October 10

       HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I'm so glad we got to Skype!!!

       I slept like a rock last night, but I had weird dreams that I can't quite remember. Sometimes I am concerned for my psychological health because of all the dreaming I do. Anyway, I woke up around 10:30 to the sound of my UK cell phone ringing. It was the guy from Nigeria who was calling to inform me that he was on campus 2 hours earlier than we planned. The student group from the local church was hosting a Sunday Roast (apparently a British ritual), and a group of us had planned to go together around 12:45. Poor guy! He had to wait forever. I put myself together, met up with a couple girls, and we walked down Snakes Lane to Oakwood Station (the nearest Underground station) to meet up with him and another boy who was joining us. Together, we all made our way to the house where the Roast was. I know this is a stereotype, but free food really is exciting for college students! Any number of us spent the rest of the afternoon just chatting or hanging at a cafe we came across nearby. It was very nice and relaxing. We all went to church together at 7, which was awesome, and then we walked back to the halls.
       As the afternoon and evening wore on, I realized that one of my prayer requests had been more than adequately answered. I prayed for 1 Christian friend, and I found 4! The service this evening was also a blessing. It is actually really nice to be in the crowd for once and to be led in worship instead of always leading. I love that they always take time for intentional prayer. There is something about praying silently as a group that is very powerful. I wish I did that more.
       The message was very good, and it helped me to refocus after my crazy weekend. After I got back from church and Skyped my family, I had a really good spiritual conversation with my American Christian friend, Sarah. I haven't had one of those since before I left the States, so it was very refreshing! We talked a lot about how we both feel like we have been spiritually backsliding way too often. God has brought us here and given us so many opportunities to do great things, and we both want to take that gift seriously by being intentional in our faith. Most importantly, we need the Spirit's strength to help us!
       BTW, I'm sorry for the lack of literary flair in this post. I am a bit drained, I think.
       I will close with some lyrics from a song by Gungor that runs through my head often. To the Lord, I want to say, "You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of the dust. You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of us." Amen.

Prayer Request of the Day: That I would be about the Lord's business, not mine.