Merry Christmas from England!

St. John the Baptist Anglican Church

I will be attending the Carols and Candles service at Hasbury Christian Fellowship this evening, but I will also go to the midnight communion service at St. John's Anglican church. There's something cool about knowing that people have been worshiping in that same building every Christmas Eve for centuries. If only it would snow, the church would look absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately we haven't had any snow yet, just rain and a little sleet. 

My tree- with homemade decorations :)

On Christmas Day, I will be joining the festivities on base. We will have brunch and then go out for a scavenger hunt walk. After dinner, there will be games, carols, a gift exchange, and desserts. I'm looking forward to celebrating the birth of Christ with my OM family.

I hope you all have a blessed Christmas full of joy and peace! Thank you for your cards and gifts. Merry Christmas!

My Own Place!

I have finally moved off base into my own house! It is a three bedroom apartment, rented by OM, that I will share with two other girls. It's a 25 minute walk from base, which is little longer than I would like, but at least I'll be forced to get exercise this way. It's on the opposite side of a hill from Lifehope, so the walk is uphill and downhill both ways. (It depends on whether you're an optimist or a pessimist.)

I spent most of Wednesday moving in. A local charity called Loaves and Fishes collects used furniture and household goods and gives it to those who need it- including missionaries. Most of our furniture came from there, aside from the beds, which came from the Lifehope storage room. They also gave us an assortment of kitchen stuff, but I'm still trying to pick up everything we need to have a usuable kitchen. 


 
I am so glad to have my own room and space for my stuff, instead of sharing four wardrobes between six people. My room has a big window that unfortunately looks out onto a busy street, but there is a nice view beyond that. There is a big back yard (or back garden, as they say here), which come summertime will be nice.

Currently, I only have one flatmate. Her name is Lisa and she is from Germany. Her parents are here visiting for Christmas and are staying with us in the third bedroom. However, Lisa leaves in a few weeks, so I am looking for other people to move in.