God, sadness and cigarettes

My fourth day in London is a lovely Thursday. It is sunny and the thermometer shoots around 19° C. I have been busy over the course of the last days with enrolment (KCL is such a posh place:)), looking for a room, getting a UK simcard, painting (I love it!), a prayer meeting , tuition fee dealings, watching football matches in pubs, etc.

Until last night I felt like in a glass house. I saw so many things in London while cycling through it, but I did not feel like exploring it. Probably I was in the process of adjusting to a new place after Spain and Portugal and this was one of its sideeffects. Yesterday afternoon I was really depressed because I could not find proper accomodation - it was either too far away from my college or too expensive. But the prayer meeting last night totally cheered me up. Even though I am in a pretty conservative household (I don't know if I have been too such a conservative place) the fellowship in prayer in the Swiss pastor's living room was super encouraging. We were such a diverse bunch - a baltic gypsie, who has been translating the bible into his native tongue over the last 20 years; a German Aupair and a German language student, a retired English arts teacher, an American Humanities student and the pastor and his wife with their Swiss secretary - but every single one of us felt so unified in the spirit. It was a really blessed time we had worshipping God and asking him to help us in our daily lives. Since last night I am prodigiously enthusiastic about my stay.

I think God really wants me here and it was no accident:) After the christian roller coaster ride I was on for about the last five years, I hope he rather places me now on a route 66 like christian path - I would not even mind to start a climb a la l'Alpe de Huez or Mount Ventoux - but at least something more steady even though strenuous.

Last night I started to read the gospel of John with Darby's commentary. The verse of the day really inspired me: "If you hold on to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8, 31 & 32)
So I thought to myself I really need to investigate this truth all over again and apply it to my life. I am sick of being a mere believer with a freeway ticket to heaven. I want the real thing again and take up my cross like a real disciple.

This afternoon after lunch we had coffee together. I was so super shaken by my yearning to smoke a cigarette during those twenty minutes that I really needed to make conversation in order to distract myself from this inner yearning. The brownies helped, too. I was feeling a little bit like in Trainspotting. Maybe cutting down on cigarettes added to my instability and sadness.

Monday morning I smoked my last Vanelle and left the rest in a bar in Santiago. On Tuesday I could not overcome temptation and had two with Claire, a South American studies major I met just outside King's. And then at night went to a bar in the neighbourhood to enjoy some Champions Leage action. There I met Melville and David who went out for a smoke and I just could not resist. But, on the other hand, on tons of occasions I said no. I am only realizing what bad type of drug it is and that I was addicted to it to a great extent. I really need ex anastasis power to overcome it.

Yesterday I could do without any. But I feel temptation rising again this night. I am about to meet my cousin David again after all those years. We will watch the Uefa cup encounter between Everton, his favorite club, and Standard Liege. Beer and Coffee really make me want to smoke.
I might have one;) Let's see...

London

I was constantly confronted with problems on the way to London. To start with I bought a train ticket in Santa Apolonia for the ride to Oriente. And the conductor I asked whether it was the right train or not told me I could not go. But I told him I have a ticket and I need to go. Otherwise I would miss my bus and the plane in Santiago. But he did not show any sign of understanding. So I asked him several times why I could not go until he finally said I could try it with the ticket collector. Who let me hop on in the ultimate second. Then at Oriente the ticket office of Alsa was already closed. So those guys I asked for the way told me I had to go tomorrow. But then I talked to the bus conductor who finally let me go. Later I had to purchase a ticket in Porto at around 2 am and then we arrived at 5am. It was so freaking cold. So I had a coffee and read Einstein before I took a nap in the bus station. Finally the nice guy from the bike shop brought me and
my belongings to the airport. But in London it was really a problem to get the big pack with my bike to the house of the Swiss pastor with whom I am staying because no one had the proper tools to put it together.

But finally I am here:) My first impression is that London is not that big and the people were so friendly until now. Many gave me a hand and a group of roamers helped me with the way. Now I am super tempted to go to see the Montain Goats who are playing in London today. But I better save the money:(

Lisboa

I have been in Lisboa now since last monday. I am staying with this wonderful American family - the Farmers - after having spent the first night in a hostel.

After having finished the Camino de Santiago I was left with a nother week of vacation, so I thought to myself 'why not go to Portugal? You have never been there before!'
It has been such a good idea.

Here in Estoril I have been painting a christian school which is supposed to open next Monday.

Yesterday I had a day off. So I went to Jona's Bar to have coffee and to wait on Stefanie who is here for three years with Young Life. We went cycling, had an ice-cream and then later dinner at this Portugese restaurant with a funny Portugese waiter next to the sea. Stefanie is really a happy person with a contaging laughter. We talked about God and the world and my past relationship. It really helped that she listened so well. I had such a good time:)

I hope to see her again, but don't know whether it works out here. She is coming to London though next week. Maybe she finds time for a coffee?