the I-need-a-grown-up-job phase a little sooner than planned. So that's something I'm praying about. I have no idea what I want to do-- I want to work for Disney, I want to sing and act, I want to make a living as a writer, I want to get married and keep a nice home, I want bees, I want to be creative, I want to not have to worry about money, I want to study mythology and folklore in Grad school, I want God to just tell me what to do!

This morning was my first Sunday in actual church (the youth go out mid-service as do the kids and I've been in their Sunday Schools) and we had communion. Andrew preached about worship and talked about William Carey, the first missionary, who went to India. When he talked about Carey, something stirred in my soul. I got goosebumps. I thought about Shibani (my compassion child that I support with Mom) and how she asked me when I could visit her. This stirring, these ideas are terrifying. I don't want to move to India! I don't know what God's plan is, but he did let me know fairly early on that India is in my future (there was a month freshman year where I could. not. get. away. from India) and I feel like that is coming up. Hunches and freezing in place do not a good future make, though. For now, I am praying about January. I am finishing my book and sending it to agents soon. I am looking at grad schools and writing-type jobs. The future seems a lot closer on this side of 21 and it's scary, but God has brought me this far and I know he has a plan for me (Jeremiah 29:11, thank you DBU). Plans for my future. And Holiday Club next week!

Please be praying that I get some direction and purpose in my life. I feel a bit like a ship sans moorings. Pray that children attend the Holiday Club and that God moves in strong ways. Pray for the students as they head back to school. I'll be praying for new school years for all y'all, is there anything else I can pray about for you?
Thanks for caring and for coming and reading!

Internationally Yours,
Cait

PS: I've also been catching myself acting and saying things like my  mom more and more lately... scary huh? :)
Love you Mom!

PPS: This radio station has been really encouraging me today, check it out: http://www.air1.com/
It's like every thing I talked to God about was being answered by songs as I prayed about them. God is kinda cool like that!