245 Fairfield

4 airports, a few delays, a few too many timezones, and the most expensive airport sandwich I've ever consumed, I've arrived in Manchester. 

First view out the plane as we landed:

It's so green!

This is our street: 

 EVERYTHING is brick. And I now have photographic proof that the sky isn't always gray. 

 The view from my window:

Dizzy's decided that she's quite fond of my wool socks. The fact that I've pulled them out in September has Leanne laughing at me, but warm toes are worth a little ridicule. 

After my 11 hour "nap", we went to the Coffee Lounge at Ashton Church of the Nazarene. 

Most of the buildings in Ashton-Under-Lyne are brick and "historic." My tour guides (Leanne and her sister) thought my amazement at the architecture was entertaining. I had to explain earthquakes to them.

 I didn't get a picture of it, but the market around the corner from church had a cacti stand. So maybe there's hope for my green thumb after all. 

There are kittens in my lap and I'm on my 3rd cup of tea, so I'd say I'm settling in alright. 

Awesome People

The Sophomore Girls' prayer for the year has been "Dear Jesus, please help us be awesome people." 

It started out as a joke, but then it stuck, so we went with it. 

I've had the privilege of journeying with these ladies for almost 5 years now. They ask good questions, they explore what it means to love Jesus by loving their friends, their families, and sports teams, and they support me (physically as well as emotionally), even when I make decisions that mean leaving them right before SAT season. 

More than anything, they teach me by example that being "awesome people" usually means being vulnerable and courageous and grace-filled, and leaving a lot of room for Jesus. 

Last Time...

When I was in junior high and high school, the day before my birthday every year, my best friend made it her mission to narrate the day for me...

"Last time waking up when you're 15!"
"Last time waiting at the bus stop when you're 15!"
"Last time going to P.E. when you're 15!"
"Last time eating a sandwich when you're 15!
"Last time throwing a book at me when you're 15!"

The whole day. Every. Year.

It became a tradition of trying to outdo each other with 11:58pm phone calls and obnoxious minutia ("Last time walking under this doorway..."). As all best friendships should be.

Now, as I wrap up these last few weeks in San Diego, Shelby's voice is back in my head:

"Last time eating a burrito on the cliffs while you live in America"
"Last time leading a small group while you live in America"
"Last time making coffee in your own kitchen while you live in America"
"Last time having a mental breakdown in Target while you live in America"

...I'm still here for a couple more weeks, so probably not my last time melting in Target, but it's a nice idea.

Keys

I've been thinking a lot about keys lately.

I lose mine.
Often.
But when I can keep track of them, they're pretty useful for things like starting my car and checking my mail.

My parents didn't lock our front door when I was growing up (seriously. We had to buy new doorknobs when we went back east for a week in junior high, because we didn't even know where the keys were), so I never had a house key. I was kind of jealous of the kids on the bus who had them - on rings in their backpacks or on chains like necklaces. They could unlock things. It seemed very grown up and responsible.

When I was 15, my parents let me practice driving up and down our dirt driveway. I wasn't allowed on the actual road, but I begged them to let me take the spare car key with me to school. They must have had premonitions of my key-losing ways, because they wouldn't let me take a useless-to-me key to school as a piece of jewelry. Which meant that senior year, when I was finally allowed on the road, I wore that spare key like a badge of honor.

Fast forward 5 or so years, when I was given my first set of church keys. Somewhere in the universe, Snap started a gospel rendition of "I've Got the Power." Several of the staff members got keys around the same time, and the first few weeks afterward, we would race each other to be the one to unlock buildings and volunteer to go with "The Keyless" to open supply closets.

After awhile though, the excitement wore off. Some of those supply closets are far away from the office, and sometimes being the one with keys means being the last one to leave so you can lock up. I've been accused of losing my keys intentionally to avoid these kinds of responsibilities (unfounded, incidentally).

15 year old me would be envious of my current key ring. House keys, mail keys, car keys, church keys...it would make a fantastic, if uncomfortable, charm bracelet of responsibilities. But over the course of the next couple of weeks, I'll be giving my house and mail keys back to my landlord, selling my car, and handing over my church keys, leaving me with an empty "vintage" PLNU lanyard and "mitad del mundo" keychain. One less thing to lose, but also a tangible reminder that this chapter of my life is closing.

It's funny how such small bits of metal can become such big symbols of identity.

"A Great Place to Study Theology"

We're packing our bags!*

This September I will heading back to the far side of the sea to attend Nazarene Theological College in Manchester, England (a great place to study theology!). I'll be working toward a Masters in Theology, with an emphasis in Social Justice & Compassionate Ministry. It's a one year program, and will contribute to my course requirements for ordination.

...Also, it's in England.  (Check out pictures of campus here. No, you will not fit in my luggage.)

I'll be living with these lovely people:

I met David & Leanne last December at NYC UK. They've been a tremendous help in this process, both with applying to school and helping me feel at home in their home - before I even get there. And their only request in return was that I bring them a few packets of blue jello. 

In the month left before takeoff, my biggest request is for prayer (and if you live nearby, maybe help with packing?) - this is by far the biggest transition of my life, in the shortest amount of time. I am beyond excited about this next year, but the to-do list between here and there seems to be growing longer instead of shorter, and there are a lot of details to finalize and things to wrap my head around (What is Tesco? Will I ever taste real Mexican food again? Why is there white fluffy cold stuff on the ground?). 

Updates will posted here, or look for #beachestoBritain on a social media platform near you.



*Actually, just me. Leo is staying here in San Diego for the time being. He's not pleased, as you can see.