new people, new places!

So, if you actually read through my blog on a consistent basis, you know that this post is actually posted in July, and simply post-dated to June... When I look over to the right-hand column where it keeps track of how many posts I make in a month, I can't help but feel sad because of the lonely "1" for June! I've decided to ameliorate that problem and create a few posts about my time in London, Paris, Cinque Terre, Sorrento, and Rome!

It might just end up being a random picture journey from the time in Europe, but I'll do my best to explain when necessary!

Here, we have some Krispy Kreme Doughnuts... when Pastor Tonye and Landon met me at the airport, not only did they help me carry my RIDICULOUS amount of luggage (gifts for YOU, so you should be thankful as well :) ), give me an Oyster card, and help me understand the hectic metro system, but they also bought Krispy Kremes!! It was a tasty "welcome back to a non-third world country" gift!

I went for a walk through Hampstead Heath, which is where the Shoreline... err, I guess the Camden Town folks live. I'm not sure if I explained this before, but I stayed the first week in London with some people who moved to London from Central California. Pastor Tonye was the pastor at Shoreline in Morro Bay, where several good friends of mine worshipped and I visited during my first few years of college in SLO. So altogether, there was PT, Suzanne, Chante, and Ruthie, David & Trista, Landon, and Tobi living at this house - it was a blessing and an absolute joy to be part of the (mostly) organized chaos of the house!

So, the following are a few pictures from my walk through Hampstead... notice that the cars are parked whichever way they came from, on both sides of the road!

Possibly the smallest car I have EVER seen.


Possibly the creepiest/most eccentric/most ingenious car I have ever seen...


Really? I mean, I know the Brits spell some things funny, but MANEUVER being turned into MANOEUVRE? That's just silly!



Beautiful flowers all over the place!


....and I couldn't resist :)

I really don't have photos from the rest of my time with the Camden Town peeps... it's kind of sad, but also kind of cool, simply because I wasn't really a 'tourist' with them. We just went about our day, going grocery shopping, walking in the park, and all the things you do in normal life... Trista and I went to this art thing at the Keat's House, where they provided all sorts of mediums to work with, and we spent the day in the garden making artwork!

PT, David, Landon, Tobi, and I went to Camden Town a few times and I got to see them "in action" :) Basically, what that means is setting up and establishing relationships with people in Camden in order to further those friendships and share Christ's love with them. I greatly admired PT's ability to direct EVERY conversation with complete strangers toward the Gospel. He has a knack for reaching people where they're at, relating with them on a personal level, and then opening the door for God to come through. And the Lord definitely came and started working in the lives of people who they met and were praying for.

Jump ahead about a week, after I had been staying with a family out in Amersham (just outside central London) and I'm back in London! Trista and I went with a couple of her friends to go see WICKED!!!



On the way, I saw a pasty place - yum!!

What is this feeling? Dancing through life! No one mourns the wicked!
Defying gravity! WICKED!!!

transitions...

Well, made it safe and sound to London! Leaving Uganda still seems surreal somehow… I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am incredibly thankful for being able to drink tap water, be outside at night without fearing malaria, not waking up to geckos crawling on the walls, and not being covered in red mud… but in all honesty, I already miss it. I miss my kids. I miss teaching them tons of information and having fun doing it. I miss hopping on a boda and paying 2000 ush ($1) for a 10 minute ride somewhere. I miss Ugandans! Here, there are mzungus everywhere!

Today, I was able to have some good quiet time in the backyard of Pastor Tonie’s house (where I’m staying), some quality Starbucks time (oh, hot chocolate!), and a nice 2-hour walk by myself to get a feel for the area in Camden. I appreciate so much that everyone here knows what it feels like to need some quiet, alone time to process through feelings and emotions that coincide with leaving one’s ‘home’… and processing is so good. Time to think and reflect on my joys and struggles from this year. Time to realize the lessons that the Lord taught me this year. Time to relax and adjust to this new time zone, new scenery, new people.

But I couldn’t have asked for a better place to do this processing. Surrounded by loving people who have a heart for Jesus; whose goal is to reach out and reach into the lives of people living here in Camden. To meet them where they’re at and share the gift of God’s Son with them. To hear the wonders and miracles in the way that the Lord is already stirring their hearts. It is such a blessing for me to see their work and cherish the call they’ve responded to.

Not sure what’s in store for today, but whatever it is, it’ll sure be an adventure!