Earl Grey with milk and a pinch of sugar

What a beautiful week of weather we've had here in Cambridge! Like seriously... I feel so spoiled, especially since it's a grey day again today. This past week has been full of so much sunshine, flowers peeking out, cloudless blue skies, cycling in the increasingly warm breeze, and getting ready to embarq upon our European travel adventure. Dehlia, Dorothy, and I head for Venice tomorrow and have been scrambling to get organized for three weeks of Italy, Spain, Paris, and Dublin... I can't really express how excited I am to explore and travel with these lovely friends of mine.
Yesterday I went to my last Cambridge University lecture... that was kinda weird... just to think that a whole term has flown by already. God had done so much growing within me in the last two months. He's blessed me with some great new friends that I hope can keep in touch in the future. He's protected me while cycling next to double decker buses on the left side of the road. He's teaching me about living in community... how to love genuinely, to forgive, to admit when I am wrong. I admit though, as wonderful as this place is, it is easy to forget that there is an outside world... sorta like concordia in that respect. I think wherever we are in the world, if we become comfortable there, it is increasingly easy to get consumed in our own world.
Hearing about things going on in Japan right now... all the suffering there, things happening in the hearts and lives of my dear ones back in the States, and just getting to meet people from all over the world has me thinking a lot about how the world is so much bigger than me. There are so many people going through so many different struggles and joys... so many people in need of love... so many people, like myself, in need of Jesus.
Those are my main thoughts for now. If anyone actually reads this, I'm sorry you must be really bored. haha
Pip pip and cheerio to safe travels, new adventures, good food, great coffee, sunshine, growth, learning, and trying to remember as much Spanish as possible. Our Heavenly Father loves you! *Rachel

Arabica Coffee in a French Press

 I'm sipping coffee, and I know its clearly not tea, but well... its still a hot drink so it'll fly as a title I guess. So February is here and has not blown in here in Cambridge quite as it has in Chicago. We've missed out on the two feet of snow/ice storm of 2011. Oh darn. Stay warm and safe all my dear ones in the tundra of the States! Going to be honest though, I don't envy you. I love snow... while its snowing, and before it gets slushy and dirty. But I think I've transitioned quite easily to the idea of cutting winter short in exchange for this marine climate of greening grass, windy days (as of late), and the occasional bicycle ride to what has now become my bench. The other day I rode across town in search of the Botanical Garden... turns out I rode right past it twice and didn't even know it. I did end up at this lovely park with trees spindled around themselves like trees from the Lord of the Rings. Some trees here are so huge that their branches are literally growing on the ground! Anyway, so I sat on my "Me and God" bench next to the river. The sky was bright blue that day (don't get too jealous... its a rarity here for now)... a cool breeze was blowing as the sun glistened on the water and sank lower and lower in the afternoon sky. I sat and read a good book from a wonderful soul sister (you know who you are!). Here and there a few people with children, dogs, and significant others meandered by me... it was very peaceful. I love this place and I love these people, but I think that no matter how much you love being somewhere you still need to steal away for some alone time every once in a while. Much of society neglects the idea of this cleansing alone time, myself included I must admit. For the Jesus lover, this is even more critical as time spent in prayer and God's Word is vital to my life, to your life. That particular bench-discovery day I spent reading a lady's memoir about life and faith and God and family and grace and growth. While its a lovely book, how much more profound and healing to the soul is The Word of God! The weeks here seem to be flying by far too quickly. I am a future thinker and I like to feel in control of my life and emotions and actions. I like peace and quiet, but I also don't like to be alone for too long. God always seems to teach me a new level of trusting Him, loving others when it seems hard, and being content in His plan and timing for my life. These are some of the deep prayers of my heart, yet when God chooses to teach these lessons to me in ways that I dislike at the time, I get upset and confused. Isn't that just like us humans? We ask for something, then when we get it we want it in a different way. Good thing we're loved by an amazing God whose love is so unlike our own attempts at love. Agape. Perfect love. Spend a time today perhaps, sitting and meditating on this undeserved love of God. Read about it in His Word... go for a walk in His creation... open your eyes to how He shows it to us every day... open your eyes to the opportunities He gives us each day to pour even a fraction of this love onto others.
I'm so thankful to be in England, though pieces of my heart are with people very far away right now. The differences in seasons between Cambridge and Indiana/Chicago has me thinking about seasons of life. How quickly they ebb and flow... how seemingly swiftly they change. Don't be like me in this, dear ones, don't wish time away by wishing things were somehow different in this moment. God is constantly at work whether we see it or not, and whether we want to hear that or not. He IS agape. It's in every fiber of His essence... and we sit in His hand. So what can man do to us? Rhetorical question. :) I'll try to take my own advice. It's probably not mine really anyways.
So whether you're in a tundra or spring's peeking out already... take a walk today... and remember Who it is that's walking with you. Cheers.

Black Tea in a White Mug with a Smidge of Milk

This past Friday Dehlia, Dorothy, and I journeyed to London and what an adventure we had. It's difficult to recall all the minute details, but basically in overview:
 While coming up out of the Tube Underground train Big Ben greeted us. It was like, "Woah! Hey Big Ben, you're all up in our face." Quite the first impression of London if I may say so myself. It pretty much deserved some epic background music as we ascended the stairs. Friday was a beautiful day... no rain... just blue sky. I can't complain about the ridiculously mild weather for late January either... it's pretty bomb.
I wish we'd had a pedometer because I've no idea how many miles we traversed over the two days there... but we covered a lot of ground. Happened upon Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Houses of Parliament, rode on some double decker busses, took photos in front of St. Paul's Cathedral, walked across the bridge that's in the Harry Potter movie when the dementors fly by, attended evensong at Westminster Abbey, hit a really hip little pub, went to an art gallery, went to an ethnic market, shopped, saw Platform 9 and 3/4 and had a few shenanigans in between. We stayed at a little hostal in Picadilly Circus that I'm really thankful for... note for next time... having plans A and B aren't good enough... always have a plan C. haha Mom, if you're reading this, don't worry... we were safe and fine. ;)
Evensong was lovely, though it was apparantly not the usual choir that sings there. As I sat inside that historic abbey that's world-renown, listening to the resonating sounds of Psalms and other hymns of praise to my God, a realization struck me. There I was, little old me inside this huge cathedral shaped like a cross; I was sitting inside a giant cross with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am living, we are living our lives inside the cross of Christ, inside the knowledge of God's amazing and perfect agape love. We are protected from Satan's attacks inside the Cross and because of the sacrifice of Jesus. Inside the cross is where our satisfaction, peace, and hope is found. Through the cross God gives us life. Because of my baptism, I have been crucified with Christ and have been given life in His name because of His blood shed on the cross and His victory over death. I am save within the cross of my Jesus; it is where I ever long to be. I pray that any of you reading this are hit afresh with the realization of God's amazing love and grace, and that you would ever trust that He is keeping you inside the cross of His victory (even if you never make it to Westminster Abbey, though I highly suggest it!). La paz de Cristo sea con ustedes. The peace of Christ be with you all. Amor and cheerio.

Peppermint Tea in a Brown Teapot

Technically this tea was consumed yesterday evening, but it was really lovely so I wanted it to be a title. A few days ago Dorothy, Dehlia, and I went out for one errand and ended up spending most of the daylight hours galavanting about Cambridge. We made it to Primark... the most delightful and cheap cute clothes shop I've ever seen... so potentially dangerous for the wallet. We walked arm in arm down a cobblestone street or two, strolled down Jesus Lane (Wouldn't it be cool if He returned down that street? Haha.), and touched a church that was has stood the test of time. The Round Church (It's really round... who would have thought!?) was built in the year A.D. 1130... so basically this one church is over 600 years older than my native country. This really has me thinking about the concept of time, and how Scripture speaks to how a thousand years to us are as a day to God. What a thought! Here I am in the midst of this town littered with buildings that have witnessed so much change, so much history, and little ol' me gets to pass them on my way to the store or class. Time is an intriguing entity. Is it a thing? A state of being? Perhaps an attitude? Wrapping my mind around the idea of time is difficult enough, but imagine creating the idea of time! Our God did that... yeah... He's pretty awesome like that.
I have spent far too many minutes of my 21 years and some odd months wishing time would go faster... wishing for something different... hoping for what's to come, and sometimes worrying about it. The following I can't take credit for; it is wonderful and was in the front cover of the bulletin at my home church on New Year's Eve. It reads:

"An anxious patient, lying on her sickbed asked her doctor, “How long will I have to lie here and suffer?”  “Just a day at a time,” replied the physician.  Just a day at a time!  What a wonderful philosophy of life – especially as we turn the pages of our crisp new calendars and scan the 365 empty boxes into each of which, God willing, we will pour 24 hours of living.  Just a day at a time the new year will come to us with its new challenges, its new tasks, its new hopes, and its new fears.  Thank God that we do not have to live the entire new year at once!  It comes only a day at a time.  Even tomorrow is never ours until it becomes today.  It is a blessed secret to be able to live just a day at a time.  Those who have seen the crushing burden of sin lifted by Calvary’s cross can carry their little burdens, however heavy, until nightfall.  Those who know that their Savior has completed the tremendous work of redemption can perform their own tasks, however hard, just for a day.  Those who have seen the patience of their Lord and Savior can live patiently, lovingly, helpfully, until the sun goes down.  God gives us night to shut down the curtain of darkness on our little days.

We cannot see beyond, nor do we need to.  Tomorrow is in God’s hands – He is asking us only to live today.  So we stand on the threshold of a brand-new year – a year that will record great changes in the history of our world, in the history of our families, and in our personal history.  But we don’t need to be frightened by the overwhelming possibilities.  Instead, we can find comfort and strength in the fact that God has cut the coming year into smaller pieces, and we will live it just a day at a time.  God has promised us that our strength will equal our days (Deuteronomy 33:25).  We have God’s assurance that each day throughout all the coming years, will find us equipped with the strength necessary to meet the challenges and more than overcome them.  We don’t need to live February in January.  We don’t need to live tomorrow today.  Above all, we don’t need to fear the prospect of an unknown future.  Our all-wise, almighty, eternal God – in Whom there are no yesterdays and no tomorrows – has gone ahead.  When we reach our own tomorrow, we will find Him there."

My prayer for us all is that we would be given the peace and strength that only our Precious Lord can give, and that we would cling to Him always, trusting that the Author of time has our times in His strong hands. He is outside of time, the great Alpha and Omega, and is already in our future. What can there possibly be left about which to worry? Pip pip and cheerio to you. :)

Tesco Black Tea

So Dorothy, Dehlia, and I have safely arrived in Cambridge and have nearly finished our first academic week here. Its so strange to sit down and realize that I'm actually going to be living in England for the next half year of my life. I'm curious as to the places we're going to see, the experiences we'll have, the people we'll meet (have already met most of the community here at Westfield- so nice and welcoming!), and the things that God's going to teach us and work in us. When I went to Colorado last summer not knowing anyone it was such a great for God to grow me and cause absolute dependence upon Him. This is my prayer for my life in general, but specifically for this trip. I don't want anything about this experience to distract me from pursuing to know Jesus deeper and serving His people. My prayer is that being far from home for this long would again teach me a deeper dependence upon His agape love and providence and that He would grow in me a deeper trust in His plan for me in this life.
Cambridge is just so quaint. A few days ago the three of us and a new friend went walking about the town to explore and find out where the university libraries and lecture halls are. Lectures start up on Monday. It'll maybe take a little bit to get used to riding a bicycle on the left side of the road... I still catch myself looking left when crossing the street when I should look right. There are churches and cathedrals older than the U.S. at what seems like every corner. King's College chapel is BEAUTIFUL; I can hardly wait to go inside and attend evensong next week. We girls did errands around town yesterday and bopped into little shops along some cobblestone streets. Hm.... :-)
Today we had Pericope Seminar over the Old Testament reading from the lectionary for this coming Sunday. All the discussion about the translation of and nuances of the Hebrew in Isaiah makes me wish I knew the language. It gives me some extra motivation to learn Greek though. I'm of the school of thought that there's something just so beautiful and amazing about the concept of reading the Word of our amazing God in the original languages in which it was written.
Well... I'm running short on thoughts for now. Cheers to a fun weekend! The Father's crazy about you all... for real!

Harrod's English Breakfast Tea

Today's cup of tea was far better than last night's. I think I've decided that black breakfast tea with milk is my favorite. I've not too much to say except that apparantly I can't count and TODAY is the 8 day countdown to take-off. I'm trying to live up being home with the family. I love it... Amy cooks awesome meals all the time, the coffee's always brewing, we're always picking on each other, and my family's always just quirky enough to keep me laughing... about my only exercise as of late. Maybe I should remedy that... a New Year's resolution perhaps... oh no, that's tomorrow! haha Speaking of exercise, I look forward to walking or biking all over the place in England. It will be a nice change from driving across Chicago in rush hour traffic once a week. The relationships with which I was blessed at fieldwork were well worth the drive, but I'm just tired of driving. Give me a walk around an 800 year old city with cathedrals, cobblestones, gardens, and a river any day!
On another tangent, I have been flipping through the travel books I was given for Christmas. It's so fun to daydream about where we could travel. My eye caught on pictures of a national park in Wales called Snowdonia. Made me think of Colorado and how much I miss hiking and mountains. Even though other places in Europe will be so near, I'd be perfectly content to spend the first half of 2011 exploring little hole-in-the-wall places around Great Britain. The touristy things are certainly so for a reason, but I like finding little-known places of which few have heard. There's more adventure in that. And I think some adventure and unknown will be a big blessing and growing experience. I am of the opinion that everyone should try something random, go someplace where they don't know anyone, and travel somewhere new at some point in their life. "Life is an adventure." is what my dear Slovak friend, Eva, tells me. How right she is.
Happy New Year, dear ones. I pray your year has been as full of challenges, joys, and blessings as mine has, because its in our weaknesses when God's strength is shown. It is also my prayer that all of our upcoming months are full of adventure, the unknown, and a deeper trust in our God who holds us in His hands always.

Constant Comment with Orange Rind and Sweet Spice

So this is my first time blogging... ooh... I feel so artsy and hip. Haha. I'm at home in Podunkville, Indiana watching Julie and Julia with my sister and one of her best friends. The protagonist of which starts a blog... how terribly ironic. :) It's Christmas break so I've been relaxing, eating, spending time with family, reading solely FOR FUN, and trying to wrap my mind around the upcoming five months. This blog is my attempt to put into words the time of adventures, travel, and study about to be embarked upon by myself, Dorothy, and Dehlia. We depart in T-minus 8 days from the good ol' U.S. of A! For now I'm just trying to embrace being where I am; spending time with my dear family is such a blessing from God. Oh, and before I forget to mention this, the title of this blog, "Cantabrigian Teatime", stems from "cantabrigian" defining something that pertains to Cambridge, England. The titles of each entry will be the names of the kinds of tea I drank that day. Speaking of said title, the tea I'm drinking right now is mediocre... tasting too strongly of orange... and not terribly appealing to the eye. It resembles dishwater... ew. Maybe I'll swap it out for a glass of wine instead.