September Update

Hey Everyone!

It seems like forever ago that I was in the States… the few weeks have flown by! Thankfully we’re still having some good weather… today it was about 70 and sunny! Since I’ve been back I’ve mostly been trying to stay on top of things and get settled in my new house and new responsibilities at work. I finally got a microwave for our flat! It’s exciting… you never realize how much you use the microwave till you don’t have one. Anyways, this weekend I’ve been doing some much needed shopping for the house and my room… I realized all my socks had holes in them, etc. Time for some autumn cleaning.

I’ve also been to the Isle of Wight, a small Island off the South coast of England. It was beautiful, if not a tad chilly taking the fairy across the English channel (I think it was the Channel). I’ve also been laying out in the park across the street from my house, enjoying whatever sun we get.

When I go to work I’ve mostly been cycling (don’t worry, I haven’t been hit by a bus or anything yet) but as the weather gets colder my determination to cycle wanes. Also, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I head into London from school for Church, so I usually don’t ride on those days. Church is going really well; soon it will be time for Christmas Choir rehearsals. I’ve joined a course called Encountering God. It’s based on a book by Mark and Patti Virkler called “How to Hear God’s Voice” and I highly recommend it. I’ve been in it about 2 weeks, but already it’s been amazing. Basically, the understanding of the book is that all throughout the Bible God speaks to His people, so he must want to speak to us, but we don’t know how to be receptive to his voice. In this course, you learn to journal God’s voice. Often when we come to God in prayer, we want to check what He says before He’s finished, so we stop the flow of his voice. In this course, you tap into the flow of the Holy Spirit and write what He says to you and then check it against the Bible and against spiritual advisors or counselors. This way, you’re testing it, but you also get the voice of God uninterrupted. It’s been really amazing so far to hear God speak to me so clearly. It’s not the only way you can talk to God, but it’s a tool. For those of you at CMA, you might want to check it out.

At HTB, a bunch of people from my pastorate are getting ready for a trip to Rwanda, so it would be really cool if you could keep them in prayer. We also had a visit from a missionary from Mozambique who works with Heidi Baker. She invited me to visit her in Pembe … so… I’m praying about it. It was such a blessing for her to come and speak God’s words to us. She went over how a lot of the spiritual warfare in England is a lot tougher than in Africa and we don’t sense it… it’s like built into the way we think about the world. We have to start learning to see the world with God’s eyes, not the eyes of culture.

School has been absolutely manic lately. I’m teaching all year groups, 7-11. I’m really enjoying some of my lessons, but some are a struggle. I have a lot more lessons of English as Another Language this year. I think I’ve overbooked myself (since I do my own schedule for those lessons)… but my children really need my classes, so I don’t have a lot of time for all the paperwork that I have to do. This year, I’m in a program to get QTS (teacher certification) and after that I should be able to free up my timetable a bit. I’m actually really excited/nervous about it. I have to make this big portfolio (I bought one today!) and then be observed and it’s either pass or fail. I either get it, or I don’t! AHHH!!!

Eastern Europeans are POURING into my school. So far this year we’ve gotten a Lithuanian boy, a Ukraine boy, a Maldovian boy, a Polish boy, and we’re interviewing more. They’re absolutely amazing to me. Nedas, Oleks, and Valentin (respectively) speak Lithuanian, Russian, and Romanian…. They’re in French classes, and they’re learning English. It’s sooo cool. Nedas and Valentin have been very quiet because they can barely understand English at the moment. When we had class on Friday they realized they could talk to each other because they both speak Russian, even though Nedas speaks Lithuanian and Valentin speaks Romanian. They were talking and talking… I couldn’t get them to stop and I had absolutely no idea what they were saying. I let them chatter for a while because I can only imagine the frustration of not being able to talk to anyone for days and days and feeling so lost and then finding someone you could talk to. I felt cruel when I had to take them to their next lessons, which were separate from each other… they didn’t seem to want to part. But it was fun for me to see them come to life like that and chatter like 12/13 year old boys should.

I’m also fighting a bit for Oleks… he’s from Ukraine, in 10th grade and basically knows Algebra 2 and some Trig already but they put him in special needs Math because he doesn’t speak English!!!! It’s so irritating. My program is developing… I’ve been running around like a nut to keep it all going, but I really love it and I really feel carried through. I keep getting blessings that I’m where I need to be, that God is proud of me because I’m so giving… etc. I think I’ve gotten those words from like 3 people in the past couple of weeks, so I know I’m where I need to be.

Things in my new house are going well. This coming weekend we’re throwing our first house party. It should be a blast. We’re all getting on well and are all generally motivated/clean/respectful people, so it’s all good. Other things in my personal life are… interesting… I had a pretty bad date a few weeks ago… if anyone wants particulars, ask, but I don’t know if the story is for the general public. It all adds up to a pretty funny story, but… yeh… bad. This is definitely a season of hanging out for me… but who doesn’t love some well planned, low key hanging out? My house is also hosting a costume party for Halloween, where I will be dressed as Amy Winehouse (scary, huh?)… I’m getting some skinny jeans, some extensions, and Imma break out the horrific makeup and wear some big scary heels… there will be pics forthcoming J

I’ve been trying to keep up with the US news through BBC/NYTimes… I watched the VP debates on Youtube, etc…. all I have to say is WOW. Things are interesting. Know I know why the Europeans always say they just look at the US and go “what ARE they doing?” Apparently, it’s also affecting the housing market in London, where the market is apparently at an all time low. So if you have some money and want property in London NOW is the time. Lol.

I’m planning a short trip to Edinburgh, Scotland for a few days in October so if anyone wants anything from Scotland, lemme know. As far as I know, I can’t bring back Nessie, but I’ll look while I’m there J.

All in all, the fall has been good so far. I’m happy, safe, busy, and have a lot to look forward to this year. Keep me in your prayers, I always need that, and know you are in mine. I miss you all so much. I’m excited to see some of you at Christmas time, so keep a day or so free in your own busy schedules.

Big Love, Jenny