Day 8: Lewis and Shakespeare

As you’ll hear from Oksana in a moment, today was but another fantastic day in the UK.  I remarked to Mrs. Frisk this morning (as we were walking about Oxford, doing a bit of shopping prior to our departure for The Kilns) that every day on this trip has been a great day.  Really distinct, lots that we’ve been able to see and enjoy, no attitude problems, etc.  Our group is fun for a bunch of reasons, but among the many reasons is that they are excitable.  They are commonly enthusiastic about the things that we see, and I’m often surprised to hear how they are interacting with what we are learning.

I’d ask you to continue to pray for safety, but also please pray for the hearts of the students – that they may view these things and learn of these people and places with a view to application.  What lessons can they learn from the spiritual heritage – or lack thereof – of the people in whose steps we walk this week?

Well, since we got on the plane in Seattle, Oksana has been a ray of sunshine among us.  I sat next to Mr. Pearce on the plane, and our elbows and knees were in constant for the better part of nine hours.  The conditions were cozy.  While we taxied away from the gate, Oksana turned toward us and smiled from her seat five rows ahead of us.  Pearce deadpanned, “Oksana. She could be crammed into a space half that size and still be happy.”  She’s made the best of things on the trip, been eager to serve others, and tried to process and synthesize the information as we all should.  She offered to write about today, so here you are.  Enjoy.

Another great day in England! I am still trying to convince myself that I am in England. I’m just so thankful that I have this amazing privilege with such a remarkable group of students and staff.

We made our way to the Kilns which is the house in which C.S.Lewis (or Jack Lewis) lived. First, we walked around the outside of the house and saw the brick bench on which two of the Inklings, Lewis and Tolkien, spend their time “inkling” and conversing with each other. This bench overlooked a manmade pond onto which Lewis and Tolkien took out a boat often to spend time talking. Second, we proceeded into the house. We had a very helpful guide who walked us around the house. We were in the “common room,” which was like a living room, the kitchen, and Lewis’ personal quarters. In general, the Kilns is a sweet little place with a nice surrounding. Also, the house is still used by students for studying.

Our next stop was at Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. It appeared to be a cute little cottage with a heavy thatched roof. Since this cottage was built a while back (i.e., the 17^th century), it is not like today’s usual buildings. The logs and the wood used for the cottage are not symmetrical straight 2×4’s; the doorways are not like the usual doorways in today’s buildings.  As a result of this Mr. Sarr decided to keep up with the tradition and banged his head once again, against the lintel of the doorway. OUCH!!!

Our tour guide shared a very fun fact, actually a little story. He said that when the cottage was occupied and the dwellers decided to clean out the chimney they used a very unusual method. They took a walk into their backyard, chose one of their oldest chickens, tied its legs together, and let it down the chimney by a rope. Chickens tend to flap their wings when they are held upside down, so in this manner, the dwellers were able to clean the chimney. Fortunately the chickens did not die of bronchitis, but if for some reason it did die, then the family knew what they would have for dinner. The garden outside of the cottage was beautiful! We took a fun walk around and afterwards went to the gift shop.

To end the day our staff was very generous and gave us a couple hours to go about Stratford and do some shopping. That was fun! I am not a very big shopper, but I have to say that was a bunch of fun and one of my best shopping experiences. Stratford is an amazing place; I really, really like it. J Thanks for all the prayers!

I heard that it is Mrs. Pearce’s birthday tomorrow, so I and the whole gang want to wish Mrs. Pearce a very happy birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mrs. Pearce!!! We all love you very much!!!

The students at CS Lewis’ front door. The Kilns, Headington (near Oxford).

The students sitting where Tolkien and Lewis used to gain inspiration while “inkling,” as we called it.

A shopping area near the birthplace of Shakespeare. Fun!

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