Flexibility is the key...

frustration..

Sooooo... today was our day off. And we learned quickly that flexibility is the key to everything. Seriously. I typed up our whole day and then erased it because it was so long and obnoxious haha... basically, anything that could possibly go wrong happened. I think every tube station we (Rachel, Casey and I) went to today we had at least some sort of problem.. We were going to learn our route before next week when our 1-weekers get here but it didn't look like it was going to happen today. But, the good thing is today was our day off and we had no set schedule. After a full day of frustration we got some shopping therapy at Oxford Circus.. H&M, Topshop, Urban Outfitters... yeah it was amazing. Right now we are having a semi-free schedule.. but starting Tuesday the first batch of one-week teams get here and we are trying to enjoy our free time while we have it:)

Ok here's some more pictures!

Casey, Me and Rachel after shopping in Oxford Circus

Where's Ben?!

Me and my good friend, Ben.

And a few pictures from yesterday.....

We had to have our heads covered when we went into some temples and mosques.

awkward jumping

more awkward jumping...

At an Afghani restaurant.. trying new foods.

Dance routine practice video

Here is a video of what our dance will look like. This is Sarah and Kim just practicing then I will have to learn it to teach next week. yay!

In London!

Hey guys! We arrived in London yesterday morning.. and hit the ground running. The whole goal of yesterday was just to stay awake. We moved into our apartments which are really neat.. a lot nicer than I was expecting. We have 18 interns and 2 people to a room. The rooms are really nice... they each have a bathroom and full kitchen and stuff so it's pretty cool. We've been walking several miles a day so far and riding the tube and the overground everywhere.. I love it!

Today I learned a lot more of what I'll be doing while I'm here.. I'll be working directly with Kim and Sarah at Twyford high school with the cheerleading club. We are going to there lunch club/practices and teaching them basic stuff and then after school we are doing a mini-cheer camp where we are going to teach a dance routine and a couple of cheers and chants. I will have 2 iGo teams for weeks A and B, but the thing is.. they haven't been created yet. So we are pr that we can get some cheerleaders out of both weeks and make a team! Me and my teams will also be working with Rachel and her teams in South Acton where we will be meeting people and hanging out at the youth centre etc. There are about 10 locations that the interns are splitting up and working in and each intern will have a 1-week team of somewhere around 8 students. Our schedule right now is crazy but when the 1-weekers get here on Tuesday it will be insane..!

Okay it's a little after midnight here so I'm going to bed.. but I'll be sure to post some more pictures later! Hope these will hold you over until then:)

Just a fun picture at base camp.. Elizabeth, Me, Erin, Lindsey and Lauren

Rebekah, Jessica, Rachel, Lindsey and Garrett, Lauren, Me and Elizabeth at the airport:)

Andrew, Austin, Casey, Rachel, Me and Garrett at the theater watching Transformers:)

Lauren, Rachel, Maddie, Elizabeth, Rebekah and Lindsey on the Thymes river

Wylie iGosians at base camp

pre-trip anxieties, excitements and reliefs.

Starting tomorrow the countdown is really on.. 10 days until base camp! Right now everything is a little crazy (as expected, not desired) and my list of things to get/get done before I leave seems to keep getting longer!? What's up with that?

My pre-trip emotions are pretty much anxiety, excitement and relief. Anxiety for a lot of reasons.. I will be around people that I don't know (but am excited about getting to know them:) ), I will most definitely be out of my comfort zone a lot of the time, I don't have a definite schedule (yes, I'm one of those..), and a lot of responsibility will be placed on my shoulders. I keep repeating part of that one verse.. be anxious for nothing.. be anxious for nothing. One of my friends reminded me of another verse that really hit the nail on the head. 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Yay for His love. :)

I'm definitely excited and ready to step foot onto UK soil. I can't wait to be submerged into a different culture and soak it in. I can't wait to really learn about these people and learn ways to get to their hearts. I can't wait to show these people the difference between living for something and living for nothing. I can't wait to work with people (interns, teams and m's) who have the same goal and mindset as I do. I can't wait to work with Kim and the girls in the cheer club. I just can't wait. I'm excited.

I'm relieved because I've worked hard on this trip for almost a year now.. and here it is, almost 10 days away, creeping up on me! My friends and family have been helping and supporting me the whole way and I'm relieved that all of the hard work from everyone is going to pay off soon enough. I'm relieved that all of the money that I needed to raise ($4000+) has been donated and worked for. G-d is much bigger than any amount of money and even though I was a little iffy the whole time, He proved to me that He would take care of everything. (..you are not allowed to tell me "I told you so")

Sooo that's what's been going through my head/heart lately on top of the stress that comes from working on putting the house on the market (tonight) and trying to get my fall semester schedule nailed down (volleyball, tumbling, cheer, football games, youth, cccc class, and homework somewhere in between.. did I mention it's my senior year!?). So be pr for peace. and tomorrow night will be my last night at ch before I leave so I better get a hug from everyone:)


oh.. and if you're wondering about the weird abbreviations... think safety :)

bandwagon

I hopped on... I started a blog. Everyone's doing it, right..? Alright...so. This is my blog for the summer where I will be keeping you updated as frequently as possible while I'm in London :) As of right now my blog is under a little construction.. but will be up and running after Lexie gets back from Uganda! I have 2 1/2 weeks (more precisely: 17 days) until I make the long trek out to Lavon for Base Camp. Base Camp will be about 3 days of some [intense] training.. and then I will be on a [long] flight to the UK!

If you've ever been on a mission trip before you would probably agree with me that it can be really hard right before you leave and sometimes even harder when you get back. Prayers are much appreciated! :)


...and much thanks to my bff Lex (http://lexiesmeimei.blogspot.com/) for making my blog oh so beautiful :) I love it! and you!