Tomorrow is May-day!

And it's not the may-day where you yell over the radio, "We're gonna craaaash! Heeeeelllp!"

Apparently, it's a big celebration here in Oxford. I didn't know about it until Friday, when our warden comes up to me and says, "Hey, there's a may day celebration on Tuesday, are you going to go? And if you do, then could you lead a group of people from the commonwealth house to the event? Oh, and you'll have to leave for the Magdelen bridge at FIVE IN THE MORNING to get a good spot." No big deal right? I already get up at 7 to make breakfast, so what's two-and-a-half hours earlier?

I pretty much said no on the spot. Who wants to wake up at 4:30am -EVER- and I don't like feeling pressured to do things until I can step away and think about it. So, I stepped away from it, thinking that I don't want to do it, besides, who would make breakfast?

But after much contemplation, realizing that I'm in Oxford and will probably never in my life be here again, and if there's a FREE event I know about, and I DO have the time to make it work...

SIGH, I think that means I'm doing it...

So I talked to Dion, who is the other girl who helps me make breakfast, and she agreed to make breakfast tomorrow morning instead of taking it off, and I'd let her have Friday morning off for compensation (I still don't see why this should go her way, she's not doing ME any favors by getting me off the hook to go to this event! She's so sneaky! Haha). I can only get so mad, because this could be one of the most exciting things of the year! There's going to be the Magdelen college choir, singing at six o'clock to start off the event, and there's supposed to be traditional folk dancing... Maybe free caffeine (I can dream, can't I?). I hope to be there awake, alert, and armed with a camera so I can capture the moment.

The nice thing is I really could go back to sleep after all is said and done, if I really wanted to. I don't think that'd be the best way to start off the new month, but I have that option, where as most people don't. So, when all is said and done, the moral of the story is that NEVER, under any circumstances, for any reason, by any method, if at all possible, without exception, should anyone, by whatever means necessary, under any circumstances, do, whatsoever, for any reason, if at all possible, if unavoidable.... Yeah, I don't know. Haha! :-)

Have a wonderful May Day, Everybody!

-E


- Posted with the help of my iPad!

Location:Pembroke St,Oxford,United Kingdom

Day 3 of Prague!

The OCCA group and the men and families of Betel House.  A group picture after church at International Church of Prague (ICP).  Ian performed there a few of his songs, and we had two guys give their testimonies.  A really good service!

After Church, we went bowling with the youth from the church.  We were trying to be good role models...  

These two kids were on my bowling lane.  Andrew and Jackson.  YES ANDREW AND JACKSON!  They both beat me!  I was saying that it was even more ridiculous that boys half my age could beat me in bowling...

Here's our tour guide again!  She was my cheerleader during the game!

Nathan had goose for lunch.  You'll have to ask him how it tastes.

Haha, our friend Jon Morrison posing with my little mouse buddy.

My one of many indulgences during the trip- chocolate iced coffee!  It is quite tasty!

Nathan's indulgence- fruit pancake!

A nice blurry picture of the Prague square.

Good King Wenceslaus!  Man that's a trick to spell!  There was a man protesting around his statue, but of course, he was speaking Czech.  Apparently, if you want to protest or sell drugs, this is the place to go!

Looking down the Square into the sunset.

Towers in the dark.

That tower from the first day.  Here's a snippet about it from Wikipedia.

One of the theaters in Prague.

This was our last day in Prague.  Where did we go next?  Stay tuned!

-E

You know what's funny...

I was thinking how badly I want some sunshine and and seventy degree temperatures. I know that in Virginia, the weather has been gorgeous, and it makes me long to be home! I was going to post on facebook how much I NEED some sun and that I MUST HAVE warmer temperatures...

Then I realized that if all I can complain about is the lack of warm weather- I don't have much to complain about! Life is good! I have so much to be thankful for! I have a roof over my head, friends living literally next door, food stuffed in every nook and cranny in my room... I have no room to complain! I am blessed! Rain is good, spring is here, rejoice that warm weather IS on it's way-patience!

What I need to do is find more effective ways to stay warm, so that means I need to get off my rear and get moving! I watched a program by the BBC talking about exercise. Basically, the chair is a killer! I need to move around! Keep active, even if I don't go and exercise specifically, I need to be moving! So the show scared me a little bit to try and do more things that don't require sitting, so I'm hoping that I can find ways to get moving, not only to be more healthy but to get warm! I'm glad I have warm clothes that are holding up!

I just wanted to say that God is good, I am blessed beyond reason, and also, Mr. Weather, you can just stay nasty, because you're not raining on MY parade!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
-E

- Posted with the help of my iPad!

Location:Pembroke St,Oxford,United Kingdom

Day 2 of Prague

Day 2 of Prague started with us marching off to the train station.  Follow this road, do not turn to the right or left. 

This is our cute little guide who brought us to the train station!
She's the youngest daughter of the Marshall clan and her name is Amelia.

A train station in the middle of nowhere.  Mountains behind us and a river in front of us.

The train station is pronounced "OO-hole-litch-kee"  or so we were told.

All of us on the train towards Prague!

A James Dean Restaurant in Prague!

And a Ferrari to go with it!

The only Jewish Synagogue in Prague.

One of the many bridges in Prague.  This one had crazy architecture on the side of  it.

Strange pendulum.  Even stranger is the line coming from it, with shoes wrapped on it...

View of Prague from the top of the mountain.

The many bridges of Prague

The gang we were marching around Prague with.

The cathedral for the Palace of Prague.  We were there yesterday!

The Palace of Prague. 

The yellow building is the place where they filmed part of "Amadeus." The movie about Mozart.

A few pictures of random statues.

Back at the palace again.

Another view of the cathedral from faaaar away.

NATE!  How many times do I have to tell you not to kick people off of hillsides?!

This sign could say "Slippery when icy."  Or it could say, "Please bicycle kick the snowflakes!"

Hey slowpokes! Catch up!  It's only a mountain!

Pictures of the life of Jesus at the top of the mountain. 

Hey- What's that hiding in the trees?  Could it be...?

What?! France gave Czech Rep. an eiffel tower too!?

Coming down the mountain, Seth and Ian (on the left) picked up a little buddy.

Charles Bridge from another bridge.

Prague palace

Swan!

This little guy is taking in the view

Prague on a busy Saturday.  Now a look at the varying types of architecture of Prague.

Bethlehem Chapel.  Where John Hus preached.

A drawing of Prague from Hus's time period.

A Painting of John Hus being interrogated for his beliefs.

Waiting for the subway to take us to our next destination...

Some lovely landscapes on the way to Betel House.

The men at Betel house made a very tasty meal for us, and as a way of saying thank you, our guys washed the dishes!

A picture's worth a thousand words...  This one leaves me speechless.

You may not hear from us for a bit!  Nate is heading to an area in London for the week to help out with their misson week.  At least it won't be so cold for him as it was in Leeds!  After this week, it's back to classes for Nate!

-E