...And the Beginning of Another

A new chapter...I sit and type on the eve of CROSS Training! And I think:

"God has me 51% funded!"

"I am excited about tomorrow and the start of new things He's gonna do."

"Wait, it's already past 12:00! I need to get to bed!" :D (For those who may not know, I have a strong aversion to mornings. Needless to say I am not exactly relishing the thought of being up and at 'em before ten for the next month). Please note the very well put Garfield comics below.

 To try to put CROSS Training in a nutshell, I am going to quote from Stephanie Caraway's "Team Caraway" Update. Because 1) She puts it so well, and 2) I really do need to get to bed :D

"During CROSS Training, participants will share testimonies, learn about cross-cultural ministry, sharpen their interpersonal skills, learn how to care for themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually while serving in ministry, and more."

So there you have it :D I will be quite busy for the next month by the sounds of it.

Your continued prayers are coveted greatly (especially in the morning matter). Also: getting along with the other fifteen participants, forming strong bonds, unity (within the group), facilitator and participator endurance, etc :D

The End of One Chapter...

I left you hanging there...my time in England ended well-ish. I was pretty sick the beginning of December. But Helena and I were both feeling under the weather so we passed the day with boxes of tissues and a few good romance movies ;) And who can forget crumpets and raspberry jam? Delish!

Saturday I was able to go out shopping with a dear friend, Claire, who devoted her entire day to me! I was very blessed, we went to the Manchester Christmas Markets, and once we were too cold to go on we headed to the warmth of The Trafford Centre! Grabbed a bite to eat at a very nice Mexican restaurant - think if Subway turned Mexican :D

Claire

Sign outside Screen 5

Sunday I was able to attend church with Helena and Joe at...a movie theatre of all places. Their church meets there as a way to go to the community. Was fantastic to walk into a cinema filled with people praising the Lord.

After church we went REAL Christmas Tree shopping :D We've always had a fake, so this was a new experience for me!

I was able to visit for a couple hours with my Dad's parents in the evening, and then off to bed for an early flight back to the U.S.!

I arrived safely back in the States although I was to have a bit of a wait in the airport in New York since our flight was delayed coming in. Having a migraine, being sick with a cold, feeling nauseous and having to wait for a flight that is supposed to leave at 2:30 and keeps getting pushed back - do not make good combinations - no matter how you put them together! We finally boarded sometime after 5:30. But it was good to chat with some of the other passengers. Found out one lady was retired from teacing at "a small Christian University in Marion" - it was IWU!!!

Well, that concludes my trip to Great Britain - God was faithful - as always and it was a truly amazing trip :D To God be the Glory; Great Things He Hath Done. Amen.