today's embarrassing moment, brought to you by...

Desperate times call for desperate meeasures. I enlisted the help of an Italian girl at the hostel to scout out rooms to rent with me. We came to one whose sign in the window indicated it was available... sweet! So I needed a closer look, and decided to stand on the large window sill and peek in the window. As I was animatedly describing the pair of boxers strung over the radiator in the front room, I was SHOCKED to see a male inhabitant of the house walking up the porch steps behind the Italian girl. AHHHHHHHH! I made some lame comment about possibly renting the house, and then ran away. It was bad.

Then I was looking at ads for rooms in a store window and a man in construction gear asked what kind of accomodations I was looking for. He showed us an apartment down the street that needed some renovation, but it was two bedrooms for £15O!!!! $300 a month! Crazy. But I think I'd get lonely all by myself. So the search continues.

I started work today - it was fun! Not too much to say because it's really similar to my last job, but I feel comfortable there. And the food is amazing. And yeah. "Happy days," as the Irish would say.

quick hi

just have a minute, but wanted to tell you that I'm doing great right now. I'm having after-church dessert with some people I met this morning and I might be going to an Irish festival tomorrow. Sounds really fun but depends on the weather - it was pouring today!

I paid for a week at the hostel I'm staying at, realized maybe God has me there for a reason and I'll stay until he tells me to go. This is not at all what I thought life would look like right now, but the good thing about God is that he's bigger than I am and usually has better ideas. I'm excited about getting to know some more of the people staying at the hostel. Fun times.

So here's the story.

Weeeeeell, well, well. Where to start? Thank you for praying - I got a job! I walked into a cafe in the city center on Thursday and came back for a short interview a few hours later, and got a job! It's actually really similar to what I was doing at the Red Twig in Edmonds... making coffee, serving food, cleaning, etc...The staff seem really nice and friendly. Downside is that there are major smokers who come in for lunch and coffee, so hopefully that won't gross me out too much. I'll be getting 30-50 hours per week, God-willing, and they're not open on Sundays so I can go to church all day if I want! Also, I'll get paid in cash every Saturday, which I think will be really nice.

On the home front (pun intended), I'm still looking. I'm currently at a hostel. It has a really homey feel, but the situation's not ideal, as I'm sharing a room with 23 other people and the bathrooms are co-ed again. To me, it's really awkward. God's helping me be patient, though. I was pretty stressed out yesterday but realized that as I keep looking and praying, the right thing will come about at the right time. There are a few people who may call me back. I really want an all-female house or flat, but it's super hard to find, so if you could pray that would be amazing. It's weird to be in limbo, but I'm okay.

I went to a museum today that had a huge exhibit about the Troubles, Northern Ireland's political/terrorist conflict. It's really unfortunate that I have no capacity for retaining facts and figures, but the whole situation is really fascinating for me and I'm thinking of possibly getting involved with some reconciliation group or something.

I'm not sure what else to report except that I'm really happy, in spite of recent challenges, to be in Belfast. It's a really wonderful city with happy, friendly people and I feel as much at home here as I can without actually... having a home. Yeah.

Well, I miss you all and hope everything's good. Please email me if you want! laceykirk@hotmail.com

a day in the life (Edinburgh)

8:30 – Hear my alarm faintly buzzing me out of sleep and pull my earplugs out. Ah, here we are. Good morning buses and speeding cars and screeching brakes! Roll over to the window and peek up out of the curtain – grey cloud cover again. Decide to spend the next few minutes huddled under the down comforter, summoning energy to get up.

9:00 – Wake up again, put on shoes and go for a jog around the Meadows, a huge grass area about 3 blocks away. End up walking the last few minutes, which is okay because it gives me a chance to breathe, and pray.

9:50 – Back up in the apartment, my flatmate (roommate) Sarah awake and making me an omelet. I’m so lucky. Chat, eat, listen to a cd compilation of funk songs after saying grace. Realized we’re out of toilet paper – back down the stairs and across the street to Kamco, one of a row of little convenience stores.

10:40 – Shower, then start reading John 5. Trying to read faithfully, thanks to John Piper’s sermon encouragement last night. “What is the will of God and how do we know it?” Washed some dishes, wiped the counter. Good enough.

11:27 – Hmm, ready earlier than needed. Start reading “My Utmost” – close the book and stay quiet, waiting to hear Jesus’ “hard words” to me for the day. No big response yet. Move on to “Velvet Elvis,” sprawled on my bed facing the window. Select Ben Folds Five from my computer and revel in the chillness of the moment. Start writing this random post because I still have extra time.

12:08 – Time to cash my travelers’ cheques and go to work! Brace myself because the street below I live on is throat-tighteningly noisy and busy.

12:45 – Foiled on my plan to cash the cheques. Head to work early so I can eat my lunch on the floor of the back room. Idly wonder whether I’ll get paid at the end of all of this. Spend the next five hours organizing, pricing and greeting stale-faced customers. Always looking out for thieves! Have fun with two girls trying on school clothes, wanting to know how the clothes look. Laughing inside at the irony of me offering fashion advice.

7:00 – Arrive home to Sarah and Helen, my two happy flatmates. Cook dinner – spaghetti, nectarine and toasted bread. Sarah lights candles. The luxury of it all. Melt into the couch with the setting sun warming my face. Bliss.

9:00 – Go out with S & H for a drink at the posh Grape, a candle-lit, dark-paneled wine bar, then next door to the Hard Rock Café for chips (fries) and ranch dip. Feeling extremely at home.

10:00 – Return, treat ourselves (for the third night in a row) to Cadbury hot chocolate and Digestives… the best cookies ever. Read more “Velvet Elvis,” journal, blinds down, earplugs in. Sleep, to do it again tomorrow.

A few more Scotland pics

One more picture from my tour of the Highlands. This is the Great Glen where a huge massacre happened when two clans started fighting. Didn't see any blood in the grass.

A little bit of the Royal Mile, which runs straight through the old part of town. Usually there are a million people walking this street, but I think this is early in the morning...

Creepy Lord of the Rings Tower. Shamefully, I don't know what it really is, but it's gross to me. Right across the street is the main shopping strip of the city
The scene I saw when I first walked out of the train station in Edinburgh.

need prayer!

Hi, quick request for prayer - I arrived in Belfast today after only minor mishaps at the airport. Everything's good. But the guy I'm staying with didn't really know I was coming - oops. Miscom. It's okay - he's fine with me staying there for two nights or so, but I really feel like an intrusion. I'm feeling discouraged about finding a job and a place to stay, and I'd really appreciate prayers about this. I'm hoping to have everything worked out somehow by Friday. Pray pray pray!! Yikes! :)

Love and thank you, Lacey

Scots, take 2.

Another observation from the past few days...

Scottish people have this confusing tendancy to call lunch "dinner" and dinner "tea" and a bedtime snack "supper." It really is hard to keep straight. Or how about this one - cookies are "biscuits" but biscuits are simply called "rolls", fries are called "chips" and potato chips are called "crisps." Yeah, that's the way the biscuit crumbles.

Hopefully going to see traditional Scottish dancing tomorrow night. Watched Legally Blonde 2 over pizza and Coke tonight with the roommates. So fun :) Also, got paid today! Yay!! It wasn't a problem at all.

On another note, I climbed a small hill called Arthur's Seat today and there were LOVELY views from the top. This mini-mountain abutts (can I use that word?) the city of Edinburgh (pronounced Edin-bra) right next to our apartment and it's really a cool situation. I'll put pictures up when I can.

I just bought a few disposable cameras because I LOST my digital. So if anyone at home would like to send me one, that would be great, thanks :)



Also, an even more random fact:

The largest "unreached" people group in the world is the 6 million Jews living in New York City.

witches and cauldrons

I needed a catchy title.

Just so you guys know, I changed the settings on my blog so that anyone can comment. so you better! :)

I'm sorry if my last posts sounded harsh - I was very convicted. As you could tell. I actually really would cherish any feedback you have about anything I'm thinking - it'd help me process.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for.... I've rambled about travel, and about God, and now it's time for the good stuff. Random facts about Scottish people you'd never know if I wasn't sitting here bored and able to post :) Ready?

1. They say "cheers" at the end of scripted social conversations, like paying for a meal or asking for directions. It's meant to mean thank you.

2. Retail work here is just like at home, except they don't expect so much friendliness. Maybe it's just here in Edinburgh, but if I try to greet people or start a conversation, they either a) ignore me, completely pretending that I hadn't said anything at all, or b) continue to stare at the shirt in front of them for about five seconds until they've worked out what just happened, and decide to respond with a shy smile. It's a weird thing. But I feel a lot more free to make a fool out of myself than I would at home, and that's kind of a nice feeling.

3. As I was just reading over point #2, I realized that they may not respond because they can't understand me. Which is the fact that comprises point #3. People in Edinburgh talk really, really fast and when they start throwing in strange words they can be very hard to understand. And I'm suddenly starting to think they feel the same about me :)

4. Jaywalking is legal here. As a result, if I get hit by a car, it's my fault. I think that's the same in Canada so just be careful if you decide to cross the border, okay? No close calls yet, and I'm trying to keep it that way.

Okay, this is a very short list because I think in many ways, Scottish people in Edinburgh are really similar to Seattle people. There are definitely a lot more tourists here now than you'd ever find in Seattle... but still. I'm really missing our summer weather - it's cloudy and sad most days here.

I think that's all I've got for now. Take care!

what's going on!!!

Well, I bought my ticket to Belfast, Northern Ireland yesterday. HAPPY! I'm so excited to be going. I'll leave Edinburgh, and the friends I've made, on Wednesday August 23. Starting over again is a bit intimidating, but I've already met people here with connections and possible housing accomodations for me when I arrive. It's all good. The path is prepared.

I will be able to meet as many Irish people as I want! At any time! This definitely is exciting.

God lessons

In a condensed, money-eating-Internet type of fashion:

"At the Day of Judgment, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done; not how eloquently we have spoken, but how holily we have lived...He is truly great, who is great in the love of God. He is truly great, who is humble in mind, and regards the earth's highest honors and nothing. He is truly wise who counts all things as dung, in order that he may win Christ. And he is truly learned, who renounces his own will for the will of God" (The Inner Life, Thomas a Kempis)

A glorification of intellectualism was really prevelant during my time at UW, but I've also found it within myself and among my friends. It's something that for me is a sin, and I'm perpetually drawn toward being thought very intelligent by people in conversation. I did it again today, when I started talking about Northern Ireland politics. But it's all vanity - literally. It's about self-glorification. About being more interested that people think highly of me than that they think highly of God. It needs to be okay for me if people think I'm stupid because I don't fight to make my opinion heard in a debate. Unless I use the knowledge God has given me in a way that serves and glorifies Him, my speech and thoughts are absolute nonsense and even worse than that, turn into sin. Yikes.

What else...

Thinking a lot about being counter-cultural. Realized that even our "joking" cultural prejudice against Canadians (see, you just chuckled, didn't you!?) is inappropriate for Christian. This is a weird thing, and I'll write more on it later.

A question: Why did Jesus refer to himself in the third person in John 3:16-17? I just noticed that today and I think it's weird.

You're kind to stick with me in this.

thank you!

I just wanted to thank everyone who prayed for me before I left and continues to do so... I have absolutely felt these prayers and have been really, really blessed here in all the ways you asked God to help me. I'm so grateful and I wanted you to know that all of your prayers have really made a difference in my life. I don't know how I know, I just do. And my confidence in the effectiveness of your prayers for me have compelled me to pray a bunch for you too. So thank you so much :)

the beautiful St. Columba's

This post is a raving tribute to the church I'm currently attending here in Edinburgh. It's an urban church, located right in the middle of the city. The official name is St. Columba's Free Church - which basically means it's an offshoot of Presbyterianism. Haven't figured out the whole history yet. St. Columba is said to have been the first person to bring Christianity to Scotland and is also reported to have seen the Loch Ness monster. Interesting claims to fame. Anyway, here's what I love about St. Columba's...

• after service people remain in their seats and turn to talk to the people around them. after my first service i was greeted by no less than 5 people just after service, who all seemed genuinely interested and asked lots of questions. it made me feel really, really welcome. i loved that people didn't rush off after service like they couldn't wait for it to be over, and also that they didn't stick to talking within their own cliques (which I'm VERY guilty of at Northlake) but reached out to uncomfortable and strange people like myself.
• an after-service coffee and tea time that people actually attended, and where people actually talk to you. It's phenomenal! again, people genuinely reached out...
• the only songs they sing are psalms. i've found this to be very nice - something about singing God's actual word out together. at first it was weird, but I've already warmed up to the idea.
• many people invite others to their houses for lunch after church. three people invited me over, which was LOVELY because I'm definitely out for free food and nice people.

St. Columba's is small, and therefore able to be a little bit more connected to each other, I think. In the bulletin were announcements about people's surgeries, new babies, city events, prayer requests for specific people, etc. It is very personal and very supportive.

Obviously I realize it's not perfect. But I just wanted to share these things with you at home who might delight to hear of good things happening abroad :)

picture captions

Yay, I'm so happy the pictures worked! Okay, they're out of order but that's alright. Here's what's going on...

1. It's really dark, but that's me huddling in sheeting rain on the edge of a cliff on the Isle of Skye. It was MISERABLE weather but somehow we all felt very like very hardcore tourists for getting drenched. And I think it's more representative of Scotland to have pounding rain intead of sun. Think back to Braveheart.

2. This is in London, on my first day. It's in the area of Notting Hill, but there really isn't a specific place called Notting Hill. It's all very confusing. But I liked the colors.

3. Loch Ness!! Does it creep you out? Nah, it's just another lake, but very beautiful. We took a cruise around it as the sun was setting and it was very romantic. The man giving the lecture at the bottom of the boat showed us sonar and thermal graphs but he did not believe in the monster. It was hard to be convinced!

4. I had to give you one of these. A wee old man playing the pipes for tourist money. It was a lovely spot for a picture.

5. Back in London (sorry again about the lack of order!) ... At the Globe Theatre where Shakespeare had his plays performed. I LOVED the experience and would recommend it to anyone who happens to be in London :) £5 ticket for standing room. The actors pushed their way throught the audience, spilt stuff on us, inundated us with smoke from a machine under the stage... very interactive. Very fun. I left at intermission, after an hour and half though, because I could only take so much of Titus Andronicus. Yep, hadn't heard of it either.

Lots of pictures!! Next post for explanations.

Update!

Quickly... I just got back from a lovely three-day tour of the Highlands (northern part of Scotland) and the Isle of Skye, which was ABSOLUTELY beautiful. Capturing the imagination type of stuff. At one point, in the pouring rain, we stopped the bus at a small grassy area surrounded by a mossy stone wall. We had coffee and biscuits (=cookies. very confusing) in what basically resembled the Shire from LOTR. I was overwhelmed by cuteness.

Thanks to God, I now have a room in an apartment with two amazing Christian girls for the next two weeks, an urban church that seems to be an interesting mix of postmodern thinking and traditional practice, and a job that I could start tomorrow if I'm interested. Hoooooly cow. The job is at a cute little cl0thing shop called Offbeat Clothing Company. I'm debating whether to keep looking for work, like at an office, because that type of job pays more and could give me more hours. Not worried. Things will all work out.

Reading: Oswald Chambers and Thomas a Kempis, "The Inner Life." Psalms are a comfort to me. Spending good time with God and learning to trust him for the day to day things. He's absolutely providing and I'm so happy with things.

Scotland: Scotland is COLD. Even in August. Also, my deepest apologies to anyone I told that there wasn't a Scottish language. There IS! It's a lovely thing to hear, words like "wee" and "bairn" (child) and who knows what else.

My heart is pining for Ireland. I'm not anticipating that anyone will understand this, but the Scottish are definitely not Irish. We'll see where I end up.

I know this isn't a very poetic post, but I'm pressed for time at the moment. I love you all and hope everything's going great. Until later!

church

Met some girls at church, spent all day with them. They gave me free food!! (had been considering "fasting" in order to save money:) Could rent a room in their apartment if I decide to stay in Edinburgh - it's sooo cute and has a view of the city! Met some of their friends. Feeling comfortable, which I actually am resisting because adventure and discomfort are two of the reasons I'm here :) Buuuuut I'm praying about it. Does God want me in Edinburgh? Everything seems to make complete sense, which doesn't always mean too much when it comes to God's perspective, I've found out. Love all.

London, and now Edinburgh

London: Although awe-inspiring in size and overwhelming diversity, I must regretfully say that I don't quite belong there. The reason, I concluded last night, is that in many ways London defines the word "cool." Therein lies the problem. Let's face it, I am not a very cool person according to most normal definitions of the word. Eccentric, random, weird even... these might work better. So I'm headed north to villages that, themselves a bit out of the mainstream, might welcome me with open arms.

Edinburgh: Definitely haunted and creepy, huge and majestic buildings dominate small cobblestone streets. The Edinburgh Festival, and its counterpart, the Fringe Festival, draw a diverse crowd. Big groups of old people here to see the Military Tatoo, a really cool ceremony it sounds like, and the weed-smoking drum circlers who gather on the big lawn below the castle. So weird. But it's interesting and I'm happy to be here. Yes, I'm being careful.

God: August 5 Oswald Chambers (whom I just found out was Scottish! of all the coincidences!) ... pretty much sums up how things are going with God. I don't know why I'm here, but he does, and that's just fine for me. I'm following him everyday and spending time reading and praying and worshipping and it's good to have time one-on-one. Looking to see each day what's going to happen next. Planning to attend church at a massive cathedral tomorrow and I'm SUPER excited to worship with people here.