Hello everyone! Well I am in my last full week in Wales and have less than 2 weeks before I hop a plane back to the United States. Next Tuesday, December 15th, we will be getting a train to London to meet back up with everyone serving in Western Europe to have debriefing. We’ll head back to the States December 18th, and I’ll fly from London to Chicago and then to Atlanta where I’ll land around 9 pm eastern time. I must say I am majorly looking forward to driving a car again, and I will be completely fine if I don’t ride a bus for quite some time HAHA. I will also be looking forward to real sweet tea, Americanized Chinese food, and some sunshine LOL:) I’m trying to focus on these things instead of how much I’m going to miss it here. I didn’t ever think I would get used to not having a dryer to dry my clothes, or fretting over which of the fifty ba-zillion types of rubbish bins for all the different types of trash to throw mine away in, or to the constant rain. But sure enough it became 2nd nature to air dry my clothes, I finally know which rubbish bin is which, and while I still wish there was more sun here I no longer get angry when it rains for days on end HAHA:D But seriously I am not looking forward to leaving this amazing place or these even more amazing people.
Carrie and I began our teaching of the Christmas Story in the schools. The kids LOVE our elf outfits. It’s always great to see all the different reactions as we walk through the schools. No worries there will be pictures HAHA. Our first performance was by far the one that went the best so far. It was also one of the schools that I go and read in every Monday so I knew a lot of the kids and staff. After we were the done, the teacher told us she wanted us to come back and teach the Easter lesson (even though we won’t be here) and invited us to the class’s Christmas performance. This teacher seriously terrified me when I first began reading with her class. She has a rather low voice and isn’t the smiley type. So for this reaction to come from her is amazing HAHA. It was funny seeing the different reactions of the different schools. There’s a part in our elf bit where Carrie messes up my elf ear (which of course is a big no no for an elf haha). Well the first school pointed and laughed and said it looked like a pig ear while the second school, which was the equivalent of our private schools, suggested all the ways they could help fix my ear HAHA. Going into the schools has been such a blessing. And sharing the Christmas story with them has been a great way to sort of culminate everything for me.
We are literally having Christmas parties left and right. You know how right before you leave somewhere all of a sudden everyone wants to say good bye and get together. Well that is what is going on this week for us. We have had 3 so far and have 2 more to go HAHA:)
Please pray that in this last week God would give me the physical, emotional, and spiritual strength to get through everything. These 4 months have definitely had their ups and downs, and the Lord has taught me so much. I don’t think I’ll really know how much I’ve learned until I get out of this context, but I’m excited to see what areas God has really stretched and strengthened me in. Looking back on it, I know I was exactly where God wanted me doing exactly what God wanted me to do for this semester. There were times I wasn’t completely sure of that, but I know now for sure that I was. I hope to finish this last full week strong not wishing my time away or focusing too long on the good byes. I am so glad God gave me this opportunity! Okey doke time for the British word of the day- - pudding- - here pudding doesn’t just refer to the jiggly creamy stuff we eat but dessert in general. The first time I went over to someone’s house for dinner they said it was time for pudding, and I was really confused when they brought our cake HAHA:D Have an amazing week everyone!!