Merry Christ

This Years Christmas was to break the mold, as my father stated, "You have been home for 20 consecutive Christmas's, I think one abroad wont be bad." So I upon that reasoning I began to wonder where on Earth would I spend my time during Christmas. Discovering my cousin Cole was alone my father advised it would be best if we hung out together, so I was alone, he was alone, why not both of us usher in the birth of our Savior together; and thus hatched a brilliant plan of spend Christmas in Oxford, England. Boo-Yah!!!

Well it is half way through this experience and so far my debit card has been gobbled up by a ATM deposit box, the weather patterns shifted from cheery to dreary, and I find myself counting the days till I reunite with my family and friends in America having just come down with a serious case of homesickness over the holidays, 15 days and counting down.

But despite all this negativity and longing I have found God's hand to bring through it all. Have found immense provision through transportation. Booking in advance my ticket here to England with no foreknowledge of the weather conditions I left and arrived at the only two Airports in the British Isles that did not experience any trouble from the weather directly, the only delay came from the tardiness of the inbound aircraft and the incompetence of Ryanair in its desperate attempt cut spending by combining the two schedule flights into one plane; 4 passengers never made it to London-Standsted because of them. Never the less God still showed great provision: in the journey here to Oxford, the company provided, and the wonderful accommodations.

I spent Christmas Eve and Day gallivanting with Cole between three Christmas services. Two widely different Anglican and One Catholic Carol mass. The first Anglican was Traditional with full choir and organ scholars, the wife of the Dean of Christchurch, invited us and reserved two of the best seats of in the house. Not being a house but the grandiose interior of Christchurch Church, fabiolously orinmented with rustic wood carvings of angels, stain glass biblical depictions and stone masonry that outstanding. We were invited for after service party at the Dean of Christchurch's home and spoke with a few academia and Cole and I had a bet if the guy with the fancy bling-bling on his neck was Lord Mayor of Oxford. It was, I won. The second was a Charismatic Anglican service where they revamped the classic carols with their worship band, it was a solid rendition of carols and the message of the "Unexpected" of God kept the children amazed and the rest intrigued. Cole being Catholic he was going to attend mass, not knowing what mass was like I accompanied. Being a carol service it was pretty fun, but three services with extensive praise was enough for me, my voice finally tuckered out.

I enjoyed the company of many Jesuits throughout my time here, having spent Christmas day and have a wonderful feast of turkey, ham, bacon wrapped sausages, brusselsprouts, savory puddings, stuffing, parsnips, potatoes, carrots, brandy butter, white and red wine, Christmas pudding(they set it on fire, intentionally, it was awesome and blue), some port, chocolates, and the wombats, the fruit bats, the breakfast cereals. It was a absolute delight. They gave me a gift at the end of the night, because they heard I was coming, I was about to cry at the kindness they gave to me, till I read they addressed it to "Eden 'Cousin of Cole'" It was funny.

Also staying here at the Oxford Chaplaincy has been better than I could expect or hope. Cole and I have many discussions on a variety of topics such as: family history and stories, theological issues and the Church, and fortifying the Chaplaincy against the, hypothetical, epidemic of the Undead. From deep to less deep we have satisfying our needs for talk with peers about wholesome and nerdy talk.

Keep you updated, London on NYE. God bless and keep you my beloved!

Closure

Okay, for the record, I have repeatedly have been attempting to post during November, but the extent and detail at which I write makes it difficult to upload, so I tried a vlog. Blogspot denied it. so Maltese madness will be posted later as apart of a wrap up, Known as "Testimony" a highlight of all the things I have experience and people met. Probably posted in Jan. right before I return to Platteville.

I know I must sound sort of self-centered when I write such a manner, but lest I be mistaken these entries are actually reminders for me, when I am older and my sketchy memory fades. I will allow those to peek into my life with God to see, hear, and hopefully experience him in their own lives.

Now as the semester ends here in Ireland I must prepare for my exams, the results are up to God, but the participation is up to me. God Bless and Keep you, My Beloveds.