Gart More.

I went to Gartmore. Here's some photos. I love it here. Scotland is great. People here are amazing. Life is good.

(Click on the photos to see them full size.)

Sometimes I throw up, and words come out...

So, two nights ago, I had quite the crazy experience. Long story short. Being the gentleman that I was raised to be, a friend of mine, Will, and I went back to another one of our friends flats, Hannah's. The radiator had fallen off her wall a few days ago and onto her leg. Bad bruises, and worse limps. She's doing better now though. But anyway...
So, she asks us to pick up the radiator to see how heavy it is, and sure enough, we notice it is leaking and also that it's very heavy. So Will says, "Hey, pick lift this up, I'll put a pot underneath it, then we can just go back home and get some sleep." Bad Idea. I picked up the radiator, and water sprung forth from the depths. It was spraying everywhere, all over Will and the rest of the room. It was as if there was a movie playing before my eyes.
So, we then decided to be gentlemen and stay the night, emptying buckets all night after doing quite a number patching up the radiator to slow it to a drip. It was quite the adventure, one of those nights that I'll look back, and laugh.
So, previous to this, we went to a pub, and a girl we know gave me a hug to say goodbye, then kissed my cheek.

So who ever thought that I would receive my first cheek-kiss at age 18 in a pub in Glasgow, Scotland. And I could have never have predicted that the first night I ever stayed over at a girls house that I would actually not sleep. Sort of ironic.


I went busking yesterday. I'm sort of embarrassed, because most everyone I know heard about me busking. It was a really fun time, I enjoyed it. But I don't know if I have what it takes to be a musician. I'm going to an open mic monday night, so we'll see how that goes.

I went to a church called Re:Hope last week, I really liked it a lot. It was reminiscent of Pit Crew in Omaha. The teaching was sound, but not buttered up. Truthful, withholding offense, save the offensiveness of the Gospel. I don't know if I still want to check out churches around town, or just dive into this one. I guess that'll be answered through prayer. And I went to a bible study for Re:Hope, a Bible read through group. We're going through the whole Bible in a year. I'm excited, to say the least.

But I'm so selfish. We went to a flat warming party last night, and there were so many opportunities for me to make new friends, talk to people about Jesus. But instead, I just talked only to people I knew, with a few shallow exceptions.
I'm going to go buy a homeless man a sandwich, instead of Church. Pray for me, that God would use me. I mean really, pray.

I'm no superman

So, I've just started classes. I'm actually in the library right now studying for Greek. I'm really excited for this class. I feel like a big nerd, because I am up late using this notecard program I downloaded for my computer to study. But I'm finally learning about stuff that I'm passionate about. And It is very nice to be able to be surrounded by people who feel the same way about these topics.

I led worship last night. I feel like I did an awful job (which I think I really did, I have little to no sense of tempo). But that makes me realize that I might be able to play on my own. I found a place called The Bloc that has an open mic on Sunday nights, so I think I'm going to at least check it out sometime.

The culture here is one of pubs. It's nice, because they're generally very relaxing environments. Weird to be hanging out with a bunch of Christians in a "bar", but that's the way things work here. What's even stranger is that all the shopping stores are set up to generally close around 6 p.m. everyday; so that people can go to the pub at night. Weird.

I'm planning on visiting Jade and Erin Junod, they're in Eck en Wiel at L'Abri right now, in The Netherlands. That'll probably happen in November.

Oh, and I guess I've made some friends. So that's nice too.

Only Love Proves to be the Truth

It's been a crazy few days. I've been really up and down. I'm definitely getting to know more people here. I'm starting to like it more.

I still miss home like crazy. I never thought I would.

"Laziness cuts me like fine cutlery" - David Bazan

I hope this isn't true of this year at studying. I'm getting really excited for school. Jesus has some cool stuff in store, and just pray that I would listen; and I'll do the same for you.

Go in peace. And Love.

Inspiration.

Driving through the Scottish Highlands today made me realize two things:
The scenery here is like a fair maiden, if you will bear with me for a moment. We (My Dad and I) had been going through the most beautiful scenery I’d ever seen, I was inspired, encouraged, braver, more spiritual, focused, original, dedicated, intense, smarter, wiser, and the list could go on into the hills of forever. All this to say, I guess I’ve let go of a few of my dreams over the last year or so, but being back in this place really gives me a sense of purpose in life. I guess overall, this is the place for me. Which leads me to…
Number two; I know for a fact that I am supposed to be here. And then leave. And then come back. I don’t really know any of the specifics, of when to leave, or how long to stay on either end, but I’m really glad I’m here, and I know I’ll end up here someday. I just really feel purpose when I’m here, but I know that it would be selfish of me to stay here. God has bigger things than just this. I’m sure that has the possibility of changing when winter comes around and I’ve got five hours of daylight to be inspired by, but nonetheless, I’m glad I’m here.
I’m writing this as I’m sitting in the car listening to the crackle of the rain on the windshield with "Priests and Paramedics" playing in the background. This song inspires me. To be witty and more clever when I write, and see the truth in strange ways that I wouldn't usually try to find. It doesn't make me despair, but moreso challenges me. It makes me think of myself as a potential poet. I really love writing. And there’s no feeling like drinking a hot cup of coffee, and thinking about ridiculous things to write about in the warmth of any and every cozy place to stop and think. I just hope I can keep this focus; I’m getting worn-out from too many “Mountain Top” experiences. I hope this isn’t one. Which is ironic that I say that, because we stayed in Fort William last night, which lies at the feet of Ben Nevis.

The Morning After (No, it's not what you think)

<>Well, it’s the morning after my first day here. A lot has happened. But a lot has yet to come. Yesterday morning, when we first got here, I nearly broke down when I was finally alone in my room, everything just really seemed to hit me hard. I'm not going to see my family, friends, or anything back home until December, but that's only for three weeks! It's something very scary when you realize that; but I do believe that it was God who kept me going, I kept hearing him say, “This is where I have you Mark”. So, that was, quite encouraging, to say the least.
Soon after that, my dad and I decided to go explore the city and walk around. So we started walking down Sauchiehall Street and we decided to stop at a Starbucks. Turns out it was the one I was supposed to interview at, according to an e-mail I got from the Starbucks district manager. So, I asked to see the manager, and after about ten minutes of talking with him, I got a jorb. So that was something absolutely huge, that God just sort of told me, “Hey Mark, I really do have things under control.”
I really think my focus is going to change here a lot. I’m already really relying on God, because the reason I was so down yesterday is mostly because I realized that I really know absolutely no one here. But God just keeps telling me, “I am here.” It‘s going to be a journey while I’m here, but there is going to be plenty of crazy awesome things that will happen, I’m scared, but excited. Nervous, but not so tired after about 12 hours of sleep last night.
Know that you all are kept in my prayers, and that I hope God is going to change and stretch you as I am going through the same, because I know it will make me a better man for tomorrow.
I’m writing this on a word doc, and have yet to get internet access at the school, I’ll upload this once I get the chance.

Love,
-Mark.

T-Minus 6

So I leave in 6 days.

Over the last few years, I've always been adventurous. I never understood people who weren't. However, as of late, I can relate a little better. This move is a lot more daunting than I had thought it would be. I am already missing Omaha more than I had ever thought possible. In my mind, for years, I associated staying in Omaha with failure. Mostly because I saw that if I stayed here, I would probably never live out my dreams. I don't see it that way anymore. I really like this place I call home.

But I guess it's time. And while I'm pretty down about leaving, I am excited to see what God has for me when I get to Scotland. I intend on taking this whole school thing seriously; because I'm basically preparing for the rest of my life. This is all very scary. But I look back at the overwhelming majority of change in my life, I can see that most of it wasn't that bad. In fact, a lot of it was very good change. Frightening, and tough at first, but good. So, I guess I'm going to college. Here goes nothing.