I have been crazy busy of late and under the weather in a really strange way. Things are incredible here and I am learning so much.
The days and the weeks are going by very very quickly it feels like only yesterday I blogged but looking at the date it appears to be two weeks ago. Apologies to anyone I have still yet to email back I will get around to it soon. I leave for school (sounds very strange) at half 7 in the morning and I have been getting home around 6pm so the days have been pretty long.
We have been going through church structures, bible review (have already read through Genesis this month) and I am being stretched and challenged which feels great. I also started guitar lessons with the sickest guitarist, I just want to cry at how good he is but already I have improved on the ol' six string wonder sound creator.
Every morning starts with around 45 mins of worship which has been really good and really hard (depending on the morning). This has been a real challenge as we are learning about Praise. When you think you know something and your viewpoints are both supported and challenged it is really encouraging. I love the fact we can sometimes say 'this is MY way of praising'.....uh uh uh. There is only one way of praising and that is God's way. It is amazing how directive the bible is on this fact. Praise is all about extoling HIM and bringing him thanks. Praise has to be heard. The times of the sitting down head in hands whispery whispery praise are over. Praise is one way! I would love to expand on this point further but it has been blowing my mind.
On a different note I went to see a band in chicago last week called Sleeping at Last, possibly one of the best shows I have been too. It was so intimate and laid back. The addition of the string quartet was phenomenal.
I have the house to myself at the moment as my host family are out and I am taking the time to watch spinal tap. No more needs to be said.
Well, I am trying to think of things to write that are of interest but my mind feels like mush at the moment. I need some breakfast and a cup of earl grey tea.
Yesssssssssss.
Saturday, 26 September 2009
Saturday, 12 September 2009
First week is over...
It seems like ages since I have last blogged and let people know what is going on in the lovely city of Kenosha.
So school started on Tuesday and it has been a crazy few days, amazing things have been happening. Simply hearing each students testimony and back story has been pretty incredible.
Knowing that this is completely the right place to be has also been a major encouragement. I can't recall ever feeling this much peace about being in one place as I do here.
I have been feeling pretty sick the last couple of days though, not sure if I have picked up a virus; some sort of freshers flu or what but it has been a bit annoying to say the least.
The guys here are great, I didn't think we would bond as a group so quickly but we seem to have gelled well so that's a blessing.
In terms of things to do out here in Wisconsin, well there is the coffee shop by the lake which does a mighty rootbeer float and great coffee, there are the music stores (apologies to kelly and becky for what happened in said music store) and apparently there is a historical house (buily in 1915) which contains a tour about the history of barbed wire. This is a must!
It strikes me as something that both Felix and myself would enjoy greatly. Incidentally I am missing the football here and have been looking for updates on the scores. Arsenal are 1-0 down to Man City and in true Gunner's fashion it is an embarrasing own goal that has caused us to fall behind. This isn't happening on Football Manager, I am doing pretty well on FM.
I have seen some cheap effects pedals out here, temptation is nearly taking hold, for those of you who know what a Fulltone OCD is I can pick one up out here for around £70 which is pretty nuts. I also spent 1000 dollars on a mesa boogie rectoverb... not for me but for my friend Tom. It's ok he paid me back straight away though. The only trouble is I now want it because it is really nice and is a third of the cost we would pay for it in the UK. Everything else here seems similar to UK prices though.
More to follow on the course and what we are doing but at the moment I am still trying to process everything. God is doing some amazing work in people and the freedom we are experiencing out here is like nothing I have experienced before. Long may it continue.
Matt
So school started on Tuesday and it has been a crazy few days, amazing things have been happening. Simply hearing each students testimony and back story has been pretty incredible.
Knowing that this is completely the right place to be has also been a major encouragement. I can't recall ever feeling this much peace about being in one place as I do here.
I have been feeling pretty sick the last couple of days though, not sure if I have picked up a virus; some sort of freshers flu or what but it has been a bit annoying to say the least.
The guys here are great, I didn't think we would bond as a group so quickly but we seem to have gelled well so that's a blessing.
In terms of things to do out here in Wisconsin, well there is the coffee shop by the lake which does a mighty rootbeer float and great coffee, there are the music stores (apologies to kelly and becky for what happened in said music store) and apparently there is a historical house (buily in 1915) which contains a tour about the history of barbed wire. This is a must!
It strikes me as something that both Felix and myself would enjoy greatly. Incidentally I am missing the football here and have been looking for updates on the scores. Arsenal are 1-0 down to Man City and in true Gunner's fashion it is an embarrasing own goal that has caused us to fall behind. This isn't happening on Football Manager, I am doing pretty well on FM.
I have seen some cheap effects pedals out here, temptation is nearly taking hold, for those of you who know what a Fulltone OCD is I can pick one up out here for around £70 which is pretty nuts. I also spent 1000 dollars on a mesa boogie rectoverb... not for me but for my friend Tom. It's ok he paid me back straight away though. The only trouble is I now want it because it is really nice and is a third of the cost we would pay for it in the UK. Everything else here seems similar to UK prices though.
More to follow on the course and what we are doing but at the moment I am still trying to process everything. God is doing some amazing work in people and the freedom we are experiencing out here is like nothing I have experienced before. Long may it continue.
Matt
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Jet lag, I thought I had beaten you but no.
Well. as I write this I am lying in bed, probably one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in! It's quarter past two in the afternoon and before you say I am lazy I am looking at the time according to my laptop which has yet to adjust to USA time, it's so slow think it's time to upgrade to a mac... now to find someone to buy me a mac.
It's actually about quarter past 8 in the morning here and I have been awake for a couple of hours, I have bigger bags under my eyes than I ever thought possible and I am still not married, been here for two days now and I think the brochure has lied to me. These Christian year out programs are meant to supply you with a spouse on arrival, or so I have been led to believe.
The rootbeer I have been delighting in has so far been a highlight. I have discovered I actually hate the fast food here, I feel so richly blessed to feel this way. My host family are into their fruit and veg in a big way and I couldn't be happier, I may actually come back thinner as a result.
Last night we had a meet and greet cook out where I met the guys I am to spend the next 9-10 months with, it is going to be a really good year.
The transition from UK to USA has been seamless so far, except for the tiredness but hopefully I will get over this soon. Everyone here is really friendly and this has made a massive difference. The hardest thing is going to be realising I can't just pop home for the weekend, that and missing the band.
I have discovered a new American band called Weaver at the Loom, very tasty indeed. Also loving the new athlete album too, it;s incredible.
Bye for now, check out my puppies. Today's is a beaut.
It's actually about quarter past 8 in the morning here and I have been awake for a couple of hours, I have bigger bags under my eyes than I ever thought possible and I am still not married, been here for two days now and I think the brochure has lied to me. These Christian year out programs are meant to supply you with a spouse on arrival, or so I have been led to believe.
The rootbeer I have been delighting in has so far been a highlight. I have discovered I actually hate the fast food here, I feel so richly blessed to feel this way. My host family are into their fruit and veg in a big way and I couldn't be happier, I may actually come back thinner as a result.
Last night we had a meet and greet cook out where I met the guys I am to spend the next 9-10 months with, it is going to be a really good year.
The transition from UK to USA has been seamless so far, except for the tiredness but hopefully I will get over this soon. Everyone here is really friendly and this has made a massive difference. The hardest thing is going to be realising I can't just pop home for the weekend, that and missing the band.
I have discovered a new American band called Weaver at the Loom, very tasty indeed. Also loving the new athlete album too, it;s incredible.
Bye for now, check out my puppies. Today's is a beaut.
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
I fly today.
Well, I leave for the airport in half an hour, looking forward to just getting to the USA now. That nervousness that comes with hoping that everything is sorted has taken hold though I am quite sure I will be fine.
There is not really a lot to write today other than it's a bit grey, the exchange rate is poor and I hope I am under my weight limit for the baggage folks. If not then I will have to put my suitcase on a crash diet.
Tomorrow I wake up in America.
See you in 9-10 months I guess, whoop whoop.
There is not really a lot to write today other than it's a bit grey, the exchange rate is poor and I hope I am under my weight limit for the baggage folks. If not then I will have to put my suitcase on a crash diet.
Tomorrow I wake up in America.
See you in 9-10 months I guess, whoop whoop.
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