Last days :(

This week was filled with a lot of lasts-- last week of work, last time serving at Open Door, last cell group, and now today is the LAST day of work.

Pictured above is the Open Door staff I worked with every Wednesday at the Church. Open Door is a ministry serving people in the Colchester community and it provides a welcoming environment for people to come for coffee and find company. From left to right-- this is Rob, Diane, and Andrew... They have such big hearts for God and serving people. They provided me with so much encouragement, wisdom, and guidance in these few short months. I am really, really going to miss them.


This week we also had a Christmas lunch for the people who come to Open Door. The event included a delicious meal with all sorts of meats, peas, mash, and gravy to feed about 70 people. At the end of the meal, we had Christmas pudding with custard, which was a first for me. It was such a fun time to share a meal with people I have gotten to know fairly well these past few months.

On Thursday night, we had our last meal together as an eMi family. Prior to the meal we all went to a Pantomime--which is a theatrical musical-comedy traditionally performed during Christmas time in the United Kingdom. We went to one on the popular Disney movie Aladdin and it was very entertaining mostly because there were hundreds (if not more) screaming children in the audience who were all singing along and booing the bad guy character throughout the show.. oh to be young again.. haha I kid. Ohh-- so the picture above, you'll see that people are wearing paper crowns. These crowns came from Christmas crackers--which are very popular and traditional in the UK for all Christmas celebrations. The cracker is pulled apart by two people and makes a nice 'POP' sound. Inside, there is usually a small toy, a joke or riddle, and a paper crown to wear. I hope to fit as many of these as I can in my suitcase to share with others when I'm HOME :)

On top of all of these festivities, we were also very busy in the office since it was our last week to finish up everything that we were working on. I am happy to share that we finished THREE design reports this last week: landscaping and toilet facilities for two village slums, a missionary rest home, and a girls orphanage home. So we have been printing, folding, and binding like crazy and now the reports are ready to be sent off to the ministries and clients we served in India. Please pray that the needed funds would come through so that the completion of these projects would bless people and further the work of God's kingdom.

So as you can see a lot has been going on and it is difficult to believe that my time here is coming to an end. As excited as I am to be reunited with my family and friends back home, it will be hard to leave here and incredibly hard to say goodbye to people that have become like family.

Snow!!!

Frosty the snowman-- a little lunch break project at the office

A winter wonderland in Colchester

Gearing up for some snowball making!!

It has been snowing, snowing, snowing all week and I LOVE it!!!! Apparently, this is Britians earliest widespread snow storm in the last 17 years... what a nice treat for us before heading back to California in about 10 days!!

THANKSGIVING!!!!

Although I miss my family and was sad to be apart from them on Thanksgiving, this was still a really special week filled with a lot of love, cheers, and firsts.

Thanksgiving dinner #1:

We celebrated a Thanksgiving feast the day before with our Bible study (pictured below).. this was a very fun time and it was exciting to share with a group of people that have become such lovely friends over these past few months, and some who experienced a Thanksgiving celebration for the first time. It was potluck style with a plethora of food and we even managed to have a turkey (thanks to Deb the turkey pro!)

The gals: Lela, Carly, Steph, and Val (from left to right) :)

For dessert, Carly made this wonderful chocolate cake. She was sweet to make it so American!

Thanksgiving dinner#2

It is tradition for the American interns to put together a thanksgiving dinner and celebration for the eMi UK office--So this is the time for the Americans to shine and show another country what Thanksgiving is all about.. exciting right?! Well, even after all of the 20- something Thanksgivings I have had.. I somehow managed to escape the cooking aspect of the holiday. So this was my first time ever making 'Thanksgiving' dishes, so the pressure was on... haha no, not really. It was actually a really fun learning experience with all of the shopping, cooking, baking, decorating, cleaning, washing, serving...etc. I felt so domestic. [Here is a shout out to my parents, aunts, uncles, and friends' parents who have always put so much work into Thanksgiving and cooking and providing such delicious meals :), I thank you all]

So, we were given the day off to cook and prepare (Thank you Mike-- our director at the office)... OH and before I forget, I must mention that.... IT SNOWED!!!! I know, I know.. I've seen snow before and much more of it but for some reason it was just so exciting.. one of those moments that catches you off guard and really makes you smile. Snow on Thanksgiving in another country.. now that is a first for me!

Deb and Val.. aren't they cute?! See the snow?

OK, now back to the cooking. There were four of us in charge (four Americans that is..) Carissa (from Wyoming, long term volunteer with eMi, & my mentor) made pumpkin pies for the first time and let me tell you... they were delicious. Bravo Carissa. They do not have canned pumpkin puree here, so her parents mailed her a 30 oz can early in the month. Thank you to her parents.. Val (from Cali, architect intern, & flatmate) was in charge of chopping any and every veggie and I have to say that Val is the best, most precise chopper ever.. such a talent there Val. I think she chopped about 8 onions... and she didn't even cry-- another of her many talents. She also made deviled eggs. yumm. Deb (from Cali as well, civil engineering intern, & flatmate) is the Turkey woman!! I was really impressed.. and she made the sweetest sweet potatoes. Way 2 go Deb Go. Below I'm helping her dress a turkey (that is another first for me--quite an experience). There is more: I was a little ambitious and went for pumpkin soup, scalloped potatoes, and green bean casserole... with some help of course.. and boy did we have a lot of food. We ate left overs for two meals the following day.

Wa laa the TURKEY!!

We started cooking around noon and we were ready to eat at 7:30pm--phew. This was quite a day. I loved it though, loved wearing an apron, loved cooking, and loved celebrating Thanksgiving in another country. God bless England :)

Below Marietta (Mike's wife) made such a beautiful table setting.

Lastly, in light of Thanksgiving, I'll share with you what I am thankful for:

Our wonderful eMi family... It is truly amazing that no matter where you are or far you are from home, in God's family, you have family wherever you go. I have been incredibly blessed by each one of them. My sweet flatmates Val and Deb, my mentor and friend Carissa, my director Mike and his wife Marietta, their lovely daughter Lela, fellow intern Adam and his wife Laura, intern coordinator extraordinaire Jean, and my friends in Bible study--- I am thankful for each and every one of you.. you have all touched my heart and it makes it that much harder to leave this wonderful place.

Hello again... :)

I apologize for the very long delay... I have not been good about keeping up on this whole blogging deal. and now November has almost come and gone and was filled with work, Bible studies, open door ministry, Italy, London, York, and coffee. I say coffee because it finally happened for me. I look forward to a cup every morning. Don't worry--I'm not addicted.. maybe it's just the cold weather. I used to wonder why my roommate back in SLO (Lisa) would make it such a priority to have her coffee... now I understand. On another note, I had a huge revelation: I'll be heading home in less than a month!! ahh It is too hard to believe and I don't think I'm ready to leave. Everything has been so exciting and busy... I'm finding that there are just not enough hours in a day.. Work has been great.. I'm almost done with a report which includes water test results, recommendations, and toilet drawings for two of the villages we served in India (More details to follow). By the time we get off work (about 5) it is completely dark. So I don't see much daylight anymore --during the week that is. I would take my lunch breaks outside but of course it is too cold. In fact, it is supposed to SNOW this weekend. crazy huh?!

This is a very exciting week because we have Deb back in our flat. She stayed in India after our project trip to help out their office. So Val and I are glad to spend a few more weeks with her. ALSO, we are celebrating two Thanksgiving dinners-- one with our cell group and one with our eMi office. It is tradition for the American interns to put together a delicious feast.. we have to cook the turkey!!--no pressure though right?!! ahh I have never done this before. The turkey is thawing right now for Wed night's dinner. But then we also have to cook another one for Thursday. So here we go. Stay tuned.

This adventure thus far has been out of this world.. I have learned so much about myself, others, and how freedom in Christ truly sets us free. It is incredible to use engineering and what I have been studying the past four years to serve God's people. Living in the UK, getting to go to India, and experience other cultures has been challenging me to see God in all things and to see how BIG his heart is for the nations... He desires for all people to know Him and make Him known.

With Val and Carissa in London

Remember, remember the 5th of November

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...

I have been learning a few things about 17th century English in preparation for the evening of November 5th. This night is an annual celebration held in Great Britain where festivities are focused on fireworks and bonfires. Why?.. you may ask...

Check this out!!
"Guy Fawkes & the Gunpowder Plot
Words of "Remember Remember" refer to Guy Fawkes with origins in 17th century English history. On the 5th November 1605 Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament with several dozen barrels of gunpowder. Guy Fawkes was subsequently tried as a traitor with his co-conspirators for plotting against the government. He was tried by Judge Popham who came to London specifically for the trial from his country manor Littlecote House in Hungerford, Gloucestershire. Fawkes was sentenced to death and the form of the execution was one of the most horrendous ever practised (hung ,drawn and quartered) which reflected the serious nature of the crime of treason.

The Tradition begins...
The following year in 1606 it became an annual custom for the King and Parliament to commission a sermon to commemorate the event. Lancelot Andrewes delivered the first of many Gunpowder Plot Sermons. This practice, together with the nursery rhyme, ensured that this crime would never be forgotten! Hence the words " Remember , remember the 5th of November" The poem is sometimes referred to as 'Please to remember the fifth of November'. It serves as a warning to each new generation that treason will never be forgotten.

In England the 5th of November is still commemorated each year with fireworks and bonfires culminating with the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes (the guy). The 'guys' are made by children by filling old clothes with crumpled newspapers to look like a man.

Tradition allows British children to display their 'guys' to passers-by and asking for " A penny for the guy". "http://www.rhymes.org.uk/remember_remember_the_5th_november.htm

So last night, we celebrated by going to a bonfire and fireworks display at Colchester Castle. It was such a fun time and a great cultural experience.

designing a world of hope

Here is a little preview of what I have been working on in the office. It is a toilet block design for the gypsy village we visited in India. There are no toilets on this site, so the people have no choice but to use the surrounding fields. Consequently, they live in poor sanitary and hygienic conditions. So it is our prayer that this design and the work that still is to come will glorify God and bless the His beloved people in Vellore.

It is cold!!!

I don't know how it happened, but it did. The winter weather is here (well,,, it is not technically winter yet but it sure feels like it)!and BOY is it a a sneaky one, freezing every bit of my Californian soul. Yup, it is cold. But I have been told, "honey, this is not cold... just wait until November comes... it only gets worse." So I guess, a reality check will be coming soon. It is time to whip out the gloves, scarfs, jackets, and the layers... the more the merrier. and the consumption of hot beverages will have to happen more frequently :)