In Which I Am a Tourist and Don't Care, and Worldview Sessions Start

Friday, 5 September
We had orientation, took group pictures (thanks, Judson!), I did some shopping, and we went over to the guys' place to watch Doctor Who. It's fun that several of our group love Doctor Who!

The Summit group!

Saturday, 6 September

Photos courtesy Charity Lewis

Saturday was a lovely day. Most of our group went punting. We had mimosas and lunch on the boats and generally were pretend-sophisticated. *sticks pinky in air* ;)






Sunday, 7 September
We attended St. Ebbes' Church. They had a lovely service and meet in a beautiful building.

Monday, 8 September-Tuesday, 9 September
I did reading, walked around Oxford and took some pictures, soaking in the ancient and always changing yet always the same beauty of Oxford, and generally being that tourist walking about with a camera.


Wednesday, 10 September-Friday, 12 September
Worldview classes started on Wednesday. We dived right into the Bible, looking at Genesis, Psalms, Deuteronomy, and roving over a variety of subjects from marriage to the creation debate and more, as well as getting to know each other more and getting to know Kevin Bywater, the worldview instructor. On Friday night we meant his beautiful family and had dinner together.

Other random highlights--I have difficulty remembering on which days they happened:
-Dinner at the Eagle and Child Pub (where Tolkien and Lewis and the Inklings would meet)
-Hanging out on numerous occasions with the other students
-Getting comfortable with the bus system in Oxford and learning to use public transportation
-Seeing two muntjac deer go bounding by out the window of the bus in quick passing
-Ladies' crepe night with lots of fillings

St. Ebbes'

Saturday, 13 September
Reading (doing quite a lot of that already), shopping, etc.

Sunday, 14 September
Church (excellent service), reading, chilling.

So, yeah. Probably sounds pretty boring, but I assure you, it's not! I'm having a great time and learning to deal with some interesting things. Examples:

-England has huge bugs, and as previously noted, a spider infestation. I wasn't expecting that.
-I miss pressurized hot water and hot water just coming out of the tap and not having to wait and fiddle with the tap to get it to work.
-I miss knowing what the settings on the washer and oven mean.
-I, believe it or not, miss one-stop shopping at Wal-Mart.
-I miss clothes dryers.
-I miss petting my dog. I miss my family too, but I can talk to them online. The dog doesn't get it. ;)
-I wish things weren't almost twice as expensive...but I was expecting that.
-

But those are minor inconveniences. :)

Here are some other awesome things about living in Oxford:

-I'm going to be so fit from walking everywhere! It's about 15 minutes to the closest grocery store.
-I love the character of the surrounding towns, such as Eynsham, were we have our worldview classes, and Witney, were the Bywaters live. They're beautiful.
-I love being surrounded by the old architecture
-I love my flatmates and all the students in the class! We have an awesome group.
-I love that tea and custard are cheap here.

I know there's more, but I can't think of it right now.

Thanks to everyone back home for your thoughts and prayers!

Cheers!

In Which I Leave For My Adventure

Alright! Now that I have a minute, allow me to bring you up to speed on all that's happening.

Monday, September 1

At 0-dark-hundred, got up and went to the airport!

Although really more like:


But yay! I got through security with (mostly) no problems...I kinda forgot to take out my laptop and my laptop bag was locked and my keys were in my jacket pocket in the x-ray scanner...yeah...but the TSA lady was nice about it and it was fine.

Flew to Atlanta, were, thankfully, the airport was well air conditioned--since I had a six hour layover. I got some good reading done and had Chick-Fil-A before leaving the states (yum!).

Flight to London was soooooo long. But hey! I watched How to Train Your Dragon 2, so that was awesome. Food wasn't great, my seat wouldn't recline, and the people next to me were loud...but not too horrible a flight, over all. :)

Lugged luggage around the crowded Heathrow Airport, then caught the bus with co-student Elise over to Oxford, arriving around 11:30, if I remember correctly.

Then I found a gigantic spider in one of the bathrooms, found we had no tp (thankfully the neighbors did!), had a mini-meltdown, got sick to my stomach and threw up a little, and pulled myself together to go down to the OSAP office to meet everyone and go over a few basics.

Then went to a restaurant with another student, Charity, and had super yummy fries and BBQ chicken wings. Then after a quick chat with family back home, slept hard.

Wednesday, September 2
Had some orientation on the academic system and living in Oxford and a history of Britain from 1979-90 and Margaret Thatcher. Had a chicken burrito for lunch with the rest of the Summit students. Went a tour of central Oxford. Did a little shopping--got some towels, toiletries, and my own sheet and duvet cover...the flat wasn't as clean as it could be and I wasn't sure I trusted the bedding provided. ;) Went with some of the other girls over to the guys' flat/duplex (45 minute walk one way!) for dinner. Got all my stuff unpacked.

Thursday, September 3
Had some orientation of British and European customs and mores and the nearly 100 libraries(!) in Oxford for students (although some of those are college libraries only for students of that college--such as New College, Trinity, etc.). Went shopping and got some food, groceries, and a couple other things--I can only get so much at once as depending on the store and how fast you walk it's a 15-25 minute walk to the flat and I tell you, those bags get heavy, haha. Had a jacket potato with beans and cheese for lunch. Finished organizing my room.

Basically now I'm just doing some reading, relaxing after SO MUCH WALKING ("really, there's a ridiculous amount of walking involved" *wink*), and listening to Star Lord's Awesome Mix while updating you lovely folk! Tomorrow at 11 I have one more orientation session on the Oxford essay and tutorial.

I'm starting to settle in, and I think I'm really going to enjoy my time here. I was talking to another student last night about how God provided so much (often through you guys!) and at times in seemed like a wouldn't make it, and it was really crazy thinking and talking about the last year and all the uncertainty and what-not AS I WALKED DOWN THE STREET IN OXFORD. I think that's when it really hit me...I'm here.

I'm really excited for the worldview sessions to start on Wednesday, and for the Oxford tutorials to start in October. All the info we've gotten at our quick pre-orientation has been great and exciting.

I thank you so much for your prayers and for your continued prayer.

If you'd like to know specific things to pray for, these would be great:
-That I'd adjust to walking so much--my feet are EXHAUSTED and my right shin is sore. Not sure what's with that.
-My back and shoulders are SO stiff and sore. Between sleeping on the plane, my bed (which has springs digging into my back, but I'm rotating the mattress so hopefully that helps), and carrying 1-2 shopping bags for 15 minutes, my back and shoulders are quite displeased.
-My stomach's doing better, but is still up and down a little.
-That I would continue to grow mentally and spiritually--I haven't had a lot of time and haven't read the Bible the last couple days (about to do so now!).
-That I would continue to settle in and adjust and push myself out of my bubble and comfort zone.
-Spiders. *shudder* Stay out of my room.

Thanks for reading! Here's a few pictures of my flat. There's two more bedrooms (with three flatmates) not pictured. Cheerio! :)

Spring Cleaning for Oxford!

Email me!

Why am I doing this?

Find out more about Summit Oxford!

Fundraising Update

Hey, all!

Wow, we're already practically 1/12 through 2014! I hope you've all had a great January. Here's a quick update on my fundraising for Summit Oxford this fall.

I've been busy, busy, busy, picking up extra hours at work to help me get to Oxford, reading books (including a bunch of apologetics and non-fiction I got for Christmas), and more. Also, I'll be 21 in less than three weeks!

I wanted to email you to give you an update on my fundraising, and let you know about an opportunity to make your donation go further if you're still considering contributing.

I've been busy telling people about Summit Oxford, working, selling cards and Qdoba coupons and baked goods, trying to raise the $21,000 I need to attend Summit Oxford. I've just hit the halfway mark (praise God!), thanks in part to the support of friends and family like yourself.

On that note, a huge thank you to those who have already contributed. Thank you so much to everyone who is praying for me as I work toward this opportunity.

If you have been praying about monetarily contributing to my Oxford fund, I have some fun, good news! A generous donor has offered to match donations, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $500. So if you give $25, it's matched and becomes $50. If you give $50, it's matched and becomes $100. That means your contribution doubles--helping me raise the money I need for this amazing opportunity twice as fast!

To take advantage of this generous donor's offer, please donate/contribute by February 28th.

If the total of $500 is hit, (resulting in a total of $1000 toward this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity), I will still have a long way to go. I will continue to save the majority of my paychecks, putting aside as much as I can while still covering gas, car insurance, plate renewals, yearly eye exam and purchase of contacts, and other expenses. I have photo greeting cards I made for sale (featuring my photography), and more Qdoba coupons. I'm hoping for a scholarship of up to $2000-$3000 from Summit Oxford. But even if all of those markers are hit, I'll still have another $3500 left to raise.

If you have any fundraising ideas, please let me know. I'm also willing to work for you to raise money--yard work, photography sessions, housework, organizing your DVDs and book shelves...

Good Lord willing, I will be attending Summit Oxford this fall, September through December, 2014.

Summit Oxford is a branch of Summit Ministries, and strives to equip young people with the tools necessary to think critically, speak lovingly, defend their faith, and influence their world for God. The program consists of a four-week intensive worldview course that looks at issues such as abortion, homosexuality, Islam, and much more. The Oxford part consists of two vigorous one-on-one tutorials with Oxford professors--I hope to study Medieval History and History and Theology of the Reformation. This will be a wonderful time of growing my faith and expanding my knowledge and cultivating of wisdom.

I believe that God has lead and is leading me to Summit Oxford, and that this will be an experience that blesses not only myself, but that God will use it to bless those I come in contact with, my friends and family, and my future family.

Please take the time to consider and pray about contributing to my Oxford fund. If you don't feel that God would have you monetarily contribute, please pray that God would provide the funds.

If you haven't viewed my Road to Oxford video (detailing all the things throughout my life leading up to and impacting my decision to go to Summit Oxford) and my 'Under Dreaming Spires Trailer' (a mock trailer of what my semester abroad might look like if it was a movie), I'd love it if you'd watch them and let me know what you think! :D

Feel free to email me with any questions or comments!

Thank you for reading!

God bless,
Selina R. Gonzalez

A Shift In Direction

Some of you may have seen my last post on this blog, in which I stated I would be going on a tour of Scotland (the Knox @ 500 tour with author Douglas Bond) in June 2014.

That was then.

Since then, I attended Summit Ministries' summer worldview conference. In June, I spent two weeks in an old hotel with 300 other Christians, learning about Christianity, competing worldviews such as New Age, Islam, Secular Humanism, and Marxism; and learning how our Christian faith should affect our interactions with our world. The conference, although hugely overwhelming at first, ending up being a wonderful time to grow as a person--spiritually, emotionally, educationally, and mentally. Why am I telling you this?

Because, at the Summit, I attended an info session on another program of Summit Ministries--Summit Oxford.

Summit Oxford is a semester long (15 weeks, about four months) study abroad and worldview program. The first few weeks are a worldview intensive, where they have deep discussions about battles of ideologies, how to talk about and live out your faith, and close studies of Scripture. After that is the Oxford semester (with weekly worldview meetings throughout). The Oxford part consists of two tutorials with Oxford professors. These tutorials are specialized, one-on-one meetings that involve a lot of assigned reading and writing. One tutorial will meet once a week, the other meets every fortnight.

I'd heard of Summit Oxford previously. Actually, looking back, I'd looked at it a few times. First thought--'eh, that'd be too hard for me.' Later, 'oh, it looks like they prefer students from four-year universities. I don't qualify.' 'Even if I did, it's way too expensive.' But, I though, I have some free time, why not attend this info meeting? At least I'd know for sure if I qualify.

Turns out, I do. But, it's way expensive. But I really want to do this. I came back, found out more. Applied. Waited.

And...I have been accepted into the Summit Oxford program!

I'm INCREDIBLY excited about this opportunity! However, this does mean I won't be going to Scotland in June, as Summit Oxford is about four times the cost and I'll need to put every penny I can toward Oxford. As it is, funding will be a major difficulty and act of faith. While that's a little sad, my excitement at the prospect of studying for four months in OXFORD far outweighs any disappointment in not going on the tour. Plus, students of Summit Oxford typically have a week for travel--so I may still get to revisit my beloved Scotland!

To find out more, please visit selinargonzalez.com/summitoxford.html. Thank you!

~~~~~~

Yeah. I'm ridiculously excited. How excited? At least this excited.

Probably this excited.

Back to Scotland!

Back when I was still looking for a tour to go to Scotland for the first time, after the tour I'd been hoping for fell through, my mom stumbled across author Douglas Bond's website (for those who don't know/remember, Bond's books are part of what got me so excited about Scotland) and discovered that he does tours, and had led a tour based on locations in his books of Scotland. Unfortunately, I'd missed that tour. But I emailed him telling him about how I loved his books and was disappointed to see I'd missed his tour and I'd love to know about future tours of Scotland.

Then, we found Reformation Tours and I went on that tour. It was amazing, and I think about it often. Almost a year later, the photos from that trip are still my screensaver. Needless to say, I want to go back. I know the experience I had on the Heritage of England and Scotland tour can't be repeated, and I wouldn't want it to be. But I would love to have another travel experience in Great Britain, and see more of Bonny Scotland. But the issue was getting there, because I/we can't afford to take my whole family, and don't want to go alone.

About a month ago, on March 19 (2013), I got an email from Mr. Bond saying that he'll be leading a tour of Scotland next year (2014) with an emphasis on John Knox for Knox's 500th birthday. Needless to say, I was excited.

Since then, I've been praying a lot about whether or not I should go, and trying to determine if I can afford it. There's been a lot of debating with myself and looking at pros and cons. Eventually, it came down to the issue of affordability.

It's going to take a lot of saving, but God's blessed me with some good financial aid, so I don't have to worry about school funds. I've felt nervous, but I finally feel pretty peaceful about going. So I'm working on registering! I say working, because I've been having trouble connecting with the tour leaders to make my reservation, but I'm confident it'll all work out. I don't think God would have made it clear that I can afford to go if I'm not meant to.


So, I'm happy to announce that I'll be going to Scotland again, June 24-July 4, 2014! I'm SUPER excited. Ever since I got back, I've been wanting to go again. And now that's possible, praise God! :D

Oban, the Isle of Mull, and the Isle of Iona (Pictures!)

I live in a beautiful part of the world. I have a gorgeous view of the Rockies everyday as I drive home from work. I can step out my front door, and above the trees in our neighborhood, see the peaks of mountains--mountains that are an hour's drive away, a couple hours to get nearly into their heart. Scenes like the ones to the left take my breath away, but are relatively commonplace. We have beautiful lakes and springs. Sometimes, in the spring, everything is so green. I've seen snow-covered mountainsides looking like their wearing robes made of diamonds. We have various trees, tons of wildflowers, and most of the time, earn our nickname of 'Colorful Colorado.'



But.




Maybe it was the adventure, the being far from home, the novelty of it. Or maybe it isn't just my perception. Either way, the city of Oban on the west coast of Scotland, the Isles of Mull and Iona, this part of the Inner Hebrides, was the most beautiful place I've ever been. All of Scotland was gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. But Mull and Iona--breathtaking. So peaceful. So quaint. So lovely, so...heavenly. Gah, I'm getting--travelsick? Anyway.

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

After driving for a few hours past this kind of scenery:

How could it possibly get better?

And then...the outskirts of Oban:

View from in front of our hotel:

On the ferry to Mull:

Mull

The Isle of Mull. So green. Little towns with houses made out of brick, stone, or wood, many with shale roofs. Bracken literally everywhere. Lakes and ponds, so peaceful and dreamlike. Hills and small mountains rolling on. Inlets where the sea pushes its way into the island. We saw an owl and a seal (sadly, I couldn't get good pictures of either). Flowers and dry stone walls. Sheep and cattle. We even saw sheep just walking along down the path. A telephone box overgrown with weeds and grass.

On the ferry to Iona:

Iona. So cute and quaint and quiet and beautiful. First, we had lunch in this little diner. I met this funny/neat old man from England (maybe Yorkshire, I can't remember now) who was in the navy, and then bought a boat when he retired and sailed around the world. A few times. He'd been almost everywhere. Pretty neat. And then, to my right, out the window, I could see the sea and Mull.

After lunch, I walked through the old nunnery. Ruins now, and a memorial to those who came to this peaceful island to be with the Lord.

The nunnery:

Then I visited the Iona abbey. Iona is recognized as one of the oldest and most important centers of Christianity in western Europe, and was influential in spreading Christianity  through Scotland. The first abbey on (or near) the spot was a monastery founded by St. Columba in 563 A.D. St. Columba was an Irish missionary, who sailed to Scotland to spread the gospel. In 1203 Benedictine monks founded a monastery on the site. During the 15th century the abbey was expanded, but was abandoned when its monks were dispersed following the Scottish Protestant Reformation. In 1899 the abbey was rebuilt when the Duke of Argyll gave the buildings to the Church of Scotland. The Iona community was founded by Rev. George MacLeod in 1938, and the buildings were further restored. It was so neat to stand in a place that has been a center of worship since the 6th century. It's a beautiful abbey.

The abbey:

The two columns that are different (on the left) are the only
original columns remaining.

After visiting the abbey, I went shopping. Cute little shops, three of them, I think. The main was was part gift shop, part grocer, part launders. I got some wool scarves with traditional Scottish print.

Then I went down to the beach.

I think I love the sea. I can't wait to see the ocean. The Lord had blessed us. It had been rainy in the morning, then beautiful and sunny once we got across Mull. It had rained a little in the afternoon, and now it was a little cloudy and slightly windy. But still beautiful. I stood there as small waves rolled up across the white sand. The sea rushed into the spaces between rocks, surging and then falling back again. The air smelled fresh and clean. Above me and to my left, people talked as they waited for the ferry back to Mull. On the hill behind me, which I had walked down to get to the beach, weeds and bushes grew among the rocks and sand. Seaweeds could be seen under the water off the beach. A crab leg lay on one of the rocks. Seagulls few by, floating on air currents. I leaned against a large black rock as the breeze played with my hair, gently blowing moisture into my face.

I could have stayed there forever.

I've decided, if I ever live in Scotland, it would be in northern Scotland, on the outskirts of a medium-sized city, within driving distance of the Hebrides.