Sunday, January 18
I woke at four in the morning and couldn’t get back to sleep - I gave up trying at 7:00, got up, and went down to the boot room to get some wellies. I walked all around the grounds as the sun was rising - there are several ponds with a good size stream connecting them, an old herb garden, an orchard, and also a football/soccer field along the driveway. I took a few pictures then went inside for breakfast.
At ten a lot of us got in the bus and went to Slogtham (or however you spell it) church for the late morning service. It’s a sweet old church of about one hundred people - the building itself has been remodeled since my dad was here. They put plaster on the interior walls and replaced the wooden pews with movable chairs.
The lesson was on Joseph and the worship was led by one of the base staff and one of the church’s members.
We stayed around for coffee and tea afterwards. Guess what fam - I’ve started drinking coffee (with milk and sugar - I‘m not totally insane). It’s the jet lag’s fault. Blame it. I’ve found tea’s actually quite nice with milk, too.
Anyway, after the service it was back to the base for lunch - the traditional Sunday roast. Roast pork, homemade gravy, roasted small potatoes, steamed vegetables, and fresh banana bread with a hot custard sauce for ‘pudding‘. The food here is actually quite good! From the dismal picture my dad painted of English food I was expecting totally tasteless meals, but not so.
At two thirty we went on two hour walk through the English countryside. It was gorgeous - rolling fields, old farm houses, hedges, horses, and dozens of sheep. We actually walked through one of the sheep fields, which awed a few city people very much.
When we got back we rinsed off our boots (England is very swampy this time of year) and over a dozen of us got cleats on and played soccer until it got dark. That was really fun - I’ve not played in a while, but was still able to keep up alright and I even got a very lucky goal! We were all covered in mud by the time we walked back - my lower legs were totally coated and the rest of me liberally splattered.
We had a ‘packed’ meal for dinner - meaning they set out sandwich fixings and leftovers for us to help ourselves to. Over dinner my table talked about where we should go for the long weekend in March, and it looks like a group will be going to Rome for the four days - I’d love to go, but I don’t know if the financing will work out. Apparently you can get a flight to Rome for less than ten pounds, but the cost of hostels and food would add up…
After dinner there was a bonfire and we stood outside talking for a few hours and introduced the Europeans to the concept of s’mores. Of course, this is England, so there was a bit of improvisation going on - they used chocolate covered digestive biscuits instead of graham crackers and chocolate bars.
Soon after we came in from the bonfire we went to bed, for which I was truly thankful.
At ten a lot of us got in the bus and went to Slogtham (or however you spell it) church for the late morning service. It’s a sweet old church of about one hundred people - the building itself has been remodeled since my dad was here. They put plaster on the interior walls and replaced the wooden pews with movable chairs.
The lesson was on Joseph and the worship was led by one of the base staff and one of the church’s members.
We stayed around for coffee and tea afterwards. Guess what fam - I’ve started drinking coffee (with milk and sugar - I‘m not totally insane). It’s the jet lag’s fault. Blame it. I’ve found tea’s actually quite nice with milk, too.
Anyway, after the service it was back to the base for lunch - the traditional Sunday roast. Roast pork, homemade gravy, roasted small potatoes, steamed vegetables, and fresh banana bread with a hot custard sauce for ‘pudding‘. The food here is actually quite good! From the dismal picture my dad painted of English food I was expecting totally tasteless meals, but not so.
At two thirty we went on two hour walk through the English countryside. It was gorgeous - rolling fields, old farm houses, hedges, horses, and dozens of sheep. We actually walked through one of the sheep fields, which awed a few city people very much.
When we got back we rinsed off our boots (England is very swampy this time of year) and over a dozen of us got cleats on and played soccer until it got dark. That was really fun - I’ve not played in a while, but was still able to keep up alright and I even got a very lucky goal! We were all covered in mud by the time we walked back - my lower legs were totally coated and the rest of me liberally splattered.
We had a ‘packed’ meal for dinner - meaning they set out sandwich fixings and leftovers for us to help ourselves to. Over dinner my table talked about where we should go for the long weekend in March, and it looks like a group will be going to Rome for the four days - I’d love to go, but I don’t know if the financing will work out. Apparently you can get a flight to Rome for less than ten pounds, but the cost of hostels and food would add up…
After dinner there was a bonfire and we stood outside talking for a few hours and introduced the Europeans to the concept of s’mores. Of course, this is England, so there was a bit of improvisation going on - they used chocolate covered digestive biscuits instead of graham crackers and chocolate bars.
Soon after we came in from the bonfire we went to bed, for which I was truly thankful.
Photos: 2nd Day, Sunday, January 18
Monday, January 19
Today we got up at 7:00, ate breakfast, had quiet time for an hour, a worship session in the main room of The Coach House then a coffee break in the underground. Then we learned a bit about the history and vision of YWAM and Holmsted, had another break, then learned about DTS specifically, then had lunch - chicken curry! It was nice and spicy. I heard we’ll get that once a week for a couple weeks at least, I hope that’s true!
After lunch was the base tour, so we split into small groups and toured the different buildings and departments and the staff let us know what it is that they do and how it relates to us.
Now I and a few of the girls from my room are sitting in our room relaxing, showing each other pictures of back home, reading, and blogging.
This has been really excellent so far. There are so many interesting people with fascinating stories - it’s kind of an unusual environment, too, because everyone is so young. Both the students and the staff, I mean. The oldest student is twenty six, and most of the staff are under thirty.
After lunch was the base tour, so we split into small groups and toured the different buildings and departments and the staff let us know what it is that they do and how it relates to us.
Now I and a few of the girls from my room are sitting in our room relaxing, showing each other pictures of back home, reading, and blogging.
This has been really excellent so far. There are so many interesting people with fascinating stories - it’s kind of an unusual environment, too, because everyone is so young. Both the students and the staff, I mean. The oldest student is twenty six, and most of the staff are under thirty.
Photos: 3rd Day, Monday, January 19
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