Monday September 30, 2019
Today was my day off and I am currently sick. I spent the day recovering.
Sunday September 29, 2019
Today was the Harvest Festival and Parade service. Check out my blog post about what happened during the service and my second blog post regarding the sermon for the day. In the evening we had our weekly youth club.
Saturday September 28, 2019
Today I spent the day traveling with the URC Synod, we traveled out to Whitby to join them in their activities. We spent the morning out surfing in the North Sea, check out my blog post about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. After a nice lunch at the conference center, we went down to the town of Whitby and explored, walking all over the city and viewing the ruined Abbey. Finally we traveled down to Scarborough for a nice dinner on the oceanfront.
Friday September 27, 2019
Today I had my toddlers group in the morning, check out my blog post about the toddlers program at the church. In the afternoon we had our weekly KidFit programing.
Thursday September 26, 2019
Today was the weekly Time with God Bible study. Afterword I spent the day doing paperwork.
Wednesday September 25, 2019
Today was a busy day. In the morning I went with the minister into the local primary school I spoke during the harvest assembly about farming in America, my own families farm, and how we give thanks for the harvest. Click here to learn more about the school. In the afternoon we had Eco Club, click here to learn more about what Eco Club is. Finally in the evening I attend the quarterly church meeting where I listened to the church members discuss church business and project updates.
Tuesday September 24, 2019
Today I had my biweekly meeting with my two supervisors to discuss how things are going, what to improve, and what initiatives we are working on.
Monday September 23, 2019
Today I had a meeting regarding the music festival weekend we are planning for February.
Sunday September 22, 2019
Today was the church service and had a guest preacher today. Check out my blog post for my sermon response.
In the evening we had Youth Club. Check out my blog post to see what youth club is here.
Saturday September 21, 2019
Today was my day off, I spent it resting and prepared for the next week of work.
Friday September 20, 2019
Today we departed back for our placement sites. I had a five hour train journey where the train was so packed that it was standing room only for the entire duration of the trip.
Thursday September 19, 2019
Day number three of the Time for God conference. Today we spend most of the day learning about the United Kingdom and then participating in other fun activities. We depart for our placement sites tomorrow.
Wednesday September 18, 2019
Day number two of the Time for God conference. Today we went zip-lining and abseiling while also learning more about the United Kingdom and some tips for how to live here for our year of service. The evening was finished with a worship service. Read my response to the sermon here
Tuesday September 17, 2019
Today I traveled to my first Time for God Conference at a conference center near Birmingham.
Monday September 16, 2019
Today is my day off. I finished watching the new season of “The Ranch” on Netflix
I also did laundry today, It was my first experience hang drying my laundry outside, and I can say I really like it!
Sunday September 15, 2019
Today was the Church service. The sermon was about The Lost Sheep and Sin. Check out my sermon response blog post here.
In the evening we had our first youth club click here to check out my blog post about what Youth Club is.
Saturday September 14, 2019
Today was my day off, I finished watching “The Last Kingdom” on Netflix and started the new season of “The Ranch”
Friday September 13, 2019
Today I had toddlers in the morning followed by a youth club planning meeting (Check out my blog post about what youth club is here ) That evening we had our first KidFit session which is a fitness session for the children. Check out my blog post about KidFit here.
Thursday September 12, 2019
Today was the weekly Time for God bible study in the morning click here to read the blog post about what it is. I attended one meeting in the afternoon with Beverly my boss (See a blog post about her here) and Tim the pastor ( see a blog post about him here )
Wednesday September 11, 2019
Today was a roller coaster day for me. It was the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York. I spent most of the day reflecting on that, and educating people that asked me about it.
I also attended the monthly Wednesday Lunch at Church put on during the second Wednesday of each month. It was nice to get to connect to more of the congregation members. In the afternoon we went shopping for Eco Club, and then we had out first Eco Club of the Term that evening. (Click here for a blog post about what eco club is ).
I finished the evening up by attending a communications meeting for the church and gave input to them as they work to reimagine what their brand is and what their identity is while finding the best way to showcase that in branding/ brand identity.
Tuesday September 10, 2019
Today was a day of meetings. I had a meeting in the morning about planning the Church Weekend Away Retreat. I then attended a lunch meeting about the music festival the church is planning, before running over to a toddlers program planning meeting.
I had dinner with Ann, my new host (check out my blog post on her here) and her family. I met her nephew Sam, who is going off to University in Durham studying political science for the year. They are great fun and I look forward to the new friendships I forged.
The evening was finished by attending the “Start” course the pastor is currently giving to all current members of the church. The idea behind it is that the current members learn more about the faith allowing them to go out and invite their friend or neighbor to church. Click here for my mini-series blog posts about the start course, with a duration of 5 weeks.
Monday September 09, 2019
Monday was my day off. I again stayed around the house, I am currently watching a show on Netflix called “The Last Kingdom” which is a show about medieval England.
In the evening I attended a “Worm” planning meeting, which is the British equivalent to Sunday School in the States. Click here to learn more about the program. We worked on planning out the next two months of programing for the children.
Sunday September 08, 2019
Today was the Sunday Church Service. The Sermon was about how everyday can be Christmas (Click here for my sermon response blog post ). After church I attended the monthly church lunch which is a catered church lunch allowing the church members to gather over a meal and fellowship.
Following the church meal, I went on a hike out to Cow and Calf Rocks with a couple of the church members, It was a nice day with incredible views.
In the evening, My friend Aaron and I went into Leeds city center. Aaron (and now I am) a member of this group on Facebook that people all across the world are in and if you are traveling somewhere people post in the group and they meet up with total strangers. Aaron and I met up with a group from Yorkshire and we went out for dinner, back to one of their flats (apartments ) to watch a documentary by Yes Theory ( Click here for a blog post ) and then completed the evening by going out and expierencencing the nightlife in Leeds City Center.
Saturday September 07, 2019
Today was my day off. I stayed around the house most of the day catching up on chores. I attended a concert in the evening where Max Dudley ( One of my original hosts ) was singing in a choir. It was a beautiful concert that helped raise money for a local charity. Click hereto learn more about the charity
Friday September 06, 2019
Today was the third day of toddlers at the church! I learned how to place all the toys back into the storage room today. Everything has its place, and if you don’t put it back correctly you will not be able to fit everything.
In the afternoon, I adventured out to Chapel Alleton which is another suburb of Leeds where I got my hair cut, and had a Greggs Sausage.
Thursday September 05, 2019
Today I attended the Time with God bible study in the morning. It is very refreshing to start the day off in prayer, scripture, and song. There were 10 of us this morning creating an intimate setting that enhances the experience. I also attended a meeting at the local coffee shop about a “music festival” that the church is planning for January. They want me to take a big role in helping to prepare for this.
In the evening I went on a walk with some of the congregation members to Harewood House Click Here to learn more about Harewood House
Wednesday September 04, 2019
Today I helped out at the toddlers again at the church today! It has been great getting to know the parents and the children so far that have come to this great outreach.
In the evening I attended a worship team meeting where we started to plan the “Harvest Festival” Service that will be at the end of September. Check out this bog post here to learn more about what the Harvest Festival Service
Tuesday September 03, 2019
Today I helped out with the toddlers group at the church. The church has an hour and a half play time today where the children come with their parents or grandparents and they socialize and play with toys.
This evening I had a meeting with the minister Tim of the church and dinner with his family
Monday September 02, 2019
Today was my second “day off” but I filled it with lots of adventure. I traveled with a church member and her grandkids to Blackpool, United Kingdom which is situated on the western sea coast of the United Kingdom. We spent the day exploring the attractions before traveling back to Leeds, where I had my first taste of Indian curry.
Sunday September 01, 2019
Today I was officially commissioned as the Time for God volunteer at the church service. I am incredibly blessed to be apart of such an amazing community for the next year.