Rain

Rain, midnight rain, nothing but the wild rain

On this bleak hut, and solitude, and me

Remembering again that I shall die

And neither hear the rain nor give it thanks

For washing me cleaner than I have been

Since I was born into this solitude.

~Edward Thomas (1878-1917)

Okay, so I'm not really this depressed. However, rain has been the word of the week so far and this is an excerpt from a poem, entitled "Rain" in fact, which is one of our reading assignments for today. It is a bit melancholy sitting at my window and watching the rain come down while reading this morose poem. Nevertheless, my cup of hot tea is warming me up and Mom's apple crumble with custard was a perfect finish to this wet day.

I am hoping that the sun will come out tomorrow, as Oxford is usually fairly sunny during the summer. In fact, July and August are typically the least rainy months of the year. Thankfully this constant drizzle (and occasional downpour) has yet to get me down. I think the extra hours of daylight may be helping with that.

So far my days have been long and work-filled. Today I read for more than five hours in order to complete our assignment for tomorrow. I'm hopeful that our reading assignments will decrease, especially when the weather clears up. And who knows, maybe I'll actually speak in class tomorrow as that hasn't happened yet. Whoops!

But now, with the readings finished, tea in hand and the soft patter of rain against the window pane, it's time to relax!

Day One (and Two)

I'm looking out the first floor window of my home for the next five months: 10 Canterbury Road. I have my Ribena (a blackcurrant juice drink) on the desk beside me and a cool breeze from the open window refreshes me. It's so nice to finally have a few minutes to just relax. I feel like I've been going full speed since the plane touched the ground yesterday morning.

We took a coach to Oxford and had just enough time to find our rooms before we ate lunch. I for one was thankful for the milk chocolate digestive biscuits that the Morgans provided for us. After unpacking, we headed out for a little tour of Oxford. I am happy to say that I am now very well reacquainted with the town.  My favourite stop on tour? Our family's old house. It's a lovely little three-story house in one of the oldest parts of Oxford.

3  Bath Place, Holywell Street (our old house)

Almost as soon as we were turned loose for the evening, it began to rain. And it wasn't just a nice English drizzle, but a heavy downpour, complete with thunder (a bit of a rarity in Oxford when we lived here). By the time we made it back from grocery shopping we were all fairly wet. The rest of the evening consisted of a house rules meeting, reading for today's classes and an early turn-in.

Today, the first day of classes, began bright and early at 8 in the morning (that's 2 AM back in Texas) and I'm still not quite adjusted to the time difference. I think both of the classes are going to be fantastic as the discussions were very insightful. The Symposium is in a classroom at Linacre College, which is a graduate college. It's a lovely stroll from the houses through University Parks to Linacre. Today we were treated to a nice lunch of citrus chicken in the college's cafeteria.

These first two days have been wonderful. I still can't believe that I will be here for half of a year. I am so blessed to have this wonderful opportunity and it is only just beginning! 

The Adventure Begins

On to my next adventure. This one's a bit longer, a bit farther away. My family is headed to church this morning and we'll go straight from church to Dallas. After a nine-hour plane ride we'll land in London, England.

And then it's five months in Oxford, England. I am so excited and so ready. It always seems I am going home to Oxford and I am thrilled to share this with people. I can't wait to see what amazing things God has in store for me. I know my classes will be fantastic. Of course, any course in which Lord of the Rings is a textbook is automatically amazing.

Nine Days, No Nights

Wow! What an amazing week I've had - the beauty, the work, the relationships. I'm ready to go back to Alaska. Because I didn't have computer access during my trip, I'll just log it all as I reflect on those twelve wonderful days.

Our trip begin rather hectically when, upon check-in at the Abilene airport we were informed that we did not actually have seats on the plane. The plane was simply too heavy and we were put on standby. In the end, Mom and Dad drove to Dallas while us kids flew with the bags and the rest of the group.

We proceeded to Dallas where we had the roughest landing I've ever experienced. Our group of thirty staked out a spot in which we could wait out our seven-hour layover. Eventually we boarded the plane and landed in Anchorage seven hours later.

Sunday morning we drove from Anchorage to Kenai for church. The Seward Highway (our road for the day) has been voted one of the most scenic drives in America. The mountains rise out of the sea and kiss the sky, filling the horizon.

Our group stayed with host families and we stayed with the wonderful Neil family. Sunday evening they took us four-wheeling. I had never done that before and it was a great experience, even if I did somehow manage to inexplicably break through a bright orange barrier. We drove through the woods, over hills, through creeks, into the mud and all the while we were looking ahead at the mountains.

We learned quickly that our slogan, "Nine days, no nights", was perfect. The sun set around 1 am and then rose again around 4 am. The three hours of "night" were more like dusk. In fact during the summer you can never see the stars because it doesn't get dark enough. By the end of the week we were all exhausted.

On Monday we began our work. A group of ten of us focused on clearing a prayer path. We cleared a quarter-mile trail, laid typar, and dumped 3 inches of gravel over the entire thing. Kudos to those people who pushed those 900 wheelbarrows full of gravel. I shoveled gravel and raked it out which was not a very physically demanding task, but one which took careful precision. One of my key objectives of this trip was accomplished during this time; I wanted to build relationships. I worked side-by-side with people from Highland as I shoveled gravel. But as I was smoothing and packing down the path, I bonded with a couple of the Kenai youth. Briana and Brittany are awesome and I loved our fun and deep conversations.

Also amazing was the food we ate. I can now say that I have eaten moose, caribou, Dall sheep and bear. We also enjoyed large quantities of salmon and halibut. One evening we went to a family's house and had shrimp, caught by them that morning. Talk about fresh seafood! Anyone who has been on a labour-intensive mission trip knows that the people who prepare food for the team are the some of the most important and most adored people around.

We continued working on the prayer path throughout the week while the rest of the group tackled various other projects. These included picnic tables, a fire pit, and a gazebo (fondly referred to as a gazilion as it was really more like a pavilion). Moose were everywhere - along the road, in the flats, in backyard - and one day we had a moose and her two calves walk through our site along the prayer path.

Wednesday evening we began our VBS - Arctic Edge. Those three evenings wore me out! We had eight preschoolers, three of which were special-needs kids. I had so much fun with these children but it certainly was exhausting. The other adults in my room were amazing and handled the children beautifully. The children kept coming each night, so I suppose we did a good job. By the time Sunday morning rolled around, the kids were clinging to us. When I asked a little girl where she wanted to sit during church she announced, "With you, by Trevor". What a wonderful thing to hear.

Saturday, we all went our separate ways to have fun (although I thought the entire week and even the work was fun). Our extremely generous host family took us halibut fishing. We fished out of Homer, stopping our boat about an hour from the harbor. Although we ended up with six halibut, I didn't catch a single one. However, I did pull up a giant cod. Reeling in 150 ft. of line with a 30 lb. fish struggling on the hook, while standing on a boat rocking on the ocean - well, let's just say I had a hard time with that. However, it sure was beautiful. Mountains and glaciers loomed on the horizon. Bald eagles soared overhead and sea otters floated beside us.

Sunday morning we said our goodbyes and our family headed to Seward. In Seward we saw bears - brownies as the locals call the Grizzlies - and more eagles. We hiked up to Exit Glacier, which is part of the Harding Icefield. Close your eyes and you are transported to a time of ice long gone. I could feel the chilled air off of the glacier's face, hear the melting water trickle down, and listen to the ice creak and groan.

Monday consisted of sea kayaking and a wildlife cruise. We kayaked around Fox Island in the cold ocean water. I have to admit I was a bit nervous but of course it was an experience a lifetime. A bald eagle flew by us almost close enough to touch. Starfish lined the rocks along the shore and puffins zoomed around us. Adorable and funny, puffins are my new favourite bird. One little puffin had eaten so much that he couldn't quite take off and fly, but instead bounced across the surface of the water. Our kayaking experience concluded with a delicious salmon bake on the island.

We then boarded a boat for a tour of Resurrection Bay. Dall porpoises escorted our boat, putting on a show as they swam under us and leapt into the air. Sea lions fought on the rocks and bellowed out warnings. By far the most stirring experience that day was the moment when the humpback whales surfaced. A mother, her calf and an "escort" were slowly traveling across the bay. Sleek grey bodies rose from the depths and jets of water shot through blow holes. What a mighty God we serve!

After our humbling experiences on the Kenai Peninsula, we drove to Anchorage on Tuesday and began our journey home. I was not ready to leave but I am ready to go back. Going from the upper 50's to 99 degrees was not pleasant. We went from saying "look, humpback whales" to "look, grackles". The mountains flattened out to plains and the ocean disappeared completely.

The beauty and love that I witnessed on this trip were truly awe-inspiring. Our God is awesome and powerful. He worked in spectacular ways this past week and I think it's safe to say that none of us are the same anymore.

In the words of the Blind Boys of Alabama (Everyone should go out and watch Brother Bear):

There's a bond between us

Nobody can explain

It's a celebration of life

And seeing friends again

I'd be there for you

I know you'd be there for me too

So welcome to our family time

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family spread out across the globe. This week I saw the love of Christ embodied in the welcoming hearts of the Kenai church and the serving hands of the Highland campaigners. Expedition Kenai was a roaring success.

I'm on My Way

Tell everybody I'm on my way

New friends and new places to see

With blue skies ahead

Yes I'm on my way

And there's nowhere else that I'd rather be

I figured these lyrics from the movie Brother Bear, in which the main character shares a name with the city that we are headed to, are a good way to describe my feelings right now.

I'm on my way now - boarding the plane to DFW, waiting through a seven-hour layover, landing in Anchorage and finally driving along the scenic route to Kenai. There really is nowhere else that I'd rather be. I have dreamed of the wonders of Alaska all of my life. To finally realize this dream is amazing.

We are partnering with Kenai Fellowship to put on a VBS and to complete some construction projects. I will be a part of the group clearing a prayer path. We will also construct a gazebo, put in a BBQ pit and picnic tables and create a cozy place for the youth to meet. In the evening, I will teach the three to five year olds.

That is the most daunting task facing me. I am planning the preschooler's hour in our VBS! Now, I've never done this before and I don't enjoy getting up in front of people. I keep telling myself that four-year olds won't care if I sing out of tune. I think the most important thing will be showing these children the great love of Jesus.

So now, I look forward to a life-changing experience. I can't wait to see how God will work in us and through us. And hopefully I'll get in a whale-sighting or two.

Superhorse

I'm sitting here watching the 133rd running of the Preakness Stakes. As I take a moment to enjoy one of my favourite sports, I shall also take a moment to indulge myself in a piece about my favourite animal.

What is it that draws humankind to horses? How can one horse draw the eyes of a nation away from a war or a depression? Seabiscuit did it. Secretariat did it. Barbaro did it. Only a very special horse earns the honour to be mentioned in the same breath as Secretariat or Man O'War. Only a Superhorse. And what a Superhorse Barbaro was. When this bay colt stepped onto the track, time stopped. All eyes latched onto him. People tensed as he waited in the starting gate. And when the gates swung open, everyone flew across the track with him.

Barbaro was a strapping two-year old ready to shake the foundations of the racing world. He was one of the best horses out there. And then came the Kentucky Derby - the first jewel in an almost unattainable crown. When the field broke, Barbaro was ready for the challenge. The horses raced to the finish, but none could keep up with the mighty bay colt. He won the coveted Derby by 6 1/2 lengths - the widest margin in sixty years. And he was still undefeated. Barbaro became only the sixth horse in history to win the Kentucky Derby undefeated and the first since Affirmed pulled the Triple Crown in 1978.

Suddenly, the Triple Crown was a possibility. Barbaro had taken a giant leap from being a bay colt with potential to a potential Superhorse. The next two races - the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes - became the biggest races in his life. Winning them would seal his fame as one of the greatest horses of all time.

Barbaro entered the Preakness as the heavy favourite. His owners, trainer and jockey believed in him. The country believed in him. Barbaro was the epitome of the thoroughbred horse - big, strong, fast and handsome. If any horse could do it, Barbaro could. He walked past the grandstand ready to run. With the amazing strength of a healthy horse, he broke early, bursting through the magnetic barrier. The early break did not injure the colt; he could still run. And then the field of horses broke together, with Barbaro in a good position. All eyes were on him as he bolted down the track. But after only a few steps, tragedy struck.

Barbaro's hind leg gave out on him, broken into over twenty pieces. Dreams shattered along with the colt's let. As Barbaro was pulled up, the watchful eyes in the grandstand filled with tears. All those watching cried out when the mighty horse faltered. Barbaro's race was over, his quest for the Triple Crown failed. His career ended, Barbaro would never run again. And so, the fight to save Barbaro's life ensued.

Once again, everyone watched and waited. One clear day, Barbaro stepped out of his ICU stall and into the sunlight. It seemed he could do it. Almost eight months passed, full of ups and downs. But once again, Barbaro faced a major setback. He developed laminitis in both front legs. On January 29, Barbaro awoke a different horse. He was in excruciating pain. This was too much. Such a brave horse could not be subjected to such pain. And so the painful decision was made to euthanize the colt. For eight months he had fought bravely through the pain. While it will forever remain unknown if Barbaro had what it takes to join the ranks of those elite few, we know that it was these eight months that truly made Barbaro a Superhorse.

It was not Barbaro's racetrack accomplishments that really made him famous. It was what came afterward. And this is why we are so acutely drawn to horses. Horses like Barbaro in particular. They have courage. They have heart. They persevere. Barbaro kept on pushing, even when he could barely stand. These magnificent animals walk right into our hearts and never leave. It is because they live to please. Barbaro's jockey put it nicely saying, "If tears could heal a wound, Barbaro would be healed by now." Unfortunately, no amount of tears can form a cure. But Barbaro can. He can serve as a shining beacon of how to persevere, how to keep fighting. For all of us. Barbaro displayed many of the best traits that can be found in this world. Maybe that is why one horse can capture the eyes and hearts of a nation. But one thing is certain - that is what makes Barbaro a Superhorse.

Great Plains, Great Cities

I sit out on the front porch in the dry Texas heat

And look out at the flowers and trees waving in the breeze

I think back to days long gone, lost to the urban world

A time when buffalo roamed the land and the prairie stretched on and on

Horses, wild and free, ruled this realm

No man set foot on this rugged land or marred its untamed beauty

But creatures passed unseen, unheard, drifting through the grass

Hawks called out, eagles soared, lions claimed their prey

And still this unhindered harmony, this majestic fruitful expanse

Held animals safe and plants unharmed from age to age

But this glorious land served as a bright and shining beacon

Men flocked from near and far to claim the fertile soil

Cattle thundered across the range and ate the grasslands bare

Homesteads sprung up and families settled

Fences enclosed the land

And so the Great Plains became great cities

Which I look out upon

And wonder if, a lifetime ago, this land beneath my home

Was a rolling sea, an endless stretch of golden prairie grass

"But there is beauty here, the beauty of space and of freedom, and the beauty of the wind feeling its way along the brown, grassy swells and ruffling the yellow ridges." ~A. C. Greene (on a plaque at Frontier Texas)