Wednesday, September 30, 2015

increasingly cozy


Just a few pictures to show how my little nest is taking shape here in Wycliffe Hall...



Note the all important coffee machine! 

More wall decor soon to come as well, but so far so good. Its already a world apart from the empty little space I first stepped into. Already friends enjoy coming over to hang out because its increasingly cozy:)



Monday, September 28, 2015

Moving day: Wycliffe Hall


Early this morning my friend Jonathan brought me to Wycliffe Hall where I rang the bell and was admitted. A lady appeared, greeted me briefly, handed me a small envelope bearing my name and room number,  and promptly disappeared again. Jonathan went to the car for my suitcase while I climbed a set of steps to the first floor hallway and located my room. 



Just as expected- the room is small and plain- but its my own space. 


I put my things down and promptly took a picture of the room- then set to work making it cozy:) Consider this the "before" picture. As soon as I had unpacked my bags, I headed to town to buy a coffee maker and stand, some hangers, and a few decor items. Update on room coziness soon to come. 


A couple other OCCA students have arrived! Sukai and I already met at Reboot this past weekend, and visited several churches together yesterday- and today Cameron was added to our number!The three of us ate sandwiches on a bench in a nearby lawn and then walked around the city a bit together. Later on I had tea with Cameron,  before we went to find food; our dining hall hasn't begun service yet. We ended up eating meat pies downtown on the steps of a monument- and agreed that it was a great first day in our new residence. When we arrived back at the hall, we met another new resident (not in our program but studying at our college) so we went back out with him- as we thought it sad he should go find his first dinner in Oxford all alone! It made the day a little long, but it helps ensure we will all sleep soundly despite being in a new place tonight:)

So its been back and forth from downtown all day- running errands and getting to know new people- all of us dreaming out loud about what this year holds. 



Saturday, September 26, 2015

getting warmed up: ReBoot London


Today my friend Helen and I traveled down to London early in the morning (we had to leave Oxford at 6am) to volunteer all day at the RZIM / OCCA presented event called ReBoot. The turn out for this youth apologetics training day was outstanding- around 900 young people were in attendance for the day of speakers, forums, Q&A, and worship!


I got to work alongside my RZIM / OCCA tutors, lecturers, and administrative staff- as well as hear several of them speaking in the sessions. And I haven't even started classes yet! Also volunteering at the event were two other OCCA students who, like me, have arrived early. It was fun starting to get to know one another, and share our anticipation for this coming year.
At the close of the ReBoot event, all the volunteers were asked to come forward and make ourselves available to pray with any young people seeking ministry. I got to pray for two British teenage girls- and it was really sweet to see the Lord minister to them through that time, touching their hearts with His love and healing.


Wednesday, September 23, 2015

hello, Oxford


I arrived in Oxford! 
I passed easily through immigration in London and was met by my friends Jonathan and Helen who graciously drove down from Oxford to collect me (and my two suitcases!). They have also been kind enough to invite me to stay with them for the remainder of the week until I can move into Wycliffe Hall. Altogether, my arrival has been smooth, joyful, and blessed.

Today when my friends went to work, I set out to go shopping for some necessary items downtown. This led me past Wycliffe Hall- my college- where I will soon take up residence, then into the heart of the city. 
Downtown Oxford surpassed my expectations- rich, historic, stately and gorgeous... I just walked around trying to keep my smile from bursting into an idiotic grin. I'm glad I got an early start and got to appreciate the lay of it all before it was brimming with people, because while it was rather composed in the morning, by afternoon it was a roiling tangle of travelers, tour groups, students, and other residents. 

If there was one thought that went through my head over and over today it was how crazy  it is that this is going to be my home for the next year. 


I celebrated with a coffee:) Don't worry- I'm not hiding out in Starbucks instead of going to local cafes. I'll be hitting plenty of them as well... I saw SO many coffee shops I can't wait to study in! Besides, one needs frequent warm drinks to keep the chill at bay...  


Moving in on Monday!


A crossroads downtown


Radcliffe Camera, part of one of the University libraries


Hertford Bridge, a popular landmark

Monday, September 21, 2015

the climactic step

My week to decompress and transition in Iceland has come to an end- and its time now for the climactic step; the step which will carry me over the final stretch of the Atlantic... to England. 


My year of study and ministry training in the UK, an ocean and a half away from my home in Maui, is about to begin at last. 

I have a sweet sense of being undergirded by grace and peace- thank you for your prayers during this exciting time of transition. 


Saturday, September 19, 2015

snorkeling in Iceland, anyone?


So when you think of Iceland, snorkeling probably doesn't come to mind. But when my friend Sarah was planning our trip, she came across Dive Iceland- a company which takes divers through the glacial water filled chasm between the European and North American tectonic plates. This interested Sarah because she and her husband Kyle are certified divers. Long story shirt, they decided to (literally) take the plunge- and not wanting to leave me behind, they gifted me a snorkel expedition at the same location! So ...I snorkeled the Silfra Fissure for nearly an hour in 35ºF glacial water. The "dry suit" was definitely a new and challenging experience- i looked like Iron Man! And i felt like I was in Navy Seals training because it was very heavy and restrictive... and I had to plunge into ice cold water wearing all that apparatus! Needless to say, I survived- and it was beautiful! Altogether a remarkable, scenic, memorable experience! 



My diver friends:)



The water in Silfra is so clear you can see over 100 meters... and its so pure that they encourage you to remover your snorkel from time to time to have a drink of the water!


Me, as an underwater Iron Man doppelgänger 

 

Happy and cozy in my thermal jumpsuit (before the Iron Man layer).

Friday, September 18, 2015

Icelandic horses


With their renowned long manes & tails and their friendly disposition, I admit I found Icelandic horses utterly winsome. Ask my friends. After I approached a fence and met a sweet and dreamy little white horse, I was smitten. By this I mean I have been constantly pointing out the car windows cooing whenever we pass them...







The horses make me want to ride off into a sunset...or at least along these epic sweeping landscapes... I guess, at heart, that just makes me like just about every other little girl- sensing the innate romance of horses. 
Anyway, This horse was probably one of my highlights in Iceland. 


Thursday, September 17, 2015

roadtrip: driving southern Iceland


Iceland is remarkably beautiful- even driving barren stretches makes you want to play an epic soundtrack of some kind...






Icelandic hotdogs are a thing. We may have eaten them twice in one day. 



Iceberg lagoon, anyone? Yep, a glacier calves icebergs into this lagoon and you can hike around it and ...freeze. Oh my goodness, SO cold. Thats me wearing three jackets. 




Tuesday, September 15, 2015

northern lights


So even though none of us slept much last night flying here, and we were all exhausted from driving around southern Iceland, all morning... we stayed up on a Northern lights vigil! Sarah had her camera ready, and on our third round of running outside in the 45F night chill... the vague diffusions of light we'd seen took shape and shifted- bright and glowing- across the sky. Definitely worth the wait.





Stopover: Iceland !


Goodbye, United States- Hello, Iceland? Yes, en route to England I coordinated with friends to make a stopover in Iceland where we will share a few refreshing days of outdoorsy-ness in the midst of my transition into a season of study! 
I've only been to Iceland once, for about twenty four hours- so these few days open up tremendous new opportunities for exploring. Just the first half of our first day has blown me away as we stopped at the Seljalandsfoss waterfall alone the southern coast... 





Iceland is remarkably scenic and absolutely beautiful. And we're just getting started! Now we are settled into a guest house across a meadow from another stunning waterfall. To say nothing of the crags, sheep, windswept lava fields, Icelandic horses, seascapes ... and everything else we saw as we drove along. Looking forward to seeing Iceland unfold God's glory over these next few days as I enjoy the beauty of His handiwork and the fellowship of my friends.



Tuesday, September 1, 2015

a day away


With my departure now just a day away, a radical change of scenery is imminent. I am embracing it wholeheartedly... my trench coat is ready! Knowing such a total transformation of environment is upon me, I have been soaking up the sun and treasuring the beauty of my home here on the North shore all the more !




My transition time is somewhat extended as I travel for the next couple weeks through Arizona, South Dakota, and even meet friends on a layover Iceland. But the next phase of the journey- departure and transition- is now beginning!