Well, here it is. As I wait in the airport for my first flight to board, I am aware that this is the first step on a journey that will take me into a new land--a new reality. As I was praying a few weeks ago about what this next eight and a half months would have in store for me, God gave me an encouraging promise. He told me to get excited because I was Alice about to enter Wonderland, Lucy stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia. This season would be a time in which I would enter a new world, a new reality.
      I wrote those words eight weeks ago, fully intending to start this blog before I came to bonny England. However, I kept putting it off "until I had more time" because I thought that as a writer, my first bit of writing that would be available to the world, should be brilliant. I have given up this fear, deciding instead that maybe the people in my life would like to hear what is going on in my life, and that maybe my perfectionism was standing in the way of communication. So here it goes.
    First impressions and observations: This certainly is a new reality. And I love it here. Upon arriving in London, I immediately felt possessive of the city, despite having been only twice before. Sheffield was brand new to me, however, and after 6 weeks of living here I can honestly say that England feels like a home I knew once before, a long time ago. Perhaps because of my extensive reading of so many authors that called it home as well.    
   Sheffield is a sizable city with a small town feel. I love how people here sit down and take the time to enjoy their "cuppa," or their food. It is so rare to see people eating while they're moving, unlike the U.S.. I love how everyone calls everyone "love." The bus driver calls you" love", the shopkeeper calls you "love," men and women alike. It makes complete strangers feel like endearing friends. And it is a trait I have decided to adopt.:)
   I don't want to linger too long here today, because I want you to return and read more in the future. So the long and short of it now is: I am doing very well. Some things are challenging and some things are wonderful. My team is great and we are working to bring a hope and a future to young people and trafficked victims alike. This makes us sound noble and grand, but the truth is that we still struggle with the day to day feeling like we should be working harder or maybe in a third world country to really make a difference. It just goes to show that being a world changer has nothing to do with where you are--it means embracing the purposes that God has set before you here and now. 







 I invite your questions and feedback. And I will attempt to make my posts regular. :)