Kilts and Castles

Friends! Family! Sorry I've taken such a long while to post, I have had three tests in two weeks, as well as having gone to Scotland and planning for Italy!

This past weekend I spent Thursday night through Sunday evening in Edinburgh, Scotland. Fun fact, unlike Pittsburgh, Edinburgh is pronounced differently. Instead ending in a g sound with a faint h slurring after it, it is pronounced: Ed (like the name) in (not out) bur (it's cold in here) uh (uhhh what?). So like Owensboro... but with an "uh" instead of an "o"... and it begins with "Edin" not "Owens". Anyways, this has been my favorite city yet! The city itself is located around 3 hours north of Grantham via train, an easy travel destination right? (Sort of, except a group of 15 of us missed our train, snuck on another one headed the same direction and somehow ended up in Scotland). It was a beautifully historical city, each building comprised of a vast amount of stones with a story to go with each of them.

Our hostel was located in the center of the city off Edinburgh's version of main street known as the Royal Mile. The High Street Hostel was very good to myself and the 2 fellas and 6 girls I often travel with. We were placed in a 10 person room in which each of our beds were named something with relevance to the solar system. Ironically, I was given Uranus... I'm still 13 I know. Our 10th person staying with us was a French man looking for work in Edinburgh named Matthew. It was an interesting place and very much excites me for what each hostel experience will consist of.

View from Arthur's Seat of Edinburgh

Saturday, our second full day in the city, we spent the early morning and afternoon on the north side of the city hiking what is known as Arthur's Seat. This nearly thousand foot jutting peak overlooks the city with a magnificent view. 3 hours spent climbing her relatively soft, green trails that overlooked 60 and 70 foot cliffs was well worth the investment. The highest peak of the peculiar geography has a view that is too beautiful to describe efficiently. To the East the vast North Sea sits gently and extends far past the eye's vision. The light blue water, consistently at rest, portrays a fantastic picture of exactly how big I am; not very. A sharp wind's cold bite will blow you to turn away from the broader part of the sea to look into the bay area. This was spectacular because sitting far behind it, snowcapped mountains lurk, only there to remind you what a diverse geography Scotland truly has. Still turning left until facing West you see the skyline of the city. Skylines in Europe are not filled with large corporate buildings of impressively contemporary architecture. Instead, churches older than our very own nation press into the sky with their gothic spires. Best of all, the view of Edinburgh Castle, sitting promptly above the rest of the city, acting as an intimidating, fierce and dangerous older brother to the rest of the stone city. This is actually the castle the overhangs the view of the coffee shop where J.K. Rowling received inspiration for her Harry Potter books. I made sure to grab lunch there don't worry.

Edinburgh Castle

The Coffee Shop where J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books! 

God created me to love people, I'm learning that here. Do I miss my incredible round of friends that pour into me back home? Yes, but I can't explain the joy I find in getting to know people here and understand who they are and why they are that way. There is no common background within Harlaxton students and what a blessing it has been. Knowing that I am here to shine a light is a simple idea, but how I shine is a complex matter when I restrict it to myself. In relying on God here, which I've had to do more than ever before, I am opened up to the gospel and why it matters in others peoples lives as opposed to just my own. As I'm now halfway through reading the Acts of the first church I see that investing in people is how you share the gospel with them; loving them as I have been loved. Paul and Barnabus went TO the gentiles in Asia Minor, they did not wait to be asked questions or for someone to land on their doorstep begging for a grace so extraordinary. Please be praying that I might have this conviction to share the gospel here. I love people for a reason, it's a great, great gift and because I'm given much through him, much is expected. (Luke 12:48) Pray for the Spirit to use me so that His will may be done and He may be glorified!

I just finished packing for a trip to Italy! (I leave in 6 hours unfortunately and I am yet to sleep!) Pictures will be up from that sometime next week!