Last Sunday in London

It feels like only a week or so ago I was sitting in this same room, at this same desk and computer, typing the entry, "Our First Lord's Day." I cannot believe today was my last Sunday in London. I am absolutely stunned by the way time has flown, and I am sure every entry from here on out will remind you of that. Have I really been here for fourteen weeks already?! Where did the semester go? Tomorrow is our last day of class. I have finals on Wednesday and Thursday. Summer starts Thursday, and I am so excited.

This morning Hayley and I left to go to church at All Soul's Langham Place, but we took the wrong turn out of the tube station, and after walking to the end of the street where we expected to find the church, we realized we had made a wrong turn. We hopped on a double-decker bus (I love those things) and rode back down the street hoping to get closer to the church. After no luck and realizing that we would be embarrassingly late to the service, we headed to Regent's Park. The park was so sunny and bright... when we got there. We took some pictures, sat on a bench reading and talking to each other, and enjoyed each other's company for a while until the rain came. Fortunately I had my umbrella (always be prepared) and we walked back to a bus station. We saw a cute little old man walking in the park using his umbrella as a cane and wearing a black hat. Very English. I wanted to take his picture, but it would have been blatantly obvious, so I declined.

We rode the bus back to Oxford Street where we stood in line outisde Primark until it opened at 11:30. It's wild. It's like British Old Navy gone crazy and it's so much fun. I believe I wrote about my last experience there. Once we got inside, Hayley and I split up and agreed to see each other back at the house. I took my time-- determined not to be rushed by the hoards of people zooming past me grabbing shirts and skirts like they are going to run away or something. I waited in line for a dressing room FOREVER and managed to get some more reading done in line. I have learned to always carry a book when in London. I made my final decisions, paid, and left the store-- a little sad that I had finished my last London shopping experience.

I walked past Marble Arch to Hyde Park to visit Speaker's Corner. This is where free speech is encouraged and it's very busy on Sunday's. There was a man yelling about how the white people take advantage of the "black and brown" people in the UK and in America. I listened for a little while (maybe 3 minutes), decided I had heard enough, and walked on into the park. There was a man standing in a chair under an umbrella with a Bible and as I passed he asked me if I had accepted the Lord as Savior. I told him I had, and he said that he would see me "Here, there, or in the air." I smiled and kept walking. It was raining still, and I was battling the wind trying to keep my umbrella open. There were still a lot of people in the park and several young guys playing football (soccer). I walked through Hyde Park to Kensington Gardens. I left the park and walked down the street as I admired all of the artists who were displaying their work on the park fence along the sidewalk. Well, I admired some, and some just kinda confused me. It was still such a nice day even though it was raining. I walked all the way back to the house.

After a pleasant little nap I had dinner at the house and left with Hayley to go to church at Holy Trinity Brompton. This was our last service there, so it was kind of sad in a way. In another way, it was great fun. Tim Hughes was there leading worship. If you haven't listened to him, you should-- he is amazing. ("Consuming Fire" is my favorite). Tonight was also a night for baptisms. We hadn't seen a baptism since we had been there, so this evening was especially exciting. Several of the candidates for baptism shared their testimonies of how they came to know Jesus and how radically their lives have changed since becoming a Christian. It was so great to see the enthusiasm and excitement in these new Christians! Once the baptisms began, as each name was called, the congregation cheered. People were clapping and yelling, and one might have thought he was at a football game. Everyone was so excited to see their friends, or just people from the church, make their faith public. The baptistery was down inside the stage. They were baptized in their regular clothes, too, and when they came out on the other side, a woman gave each of them a towel while the congregation cheered again. It was all very exciting! Tim led some more songs, a man delivered a sermon, or as they call it, a "talk," and we were dismissed. Hayley and I walked up the street and took the Piccadilly line from Knightsbridge back home. Before going back to the house we went to Starbuck's to grab some coffee and talk some more. Maybe that's why it's 11:20 and I am wide awake. I didn't get the Americano this time-- just the regular brewed coffee, and I'm not going to lie-- it wasn't that great. I will have to try something new next time (i.e. tomorrow morning!)

Well, I need to finish some work, so I am going to wrap this up. By the way, thank you for reading this. Thanks for being interested in the least. I get so excited when Mom or Dad comments about someone seeing one of my pictures or reading part of my journal. It encourages me so much to know that I have friends back home who are-- in a way-- getting to share this experience with me! Thank you! ("Cheers."

NINE DAYS AND COUNTING...