We made it!

We landed a week ago and it has been a good first week in Oxford. The flight went well and we made our way to Oxford by bus and got settled into our new flat. We live a little north of Oxford in university housing on Banbury Road. It's in a community called Summertown which is a great location because Summertown has little shops and restaurants, but then it is easy to catch the bus into the Oxford City Centre.

This is the Summertown House, our new home. We live on the fifth floor (fourth floor here) and ride up and down the lift to get to our place. We have met a few neighbors, but many of them are still arriving before this fall term begins.

This is just the sign and view looking down our little side street off Banbury Road.

We have gone out in the city every day since we've been here and are getting our bearings. We bought bus passes so we now have unlimited access on the bus lines throughout the Oxford area. Life without a car is different, but the bus system is so good, I don't think we'll mind.  I know we won't miss Atlanta traffic!!

Here are a few pictures from out and about in Oxford as we have tried to observe and learn a little about the culture and behavior here in the UK.

Cornmarket Street - the pedestrian-friendly heart of Oxford

 

Christ Church and its gardens

 



We enjoyed a picnic near the Christ Church Meadow on our first Saturday, complete with sandwiches, fruit and cookies from the Covered Market!

 



Emily and Johnny playing chase! She's adjusting well to life here...

 

 

...and, as you can see, is not afraid to wear her sunglasses even on a cloudy day!

 

The Radcliffe Camera - an inspiring reading room at the Bodleian Library
(which Emily calls "The Big Chickie."  We are not sure why!)

 



Sir Edmond Halley's house (of Halley's comet fame) when he studied and lived in Oxford complete with the little observatory on top

 

One of the quaint little side streets you find throughout Oxford

 



Emily on the lawn (shhh - don't tell) at Mansfield College

 

the Bridge of Sighs - one of the more famous landmarks in Oxford

 

It is a little surreal that we are really here in this place of such history, renown, and architechture, and we are excited about what the Lord can do in us and through us during this experience. Thanks for joining us in this journey!

 



Hard, but Good Goodbyes

Selling our car. Check.
Moving our furniture and belongings we are keeping. Check.
Three yard sales to sell what we weren't keeping. Check.
Eleven trips to Goodwill to give away stuff we didn't sell. Check.
Finding renters for our house. Check.
Cancelling utilities in our name for our house. Check.
Communicating with our bank about international use of our account. Check.
Confirming our housing in the UK. Check.
Packing our bags for England. Check.
Saying goodbyes. Check.

The weeks preceding our flight last week were very busy with all the details and logistics of moving from one country to another one. These above are just a few of the major ones.

It has been a time of letting go.  Letting go of our possesions.  Letting go of our life in the States. Not easy to do by any means, but thankfully the Lord has helped us through it. We have seen time and again how He answered our prayers and needs specifically to ease our transition to life in the UK this year.

In today's world, thankfully we have Skype and Facebook and other means of staying in touch, but still we know that relationships and friendships will be different. We can stay in touch, but won't see family and friends in person as often. There will be a new 'normal.'

We flew out from the new international terminal at Atlanta airport last Wednesday and were so grateful that our parents (better known as Emily's grandparents of course) came to see us off.  I know all of us had mixed emotions - sad to see us go and yet excited for what was ahead. 

In the end, I think that's okay because it shows the strength and closeness of the relationship that is shared. It means there was something great that will be missed, and, at the same time, the desire for something great that is to come.

And we can take heart knowing the Lord is with us in this absence, comforting and strengthening us as we adjust to this new 'normal.' Thanks be to God for His Spirit who is with us!

[L-R: Grandy, NaiNai, Grammy, and Papa with Emily at the airport. We love you all!]

[Emily saying goodbye to Libby, the 4th member of our family who had to stay behind this time.]

Commissioned to Go

Well, it's been a little while since we last posted (with the move to England and all), so I wanted to catch you up on a few things that have happened the last few weeks.

 

We were commissioned at our home church, Trinity Anglican Mission, (www.trinityanglicanmission.org) on Sunday, September 16.  It was a meaningful and fun (more or that in a minute) time as we reflect back on this journey and how the Lord has brought us to this place. 



I still think often on one sermon that Kris - our lead pastor - shared last October on Joshua 3 where the nation of Israel was crossing the Jordan river.  He talked about taking risks for God and trusting that the Holy Spirit would do what He's told us He will.  It was just another encouraging word from the Lord that it was time to step out in faith.

 

So, back to the commissioning.  When Kris called us up to the front to pray over us, he said,"Johnny and Amy, come on up here." As we walked up the center aisle, Emily shouted out, "And Emily too!" He smiled and said of course her too.  Then when we got up on the stage up front, without any hesitation or shyness, Emily started waving to the congregation and blowing kisses! Everyone loved it and half the room started waving and blowing kisses back! (I don't think we'll have any trouble meeting strangers in England!) Kris and the church prayed for us as we go and it was a joyful moment that we will always remember.

 

We later were prayed for by our Mission Society family which also was a true blessing to us.  We are grateful to be part of communities that pray for one another and affirm one another in their callings. 

 

Sidenote: During worship that morning at Trinity, someone behind us took this picture below of Emily and me. She usually is in her class during the service, but was with us for the commissioning this morning.  As I was holding her, she raised her hand as we sang in worship.  Our little girl has a heart of worship and we know she is going out as a missionary as well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharing our Lives

Eight Years. That's how long I have worked in the home office of The Mission Society. At least until August 31. That was my last day as we make this transition to moving overseas.

In 2004, Amy and I returned to Atlanta after finishing up at Asbury Seminary. I still remember my first day at the office: a little green and wet behind the ears. Honestly, I wasn't sure I belonged in the same company of some of the others who worked there. It was surreal to actually be on staff at The Mission Society back then. Now, eight years later, it's a little surreal that I am not.

When I started I gave a two-year commitment to stay on staff and help bolster the Advancement team and the major events we hosted. I really didn't think I'd stay any longer than that. I had lived overseas already and had been trained to return there...somewhere. I knew working at the home office was a stepping stone to our eventual move overseas. 

God's timing turned out to be a little different than our timing. And I am grateful for that. Don't get me wrong; there were certainly days and times when I was ready to go and wondered why the Lord hadn't released us. But now I look back and see His grace and providence in keeping us here in Atlanta for this season.

And my last week in the office, the Lord overwhelmed me with the love and friendships I have made among my colleagues. There were so many encouraging words said to me and Amy. It was a reflection of the life we shared together in the home office - working together, eating together, celebrating together, laughing (and sometimes crying) together, and praying together.

It reminded me of one thing Paul said to the Thessalonians in 1 Thess 2:8, "Because we loved you so much, we delighted in not only sharing the gospel of God, but our lives as well."

In the office, we enjoyed sharing our faith and our lives with one another. We went on mission trips together, helped each other move, and hung out outside of the office. We helped each other out through health issues, car issues, and family crises at times. Through these relationships the Lord bonded us into more of a family, not just co-workers.

As Amy, Emily, and I go to the UK this next year, this is our prayer for the new friendships and relationships we will make there - that we would not only share the gospel, but would share our lives as well. By learning from others there and sharing life together, we believe the Lord can help us connect more deeply with the students and locals in Oxford, as well as with Jesus and His love for the people there. And that's when hearts and lives - including ours - can be transformed for eternity.