Trains and Roses

Yesterday was a great day, as was today but I will start with yesterday. We started the day off with a tour of Shakespeare Globe theatre. We were however 20 min late and by we I mean me and my roommates.  Lets just say the walk of shame up to the group who had been waiting for us was not my favorite.  Oh well, dumb tube renovation.  Anyway we had this wonderful tour guide who looked like a pirate, and never fear, I have a picture for your enjoyment.

The tour was pretty interesting, I did learn that the plaster is made with cashmere and the wood is held together by wooden dowels instead of nail to hold true to the original Globe.  Probably my favorite part of the tour was getting to see this man...

I hope everyone knows who this is.  He is apparently a Shakespearian actor performing Much Ado About Nothing which I will get to see in a few weeks. I was a little bit star struck.  

We then went over to the Rose theatre archeological site which is in reality the first theatre in this area and where Shakespeare's first two plays were performed.  Because it is an archeological site you could see much as it was all being protected from light and was covered with sand and water for the time being.  They are going to be doing renovations and continuing to dig in the next few years.  

After that long tour I was tuckered out but, not too tired for some thrift store shopping! First we went to a restaurant called Wagamama's which has Japanese food.  I got a curry chicken dish that was delish! I highly recommend it.  It was actually recommended to me by an English girl from BYU.  Luckily a block down from this restaurant was a thrift/charity store on my list of top 20 vintage and charity stores in London so we headed on over.  I ended up getting a pair of old leather gloves for 3 pounds.  I was pleased.  We then headed down the street to TK Maxx which is exactly like TJ Maxx but in the UK.  They had nice things but too expensive for me.  Then we went to a couple more charity shops on our street  that we walk past everyday but have never gone in and we found FARA's.  This is a charity shop with the proceeds going specifically to homeless children. I found my London favorite I do believe.  It is a black beaded dress which fits me PERFECTLY! I am not even kidding.  It was half off as well. I love it, I cannot wait to wear it.  I am kind of specifically planning a trip to the ballet so I can wear it.  I was going to show you a picture of it on the hanger but I didn't want to spoil the surprise.  I will just say it is beautiful and unique.  

Katie and I and a few other girls in the group then found a place where a live band was playing.  We got dressed up and headed out.  We basically spent the night dancing. It was great! 

Today was our first day in our ward assignments. My ward is in Stratford starting at 9:30 am.  It is an hour and a half away by tube and then train.  It ended up being about an 8 hour adventure by time we got there, went through 3 hours of church, an hour and a half choir practice, and an hour and a half trip back.  But I would just like to say that it was so worth it.  Before we even got to the church a mini-van of older women rolled down their window to scream "It's BYU! We are members, we are so excited! See you at church." I knew I was going to feel welcome.

When we did walk into the church building we were instantly met by an older man whom I unfortunately cannot remember his name.  He went on and on about how grateful they were to have us here.  He then showed us where the classrooms were. I will never forget the kind welcome we received. It was like coming home, they were so kind. We were then welcomed so warmly by the Relief Society president who is one of the most beautiful black women I have ever met.  Her smile lights up the room.  There were probably about 10 sisters when we got there.  A few more trickled in after awhile.  As soon as we got there they asked us if we played the piano.  We all had to decline but it came time to sing the practice hymn and NO one knew it and seeing as it was in a key with only one sharp I volunteered to play the top hand. I was so embarrassed but it actually went better than I thought.  I then teamed up with another girl from the group and together we played both hands.  It was and experience but they were SO grateful.

The majority of the ward is from Nigeria or Ghana.  They are so great.  I am loving the diversity that I don't get in Illiniois and certainly not in Utah.  Sacrament meeting was tough because we were all so tired.  The rest hymn, Awake Ye Saints Awake, was quite appropriate. The stake patriarch is in this ward and he spoke about patriarchal blessings.  It made me want to read mine and then I realized I didn't bring it with me.  I will have to remedy that promptly.

The bishop then met with us after sacrament meeting and gave us assignments for the next few weeks.  I will be serving in the Young Women's! I am so excited.  There are only about four girls but I really think it will be a great experience and a great opportunity to serve.  They currently don't have a Young Women's president so the Bishop told us we will have a lot of work to do.  I can't wait.  After that we headed upstairs to double the choir size.  It was really great to help in that way singing with these great, faithful people.  There was a brother who came in half-way through from the ward that shares the building to play the piano.  Beautifully might I say.  Anyway about 35 min into it his wife came to the door and said "What are you doing?!" He then put his hands up in surrender and walked out of the chapel.  It was hilarious.

We made it home and I inhaled a peanut butter and jelly sandwich before taking my Sunday nap.  Then we had a fireside, which we have weekly, about World War 2.  The last stake president was actually here in London during the war and he had a lot of information to share even though he was only a small child during the war.  It was fascinating.  Towards the end of this month he is going to take us on a walk with his two brothers to show us some of the sites he talked about.

It is wonderful to be here. I can't tell you how much I am grateful to everyone who sacrificed to help me get here.  I also cannot tell you how grateful I am to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with these opportunities for growth.  Life is good!