Cold, dreary London our first stop will be...

What up fam! So here’s my first post from oversees. I apologize if it gets incoherent at points, I’m working on over 24 hrs without sleep at this moment, attempting to get my body adjusted to the time change. The flight itself was thankfully uneventful (except for the crying, no, screaming child in my row as we descended into London). Ok, quick story from the flight; you Harry Potter fans out there will appreciate this. It made me strangely jubilant when I heard the women next to me say to her husband (in the most delightful accent) “Neville…” The rest is not important. If you don’t understand why that would make me happy, go watch Harry Potter. If you still don’t get it, well I can’t help you then.

Moving on. London is…well…grey, cold, busy. Pretty much not my favorite place at first glance. There is very little green in the middle of the city, which is great for my allergies, but otherwise makes me sad. I miss trees. Let me say that again. I MISS TREES!!!!! God’s creation is so much more beautiful, peaceful, and alive than concrete. And oddly enough, even when we did see green in a little public park or square, it seemed a much duller, less lively green. It just seemed too artificial, neatly cropped among all the grey. But I rant. I’m giving London a second chance tomorrow, when I’ve had some sleep. I think the forecast is for rain…

The hostel we’re staying at for the next five days is quite entertaining. Lots of bright colors, mostly blue and various shades of green, it strikes me as the type of place that most ADD Gen-Yers would find enjoyable; there’s a lot going on. It is very clean, but has a metallic smell, as most of the furnishings have some kind of metallic frame, and much of the floor is metal. As mentioned, there are lots of bright colors on the walls, in addition to lighting that has an industrial feel. Overall, very comfortable.

We have certainly hit the ground running. My neck is already strained from bending over my book/Kindle. Spent much of my sleepless flight reading, and have used the last four hours at the hostel catching up on assignment as well. Not a good sign that I’m already behind…oh well, I guess I better get used to it. I remind myself that I’m in Europe, and that makes it all better!

As for my personal studies, I have completed a plan for all who are interested to read through the book of Acts throughout the semester. God has really impressed the need for continued intimacy with Him, but also for the need for community. To this end, I think this particular book has much to teach about living in community, something obviously important this semester. It also has great historical significance, in that we will be visiting some of the sites where the early Christians planted churches, and that’s just plain cool. In addition to this, I will be making the opportunity available on free days to gather and listen to a sermon by a pastor from Charlotte and respond in discussion. My hope is that many of my classmates will join me in this. It is my goal to create an authentic environment to talk about issues beyond the mundane trip details, in order to foster a bond among the group that is stronger than that of mere classmates. This type of discussion will never be limited to a certain group based on opinion or beliefs, but will simply be a forum for people to trust one another and be vulnerable. Such vulnerability, I believer, will be vital for each of us to get as much as possible out of this experience. Personally, I think God has much to teach me, and I gladly appreciate prayer that He would specifically reveal areas I must grow in, and then that He would put me in situations that require such growth. Finally, that I would take advantage of those situation and joyfully grow.

Tomorrow the plan is to hit up the British Museum. It would be an understatement to say I’m excited. Later this week we’ll be doing research in the great Library here in London, see the National gallery and Tate gallery of art, the Globe theater, among other things I am forgetting now.  I’ll keep y’all posted at the end of the week, when I will have more than enough to write about. Y’all be good!

Phil

P.S. I posted some picture just from walking around London...more will some once we start moving around and seeing more cool stuff! Don't worry, I'll get people too...