this is love.

To be honest, I've not had a great week.  At least not from the beginning of the week. 


I was completely isolated the first few days, hit hard with the flu and the misery that accompanies.  Coupled with homesickness, I felt ready to cry.  And might have, if the truth be told!  However, God is good.  All the time.  At the loneliest moment, my "boss" here in London called me to see how I was doing.  We chatted for a while on the phone, and I mentioned that I was going crazy being home alone.  After we said goodnight, I honestly felt better.  It was so nice to have someone call just to see how I was.  But then, five minutes later, she rang again.  This time, she said, "Hope, my husband will be there around 8:30 to pick you up.  I'm making you soup, and you're coming to stay with us so I can take care of you."


At this, the tears started in earnest, but it was a different kind of tears.  As I write, I'm sitting in a borrowed bed, in borrowed pjs, sipping freshly made hot peppermint and lemon tea, and I'm just so thankful.  I'm starting to heal.  Its my second day of staying with my boss. From homemade Brazilian soup to chocolates on my pillow, I've been welcomed home and cared for with love.


This is hospitality.  This is love.  I can guarantee I've not been the greatest houseguest (not unless a great houseguest sleeps all the time!), but I've been reminded that I'm to be at home.  Its humbling to not be able to give anything back when you are being so blessed.


Amid the holiday lights, the parties, the carols, this speaks to me of the Christmas spirit as much as anything else.  Christmas is, after all, about love.  For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son (John 3:16)...

Thanksgiving

So often I start to pray to thank God for the blessings of my life and realize that my prayer will last a very long time!  I'm blessed.  This past Thursday was a day that reminded me of that once again.

Returning to London a month ago was more challenging than I expected.  I really missed my family.  I love the Thanksgiving holiday and although I was excited to celebrate it, I wasn't looking forward to it being a typical day here in the UK. Yet through the gifts of several dear friends, I was able to book a ticket to Madrid with an American friend from London.  We went to stay with friends of ours and on Thursday, celebrated American Thanksgiving in Madrid with a total of 17 adults, from Cuba, Zimbabwe, Spain, and a few other countries as well!

The meal began around 2, with a proper feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, rolls, and even cranberry sauce.  We even had homemade apple and pumpkin pies!  In the wonderful manner of meals, we ate, conversed in English and Spanish, ate some more, drank our coffee...and deepened friendships.  Bruce asked us to each take a turn and share one thing we are thankful for from the past year.  My family has the same tradition.  It brought tears to my eyes to know that a few hours later, they would be seated around the table in Pennsylvania doing the same.  But it was also a beautiful reminder that I was still celebrating Thanksgiving with family, just not my biological family.

After we all shared, we held hands and sang the Doxology.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

The entire adventure to Madrid was indeed a blessing.  I laughed a lot!  Meandered Madrid on Friday, wandering the streets without any real purpose other than seeing the city.  Thank goodness Valerie and I share a strong desire to explore!  I didn't realize that Madrid was such a hilly city.  Its beautiful.  (Don't tell the French, but I like Madrid more than I liked Paris!)  Friday was the first day that the city's Christmas lights were turned on.  It added to the festive air of a Friday night in the city!  

Madrid did let Valerie and I down in one way.  We were hoping for warmer weather than London, and instead, we took the clouds to Spain!  Friday was at least not a rainy day, and we could still appreciate the sunset despite the cold air.

And now I'm back in London, almost ready to start another week.  Blessings to you all, and Happy Thanksgiving a little late!

homework club

Part of my weekly schedule at the community centre includes a homework club for primary school children.  In an area where many parents are learning English themselves, its necessary to have native speakers assist the kids with their work.  Tonight, I helped several little girls with their spelling and math.  After Fatima completed her schoolwork, she started drawing and kept hiding what she was working on.  At the end of the night, she gave me two drawings of the two of us, one of which is below.

The part that made me smile was the letter she included with the second drawing.  In marker, she wrote: "I like you because you helpt me with my work.  You ar my favrert.  I like you.  Amerycer is nise because my dad went there and he told me that it is nice.  That is your contry.  You were born ther.  I like you."

Clearly we need to keep working on spelling.  But it warmed my heart.

The second funny moment happened when the mums were coming to pick the children up from homework club.  Fatima and Muhammad were both looking to see if their mums had come through the door.  Fatima turned to Muhammad, who was closer to the door, and asked, "Was that my mum who just came?" Muhammad responded by saying, "I dunno. I don't know what your mum looks like."  Without missing a beat, he asked, "What color is her hijab [headscarf]?"

I chuckled, but it was just a good reminder to me that different cultures have different ways of recognizing familiarity.  In a society where a woman's hair is to be covered, of course a little boy wouldn't ask, "What color is your mum's hair?"  It made me consider my perception.  To me, a headscarf is an addition, more of an accessory.  But to this little boy, it was part of the identity of his friend's mum.  Perhaps the next evening, I'll be able to ask her how she views wearing the headscarf.  I'll try to remember to let you know :)

Transport in London

During my last three months in the USA, I got spoiled by just hopping in a car to get to my destination.  These first weeks back in London have had numerous moments to acclimate myself.  Last Sunday, I was going to visit a Zimbabwean church here in London.  I live in Northwest London, and the church meets in East London.  As is often the case, my line on the tube wasn't running because of construction, so I planned accordingly.  I emailed my friends who were going with me and told them, "I'll take the bus from my house to Wembley, catch the Bakerloo line, meet you at your station, then we'll switch to the overground, take the overground to Stratford, and walk from the station to the church."  All well and good, except when I checked TFL, the overground was also going to be having work done!  Replacement buses are a nightmare in my opinion, so we again revamped our plans.  In the end, it took me roughly two hours to get from my house to church.  Thank goodness for Starbucks to help me along the way!

  My second story with the joys of London travel happened yesterday.  I was walking to the tube station with my friend Sara.  The rain had been fairly constant all day and the wind was blowing.  However, a car drove by, perfectly hitting a deep puddle, sending a sheet of icy rainwater straight over both Sara and I.  We were drenched.  Absolutely drenched.  Literally from head to toe.  By the time I reached the station, I was shivering from the drops dribbling down my neck from my wet hair, down the collar of my wet wool coat, as I trudged along in my now wet boots.

I was not a happy camper.

Then I got to the station and hopped on the train where the heat was cranked!  I'm not sure that's healthy, but it was a welcome change.

And such is the day to day joy of public transportation in London.  But just for the record, I would never want to drive here!  I'll take the hassle of buses and tubes any day!

darkness and light

I can never escape from your Spirit!

I can never get away from your presence!

If I go up to heaven, you are there;

if I go down to the grave, you are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning, 

If I dwell by the farthest oceans, 

even there your hand will guide me, 

and your strength will support me.

I could ask the darkness to hide me

and the light around me to become night--

but even in the darkness I cannot hide from you.

To you the night shines bright as day.

Darkness and light are the same to you

Psalm 139: 7-12 (NLT)

fall colours, London calling...

 The beauty of fall in Pennsylvania never ceases to amaze me.  I'm blessed to have been here to experience it this year.  If you haven't already read it in some other form, I have good news.  My visa is set and plane ticket purchased and I'm heading back to London-town!  The time I've had here in Pennsylvania has been amazing but I'm ready to go back to the UK.  Although I love the leaves and the creeks and the paths through the trees, I miss the British Museum, Oxford Circus, and my little house.  

Unfortunately, I'll be returning to sunset being around 4:45 in the afternoon and it will only get worse for about two more months.  (At least I'm not even further north!) Now that's just not right!  I much prefer the sun going down around 10 p.m, as it does during the summer months!

I might need some ideas of places to explore in England in the winter months...feel free to leave comments or email if you have any suggestions!  

The Flyover!

To the Palace to see the Queen

Trooping the Colour!

Trooping the Colour is the official celebration of the Queen's birthday, but the tradition actually dates back over two hundred years (I think to Charles II). I found out about it and thought it sounded like fun, so I convinced a friend to go along....and it was a great day! Tons of people, even more pictures, and I got to see the Queen three times!

Gordie (an American/Canadian visiting for the summer) expressing his excitement at seeing the Queen!

Twists and Turns of Life

I normally leave this blog for pictures with little commentary about life, but today will be different.  

Life has been challenging lately and I've been struggling a bit here in London.  I've been so tired from a crazy schedule, missing family, and worrying about my grandmother (who has not been feeling so great lately).  But God is so good, and I'm so thankful that I have a God who loves me and gives me strength.

This morning, my pastor at church was reminding us that God meets us where we are, with as much or as little energy we have, God just wants us to keep turning to Him.  The pastor made the valid point that we often turn to God when we feel weak or overwhelmed, but he really reminded the church that we need to continue to turn to God when we feel strong also.  He commented, "Even if you feel like you only have 5% to give, God will the other 95% for you."  Well, honestly, when I woke up, I felt like I was at about 5%!  But God is so good.  Church was really encouraging to me.  The sermon was a great reminder to worship God, regardless of how I feel.  God is faithful.

Then this afternoon, I went down to London's famous Corner and I got into some really good conversations.  Perhaps the best one was with a man who does not believe in a higher authority (other than human morality) but yet seems hesitant to claim to be an atheist.  A friend of mine and another girl were speaking to this man and I went over to listen but joined in and ended up carrying on the conversation after they left.  We had a great conversation and as he is in London for five weeks for business, I'm hoping I'll see him another week.  After we said our goodbyes, one of my friend's, who had been talking to this man earlier, came over and said, "What did you say to him?  After you started talking him, he seemed to soften..."  Thanks be to God, because I was praying the entire time we were talking!

And as I sat on the tube on the way home, I had time to reflect on how good God is to me.  I started my day, tired and not really interested in engaging with anyone, and instead, God encouraged me through a conversation with an atheist.  Did I expect that this morning?  Not in my wildest dreams.

The big move :-)

Sigh.  It's June, and I'm not sure what happened to May.  Part of the busyness was because I was looking for a new house!  Through God's grace and the connections of friends, I found a good place in the house pictured below.  I moved in on June 1.  I'm on the second floor, and I think I'll enjoy living here.  My two housemates are both older, which contributes to our house being quiet.  Everyone keeps to themselves other than some chats in the kitchen.  By the way, "our" house is only the left side of the house (when facing the house from the street).  

above: my house from the street

below: the view when you first enter the house.  To the right is a sitting room/dining room and the stairs go up to the three bedrooms and bathroom.

The kitchen

The back yard: It's quite a treat to have both a front yard and back yard!  It seems rare here in London.

So, there's a little view of my new home.  As you may have guessed, its a bit further out from the centre of London, but I really appreciate that.  This bush baby needs some space!  There is a huge, beautiful park about ten minutes walk away, and in the opposite direction, its about 10 minutes to the tube station and grocery stores, pharmacy, restaurants, etc.  It lets me have my space and yet I can to the centre of London without too much effort!  

Cambridge with Kate

Yesterday was a bank holiday, so I caught a train up to Cambridge and spent the day with my friend Kate.  Kate and I met on a training program and travelled to China and Thailand together two years ago.  We've stayed in touch, and finally had a chance to see each other in person.  It was a great day!  It was so relaxing to get to spend the day with someone who has known for several years, who has seen me at my best and at my worst, and is still my friend!  After all the first impressions of the last two months, it was so nice to have the comfort of familiarity.  

Cambridge is only a 45 minute train ride from London, and Kate met me at the station.  We wandered around Cambridge for a few hours.  I think my IQ increased just from breathing the Cambridge air :)  The university aspect of Cambridge dates back to 1209, if my memory is correct, and the buildings are fantastic.  

green in the midst of concrete

This park is only a few streets over from my house.  I think I'll be spending a lot of time there.  The park is open from dawn until dusk, and there is a little tuck (snack) shop and cafe inside the park boundaries.  I've already sampled the lattes.  

The park, as you go up to the highest point, gives a nice view of the area, as well as the Wembley Arch.  The arch is part of Wembley Stadium and, at 316 meters (1037 feet) wide, it is the longest single roof structure in the world.  Its also a really pretty site when it is lit up at night.  

My favorite part of the park is the dogs.  I miss my puppies, and although dogs are supposed to be on a lead at the park, but many owners disregard that rule, and I don't mind a bit!  Its great to have a dog come running over to you, tail wagging, happy to be running free.  

(I don't really walk like that, by the way!) 

Spring is on its way....

to London-town.  Today was a windy, overcast day for the most part, one of the first in the month that I've been here.  However, as I was walking home to grab some dinner , the wind was blowing clouds away, enough to see the sun and the beautiful blue of the sky.  On my way, I started to see all of the wonderful brightness of Spring!  The parks are green, and now we are starting to see the brilliant colours everywhere.  I love the yellow of daffodils, the white and pink of blossoms on the trees, and so many other plants that I do not know...(horticulturalist I am not).   I came across a quote the other day that I rather like...Bern Williams (I really have now idea who he is) said, "The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created spring."  I like the sound of that :)  

Meandering along the Seine

The Seine runs through Paris, and there are 37 bridges across it just within the limits of the city.  While we didn't cross all 37, it was a lovely day to walk along the Seine to our various destinations.  

Basilique du Sacre-Coeur

Basilique du Sacre-Coeur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) is a Roman Catholic basilica in Montmartre, which is the highest point in Paris.  The church is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.  It is surprising new, considering the history and age of Paris, because building for it began in 1875.  This was actually the first stop on our day tour of Paris.  It offers a fantastic view of the city and the streets around Montmartre are beautiful as well.