Welsh Week.

Here I am, finally expressing the details about one of the most amazing weeks of my life. Its strange, Wales was one of the most important things that's ever happened to me yet for some reason since I've gotten back, I really don't think I've talked about it all that much. I think the details are so expansive, I sometimes don't know how to keep it short.



So here goes, a summary of my trip:
We arrived in London at some evening time and began our 3 hour drive out to the church we were staying at in Pentrebach, Wales. It was dark by the time we reached the country of Wales but looking out at the dimly lit villages, I could tell I was already in love with the place.
We got dropped off about a block away from the church because the roads are to small for our bus to travel up. We carried our duffel bags up to the church in silence, and inside found a poster welcoming us:The next day we had tea time hosted by the church we were sleeping at and met some wonderful people. Everyone in Wales is just so gracious, its amazing.

On Sunday, we ran the church service. Its amazing how excited the Welsh get when the Americans arrive. Unreal. After church, a Welsh family took me and Marissa to their home for lunch, where they gave us way too much delicious food and I thought I was going to explode. Afterwards, we went on a beautiful walk

The next day was Monday, and we began our non stop week of assemblies in various schools in Wales. These were done in public schools (because you can do that in Wales). We'd open with a song (like Allelu Allelu Allelu Alleluia, Praise ye the Lord!... which sometimes they'd sing in Welsh) and then we'd do a skit about Esther with the song I've got Confidence built in, and then another song (Deep and Wide) and then Amanda would give a mini-testimony. Afterwards we'd get to go into the classrooms and answer any questions the kids might have. They were so cute... here are a few of my favorites (under the photo of us at the last school we went to).
Are you in the film industry? (apparently all Americans are.)
Do you know a lot of gangsters?
Do you believe in God and Jesus? (YES)
Is the Terminator really the governor of California?
Do you want Hilary in '08?
Can you count to 10 in the American language?
Do you know where the Tipton (from the Suite Life of Zach and Cody) is?

Also, my group got to go into comp (high) schools as well. There we'd get to teach an RE (religious education) Class. We'd begin by doing a sort of Whose Line? skit, where one of us (either Jeremiah or Alun) would be the host of a party and we'd give 3 kids from the classroom ridiculous fears to act out (fear of touch, fear of food, fear of light, fear of walking). Then we'd have them shout out childhood fears and after that we'd have them write down their current fears. To this we got some interesting responses, ranging from blood, to dying, to not being accepted, to "the girl in the green jumper" (ie me). Then we'd break into small groups, which is where the really interesting discussions happened. We'd talk about our fears and how we deal with them and I'd say how my faith has helped me and things could get very interesting and very deep very quickly, since none of these kids were Christians.


We also got to do some tourist-y things, like visit Caerphilly Castle!

We spent some time working with the church kids and I have so many stories I could tell...
The last night we hosted the youth group event and also got involved in some amazing conversations. At the end, we really did not want to leave...
It was so hard saying goodbye to all the kids and to Alun, the youth worker and most amazing man alive who helped us throughout the week...

After Wales, we went to London, got a bus tour, and then, due to snow in Boston, got to stay 2 extra nights, giving us time to chill out in the city.



I wish words could express how amazing my week was...