Captivating

Captivating 

By: John & Stasi Eldredge

I loved this book. When I started reading it I immediately started to feel like the authors were talking to me. One of my favorite things about this book is that some of the chapters are written by John. Knowing that a man can understand women in that way means so much. 

One of the things the authors start off with is describe why God created Eve. Although reading this might give any woman a big head, in the chapter What Eve Alone Can Tell, the authors describe the creation of Eve. “She is the crescendo, the final, astonishing work of God. Woman. In one last flourish creation comes to a finish not with Adam, but with Eve. She is the Master’s finishing touch.” But that’s not the end. God Not only created Eve last, but she is the one who brings life. John and Staci go on to talk about how women are a threat to Satan, because women bring life into the world. This might make women feel powerful, but it also means women might be attacked at a higher rate because of this. This chapter also talks about relationships and loneliness.  “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Adam was alone before Eve, then God created relationship’s between man when He created Eve. I thought the following thought was interesting, “Most women define themselves in terms of their relationships, and the quality they deem those relationships to have. I am a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend. Or, I am alone. I’m not seeing anyone right now, or my children aren’t calling, or my friends seem distant. This is not a weakness in women--it is a glory. A glory that reflects the heart of God.” It is interesting to think of how relationship driven women are. I think we/some define themselves by who they are friends with, or in what relationships (not just dating) they are in. I try to understand how this relates to who God is. I think of how God tends to define Himself as our father, not always as our God, I think god shows a little bit of separation. But father, a father is someone who is a part of you, someone who was involved in your creation, and birth. 

There were three chapters that were more difficult for me to work through, they were, Wounded, A Special Hatred, and Healing the Wound. They weren’t difficult because of what has happened to me in the past, but because of how many people do deal with this type of thing every day. Abusive relationships, rape, divorce. Things that shatter a women, not just physically, but emotionally down to her core. Women take on everything emotionally, it is how we analyze things. I know I struggle with disappointment. That others will be disappointed in me because of one tiny mistake. I mentally and emotionally beat myself up for doing something that no one else even noticed or really cared about enough to comment on it. I am a people pleaser, a retriever, but I don’t think that is where it started. I really didn’t have friends till about 5 grade, I was fairly independent. I remember being in Girl scouts and not being friends with any of the girls in my group. I then moved and became the popular girl for a few months since I was new, and have some how lost my independence since. About every 3 or 4 years of my life I get a new groups of friends, I don’t think thats any different than most people. But I do find myself needing to be attached to some group. I don’t feel that way with guys, thank God, I have been single most of my life. What I mean to be getting at in this paragraph is that I know that there are people out there that are going through horrible traumatic events, of which I cannot fully relate. But I think my “wound” that needs healing is my sense of independence. Even being on my internship I am finding it hard to force myself to go out and do things on my own. It is getting easier because I know my way around, but I feel like I need someone else to go with me. 

My favorite chapter in this book is Warrior Princesses. This one has really stuck with me. I remind myself of this chapter everyday, I try to wake up and remind myself to be a warrior princess. Then of course I think through all of the things I want to fight for. Fight for my relationship with God, time spent with Him. Also my relationship with my boyfriend. For a while I was struggling with my devotions with God, and I noticed how the lack of time with God was affecting the rest of my every day life.  As I got better with my devotions and time with God the depression and worrying started going away. I have come to realize that my relationship with God is not the only thing I fight for when I fight for my time with God. It affects my whole life. 

This book has been very eye opening for me, discovering who I am as a women. It is a book I wish I had read years ago, and plan on reading again some time in the future. I would recommend this book for all women. The way the authors talk to you in the book it is like they are dear friends who would never judge you but want to understand who you are, and understand the way God is working in your lives. 

Half Term

This week was Half Term for the students here. Its kinda like fall break, or spring break for us in the states. The students get a whole week off school.
Emily and I planned events for the students this week. We Picked up litter along the canal, some went to a movie in the city, today we had games and did some baking. Tomorrow we will be playing football (soccer) and having a picnic in the park. It has been a great week so far. And I am sure all of the students have loved having a week off of classes.

On Tuesday my host took me out of town for the day. They took me to Derbyshire, which is in the Peak District. Tons of beautiful hills, although it was a very misty (foggy) day. Photos will come soon. We also went down in a cave where they mine Blue John. A Semi-Precious stone that can only be found in that area of Derbyshire, it was called Castleton. There are only 2 mines there that mine Blue John and they believe that the stone will run out in about 10 years. It is a blue and yellow stone sometimes looking purple.   We also climbed up a rather large hill to see some castle ruins, hence the town being called Castleton. It was very beautiful.

Although Tuesday was such a great day I probably shouldn't have gone in the cave and climbed up that hill. I seemed to have injured my foot last Saturday and it is just getting worse. I have stared using crutches today which really seems to be helping. I am hoping my foot heals soon because I do so much walking here. I am pretty sure it is just an inflamed tendon on the bottom of my foot. It is rather painful when I walk, so without the crutches I walk with a very noticeable limp. As you can guess I will not be playing soccer in the park tomorrow with the students.

Unchained

Had a great night at Unchained tonight. It is an event where youth from different youth groups can come and worship and hang out together. There are games, some bands, food. Our theme was called "Whats love got to do with it" like the song. We decided to make a video where we asked the students Whats love got to do with it? Some answered with, "With what?" Others gave their description of love. It went really well but we took the answers, about 5-10 worth of footage and made it a 2 min video in about 45 min. It wasn't the best but the kids laughed when they saw it which made it all worth it.
We also had a sketch to the song Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis. That went really well, I think all of the students really pulled it together well.

I'm sorry I can't post any photos for privacy reasons. But we used a school's gym and decorated it with black fabric and put up posters with quotes from 1 Corinthians on them. we also had a heart wall where you could write down something you loved about someone. More students did it then I expected :-)

Next week is half term. I think its kinda like how we have fall break, except theirs is a whole week. Emily and I have some events planned for the students if they are looking for something to do this next week. On monday we are doing a service project, where will will be doing litter picking. In about 2 weeks the students from Lincoln will be here which is really exciting. But it will also be my half way point which is crazy.

Lincoln

I got to go to Lincoln, England on Sunday. It was so beautiful even though it was raining. While I was there I got to see the cathedral and the castle. Lincoln is built on a hill so it is very windy there. I also got a great workout walking back up the hill the town is built on. Here are a few photo.

Below: this is a picture of the Lincoln Imp. It is lit up in the picture. This creature is said to have arrived to Lincoln on the wind, when it landed in the cathedral it turned to stone. It is so windy in Lincoln because the wind is waiting for the Imp to leave.

 

Below: The castle is built on two large mounds. This is one. Some people who were executed here are  buried on top of this mound. 

Can you guess what movies the Lincoln Cathedral was used in?

Great Saturday

Today I got to spend just about the whole day out. It was wonderful, and a beautiful day.
My host took me to Wollaton Hall. There is a lake with lots of ducks and walking trails, then in the home there is a museum.

In the afternoon I got to go to a notts county football game for the Magpies it was so much fun. They are not that good, but it was a really great experience. I sat right behind the goal. Almost got hit at least once. :-) I went with the other intern. I loved listening to all of the fans. I had a fun time.

Today

Things have been going good. Had Trenside youth group last night, it went well. Today I'm meeting up with someone I met at church for Coffee, and then Caffe Nero time with some students. I was supposed to go see a movie this morning with the other intern however it seems that the theater we were going to doesn't show all of its movies everyday(different sent of movies each day, or mwf its this movies and tths  are other movies), so we're going to go next week.
Movies are more expensive here, I've been to one movie so far. It cost 8 pounds which is about $13.
A bit homesick today. Cannot wait till the Lincoln team gets her and I can see some familiar faces.
Monday is Valentines day. Which stinks since my valentine is back in Lincoln. Hopefully I'll get to talk to him that day.
This week went by really fast. I feel like today should be Wednesday or Thursday, not Friday.
I left for England exactly 1 month ago from Today. Arrived a month ago tomorrow. I'm glad that when I fly home it will still be the same day. I leave at like 3pm and arrive at about 6pm the same day, the flight is about 8 hours but thanks to time change it like 3.

Thanks for reading this if you do.
A

Caffe Nero

Twice a week I go here. Caffe Nero. We meet up with kids after they get out of school. One of the local churches pays for the kids to enjoy 1 drink. Then for about 2 hours we sit and hang out with the students till they have to head home. This is one of my favorite things during the week. I get a chance to meet a lot different students.

Organic Church

Organic Church 

By Neil Cole

One of my favorite things Neil Cole did in this book was start off with quotes in the beginning of every chapter. These quotes got me thinking about the topic before I had even really began the chapter. There are two quotes I really enjoyed, they are:

“Risk more than other think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.” 

-- Cadet maxim, West Point Military Academy

“The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt?”

-- Frederick Buechner

I think this book was about stepping outside of the four walls we see as the church. The church is not a building, I don’t know how many time we have to be reminded of this. In this book Cole tells story after story about people who started churches out of their homes, cafes or in parking lots at three in the morning. These places are where the people are. God doesn’t just stay in a building waiting for someone to come it. He is out there among the people that He loves. This reminds me of a chapter in the book where Cole talks about how we are light. What good is a lamp in a bright room? No good at all. It must be put in a dark room to be of use. That is how we are as Christ followers. We cannot shine sitting in church buildings with filled with light, we can only truly shine when we go into the darkness. Cole told stories about different churches started in a multitude of different places. One man started a church in his house because, being an ex con, no one was welcoming to him in their churches. This man started a church in his home and then had to move into a larger home near by to have enough room. The woman’s house they moved into was the mother of ex gang member. Cole continues on with many other stories of Atheists, Satanists, drug addicts, Muslims, all coming to Christ, then turning around and bringing their friend to Christ. I think these stories are so powerful. They make me question where my light is shining, or if it is anywhere. 

One of my favorite chapter Cole did was on the parable of a sower sows some seeds. There is something about this parable after reading this chapter that has stuck with me. The idea of leaving the bad soil. Cole describes all four soils. First being the soil where the seed doesn’t even begin to grow. Second the seed starts to grow but isn’t able to really grow roots and dig deep so the seed dies. The Third seed is planed among thorns, like the second the seed begin to grow but is cut off by the thorns and choked, or as Cole stated the seed is distracted by earthly things and dies off (or their faith does). The last soil is the good soil, the seed is able to grow deep and grows strong. Cole goes on to talk about accepting the fact that only one out of four seeds planted will actually grow. Then connects that to the fact that some people just wont grow in their relationship with Christ, and sometimes you need to focus on only the seeds that are growing deep, seed that are planted in the good soil and will bear fruit. This is something that is hard to take, especially thinking about how many people wont being living eternally with God. How can you just abandon someone who wont bear fruit, so that you can focus on those who will? I know that it has to be done, but I feel like I would be giving up on someone.  

One thing I love about this book is how absolutely accepting Cole pushes everyone to be of people who have yet to have Christ in their lives. It’s like the story he told about going house to house asking to pray for someone. The first house wasn’t interested, however, you ask them if they know anyone who needs prayer. They tell you to go four houses down. You go down four houses and there is a man who answers the door who is drunk, his wife is leaving him and his son is yelling profanities at him. You ask the man if you can pray for him and he turns his life around, and ends up starting a church in his home. Now if you had described that type of person, would you have ever guess that he would have eventually started a church in his own home? God uses the strangest people to do His work. We are shown that over and over in the bible, why is it so hard to believe that He would do that today? 

Cole focused really hard on allowing new Christians to be evangelists. Don’t treat them like they are babies and protect them from evil, but allow them to go out and defend their faith. One cafe Cole would attend regularly was filled with atheists, Satanists and vampires. Many times Cole talks about how one was converted then within weeks converted a friend, who converted a friend. This is powerful stuff. The love God has for His people can change a person in a blink of an eye. I think this is something many Christians see as a myth or legend (if I may describe it in that way) but it is happening everyday. Out in the darkest places of where you live, God is there transforming the lives of people who used to party with drugs and are now partying because another friend found Christ. 

What I absolutely love about the quotes I shared about are that they focus on looking beyond yourself, going a step further. The first quote talks about taking the leap, risking it all, and allowing God to use you to the fullest. The second talks about allowing yourself to realize how much of an impact one action can have on something else. I can’t even imagine the ways God could use a person if they allowed themselves to think outside the box of norm and take leaps others might think you are crazy for taking. Reach the people no one else will go to, love the people no one else will love. The smallest thing can change a person’s entire life, and bring them closer to knowing Christ and telling others as well. 

I have really enjoyed this book. I went through it a lot faster than I thought I would. However, I think this was the best book for me to have read to kick off my internship because now I cannot wait to pick up the next book. While reading this book I was really able to learn about myself and dream of the way I might be able to use what I have learned in places I will be. What this book has taught be isn’t something that can only be used in certain places in the world, but everywhere. Its about being where the people are and loving them for who they are. Not taking them out of their own community and changing them. God loves every one and will use them in ways that only they can be used because of the experiences they have had and the connections they have.

February 4th

This week has gone by so fast. Seems like it was just Tuesday. Today was a good day. Finished some things which include a scarf that should have been done before I left the states and I finished both videos I was making for my mentors children.
Went to Caffe Nero today to meet up with some kids as usual, then after I had some tea (dinner), and at 7 I went to play some football (soccer) with some kids from the area. My right hip and ankles do not like me right now.
One thing I realized today is that as of next Wednesday (9th) I will have been here for a month (well 4 week, since I did arrive on the 12th of January). However, time is starting to pick up. I'm still in a little bit of a touristy stage, however, I have yet to go out and take some pictures. That might have to be what happens tomorrow for a bit.
Cooked for my host family last night. That was a fun...experience. I just made tortellini for the main meal, but for dessert (pudding) I made Lemon Drizzle Cake. Well the recipe was an British recipe so I had to change some of the measurements. But that wasn't as much the problem as it was that we had too much mixture, but we decided to put it all in the tin anyways. As you can probably figure out the mixture overflowed in the tin as it cooked. Soon, we had to cut off the top (which was delicious and wonderfully cooked I might add) so that the rest of it would cook. The whole cake looks fine now, we turned the cake over so no one will know we cut off the top. We ended up having the top that we cut off for dessert that night, we will have to rest tomorrow night.

Things I have noticed:
-in many places the toilets are upstairs, some have lifts, but not all places do. Not very handicap accessible.
-always okay to bring the dog, just tie it up outside while you do your shopping. Or take the dog with you on the bus. I road the bus into the city the other day and a woman had her husky on the bus.
-black tights or black leggings are like staple item for a woman's closet here, same with a good pare of boots. (I have successfully obtained 2 of those items, leggings I bought in the states and I just got boots a few days ago)
I got the boots for just under 20 quid. [aka 20 pounds or about $30]



More this not thats
someone will give me a lift not have someone give me a ride (ride in a car)
lift not elevator
Cheers = Thank you
Toilets not restroom or bathroom (you rest in a restroom, and bathe in a bathroom)
mate = friend
tea = dinner
pudding = dessert, breaded dessert, or simply a pudding

Dinner

Had Toad in a Hole for Dinner tonight, I thought just the name is worth sharing :-) It's basically pancake batter and sausages

February 1st

It rained this morning, but now it is beautiful out.
3 months and a week left. Is it bad I am counting down?
I am missing home today. Needing a hug from someone more familiar.
I am really getting comfortable here now though. However, I wish I new more people that I could go hang out with or visit. Don't have much to do during the days right now outside of getting reading done and the videos I'm doing. Most of the ministries I am involved in are all in the evening. By the way the video cannot be posted online for security reason (students privacy) so they will not be posted on my blog.
I am looking forward to helping out with more ministry planning. Right now we are planning an event called Unchained where youth groups from the area can come and worship together. The Point has been great lately we had 24 students last night.
Saw Black Swan with some of the girls here (all 15), the movie is rated 15 here (have to be 15 to see it). I think in the states its rated R. I definitely agree that you need to be 18 to see that movie. A part of me wanted to walk out, but I couldn't leave the girls there. It was a very uncomfortable movie for me.
Sorry I haven't put up any photos, I really havent had a chance, and I have to be careful because of privacy reasons. I am hoping to go out soon and take some photos. Granted, many of the photos I will have 3 copies of due to the other trips I have made here in the past. I am hoping to take some photos of things I haven't gotten to see in the past.

I will try to get some up soon.

Prayers: Financially (currency exchange), homesickness, meeting new people, self discipline, and that I can really open up to allow God to use me to the fullest while I am here.