London baby!!

Ello!! 
We're back from London, what a week! There are lots of words to descrrbe our time in one of the greatest cities on earth, but pictures say a thousand words; so I'll let them do all the talking...

We caught "Wicked" in the West End!

Attended a worship service at St. Paul's Cathedral

Visited Tower Bridge

Wen't to the oldest church in London

Lunch in Trafalgar Square

Hung around the British Museum

Caught an Organ concert at Westminster Abbey, then wandered around Poets Corner

Harrods

Parliment

I pet a swan in Hyde Park 

Stayed in my FIRST Hostel!

Many many more memories...

Check out Facebook for more photos. Our internet takes FOREVER to load pictures, so it may be a few days before all the photos are up on Facebook either.

Hosanna

It’s Thursday morning and I’m wiped! Working at school is exciting but tiring, especially now, in the beginning. They’re so many things to learn: schedules, names, lessons, etc. I love some of the unique names the kids have: Tahleel, Al-Aqmar, Abdulrahmen, Jamanah... They’re hard to remember, but a nice break from ‘Brittany, ‘Ashley’ and ‘Ryan.’

Yesterday, Tim Foley, the guy who set up our year here, came to visit from Northern Ireland. We had a great time talking about past teams, the ins and outs of conflict resolution in Ireland and England, and what our team retreat could looks like; possibly in an Irish monestary. We spent the rest of the night feasting and laughing with our other immersion partners here.  

One question I’ve learned to start asking myself everyday is: where was God in all this? 

It’s a question of presence; Was God present in the joyous moments? How about in the mundane ones? 

It’s a question about direction. Are these arbitrary experiences? Or, is there significance and direction? Are these trials forming the larger story of my life? Am I part of an even bigger story... a story that started with God speaking life into creation, and goes out forever into the void?

reverberating endlessly into the ocean of Gods love...

Usually my moments with God come when I am quiet; that’s when I realize He’s always been with me. Sometimes it feels like I'm socializing all night at a loud party, and it’s only at the end of the evening when I'm picking up the trash and turning off the lights, that I realize someone has been waiting around all night just hoping to talk to me. They’ve been lingering in the corner for hours and I never realized they were there, until literally everyone else has gone home. 

Why does it always work like that with me? Why can’t I walk into every room knowing God is already present in it?

It’s reminds me of a song my youth leader wrote, “Oh God let everything you are fill this room I’m in.” 

So every night I’ve been asking myself this question, where were you today God? 

I know I could give some goofy mysterious answer like, “where wasn’t He? He’s everywhere and we just need to realize it, ooooooo.... did I just blow my own mind???” But I don’t think that actually means anything to me. I want to look at His meticulous handiwork... I want to thank Him for the small-specific ways He reaches into my heart makes it new. This kind of thinking brings with it lots of responsibility; I need to be the attentive one, and then it’s my job to multiply His blessings and be a blessing to others. 

(Found here)

“heal my heart and make it clean! Open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love, like you have loved me...hosanna!” -Hillsong United

Fab Fashion!

Brits, worldwide, are known for a few things: bad teeth, bad food and crazy fashion!

I have only been in Northern England for 4 weeks and already I feel inspired by all the fashion risk-takers walking around the city streets. Fashion here is a major form of self expression... not only in the white community, but in the Asain (Muslim) community as well! I can't tell you how many types of head coverings and hijab accessories we have seen on a daily basis. 

This past Thursday, my "flatties" and I went to a fashion show at a local mega church we have been attending. It was amazing!! The ticket and sale proceeds went entirely to local Bradford charities. Check out this video for some highlights of the amazing show they put on! 

Urban Angel Fashion Show Highlights from Your Urban Angel on Vimeo.

Last weekend we went to Leeds for the day. Leeds is a city only 20 mins away by bus, and according to most people here in Bradford, it is the place to go. How true they were. Leeds isn't really a culturally rich place, but boy is there some great shopping!  I know I promised this blog would be an insight into God's work here in Bradford... but check out this fun fashion update from across the pond! 

(fyi. these are not my own personal pictures. Taking pictures of random people on the street can draw attention. So, instead, I've pulled some pictures from a British style blog call "The Style Scout" that best represent the looks we've seen so far! Enjoy...)

God Bless the teachers!

Hi Bloggers, 

I realized a few days ago I haven't really kept you up to date with our long term job as teaching assistants at a local primary school (Lidget Green). We've been at LG for 2 weeks now. We work Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays. This week and last week, we have been rotating between different years to see which one we might like to stick with for the whole year. First we were in year 2, then year 4, 6 and reception (preschool). Each have them have been really fun, challenging and educational. The kids are so cute! Something like 90% of the children at LG are Asian (Pakistani, Indian, Bangledeshi, etc...), and for most English is their second language. 

The staff is very nice and excited to have us there. It's been really fun being an american there as well. Marie and I have gotten lots of questions about the states and if we happen to know Miley Cyrus. Im not sure why, but Lady Gaga is also a big hit with the younger kids. Last week, while spending the day with year 4, the groups were supposed to be writing a paper about the lorry (truck) explosion in York, instead, they wrote all about Lady Gaga! Marie gets lots of "Wizard of Oz" references, being from Kansas. Luckily most of the people here have heard of Florida, so they have lost of questions about the sun, beach, CSI Miami and Disney World. 

Right now Im not sure what year I'd like to work with... hoping year 5 will click tomorrow. One thing is for sure, I have a deeper respect for all teachers! Reviewing all of this early school material reminds me how much knowledge teachers impart to us. Little things that come naturally now are only so because my teachers patiently drilled them into me. These brilliant women and men work their butts off, and genuinely love these kids like crazy! I don't know how they do it. I'd like to say their effort will inspire me to come back from this year wanting to be a teacher; I don't think that will happen. Nonetheless, I will forever be in awe of people who teach.

So this goes out to all those teachers.... cheers! 

Dear Diary #2

Diary entry: 9/22/10

Bethany's picture

"Dear Diary,
(again, I'm not so cliche' to use 'Dear Diary' in my real journal...)


Today we met Paul and Louise to go over what we will be doing this year. I'm excited and worried. What will I be doing? What will I need to figure out on my own?   Luckily I think Marie and I will be at the same school, Lidget Green. Bethany will be alone at her school (Farnham), but I'm sure she will do well by herself; she makes friends easily. 


This morning I finished "Eat Pray Love." It was REALLY good! Liz talked about a Buddhist teaching which says there are two forces which create an Oak tree: a seed, and the future tree pulling the tree into existence. She wonders if the present-balanced-happy woman she is now, was pulling her younger-sad-self into the future. Because now she is the person she always wanted to be. I'm beginning to wonder if I could not also be the future tree, willing myself into the person I'll be someday; the person I've always wanted to be. 


Sometimes I can be very pessimistic, so I think my best days are behind me. It never occurred to me they could be ahead of me."