Days 100-91

Well, it's been ten days already.  (Okay, technically 12 days, but you get the idea.)  Here's what my life looks like, as seen as a mixture of everyday work, unique adventures, and cultural whatnots.  So without further ado, here's days 100-91.

100 days: When the team's away, country music will play.

My supervisor and coworker were both on holiday for a week, which meant they had entrusted the everyday running of the youth ministry to me.  I took it as a opportunity to play music they would veto.

99 days: Photocopying Sunday's bulletins while writing material for the week.

Thursday are always a bit hectic.  I spend the morning in the office making hundreds of copies and the afternoon setting up for the Sunday services.  Today was particularly busy as I had to add in finishing a Bible study and writing a sermon to the list, which resulted in me transporting my work to the floor of the main office.

98 days: On my walk into town, I was surprised by this little guy hiding in the wood

When I first heard that there were muntjac deer in the common (park) across the road from my house and work, I had a hard time believing it because it seemed to busy and small to be home to deer.  I have been proven wrong on at least four different occasions as these animals pop out of the foliage.  As much as I have enjoyed seeing them, they are actually a huge problem for England, as they are an invasive species.

97 days: Iain De Caestecker (Leo Fitz) and Nick Blood (Lance Hunter) speaking on a panel about Marvel's Agents of SHIELD.

One of the ways I've been able to connect with my co-workers, youth, and other community members is through pop culture, specifically movies and TV shows. I was able to spend the day at Comic Con London with some youth from my placement learning about visual media, admiring costumes, and taking to people about British vs American media while waiting in line.  I also learned that I am a much bigger nerd than I originally believed.

96 days: The set up for our younger youth service

Every Sunday we have three youth services, two for the younger youth (11-13) and one for the older youth (14-18).  This also means a long day of worship, talks, and games.  This Sunday looked a bit like this: a 6am wake up, 3 phones, 2 regular youth services, 4 singers, 1 sermon given 2 times, 4 buckets of water, 1 pair of soaked clothes, 7 leaders, 1 film night, and a 10.30pm bedtime.

95 days: The playground near my home

On my way into town, I always pass by this playground. Most of the time it's occupied by kids and their caregivers, and seeing them interact as I pass by makes me look forward to coming home and taking my niece to the park to play. This playground helps make the idea of leaving a little less painful and the idea of coming home all the more exciting.

Day 94: Putting away glasses after an event.

One of the main things I do is set up and tear down for events, meetings, and services that happen at my placement.  For the most part this means setting up chairs and occasionally tables.  Every once in a while it's a special event, such as special speakers, funeral teas, and lunches, which require something else, and this means going into the depths (and heights) of the cupboards.

93 days: An open window

 This year I've had to shallow my pride on several occasions and ask people how to do everyday tasks, such as how to lock doors and change light bulbs. Today I was taught how to open a window.  This window is a good symbol for what this year is all about: being vulnerable.

92 days: Video editing

My task for the next month is to go through a year of footage and make three 4 minute videos. The best part is finding footage like my supervisor pretending to be a fish, as seen in the upper right hand corner. 

91 days: Community art project at the Borough Market, London

During my free days, I occasionally go to London, which is only a 30 minute train ride away, to explore.  During this days, I find street markets, public artwork (commissioned and graffiti), and find new adventures, such as swinging in a bird cage behind the King's Cross and St. Pancras train stations.  Sometimes they're nice to look at, sometimes they make you think, and sometimes, such as this one, they're all rolled into one.  My favorite goal from this piece is "Before I die, I want to like in a house that is finished. C'mon Dad, it's been almost 10 years."  Many said "Be happy" "Make someone smile" "Say 'I love you'"


Note: My family (at least my mom, oldest brother, and sister (in-law) are coming on Thursday! My goal is to continue posting, at least photos to my Facebook, but if my next post is a little delayed, please understand it's because I'm busy hugging my family for the first time in 10 months!

Double Digits

So, somehow, I now have less than 100 days left at my placement. I am in the double digits.

When I hit 100 days this week, I posted a status and photo in acknowledgement of the ticking clock, not because I'm excited to go home, but because I can no longer deny that I'm going home or that I have more time than I actually do.

In three months, I will be leaving my home and community in England, and, considering I still feel like I'm February half of the time, it feels like I'm going to blink my eyes and suddenly be back in Wisconsin.  Don't get me wrong. I am very much looking forward to eating a brat with kraut and a nice, cold, non-licorice tasting root beer, but it is going to be very hard leaving this place, or more specifically the people, that now holds my heart.

So, I'm am taking this these 100 days to take a photo of my life daily, and every 10 days or so (internet permitting) I will post those photos here.  I've had 275 days to figure out what my life looks like here, so hopefully I will be able to spend the next 98 days accurately portraying what my life is.

The photos might be a regular part of my work or friendships, or something unique, but by the time I leave you will have a better idea of my life and I will have a way to better remember the people and places I love.

My placement, Saint James Church.