This Crazy, Throbbing World

I apologize in advance for the length of this post, since I have done a very poor job of updating you these last few days. Let me just begin by saying that I love London. "Well ok", you're thinking to yourself, "that's an obvious fact, why is she saying this?" but it's true! But I love London not just because of it's rich history, beautiful architecture, and endless things to do (although all of these things are great), but because this city is full of life. It's the little things that make this place feel like home. I get all the advantages and excitement of a big city, but I can still get lost in a park and imagine myself in the countryside or settle into a coffee shop and feel like I'm back in downtown Franklin. :) So many cultures. People in and out of the city constantly. So much to do and see. But there is also calm. There is also stability. That is why I love London. A great example happened a few days ago when Christina and I set off to find a cafe a few blocks from here that our neighbor had recommended to us. After several wrong turns, etc. we finally found it. It is this fantastic hole-in-the-wall cafe that has been there for centuries. It is called Troubadour Cafe and my little classically-trained heart quite enjoyed that. The large front window has dozens of old tea kettles lining the shelves and hundreds of old violins hang from the ceiling. (oh i almost forgot to mention that Jimmi Hendrix and Bob Dylan have played gigs there!)We settled into a booth in the corner, sipped on some coffee, and enjoyed the great music while attempting some homework. I was reading for my Biblical Perspectives class and the article I was reading about interpreting the Bible was discussing how the men who wrote scripture down were not scholars who hid away in caves, but rather men who wrote the truth in the midst of the tingle and roar of life. I had to stop there. I looked up and could feel the tingle and roar of life all around me as the music played, people came in and out of the cafe, and people rode by on bicycles. The words on the page came to life as I watched life happen around me in this crazy throbbing world, just like Jesus and all those before and after Him lived in. The Bible was written in the midst of life, not separate from it. And I am not separate from the tingle and roar either.
I also had my first introduction to the Hornsey School for Girls, where I will be interning all semester. The school is very diverse, with 40 different languages spoken by the girls in the school! Over 50% of the students profess a Muslim belief and there are almost no girls that have the same skin pigment as me. I am so excited! What an amazing opportunity to get stretched and grown. I will be working partly in the "Positive Behavior Program" as a mentor to a small group of girls who are struggling with behavior issues that is negatively affecting their schoolwork. The other part of my time will be spent shadowing English teachers in the classroom. I cannot wait to get to know the girls at school and be able to make a difference (in some small way) in their lives. I'm sure there will be many stories to come.
Almost the entire group went to Dover on Saturday (a small town in the district of Kent) and we had a very full day! We left in the morning, had an hour train ride, and arrived in time for the next boat tour. We were shown much of the shoreline and given a brief overview of the town. It was a very windy and cold experience, haha. We then did a 4 mile hike over the White Cliffs of Dover and this was by far my favorite part of the day! The cliffs are made of white chalk and they create a magnificent contrast against the dark sea below. The trails were simple dirt paths amidst green grass and there was a strong wind throughout the journey. I felt like i was in a Jane Austen book.
We also had a chance to see Dover Castle which has a breathe taking view over the town. The rooms were all set up just as they had been when royalty lived there and I could actually understand what life would be like inside the thick stones walls. It felt so real.
We ended the day by touring the secret wartime tunnels that were dug into the white cliffs. They were first built during the Napoleonic Wars and then expanded during WWII. Over 2,000 soldiers lived in these underground tunnels and was a main defense/operating station for the British Army, Navy, and Air Force! It was pretty amazing to see it all recreated with sounds, smells, and sights that would have taken place during the war. I cannot imagine living underground for months, always expecting a bomb raid or attack from the sea. Needless to say, the train ride home was very quiet since we were all pretty wiped.

I went to Hillsong for church on Sunday it was phenomenal! I definitely want to go back. We went to lunch with a small group of girls from the church and at our table alone there were someone from Belgium, France, Britain, South Africa, Texas, and of course Tennessee. We had a wonderful time and ended up staying and talking for two hours. It felt so good to get to know people involved in the church and from so many different places (again, that's why i love it here). We ended Sunday with the Thames Festival that was taking place this weekend, with lots of food, music, and tents lining the Thames river. The festival ended at 10, so they had fireworks over the Thames river at 9:45. The explosions lighting up with sky and reflecting in the water is an image I will never forget. I feel like I say this a lot, but it is so true: I am blessed. I don't want to take a single day for granted! Every day is new and exciting and I am so glad that I get to share my stories with all of you. Afterall, in the end all that matters is God, His people, and the stories they have to tell.