July 8 "The Beginning of the End"

Today I accompanied Alun on his tour of assemblies. When I got in the car he informed me that I was doing the first one. To be fair, I had mentioned an idea that I had had for a particular school...but it is still just an idea. Not fit for use in the slightest. And so I just kind of had to wing it, but it worked out. We spent some time chatting about the rest of the week as well...no more surprises...hopefully.

Then I got dropped at Jake's house and Dottie picked us up to go out to Mumbles for a day to have American time. I got to walk out to the lighthouse that I missed last time due to the tides. Apparently this part of Wales has the 2nd most drastic horizontal tide change in the world. How about that. The day went by fast and it was boiling hot (for Wales at least- not for the American South). Then we had tea with Jake and Fionn while watching a few episodes of River Monsters. Then we spent the evening at Claire's trying to figure out expenses and travel plans for the back half of our trip.

While this trip continues to be one full of excitement and joy, it is definitely slowing down a bit. Next week it should pick back up a fair amount, but with the Bus in Caerphilly and most of my major talks over and done with, I am going to have more time to get at my required reading and make some plans for when I get home.

It is hard to think of this as the beginning of the end. Yesterday an American named Rob came over and talked with the Gateway church about sending interns over. We all got to sit down and chat for a good long while and he really had some good things to say. One of the most helpful things was about the fact that this trip doesn't have to result in me becoming a full time missionary to Wales. Not to say that it never will happen, but the point was that God uses experiences like this to change us for His glory. Wherever I end up, I am learning things here that I will always take with me. I don't know if this place and this ministry is a life's calling. Only time will tell.

Pray for these last few weeks. There is still a lot to be done.

July 6 "Work Hard, Play Hard"

Well, I predicted that the British and Irish Lions would destroy the Aussie Wallabies and wouldn't you know it. Destroy they did. 41-16 and an amazing and redemptive game from Fullback Leigh Halfpenny. It was a very tense first half and then at the start of the second it looked like the Wallabies were on a warpath, but the Welsh boys came through and pulled so far ahead that today's game can safely be classified as a destruction.

All in all today was a very good day to relax. Being done with the GSUS Bus and PCY kind of marks the closing of the first era of my internship (the crazy busy part). After the game we headed out to Taff's Well and took the train into Cardiff. There, Becca and I walked around and had some fun shopping around. She wanted to get Welsh lace for her veil for our wedding. So that was what we did. And we got something special to send to our supporters! I won't spoil the surprise though. I looked around for a rugby jersey that I liked and could afford, but today was just not the day to get it. I will find one eventually. Jerseys are kind of my souvenir tradition.

After the day full of shopping and a meal at Nandos (grilled chicken place- pretty good stuff) we took the train back out and have spent the rest of the evening in Caerphilly at Claire's. We worked on some stuff (surprises) and just enjoyed everyone's company. And I had duck for the second time! The first time was last night, but I had no idea that it was duck. I like duck.

It was a sneezy day, and I was tempted to let it be a hindrance to all of the good times that we ended up having, but it just goes to show that there are so many blessings to be seen when you are willing to look past the little things that can get in our way. It's late and I'm still sniffly, but God is good. Today was good.

July 5 "Bye Bye Bus"

That's right. No more GSUS Bus. It is a bitter sweet feeling really. I mean, I've gotten very used to that kind of work. Now I am going to have to learn how to teach children without the computers. Bleh. But at the same time I welcome the change of pace. It was just a bit monotonous after 4 weeks. 3 back to back. But here's hoping that all of those seeds that were sown will take some sort of root. I have been praying a lot for the children who heard our message lately.

After the Bus, I got a lift to Caerphilly to do an event fair sort of thing at the primary school near Claire's. We had a table set up and we were selling...you guessed it! Gingerbread men! Decorate your own ginger for only 50p. I don't quite get the seasonal reasoning, but the kids loved it! We also got to advertise for Gateway's Family Activity Week. Pray for that week.

The evening was another busy one. PCY BATH Night, with special guest speaker...me. I got the opportunity to teach a second time! Probably mostly because that meant that no one else had to do it, but whatever! I enjoyed the extra experience. We talked about the importance of God's Word tonight. I felt very fortunate for the opportunity, it has definitely been an experience for growth.

Then the latest part of the night was spent watching the end of Murray's match (he faces Djokovic for the final!) and Mr. Bean. British humor, gotta love it. Then it was decided that instead of getting taken home only to be carted back in the morning to watch the Lions DESTROY the Wallabies, I am crashing on the couch. I even was able to wash up! But due to a limited arrangement of washing facilities I was forced into taking a bath. Surprisingly relaxing. Reminds me why I want a Jacuzzi tub when I grow up.

Anyway, the night is getting by me and I should probably get some rest. Big days ahead.

God bless.

July 4 "Independence Day"

Happy Fourth of July everybody. I cannot say that I celebrated in a manner worthy of the great American tradition. But I still had a good day.

Becca joined us on the Bus this morning! One more day to go, hard to believe it actually. But the lessons went smoothly and she was able to give her testimony. We were also able to play with the frisbee for a while and to chat with many of the kids. A full five lessons went by and I finished one of the books for my internship! One more to go.

After the Bus we headed back here and hung around while we waited for everyone to come over for tea. We even scoured the shop for a while trying to find some stuff for the 4th of July. We found chips and salsa, but that was as American as we could get (Cinco de Mayo?). Tea was delicious as usual and afterwards we went back to Claire's for the Caerphilly Youth Club.

We all met in the house and ate some pizza (second supper!) and then played some games. Then we went up to the mountain to play capture the flag. Good fun. Kids are so funny. The boys spent most of the time throwing rocks at each other and tacking each other to the ground. Neither of those were the object of the game at all. My pride swelled a little when the team that I was supervising won, but I checked it. No big deal. Except that it meant that I beat Becca's team. But really we weren't that invested in the game that much. Still fun though. I did realize at one point that I was standing on top of a Welsh triangulation point with a Argentinian flag flying over my shoulder- I guess that's how we celebrated the 4th. God bless America!

The evening drifted away as we devoured our chips and salsa- thereby completing our completely backwards celebrations. Finally I was taken home only after stopping to get candy from Tesco. Now I have Reese's Pieces for tomorrow. Score.

I am truly blessed. I do not deserve all of the good gifts and opportunities that God has given me, but I guess that is kind of the point. All the more glory for Him for His mercy. There are a lot of things going on right now and it is good to just know that God is good. I have a lot to do. I have a lot to look forward to.

For a few reasons today has been a bit of a homesick one. I miss the baby back ribs and explosions that I might be enjoying with all of the American people who I love. I am still so happy to be here and I will always have the joy of the Lord. Tomorrow I am doing a PCY BATH Night again, so be in prayer that I would speak the truth in a way that these kids can understand.

God bless.

July 3 "Milk Was A Bad Choice..."

Another day on the GSUS Bus. It's hard to believe that there are only two more days left with The Bus! Soon I will be in a whole different world without my default daily duty. Today was an interesting day. I was able to give my testimony at lunchtime to a very interested crowd and a few rowdy youngsters. Funny enough, the rowdy ones are absolutely obsessed with me. They followed me around before and after the lessons asking me to say "American" words and even brought me over to play a bit of rugby (of course I went easy on them). They love to follow me around and listen to my accent, but I'm thinking that the important words that I have said to them are falling on deaf ears. Two more days. Hopefully something will stick. If they refuse to hear Christ, then I will just have to show them.

After the Bus I came back to the house and relaxed with some tennis and some tea. There was this incredible game on today. Murray, a Scot and the favorite around here, was being beaten 2 sets to nil by basically a nobody Spaniard at Wimbledon and come to find out later, he came back and won it! What a champ. Long way to go for him yet though. We will see how he fares in the rest of the tournament.

Then in the evening we went out with the Rhydyfelin kids to a park in Caerphilly. We had a lot of fun and Becca even met us there! Good times. We spun around on stuff, climbed stuff, swung, and even bug hunted. Didn't find any bugs though. I found a bee, but nobody wanted me to catch it. Their loss.

After the park, I went over to the Hughes residence and hung out for a while just watching the TV and relaxing. Never underestimate the power of a good session in front of the TV. It does wonders. We also walked to the store because Becca had to buy some things. I determined to get a snack for a pound. I found donuts and milk for 80 pence! And Becca wanted one. She ended up buying it all. But then she wanted to heat them up, and we have milk at home. Hence the title.

Now I am back at home, not really that tired and filling all of you fine people in on my day. There was a lot of thinking and googling about jobs today. I've been thinking about it a lot recently. Not worrying, just thinking of the possibilities. Pray that it doesn't devolve into worry. I don't need that over here.

God is so good. In spite of all of my weakness and stubbornness and reluctance to let Him work in me and through me, He never gives up. He never changes. He is such a good God and a Heavenly Father that I can always depend on. Just felt like sharing that.

Good Night.

July 2 "A Dip"

The mornings just keep getting later and later. I need to start going to bed at a decent hour. At least a few nights a week...At least one night a week. 

The morning began a little later than way too early and we were whisked off across Rhydyfelin to Cardinal Newman Catholic School for another day of GSUS live. It was a good day. It seemed to move by really fast and not a lot of what happened is really sticking in my mind. I guess we only taught three sessions, but we were still there well into the afternoon. 

Then I spent a lot of the afternoon relaxing around the house and enjoying that fact that I didn't have to teach tonight. It is bittersweet in a way. I enjoy teaching, but as the internship winds down a little bit I am starting to really be relieved by the fact that it was more of a front-loaded experience. Coedpenmaen's Youth Club has ceased meeting for the summer and this is our last week on the GSUS Bus. Things are going to be slowing down a good bit here soon. I welcome it. I want to be rested for when the Americans come. 

Then in the evening, and for the first time in Wales, I got to go to the pool and swim with all of the friends and family! Paul, Sarah, the Hughes, and me and my host family all went down and had a great time swimming and splashing and spending time together. It was good fun. 

Then I headed back here. And here I am. 

Looking up the page it doesn't seem like a very full day. Looking back it kind of flew by. Time has been moving so fast lately. It's kind of scary. Before I know it I'll be back in the US of A. 

Pray for me as I look down the back stretch of this mission. I am not on a mountaintop over here. This ministry has become very real and this place has started to feel a lot like home. I will not be feeding off of a spiritual high when I get back and that means that the things that I learn I need to learn deeply and take with me. That takes effort and that takes energy. 

God bless

July 1 "Halftime"

What to say...what to say...

Well I neglected to update on Sunday. Late nights and busy days. You know how it is. After church we were able to eat lunch with Paul and Sarah, our first night hosts. An appropriate meeting for the halfway mark through our trip. We ate lasagna (yum) and then played board games until Claire picked us up to go with her.  Becca and I then did the lesson for the youth at Cafe Church in Caerphilly. We went to a pub and had a meeting as a church and we sat the kids down and talked about "how do we win at life?" It was a good conversation and we got a lot of good interaction from the kids. Then I stayed up too late watching the Brazil v. Spain final. Most of it. Drifted in and out.

Today was a bit more eventful. I started off on the GSUS Bus at Cardinal Newman, our last stop. It was a good day, and it really seemed to fly by. That might be because I spent much of the time outside helping Roy with the malfunctioning staircase and chatting about a number of things. Then at lunchtime I got picked up by Dottie and we were off on our restful day. We had lunch with Billy and Sissy Barron, parents of my former boss at Erskine (small world). Jake joined us as well at the Wetherspoon Pub where I had a massive burger. So good. So filling. It definitely hit me later.

Then we visited Castle Coch, which of all of the ones that we have visited thus far is the most fully restored. It was a fun time and we got to explore the heritage and architecture of yet another medieval beauty. After that we headed back to Caerphilly where I caught a nap. Late nights and too much food. Then tea time with the Hughes. More food. So full. After our food settled, Becca and I walked down to the park to toss around the rugby ball and get some time in the rare Welsh sun. To end the day we watched "9" a movie abut post apocalyptic puppets. Good stuff.

And now here I am. Up late. Tired. I don't think I am quite up for musing about how fast all of this has gone, how exciting it is to look back and to look forward, and yet bittersweet to think that we are now on the back-end of this trip. I am sure that at some point these feelings/thoughts/etc are going to come through. But not now.

Pray for the Bus this week. I can feel myself ready to be on to something else after 3 weeks of doing this. But for these kids it is the first time. I need not let my lethargy cause a missed opportunity to capitalize on such a wonderful resource. Pray for my enthusiasm and my energy. There is still so much more work to be done.