To be loved by the King...

So let me tell you about Bristol... :)


This last weekend I jumped on the train and traveled to meet up with Dave Jeal, who I mentioned in my last post, is a friend to one of my professors at Sterling. He picked me up at the train station and I got into his car (on the front, left side...scary/weird feeling) and he drove me to his house to meet his family. His wife's name is Nikki and he has an 11-year-old daughter named Hannah. (She is the girl with me in my current profile picture on facebook.) Because it was Dave's birthday, the girls wanted to clean up and get ready to go out for curry...Dave's favorite. To give them some time, Dave and I went out sight seeing a bit. He had a lot of historical and fun stories to tell me because he has lived in Bristol all of his life. Before heading back, we stopped at a restaurant to get a drink (it's been really hot here). This restaurant had a gorgeous terrace that overlooked a deep ravine and winding river...awww sooo beautiful! Dave and I sipped on our refreshing beverages and just talked for a bit. He never shyed away from meaningful conversation and asked me about plans and dreams I had for my life. I don't think he realized just how much I enjoyed this part. When we got back to the house, the girls were ready to go and we headed out to eat at the favorite Bangladeshy restaurant. :) Dave's parents as well as a family friend, joined us for the birthday dinner and afterwards the whole gang returned back to the house for some incredible fudge cake and coffee.
Later that evening, Dave let me know that he had picked up on two things from our conversations earlier that day. To be honest, I didn't even recall mentioning them. First, I must have conveyed that I was missing home a little bit because he told me that I could use his phone to call home if I wanted. (After his gentle persistence, I did...it was a fun and unexpected surprise for me as well as my sister and mom.) The other thing I didn't realize I had hinted at was that at some point during my time in England I would love to spend time with God walking through a forest. Haha...Dave said, "Ya know Lauren, we have a forest out back and if you want, after church tomorrow, you could go for a walk down there." I wonder what my face looked like because I am awful at hiding expressions. :D
Church the next day was great; Dave and his family started this church 5 years ago and it continues to grow. I enjoyed helping them with all the little prepartions for the service and sunday school time. After church I asked if Dave and his family would walk down through the forest with me before I headed back to Oxford. Ahh they did... and I loved it.
That afternoon Dave and Hannah took me back to the train station and as we drove there, Dave went through the weekend and told me specific things he saw in me and encouraged me very purposefully. All I have to say to the weekend is WOW, wow, Wow...!!!
On the train ride back, I recorded some of the things Dave said to me and settled back into my seat and asked God what on earth had I done to receive such special attention this weekend...and he whispered back to me, "Nothing, Lauren...just wanted to say that I love you."
Oh to be loved by the King...
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Tutorial week #1 followed this lovely weekend, which means our first round of essays were due as well as two tutorial meetings to attend. The structure of the tutorial meeting goes like this: You bring your essay to your designated meeting time and read it out loud to your professor. As you read, the professor marks and underlines different parts of your paper that he or she would like to discuss. Both of my professors have been incredibly thorough. Afterwards I have to remind myself that I prayed for this, an opportunity to become a better communicator. It can be a rather humbling experience, but it is very helpful in that you are receiving personal counsel and direct answers to your questions. I like it! One of the closing questions to my first tutorial was, "Lauren, please explain your thoughts to me on child suffering."
This coming week, I have a tutorial on Tuesday and another one on Thursday. For my essay due on Tuesday I am explaining and expounding upon a quote of C.S. Lewis' "All who are in hell choose it." Thursday's essay/tutorial is over the literary elements of Jane Austen's novel "Emma." Haha...my classes hit really different parts of the research spectrum. It's been an interesting duo for sure.

Tomorrow, I am going to the botanical gardens with a couple of friends and I am super excited! This is something I have personally wanted to do since I first got here. I bought a new journal at an antique store yesterday...(antiques here are a tad bit older that the antiques in the U.S. ;) and I think starting my new journal at the botanical gardens is going to be very fitting. The garden is indeed where the Lord started writing our story. ;)

Hmmm...some closing thoughts:
I have been so refreshed by the Lord's personal and determined pursuit to finish the story he has started in my life.

May this truth rest in you today:
He sees you (all of who you've been and all you are capable of be coming) and asks you to "be confident in this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil. 1:6

He's working it out...

That's all for now,
Lauren