Saturday, April 17, 2010
LONDON PICTURES!!!
Make sure you check out my pictues from London and Greewich from last weekend. I was a blast!!!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Reflection Sunday: Week 7
(I posted two blog entries before this one, so make sure you read those first before you move to the next one. Sorry about slacking off this past week; however I have been struggling with a lingering illness.)
I cannot believe that I have been here for two months already. Honestly, it seems like I've been here for three to four months. This past week, although a short one due to our bank holiday on Easter Monday, was long and difficult for me. I tried to find some "normalcy" in my work, but several of my cases exploded with criis after crisis. Throughout this past week, I found myself asking God "Why? Why did You send me here to experience such struggles and hardships right in the beginning of my ministry here in the UK? Why do you let such hard times befall me when I am here to do your will? YO are the One who wanted me to come here -- so here I am Lord!!!" Does it sound like I am angry at God? Well, honestly, I was. I could not help the way I was feeling, so I did what I was taught to do by a wonderful therapist -- I had to accept my feelings and take ownership of them. They are MY feelings and they are in reaction to a scarey and difficult experience. I know that my God forgave me when I asked for His forgiveness at becoming so angry with Him. But I know He has broad shoulders and will help me carry my cross.
Reflecting upon this past week, I also realized that I must take time away from work with my friends and enjoy this country which God has placed my to walk His journey here on earth. Although I was not feeling well for most of last week, I was able to manage some fun, quality time with my friends here in the UK. You see, these "Reflection Sundays" are mostly for my benefit to help me learn from my mistakes, struggles, and hard times. They are also a time for me to find the positive, good, and fun times I had throughout the previous week. Because, my friends and family, there is not a week that does not go by where we experience both positive & negative; fun & boring; happy & sad times throughout our days. Most of the time, we focus on the negative -- well, at least I did. But now I an trying to focus on the positive, fun and blessed times. I believe that is what Jesus would want us to do; especially during this joyous time after His Ressurrection.
Sure, I struggled with trying to balance serveral emergencies in my work, but I also found time to spend with good friends and enjoy that which God has given to me. I am blessed to have such wonderful friends in a strange and far-away country fron you to find support and genuine care and concern for each person. As they care for me, so I care and find comfort in them. Folks, I continue to challenge you to find the positive part of each week and to dwell on those fun and/or fond memories. If you are one to get caught up in the negative parts of your life or the life of another individual, then focus on those positive parts of your week. If you cannot find any psoitive areas of your past week(s), then that is my challenge to you: to identify the positive areas of your past week and throw those memories into the front of your mind so that you made be in a positive frame of heart, mind and soul to hear God's wonderful word in your heart. Have fun this week, wherever you decided to turn to find it -- in the small or grand -- the positives are there; just go grab them!!!
I cannot believe that I have been here for two months already. Honestly, it seems like I've been here for three to four months. This past week, although a short one due to our bank holiday on Easter Monday, was long and difficult for me. I tried to find some "normalcy" in my work, but several of my cases exploded with criis after crisis. Throughout this past week, I found myself asking God "Why? Why did You send me here to experience such struggles and hardships right in the beginning of my ministry here in the UK? Why do you let such hard times befall me when I am here to do your will? YO are the One who wanted me to come here -- so here I am Lord!!!" Does it sound like I am angry at God? Well, honestly, I was. I could not help the way I was feeling, so I did what I was taught to do by a wonderful therapist -- I had to accept my feelings and take ownership of them. They are MY feelings and they are in reaction to a scarey and difficult experience. I know that my God forgave me when I asked for His forgiveness at becoming so angry with Him. But I know He has broad shoulders and will help me carry my cross.
Reflecting upon this past week, I also realized that I must take time away from work with my friends and enjoy this country which God has placed my to walk His journey here on earth. Although I was not feeling well for most of last week, I was able to manage some fun, quality time with my friends here in the UK. You see, these "Reflection Sundays" are mostly for my benefit to help me learn from my mistakes, struggles, and hard times. They are also a time for me to find the positive, good, and fun times I had throughout the previous week. Because, my friends and family, there is not a week that does not go by where we experience both positive & negative; fun & boring; happy & sad times throughout our days. Most of the time, we focus on the negative -- well, at least I did. But now I an trying to focus on the positive, fun and blessed times. I believe that is what Jesus would want us to do; especially during this joyous time after His Ressurrection.
Sure, I struggled with trying to balance serveral emergencies in my work, but I also found time to spend with good friends and enjoy that which God has given to me. I am blessed to have such wonderful friends in a strange and far-away country fron you to find support and genuine care and concern for each person. As they care for me, so I care and find comfort in them. Folks, I continue to challenge you to find the positive part of each week and to dwell on those fun and/or fond memories. If you are one to get caught up in the negative parts of your life or the life of another individual, then focus on those positive parts of your week. If you cannot find any psoitive areas of your past week(s), then that is my challenge to you: to identify the positive areas of your past week and throw those memories into the front of your mind so that you made be in a positive frame of heart, mind and soul to hear God's wonderful word in your heart. Have fun this week, wherever you decided to turn to find it -- in the small or grand -- the positives are there; just go grab them!!!
Saturday in Greenwich & London
Although I was not feeling well, I managed to pull myself out of bed, get dressed, pack a bag for the day, and head to Reading Station to go into London to with friends for some R&R. Well, everyone, it was well worth the effort!!! My friend, Danielle, and I went to Greenwich today since it was absolutely beautiful outside (sunny and warm)!!! It only costs 20 pounds to get an all-day pass for the train, London tube, and buses, which is an awesome deal. We took the train from Reading to London Paddington Station; then two tubes and a bus rideto Canary Wharf; then another train from Canary Wharf to Greenwich. The first thing we did was head to Greenwich Market to get something to eat. I got a Spanish sausage tapa ("on bread" or "sandwich") with chips -- it was the best thing I have tasted over here to date!!! We sat on Greenwich dock along the Thames River while we ate and people-watched (my absolute favorite pastime!!). After we ate, we headed to Greenwich Park and went to the Observatory. I got a picture of The Prime Meridian (0 degrees 0'0"). I was standing across the line dividing the West from the East. How cool is that!!! Not only have I stood West to East over the Prime Meridian, but I also stood North to South over the Equator!!! And I have pictures to prove it!!!
After Danielle and I walked down from the Observatory, we went back to Greenwich Market to do some "window" shopping. I was very tempted to buy some wonderful items; however, I did not since I really must save my money right now to buy furniture for my house and food for my fridge. Maybe next time I go I will buy some things. I did find a some gifts for up-coming birthdays and anniversaries, but they will have to wait as well. The market closes at 5:30pm, so Danielle and I went to meet two more friends at Trafalgar Square in London. It was really awesome to stand at "the lions" and see Big Ben, the National Museum, and other places I have only seen in the movies. We sat up on the huge lions and just "people-watched" for about an half-an-hour. We then got a bit thirsty, so we headed for a pub to quench our thirsts. We found a wonderful little pub called "Tom Cribb." Tom Cribb was London's world champion bare-knuckle boxer from 1804 to 1822, who was trained by Captain Barclay. The pub was very awesome and we had a good time laughing at our day today.
We then met up with two more friends, so we went to dinner in Piccadilly Square. We had such a fun time together, laughing about everything and nothing at all. When someone mentioned a work-related topic, we quickly changed it and talked about something else. It was so great to get together in London on such a wonderful day/evening. After we finished dinner, we all took the tube back to Paddington Station, where we split up to head back to our respective areas of living. Two live right outside London, so four of us said good-bye to them. We hopped on our train back to Reading Station and had many laughs on our way home. Once at Reading Station, we each caught our respective buses home. I walked in the door at 11:30pm. The entire day was probably THE best time I have had here in England since arriving.
The friends I have made here are so wonderful and I will continue to say that I am "blessed" to have such an awesome group of people to experience the once-in-a-lifetime opporturnity. I just pray they feel the same about me. (Pictures to follow soon)
After Danielle and I walked down from the Observatory, we went back to Greenwich Market to do some "window" shopping. I was very tempted to buy some wonderful items; however, I did not since I really must save my money right now to buy furniture for my house and food for my fridge. Maybe next time I go I will buy some things. I did find a some gifts for up-coming birthdays and anniversaries, but they will have to wait as well. The market closes at 5:30pm, so Danielle and I went to meet two more friends at Trafalgar Square in London. It was really awesome to stand at "the lions" and see Big Ben, the National Museum, and other places I have only seen in the movies. We sat up on the huge lions and just "people-watched" for about an half-an-hour. We then got a bit thirsty, so we headed for a pub to quench our thirsts. We found a wonderful little pub called "Tom Cribb." Tom Cribb was London's world champion bare-knuckle boxer from 1804 to 1822, who was trained by Captain Barclay. The pub was very awesome and we had a good time laughing at our day today.
We then met up with two more friends, so we went to dinner in Piccadilly Square. We had such a fun time together, laughing about everything and nothing at all. When someone mentioned a work-related topic, we quickly changed it and talked about something else. It was so great to get together in London on such a wonderful day/evening. After we finished dinner, we all took the tube back to Paddington Station, where we split up to head back to our respective areas of living. Two live right outside London, so four of us said good-bye to them. We hopped on our train back to Reading Station and had many laughs on our way home. Once at Reading Station, we each caught our respective buses home. I walked in the door at 11:30pm. The entire day was probably THE best time I have had here in England since arriving.
The friends I have made here are so wonderful and I will continue to say that I am "blessed" to have such an awesome group of people to experience the once-in-a-lifetime opporturnity. I just pray they feel the same about me. (Pictures to follow soon)
Trivia Answer to "The Lizard"
Two correct answers!!! You must be from here or have visited The Lizard in thepast. Either way, Kuddos!!!
The Lizard is a peninsula of Cornwall, and contains the most southerly point of mainland Cornwall and of the island of Great Britain, Lizard Point. The peninsula measures approximately 14 miles x 14 miles. Historically a particularly hazardous stretch of coastline, it was also known as the "Graveyard of Ships".
The name 'Lizard' is most probably a corruption of the Cornish name 'Lys Ardh', meaning 'high court'; it is purely coincidental that much of the peninsula is composed of a rock called serpentinite. The Lizard peninsula's original name may have been the Celtic name 'Predannack' ("British one") as during the Iron Age (Pytheas c. 325 BC) and Roman period, Britain was known as Pretannike (in Greek) and as Albion (and Britons the 'Pretani'). The rocks of the Lizard are extremely metamorphosed and folded in many places. The Lizard is important from a geological point of view as it is Britain's most complete example of an ophiolite; a large proportion of the rock is serpentinite.
There is evidence of early habitation with several burial mounds and stones. Part of the peninsula is known as the Meneage (land of the monks). There are several towns and villages on the peninsula. Helston once headed the estuary of the River Cober, before it was cut off from the sea by Loe Bar in the 13th century. It was a small port which exported tin and copper. Helston was certainly in existence in the sixth century when it was inhabited by Saxons. The name comes from the Cornish 'hen lis' or 'old court' and 'ton' added later to denote a Saxon manor; the Domesday Book refers to it as Henliston (which survives as the name of a road in the town). It was granted its charter by King John in 1201. It was here that tin ingots were weighed to determine the duty due to the Duke of Cornwall when a number of stannary towns were authorised by royal decree.
By the 14th century, a hamlet of fishermen's dwellings had established itself around the cove at Porthleven, named from the old Cornish 'porth' (harbour) and 'leven' (level or smooth). It grew with miners and farm workers; and building of a harbor began in 1811. In 1855 the harbor was deepened, and a boatbuilding industry began, lasting until recently. The port imported coal, limestone and timber, and exported tin, copper and china clay. The harbor also heralded the start of Porthleven's golden days of pilchard fishing.
Mullion has the 15th century church of St Mellanus, and the Old Inn from the 16th century. The harbor was completed in 1895 and financed by Lord Robartes of Lanhydrock as recompense to the fishermen for several disastrous pilchard seasons. The small church of St Peter in Coverack, built in 1885 for £500, has a serpentinite pulpit.
Well folks, that's The Lizard in jolly ole' England. Best of luck on the next trivia question!!!!
The Lizard is a peninsula of Cornwall, and contains the most southerly point of mainland Cornwall and of the island of Great Britain, Lizard Point. The peninsula measures approximately 14 miles x 14 miles. Historically a particularly hazardous stretch of coastline, it was also known as the "Graveyard of Ships".
The name 'Lizard' is most probably a corruption of the Cornish name 'Lys Ardh', meaning 'high court'; it is purely coincidental that much of the peninsula is composed of a rock called serpentinite. The Lizard peninsula's original name may have been the Celtic name 'Predannack' ("British one") as during the Iron Age (Pytheas c. 325 BC) and Roman period, Britain was known as Pretannike (in Greek) and as Albion (and Britons the 'Pretani'). The rocks of the Lizard are extremely metamorphosed and folded in many places. The Lizard is important from a geological point of view as it is Britain's most complete example of an ophiolite; a large proportion of the rock is serpentinite.
There is evidence of early habitation with several burial mounds and stones. Part of the peninsula is known as the Meneage (land of the monks). There are several towns and villages on the peninsula. Helston once headed the estuary of the River Cober, before it was cut off from the sea by Loe Bar in the 13th century. It was a small port which exported tin and copper. Helston was certainly in existence in the sixth century when it was inhabited by Saxons. The name comes from the Cornish 'hen lis' or 'old court' and 'ton' added later to denote a Saxon manor; the Domesday Book refers to it as Henliston (which survives as the name of a road in the town). It was granted its charter by King John in 1201. It was here that tin ingots were weighed to determine the duty due to the Duke of Cornwall when a number of stannary towns were authorised by royal decree.
By the 14th century, a hamlet of fishermen's dwellings had established itself around the cove at Porthleven, named from the old Cornish 'porth' (harbour) and 'leven' (level or smooth). It grew with miners and farm workers; and building of a harbor began in 1811. In 1855 the harbor was deepened, and a boatbuilding industry began, lasting until recently. The port imported coal, limestone and timber, and exported tin, copper and china clay. The harbor also heralded the start of Porthleven's golden days of pilchard fishing.
Mullion has the 15th century church of St Mellanus, and the Old Inn from the 16th century. The harbor was completed in 1895 and financed by Lord Robartes of Lanhydrock as recompense to the fishermen for several disastrous pilchard seasons. The small church of St Peter in Coverack, built in 1885 for £500, has a serpentinite pulpit.
Well folks, that's The Lizard in jolly ole' England. Best of luck on the next trivia question!!!!
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