Playing Catch Up

The blogs below were typed while I was on the trains during my trip. I couldn't post them until I got home so here they are! Enjoy! Kayla
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Blog from wales to London:

 On the train back to London I didnt have anyone sitting next to me. So I stuck my headphones in and turned on my choices for my 'soft travel music'. I typically always listen to Jami Smith because her music is relaxing and it gives me that refresh feeling in my heart. Not to mention Jesus always speaks when I'm 'away' from the world. I have added a new CD to my travel music! It is a CD called Reflection by my good friend Kate Eacret. You Need to purchase this cd! It is by far one of the best (sure I'm a little bias, but it truly is fabulous) you can purchase it directly from her or at http://www.tatemusicgroup.com   then click on store and search Kate Eacret




So during the train ride from Cardiff to London I was able to list to Kate's Cd and Jami Smith's Bravo God. During the time it takes to listen to two complete CDs I was able to rest and take a nap and then watch some of the most amazing craftsmanship I've ever seen! The buildings here are more intricate and more beautiful than any in America!

The landscape is more Beautiful than america too! Now I'm not putting down America by any means. I am blessed and so thankful to be an American and an Oklahoman! I wouldn't enjoying living anywhere else right now. But God sure did an amazing job on the landscape. All He ever does is perfect but sitting here looking at it just takes my breath away. Here is one of the many songs I listened to by Jami Smith. Her song Love like you love
You and you alone Have the words of life 
That can change my heart Can renew my mind 
Take this life teach me to love 

Love like you lo - ve Love like you lo - ve 
I am different, I am changed 
By Your mercy I can Love like you love 

Now, now I can see How your love Changes me 
When I die You are strong 
I am less You come along and shine 

And you show off you love Love like you lo - ve 
I am different, I am changed 
By Your mercy I can Love like you love 

Oh oh oh eeh oh

I've said that I've never done anything like this trip before. I've been on mission trips to different lands with people I didn't know before but we had one purpose, one mission. This trip is completely different. I'm enjoying my time, making new friends and seeing amazing places. Our professor said before the trip that if we have a problem with someone to let her know. My initial thought was, really? That shouldn't happen...and if it does why wouldn't we tell that person not you? Bahahahaha boy I was so wrong! On mission trips you can look at that person an say something along the lines as, I love you like Jesus but you are irritating me so I'm walking away for a bit. And since we don't have the same focus on this trip those words just don't do the same. Haha it has been interesting to see the irritations play out between all the women and yes we are a group of all women so some should be expected :). I think we've handled it pretty well but I will say a few days in the trip if you would of asked me if I wanted to go home I would have said yes. WHAT?!?! But what about all you get to see and your presentation? Believe me I got over that really fast. I just had to remove myself from a particular person and I found that by doing that I could enjoy the rest of the trip! Jesus sure taught me some lessons there and I'm thankful for the lessons, but they aren't fun while you go through them :). 

We will be in London (Paddington Station) around 3:00 pm and then we have to go to another station to catch the Eurotrain to Belgium. We will get there tonight around 9:30 which is about 3:00 pm for Oklahoma. 

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Blog from London to Belgium typed earlier in the trip...
We made it to the Eurotrain but not until we spent some time at St. Pancreas. We had to get dinner and prepare for security checks/passport showing. While we were waiting we stopped at Gelato Mio for some gelato. I got dark chocolate and watermelon with whipped cream. Okay so the dark chocolate was so good and the watermelon was like eating a piece of watermelon! It was stinkin amazing!!! However, the stupid whipped cream she gave me on top of all that wonderful yumminess fell off onto my backpack! Ack! It was such a mess. I got it all cleaned up and enjoyed the rest of my gelato. FYI their whipped cream is not sweet at all.
Now we are on the train. I've got the widow seat, but I have no window. Hahaha we are suppose to be going under the channel to Belgium.
A side note: they drink coke here. No dr. Pepper but we found the dp!! We were so excited! I am not much if a pop drinker any more but I'm so thankful for the dp!!! :D
Think I'll take a nap now!

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We did it all in a day and a half in Paris!

We got to Paris right before lunch yesterday and were able to take in a few different things...I've been typing my blog out on my phone and will update that once I get to the US!! Can't wait for this time tomorrow night! We are all ready to be home!

 But here are a few pictures from our first day in Paris. 

It started with lunch...Subway is good no matter where you go. We went to one none American place and they didn't accept cards so we left and went to a place that we knew would take our cards! :)

Then we headed off to the Louvre and saw a few familiar faces...

Tammy, Me, and Melody at dinner. we had pizza at a cute little place across from the hotel.

Then...

we headed to the Eiffel Tower to see it sparkle!

It was amazing!

This is the group that went to the Eiffel Tower. We are in the Metro on our way back to the hotel!

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Today we went everywhere! We made a list and the 10 of us-nine students and one professor (the other two professors did not join us) went through our list and saw the following:

We went back to go to the top of it! Amazing!!

Then we headed over to the Arc

Followed by the place that has beautiful art work by people like Monet

This is a shot from one of his paintings...

                                                 We went back to the Louvre to get lunch, pick
                                                  up a few gifts and get a picture of the two triangles

Then we headed to the Sainte-Chapelle

This will have to be continued...the rest of the pictures won't load and I am off to bed! We are walking out of our hotel at 7:00 a.m. to head to the airport!!! YAY!!!

Paris in a day?

Okay so the internet connection is SLOW here in our hotel. No pictures today! :(

We have been to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower today and tomorrow we plan to see the rest. Paris in a day...I think it is going to happen! HA

Hope you enjoy your weekend!
Kayla

INTERNET IN BELGIUM...

the internet in our hotel in Brussels cost money. I am using the free computers so no post tonight...We leave for Paris in the morning. Pray for the GoStudents...from what I have seen on facebook they are in Paris too...
Kayla

Cardiff, Wales...

Cardiff, Wales has been one interesting trip. The last three days have been packed full of presenting, listing to presentations, doing some homework and trying Welsh Food and going to a castle. My presentation went well. The room was full and they even asked questions at the end. They seemed to enjoy it! YAY!

Here are a few pictures from the last few days! 

           

Our B&B room

The Bathroom

 The shower...AMAZING!!

 More bathroom

a desk area

 Where we ate amazing breakfast every morning

 Where we had our group meetings. Isn't it beautiful!

 This is what we saw when we first got to the park...Looks real doesn't it!

 Part of our group on the bridge in the park

 View of the park. It was so beautiful and full of color

 The Cardiff Castle Dragons

 Part of the castle

 Beautiful...can you believe people actually lived here?

 These are original bookshelves

 Where we had our Welsh Welcome Dinner-it was held in old stables

 The Cardiff flags

 Our cute dancers at the dinner

 Melissa, Danielle and Me at dinner!

 My pass for the conference

 This is a Welsh Love Spoon...I bought it and had it engraved for my husband! HA And no I don't have a husband, I am not bringing back a man as a souvenir...I do not know who he is or any of that. My husband is pending just like the fabulous ring he is getting me! ;)

 Sign at the conference

 The sign outside of our B&B

The front of our B&B

Sorry the pictures are still a little out of order. It is late here and I am extremely tired! Today at the conference I got to talk with a girl who graduated from UCO (we went to NAEYC in Dallas a few years ago together) and she is now working on her Doctorate in Florida, but she is a recent Christian. She was saved when she was at UCO and today was one of those days where I realized why I was here. It wasn't to just 'present' it was to encourage her in her walk! As I watched how God unfolded the situation I just smiled and said Thank You Jesus for this time. It was great to hear her talk about her faith and how God has provided her a great new church and a new faith family. She told me that before she came to American she was an atheist and very against God, but because people loved her and showed her the love of Christ she got to see a new side and then found God! She struggles with her faith some days because of some of her friends who are atheist. They don't understand why she 'turned to God' and I was so encouraged by her story. I encouraged her to continue to pray for her friends because for her to show the love of Christ just like she was shown is going to be her 'watering the seeds' in their lives.

I told her that she has a better chance at showing Jesus to them compared to me. She use to be where they are and can now share why she has turned to Jesus and how He has changed her life. I grew up in church. I wouldn't be one that would reach them like she could. Jesus is moving in her life and I think He is going to do great and powerful works through her for her friends! Please pray for my friend as she grows in her walk and continues to love on her atheist friends! I hope know one day I can post that she no longer has atheist friends!

Tomorrow we will be headed out of Cardiff back to London to catch the Euro train to Belgium. Please pray for us as we travel. Also pray for the Go Students who are in Europe now...I believe they are in London, but will soon be headed here to Cardiff? Not 100% sure of that, but God knows so please pray that they get to see His hands at work!

Hope you are enjoying this new week!
Kayla

The Pictures!

Here are some pictures I promised on our last full day in London...Sorry they are not in order.

This was a sign down in the London 'Broadway' District

     I bet the inside of this theatre is beautiful!

I can't remember what this building is

The Women of World War II

The Tube at Westminster Station

Big Ben

I bet you know what this S is for! 

The dragon is in the City of London (which is like our Wall Street area)

I just liked this sign

St. Paul's Cathedral (where Prince Charles and Princess Diana were married)

                                                         I can't remember what this is.

                                                    London Bridge and the Army Ship

                                             Another view of the above

This was a 'scary' part of town. You could feel the evil around. It was a weird feeling. 

Signs by the Abbey

                                                                  Buckingham Palace

                              Even if you order a "BAG" of Chips these will not show up on your plate! :)

                                                          The Queen...enough said! :)

This is one of my meals. The sandwich is huge! and my bag of chips is to the right! HA The Fanta was basically orange juice. 

Pretty cool way to see the ABC's

The Abbey-a side view

                                                      A panorama view of the Abbey

The British Museum

Again

Abbey Road...The Beatles

Okay so those are some pictures of the places a few of us went yesterday. WE WERE BUSY BEES and very tired by the end of the night! BUT ALL WORTH IT! Now it is time to prepare the final touches on my presentation as you prepare for the 4th and celebrating with your friends and family! Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT FERN!

Kayla