Tea for Two

Yesterday morning we slept in and then headed into town (Middlesbrough) to meet Emillie, a friend and one of the girls in the youth groups, for lunch and shopping. It was so much fun. We took the bus (something new because last time I took the train) and ate at this fun place called Starters. They serve all kinds of yummy appetizers as meals. I had a delicious juicy burger and chips (fries). Then me and Emillie went shopping and Ste went off shopping on his own. She took me around to some really cute vintage and charity shops. I got a scarf and a silver tray to put my jewelry on. And then we went to the most adorable tea house. They have all kinds of herbal teas and yummy treats. We had this yummy berry tea that was pink and a slice of chocolate Rolo cake. It was so quaint and I loved it!

Harvest

First off this is the view I wake up to every morning... 

Not bad eh?

Anyways on to what I have been doing lately:

Last Wednesday we headed off to Harvest, a Christian festival for youth in Northern England. It was a lot of fun despite me freezing to death (we slept in tents for four nights) in the rainy and cold English weather. Needless to say I was beyond thrilled to return home Sunday afternoon to a nice warm bed.

I couldn't complain about much else though about the time we spent at the event. The festival is hosted on a farm about 15 minutes down the road from us. The farm is owned by a Christian who lets his fields and barn be used for the event. The scenery was beautiful. The landscape here is just breathtaking.

We attended seminars on topics like Media and God and had morning bible studies with a awesome guy named Jamie Hill. At night we would meet again and have a speaker (my housemate Ben Jack was one of them) and worship. I was curious to see how worship here compared to worship back home and surprisingly it was pretty much the same. The worship band was awesome and God definitely did some stuff through them and the speakers.

My favorite lyrics from the week were:

"Love came down and rescued me 

I thank you, I thank you" 

Ste getting ready to set up his tent.

Mine was up when I got there thanks to the lovely Emillie :)

And yes I awoke to this flying over one of the campsites one morning!

I'm in love

So I made it in last night and I am still in awe that I am here. Feeling so blessed and lucky! Woke up around half past noon and just been hanging out and going over things with Ste. On my second cup of tea for the day and enjoying a slice of pizza from the shop down the street. Also doing a little browsing...I fell in love with a phone cover by Cath Kidston in the Apple store before I left and I discovered she makes purses. Thus creating my love for this...

England is a dangerous, dangerous place ladies...

While I am away...

So thank goodness for all the crazy technology we have now! While I am in England here is how you can communicate with me:

Address: 15 Ripon Rd
                     Nunthorpe
                     Middlesbrough
                     Teeside
                     TS7 0HX

Email: lm_piercey@yahoo.com

Skype: Lauren Piercey

Twitter: lmpiercey

Text Now: 774-993-4689 (if you have an iPhone get this app and we can text for free!)

TWO MORE DAYS!!!!! :)

Blessed

Last night I went over to my friend Rebecca's (we've been friends since the 2nd grade and I am coming back for her wedding in October) for dinner with her and her fiance, Cody. It was so much fun! They cooked for me and we just hung out. I feel so blessed to have such awesome friends to send me off to England with love. She made me the cutest cakes and so I just had to share some pictures. I'm going to miss her! 

Teacup Cake 

Delicious appetizers!

Yummy cookie dough dip!

Tea Pot Cake

Reassurance

I got a Facebook message from my friend Emilie, we met in England while I was there, yesterday. She sent me this verse:


"He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber." Psalm 121:3


She told me felt like this verse was fitting because of the emotions I must be going through with such a big step, but that she wanted me to know God is always there. My heart melted and it was just nice for her to send me this because it was exactly what I needed. It's becoming more and more real what I am doing and how scary.exciting it is!

Another awesome thing was I e-mailed the old youth leader at the church I grew up in to ask if she had anything she would be willing to donate (bibles, etc.) and she said yes come on by! So I stopped by during lunch today and got lots of great stuff! Encouraging and mind blowing really to think that a small church in Texas will make a difference in England!

18 DAYS!

My life is crazy right now because: yes, I move to England in 18 DAYS!

I finally got my visa after a war with the UPS people and a trip to Conroe. After that I was able to book my flights! I fly out August 13 and after a 13 hour plane ride and a 3 hour train ride I will arrive in Nunthorpe August 14. I've never flown by myself in the states much less across the country so I am kind of nervous, but I think my excitement surpasses it. It is so crazy to think in less than three weeks I will be living there with only a week and a half trip home in October for Becca's wedding. My mom thinks I will be crying in a couple months to come back home, but I told her even if I am I won't tell her :) I'm sure I will get homesick, but I have faith that Nunthorpe is where God wants me to be and I am so eager to see what he has in store for me!