hello, Trinity Term

 Spring break is over, but today it felt like both the break and Spring were over. To add to that impression, it snowed tonight. The steep old chapel roof outside my window is all edged in white. Lest the setting of my studies seem too picturesque and dignified, however, I will also faithfully report that several mischievous guys from my class just ran in from outside with handfuls of snow ...and ambushed my hall mate when she answered their knock on her door. Because we're all adults here...

On the less amusing side, we have officially begun the final term of the Oxford academic year: Trinity Term. Our full timetable of classes resumed today, and I am already engrossed in reading for another essay... back to the books:)

Hard to believe we only have eight weeks left of the program. Although, my time in Oxford is likely to extend through the summer- our final work submission is in August, and I will need to continue to have access to the libraries here until that time. I am looking to rent a flat with some girlfriends from my class- please remember us in your prayers:  accommodations are limited and expensive, but we are trusting that the Lord will provide a place for us to finish out our studies here when we have to move out of Wycliffe Hall in June. 

Viva Riga!

I had the privilege of spending this weekend speaking at a Teacher's Conference in Riga, Latvia, with my pastors from Maui. I flew in on Friday evening, spent Saturday and Sunday at the conference, and got a taste of Riga's Old Town before flying out Monday afternoon. 

The conference had over 250 teachers from all over Latvia in attendance, with another 110 joining by live stream. It was exciting to be a part of what God is doing in Latvia, and to partner with faithful ministers who have been serving there for many years. I gave two sessions, each 45 minutes long- and worked with a really amazing translator from the local YWAM base. It was encouraging meeting Latvian YWAMers who were serving at the conference, just supporting the host church and long term  pastors and missionaries who organize the event. 

Formerly Soviet occupied, Riga features extensive blocs of austere Stalinist residential complexes. Some original Latvian architecture remains, especially in Old Town. But beyond that, there is much that is bleak and grim. 

Teaching my first session! 

The fellowship and partnership in ministry was really sweet. Pictured here are the other members of the teaching team: I was the youngest aboard, so it was an honor to partner with these saints.

Really refreshing to see my pastors Dwayne and Janet- a little Maui sunshine:)

In the Old Town, before heading back to Oxford. It was a short trip but full of rich moments and a really genuine partnership in the work of God in Latvia. I felt very blessed to serve alongside the people I worked with there. Thank you for your prayers!

retro-Rome reflection

I first went to Rome in the fall of 2002. I visited again in the summer of 2009. This trip came in the spring of 2016. Each time I have taken a picture at the fountain at one end of Piazza Navona where I had my first gelato. Its hard to see in the picture, because of the quality... but i am holding a cone of tiramisu flavor gelato in the first photo:)

 2002

With an acquaintance from my hostel

2009

Traveling with my dad, who took the picture

2016

With my friend and Oxford classmate, Loretta

and last but not least: the pizza

Food blessing! The entire time in Rome, I had pasta once. Once. Thats because the pizza is that good.  Being about the cheapest thing to eat and also the best, I just couldn't be bothered with anything else. Clearly, I am my father's daughter. 

From a round pizza (tonda) at a proper sit down restaurant  ...

 ...to side street snack bar cuts of pizza by weight (al taglio) ... Italy really is the home of great pizza.

basking in Rome

The sun, the warmth, the color... these were some of the best and most beautiful things about Rome. The history, art, and lavish basilicas all have their stories- bittersweet, most of them- but the sun and our fellowship were just sweet through and through. Such a blessing to Rome with these two friends. 

essential ancient Rome

Coffee, gelato, and side street wandering aside, we made sure to survey the essential ancient Roman sights- since Kathleen had never visited the city before (Loretta and I are veteran Rome-ers). The city is just heaped with monuments and remnants of grandeur from numerous eras- but Colosseo and the Forum really form the stunning landscape of the ancient center of Rome. 

View over part of the Forum

Inside the Colosseum

More views of the Forum. Look how tiny the people appear! Rome must have been overwhelmingly grand and imposing at the height of the empire...

View of part of the Forum, adjacent to the Colosseo.

Trajan's Forum

There is always time for more coffee...

Our Rome-ing found us on numerous high vantage points with views over the city... including this look out at Colle del Gianicolo.

Rome sweet Rome

A girls trip can't be complete without some sweets... and true to form, we made the most of Rome's ubiquitous gelato shops... although one evening we sought out the city's most renowned tiramisu instead...

Lactose intolerance? What's lactose intolerance?

Tiramisu: the classic, and fragola (strawberry)

My face here says it all.

But seriously, I took lactose enzymes, hoped for the best, and just went for it. My lactose intolerance only really gave me a serous stomach ache once- which is amazing because i ate a lot of gelato and a fair amount of cheese!

starting to Rome

They say a picture is worth a thousand words- and if thats true of anything, its true of pictures of Rome. And a good thing too- I have a lot of work to do this week, so my explanations will be brief. But I thought I'd at least post a heap of photos to say a few 'thousand words' about how absolutely wonderful my few days away were! I had a truly fantastic time wandering Rome with my friends and classmates Kathleen and Loretta- it was a trip to remember. 

In front of the little flat we rented as our home base for our stay

our street!

Walking to get morning coffee- every side lane is so picturesque... i love it!

The cafe that I decided would be our home for the week:)

We did ALOT of this...

Clearly, I am my mother's daughter. 

More cappuccinos- al fresco in the Campo di Fiori!

The above is basically how we began every day... pretty much perfect in my book:)