Pub love

Last night we went to a going away party for Andy, the director of YFC (oddly enough he is moving to Texas). In british tradition the get together was held at a pub. I love pubs. They have so much character and it's fun to see how each one is different. This one was called Manor House Pub and was pretty posh. The decor was really old school but fun. When I went to the toilet I discovered this:

Cowhide walls?! 

It was love at first sight. I assumed they were furry so I reached out and to my surprise it was like textured tile, so cool! Definitely want these somewhere in my house someday...

Food and more food

Seems like all I've been doing is eating lately (good thing we walk everywhere)! A couple of nights ago we ordered a parmo and chips (french fries). A parmo is native to this area and it is awesome! It's a deep-fried chicken in bread crumbs topped with a white béchamel sauce and cheese. That's just the average plain parmo, but we ordered ours with pepperoni and peppers. So delicious! 

Last night we had Lifegroup (bible study) and our youth group EQ. I finally got to talk to just the girls and we decided we are going to study the book of Ruth this term. I haven't read this book since my freshman year in college so I am really excited about their choice. Then at EQ we baked cookies and played games. Interesting to see boys and girls in the kitchen. For example the boys decided to make one giant cookie:

Boys will be boys... 

Afterwards we played games. The kids love to play hockey in the hall. Needless to say I tend to watch from the sidelines because it is a little vicious and we all know how I am with organized sports...Overall it was a fun afternoon getting to know them better! 

At last...

I finally baked something!

Mmm Sopapilla Cheesecake!

And I'll be baking more soon because we are making cookies with the EQ kids tomorrow and Thunderbolts on Monday. Yippee :)

BE STILL

Love this. 

Hogwarts and a Puppy

So today was our first official day at work really since the kids started back at the primary schools today. We went and visited three in the area and handed out some of the postcards I made that promote what we do. Tonight was the start up of two of our groups Thunderbolts and Lightning bolts. Thunderbolts is based on Harry Potter this term! 

I made a sorting hat and we sorted to kids into houses, played Quidditch and I did a short talk on sacrificial love. In the end of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Albus tells Harry:

 “Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign…to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.” 

I related this to God sacrificing Jesus.  

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

-Romans 5:6-8

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

-1 John 4:10

Overall it was a great day and I have no doubt God is going to do some awesome things while I am here!

Lightning Bolts was a little more laid back (older kids). Just hung out with them and played games. Praying that my relationship grows with them more, especially the girls! 

On a side note I was talking with my family last night to discover they had decided to get a puppy, a great dane puppy! My sister posted on my wall this morning saying they got her and sent me this:

Meet Abby! 

Needless to say I am even more excited to go home at the end of the month! 

All you need is love, love. Love is all you need.

Yesterday Ste and I went into town to hang out with some friends of his. The bus ride there was probably the most interesting part of the day. While waiting at the stop we ran into a kid Ste knows who was with two other boys. Naturally they decided to sit by us on the bus and the oldest who was 13 proceeds to pull out a deck of playing cards with naked girls on them. Needless to say I was a little shocked but even more so when he pointed to the girl's chest and asked me if mine looked like that. Oh the things I wanted to say to this kid, but I bit my tongue! Definitely a sign from God that this is where I am supposed to be. These kids need Jesus and lots and lots of love.

After our eventful ride we met up with Ste's friends in town and had a great rest of the day!

I had a delicious burger with onion rings and BBQ sauce. Yum!

And then I went to the cinema with Ste's friend Dave's wife, Hannah and a couple of her friends. It was fun to hang out with some girls and see a chick flick. Also I had my first taste of ice cream since I have been across the pond!

It wasn't Bluebell but it was pretty tasty! 

I'm pathetic.

I know it has only been like three weeks but I am already missing certain things from good ole' Texas. For example:

No words needed.

Cowboy boots.

Baking in my mom's kitchen.

Fried pickles.

Sweet tea.

My queen size bed.

Mexican food.

Driving and jamming out in my car. 

But on a happier note...things I love about England: 

Hot tea 24/7. 

Custard cream biscuits. 

Porridge with honey and milk. 

The views. (This is Roseberry Topping)

Drying clothes on the radiators. 

Haribo gummies. 

Best chocolate ever.

Our beautiful church.