England x3

So it's been a few days since my last post, hasn't it?

Anyway. Tuesday was a really good time at the "younger" housegroup (20-30's) and at the end of it i stayed and talked with four of the members until midnight. Paul is a drummer here as well and he has been a christian for only about a year and we got to talking about God and the ways he's impacted lives. The study was on Hebrews chapters 10-12, and i really liked the group to say the least. i had a chance to share some things and when we got to discussion questions i was asked by kevin (who led the group that night) my thoughts on hope and faith. it opened the door to me giving the example of my mix of hope and faith in coming to Bognor, and they seemed to like what i had to say. it felt like i fit in on the first night and they've invited me back if i stay. so that's tuesday in a nutshell.

Wed. i went to Chitchester (a local town slightly more posh than Bognor) and walked around for a bit, drank an iced coffee in Starbucks and then went over to the cathedral for a look. it was great to stand in a big church that's been around since the 1500's. i really like that sort of thing. then Jan took me to lunch and then back to the house. that night we went down to Portsmouth and walked around the gun wharf and saw some really old ships in the harbor (there's the HMS Victory from the era of Napoleon which i hope to go back and see up close next week) then we went over and saw the D-day museum. it was closed when we got there, but I REALLY REALLY like WWII history and i plan to see that next week as well.

wish i could post pics, but right now i don't really have the means to, so you'll have to wait:-(
Thursday Verity (DJ's room mate) came by and we were going to go ride bikes but then typical english weather set in (clouds and a bit of rain) so we went to chitchester, had lunch, talked a while and went out for a drive and a walk through the countryside. Verity is 26 years old, a redhead, and a very charming personality. Before you get to giddy that i've gone and met a nice english girl who i'll end up marrying, think again. she's got a boyfriend and a HUGE passion for Sierra Leon (West Africa!). so those two fronts are just the top of the cake why she's NOT a candidate for marriage. I know some of you (ahem-MOM!:-) will probably post anyway and tell me some cheesy line like "you never know till the rings on the finger" or "God likes surprises". sheeeesh....

So that said, we had a nice time and some really good chats. i even had her convinced that we don't have eye doctors in the states. After a few minutes of pulling off the joke, i told her the truth. she was slightly red and we both had a laugh. little did i know what i was in for...laster as we walked through the countryside (i only wish the sun was out cause the view looked spectacular!) she got me to believe some farmers breed kangaroo's here for their meat. I was so taken by it that when we got back to Verity's flat (appartment) she told me she had some kangaroo meat in the freezer and if I would like to have some for dinner. i bought the whole thing. It wasn't until DJ confessed to me on the way to Troop later that evening that it was really beef i ate. Hmmmm....now to think of a way to get Verity back....Maybe i tell her I spent an hour crying my eyes out that it wasn't really kangaroo?? no, that might be too nasty:-)
Anyway, Troop (the sort of Sr. high) meets Thursday nights here at the morris' house. It was a smaller group than usual (7 of about 11 kids came) but it was nice. I didn't get to talk much, but i did boldly ask for time next thursday. they all agreed and are seem excited to have me. DJ suggested they pray for me and i was a but shy, but as they prayed i really felt like they want me to stay on. i could be wrong, but that seems like a darn good thing.

Friday some of the youth (and me) went up to london!!!! we saw a wax museum (i got lots of pics with famous people!!) and it was a blast. there was one section that you walk through and it's kinda scary cause live actors jump out of dark places and scare the snot out of you. I was laughing at the group until James said "put the yank in front!!" I wasn't so happy then. but it was a fun time and a good story.

We saw Buckingham palace, big ben, Dowining street (where the prime minister lives), went for a look around Harrods (a huge department store kinda like Fields or other large stores in chicago) and guess who showed up to sign books??? DAVID FREAKIN' HASSELHOFF!!! i was like, this guy would NOT get this kind of attention in the states...it was funy! we saw the london eye (a HUGE ferris wheel) and then made our way back to the train. i spent the night in Bedford with my cousins and had a wonderful time walking around bedford today. I got a picture with the John Bunyan statue in bedford. ever read Pilgrims Progress? he wrote it from his prison cell in Bedford! yeah, it was pretty cool.

On a more serious note, i'm back at the morris' house, and need to go finish my lesson for the youth in church tomorrow. i got some ideas but they need to be put on paper.
as far as if i stay or come home i try not to think about it. I was fine last week, but as decision time draws near i find myself feeling a bit worried either way. i want to stay, but there are moments where i feel so alone and foriegn...they're only moments and not hours or days, which i'm glad for, but they are there. i really like the people here, but if i stay what happens after this sort of "honey moon" phase ends? i can't think about that cause i don't know. but what happens if i come home? there is an option there, but i don't really find myself too excited about that commitment and i don't REALLY know if i'm coming home either. so life is up in the air for me...

i'm doing the best i can at keeping a level head and my emotions in check, but it's hard. i'll let you know how it all pans out. i really need to go and get the lesson done. Thanks for your prayers. I really miss you all and I enjoy hearing from you.