Oh, Oxford. Such a beauty.

I can't really say much about how awesome Oxford was, but the pictures will speak for themselves. I'm so thankful I'm with people who want to take me places and show me England. God has blessed me above and beyond what I anticipated. Notable alumni of Oxford University include everyone from Stephen Hawking to Hugh Grant.

Ten points to whomever can name the duo who used to hang out here. 

That might have sat in this exact seat!

First time on a double decker! Bucket list!

\

It's not weird, it's just different. Seven different (weird) things English people do.

England is amazing. I love the people. The scenery. The accents. The tea. The transportation. Even the way they drive on the other side of the road. I really can't tell you something here I don't like. However....a few things do exist that just made me go...really? Let me share those with you.

1.) They don't rinse their dishes.

Ok, maybe not that big of a deal, but something within me doesn't allow me NOT to rinse them. Like, won't it taste like soap when it dries and leave those little soap marks on it? Apparently not, but it weirds me out. I've tried to do as the English do, but I'm too American. I still rinse them.

2.) You have to pull a cord to turn on the bathroom light (and the shower).

This has good reasoning behind it actually. I've just never thought about it. The English don't put electric outlets in their bathrooms (because of lots of water, I presume). So, go ahead and forget straightening your hair in front of the bathroom mirror. When you want to go to the toilet you pull the cord and the light comes on. Also, there's a cord to pull for the water to come out of the showerhead. I'm not sure why this one exists, but it took me about thirty minutes to figure out how the shower came on.

3.) You have to flip a switch to turn on the electric outlets.

If you forget to turn on the electric outlet at night, your phone won't be charged in the morning. Once again, apparently these people are reallllly scared of electric shock. I mean, it's understandable, to be honest. Plugging it in isn't enough. You must flip the switch, Americans.

4.) Eggs don't go in the refrigerator.

A reason exists behind this as well. British eggs are free-range eggs...I don't know what that means, but I'm guessing it means they can be left in the cupboard because that's where everyone else puts theirs. 

5.) They have a cold faucet and a hot faucet.

Good luck getting the right temperature when you are washing your hands. You either get scolding hot or freezing cold. There is no in between. I don't even want to guess why it's like this. I'm sure there's a history behind it, just like everything in England has a history behind it. 

6.) That sheet between you and the comforter doesn't exist.

If you are really attached to that one sheet that goes between your sleeping body and the comforter, don't come to England. They aren't a thing here. 

7.) The washing machine (dryer) is in the kitchen.

Once again, this might have history or purpose to it, but you do your laundry in the kitchen. What's weirder is this little machine doubles as a dryer. We haven't actually tried to dry our clothes in this, but I might by the end of my stay just to see how it works. 

Alright, fellow Americans. This is the first seven that popped into my little brain. I'm sure more will come up, but for now, enjoy that little taste of the culture of England. 

Love y'all!

The Daily Grind.

I have a vision, and a lot of people who I have told about this think it's a lovely idea, however, I'm not positive they (or me for that matter) believe it will actually work.

Here's the plan:

- Create a coffee-shop environment in Oneonta.

Now, this isn't going to happen overnight....or possibly in the next decade, to be honest. I'm also not opposed to someone else making this happen if they get to it before I do. All I'm saying is that this is missing in Blount County. Where do we go for a place to simply chill out in Oneonta? Miller's Soda Shoppe comes closest, shout out to you Chuck, thanks for the video, and I miss you too. But, that's clearly a restaurant (a great one, by the way) not really a sit-and-talk-for-hours-about-life environment, which is important, in my opinion.

We need somewhere to just meet. To sit down with a long-lost friend or have Bible study or enjoy entertainment from local musicians because they exist and they are awesome and need to be heard.
I realize I'm 25 years old and getting ahead of myself, but I've had this thought for a while and the people that are closest to me are getting tired of hearing about me complaining about not having a coffee shop anywhere close. But then I get to England, and I see how something like sitting across from another person with only two cups of coffee separating you can really open up conversation and create long-lasting and deep relationships. Coffee shops are the perfect environment to further the Kingdom. They really are. If you want more info on how, just email me.

I can't do this now. I know that. What I can do is sort of create that environment maybe once a week? Part of me is hopeful that someone will take pity on me and say, "Of course, Nicole, you can use my building every Friday or Saturday night to put some chairs out, serve coffee, and have someone playing an acoustic guitar in the background while people mill about and talk about each other's lives", but at the same time I know that plan probably won't work.

First off, will someone tell me whether or not they

1.) Know of someone who is already planning this because it would be great to know that...?
2.) Have you felt that same way as I do and feel like this is missing in Blount County?
3.) Do you think any of the ideas I have posted would work and give me reason why and why not?


Please please please give me opinions. I desperately want them.

Maybe this is a far-fetched idea. I would love to hear anything on the matter, so please email me and tell me how crazy I am...

amynicolesingleton@gmail.com.

Hugs from England.

Run the race with me.

This blog is specifically for my fantastic supporters. I hope a couple or few of you have checked out my blog already to see what I've been up to while I've been in England. So far, it's been a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm so blessed to be where I am, and I have all of you to thank for that. I cannot express how grateful I truly am. If you are open to it, I would like to extend a huge bear hug when I see you again.

First off, rest assured, God is at work over the pond. This church community I'm associated with is doing great and wonderful things. I'm so excited to see how He is making an impact through His followers.

I really see the way community works in this place, and I want to bring that back home with me. Please be praying for me about the way I can make impact with the ways I'm being taught while I am overseas. If you really want to hear about my plans email me, amynicolesingleton@gmail.com.

Each and every day there is ministry here whether that be through mom and tots time, life groups, coffee/cafe outreach, feeding the homeless, and so much more, including badminton (new fave sport). It's the constant presence of the Lord amongst the people who attend this church and how they are reaching out to (and loving) others that appeals so much to me.

I've also seen castles and lots of sheep and met people who will impact my life for ever.

Thank you for your support and for running the race with me. (ACTS 20:24) (HEBREWS 12:1)

I love you.

Keep seeking.

Amazingly, if you follow Jesus, good things happen. I’ve definitely discovered this from my time in England. The church I’m with, the interns that are with me, and the support I’ve received from family and friends just reinforce God’s plan for me to be here for the next two months.

For the curious minds, let me explain a little bit about what I have done since I arrived here.

Explored mostly.

Lovely English farmland during a five-mile walk

But, I’ve also already grown in my love for Jesus and learned so much from those around me.

 So much Jesus, and it’s only been a few days. 

On Saturday, I enjoyed a walk which gave me just a bit of beautiful scenery England has to offer and also tried my first-ever standard English breakfast. 

Yes, those are baked beans and mushrooms.

Yesterday, we enjoyed our first church service, then explored the mall (shopping center), met some cool people, and visited a pub. 

Rainy Sunday

Today, I began the day with a much-needed run along the canal. Attended a toddler/mom group and got to play with the cutest little kids. Also, I want to name my own kid Tillie now. So precious. 

And, tomorrow, we will hand out leaflets to a part of the community to invite them to a Muslim outreach followed by some administrative work. I'm enjoying every second of this ride. Thank you so much for your support. Here's some more photos just for fun. 

Engage the lost.

How many people do you know right now who are hurting? How many struggles have you heard just today? Or this week? People in north central Alabama are crying for Jesus. Do we even realize it? We get more caught up in the gossip or the story of the minute instead of seeing these people for who they truly are: loved children of God.

Sure, they may be crazy or attention-seekers, or druggies, or whatever else, but they still are sons and daughters of the mighty King.

Why do we pick and choose who Jesus loves? Why do we think we can decide who deserves Jesus?

Betty Sue that teaches Sunday school, sings in the choir, and holds bake sales every month for homeless children is in the same boat as the prisoner convicted of first-degree murder. God loves them equally, and He can save them both.

So what do we do. We should reflect our own lives.

What do you think you are doing in your own community that shows the love of Christ? How are you impacting the Kingdom. Because I hear a lot of complaining about how this country is falling away from Jesus but I don’t see a lot of action from the people who say it. They are sitting on their couches in their homes talking about it with other Christians instead of getting up, going outside, and building relationships in order to alter lives in the name of Jesus.

If that is you, look around. What can you do? Because you are right, people are falling away from Jesus. I’m glad you recognize it. So what are you going to do about it? Post a rant on Facebook? Cry about it to your coworker? Or are you going to actually engage with the lost?

Think about it.

I want to know what people are doing in their communities.  Email me, if you would like, amynicolesingleton@gmail.com

In my next blog post, I’ll let you know what I want to do in my own community and how this trip to England is preparing me for just that. Praise God.

Pray.

I’m not going to lie to you; I need prayer. I’m embarking on something I’ve never experienced before. One: I’ve never been overseas. Two: I’ve never been away from home for such an extended period of time. Three: I’ve never had to prepare my mind and my heart to be fully immersed in another culture.

So, yes, prayer for me please.

However, what’s more important is that I need you to pray for those who I will encounter. That’s what’s most important. If you think people in our little county are far from Jesus, it is nowhere near as dark and desolate as the place I will be going. These people didn’t grow up hearing the stories we know nor do they have the correct view of Jesus. They believe they have to be a “good person” in order for Jesus to love them and have a relationship with them.  As believers know, that’s not how it works. I’m a sinner, and I sin badly. The only reason I’m worth anything is Jesus’s love for me.

Let me express that to those I will meet. I’ve especially been praying that I find one person to really pour in to, and that by doing so, I will impact their life. I feel that if I’m able to make a difference in the life of one person for the Kingdom, I’ll be happy. That doesn’t mean that person will accept Jesus, but only that they will see Jesus represented in me and the two other young women missionaries who are going to the same place I am.

Alright, time to fly to Miami, and then from Miami…to England.

I love you all.