Hello Everyone,
Bethany and I finally made it to Capernwray Hall, which as we now know is in the county of Lancashire, near the town of Carnforth and a little farther away from Lancaster, all in the North, just below the Lake District (which is why the three actual British people here...there's probably a couple dozen...have come here, I hear). It is amazing. A few people have used the word surreal to describe being here...I've never really understood what that word means, but it is really cool, and exciting. I'm staying with about 9 other guys in a large dorm the staff here call "the zoo." It's interesting that there are about 170 students here, and only 50 guys. In the three days we've been here, the men of Capernwray have already banded together, and, of our own accord, decided to create the first Olympic-like continuous epic-battle sort of thing at Capernwray. It sounds a little silly, but it's really great. It's the Tower, where I live, verses the Beehive, the unfortunate name of the other boys dorm area. However, divisive this may appear, we, the men that is, are still meeting for Bible studies that we're organizing, and the occasional meeting in strategic positions in the castle to circle up and block the women of Capernwray from passing. Well, enough of that...I could go on and on. It's been really bright and sunny so far, though it rained a little this morning. There are a lot of sheep and the countryside around is is very beautiful. The food's edible, which is good, I hear, for England, and there are several pianos. Debussy has already graced the lounge area, along with Chopin and Brahms. But then they get usurped, invariably, and chopsticks (by some composer I must not be familiar with) takes their place. I'm having a lot of fun, and really enjoy English culture...probably just because it feels so much like all the foreignness I associate with Europe. My roommates are great! Especially if they may be reading this. A whole bunch of Americans, some Canadians and some Germans, and one Brit. We haven't started official lectures yet, but we have done a lot of singing. It is very spiritual here, and I'm really excited. I know that I'll really grow a lot at Capernwray and know that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I would really appreciate your prayers, as I grow deeper with God this year. Well, I have to go start reading the Old Testament. I have six months. Hope everyone has a good day!

We finally got John's camera out, and have been taking some England pictures. We're looking at them right now. One of John looks especially good. It has been quite sunny here in Sheffield, especially at the Roberts' bordering on the countryside. We went to an old gargoyle-gilded church, with its well-old cemetary on Sat. (after John had to make a mad dash to a Tesco for some SPF 50) Yes, it was a bit creepy chasing running around on top of 400 year old parishioners, but it was really fascinating. And the sun glowing in its descent perfectly capped what was described to us as the quintessential English landscape, with its rolling green hills. We also had a delightful pasta lunch the next day. We went to a great church with Roberts. One of the cool things they did was read Isaiah 40, and prayed for everyone who was weary (in any way). We both stood up to receive prayer and it was very rejuvinating and freeing. A lot of my nervousness about school and tiredness from travel (this is John) was really lifted. It was just really powerful being there with a lot of people our age of all different backgrounds praying for each other and worshiping together. Then, we went deeper into Sheffield, where a lot of Somalis lived, to stay at the very tall home of Mr. and Mrs. Ray. We live in their attic, which is awesome, and they are awesome. We explored Sheffield on our own today. It rained for the first time today. It drizzled all day. Maman died today. But we still had fun, figuring out the tram system and stuff. We went to this big mall, and spent most of the time looking and laughing at books in a very good little bookstore. Then we went to a French cafe. Then we wandered around town lost until we found a huge green house garden with lots of cactus and palm trees, and then an art gallery/library with many portraits and religious scenes. The Indian food we ate that night, with the Rays, was amazing. Tomorrow mom and dad/uncle and aunt are coming up and we're excited about that. I (and this is Bethany) am especially excited that they will be taking some of our burdensome luggage for us. It is also important to add that the Rays have an incredible collection of books in their house. I recommend The Islamist, Ed Husain's memoir about extremism in England. Have a great day!

We're here!! We made it...

After a long flight and a long train trip with too much luggage, we finally made it to Sheffield... We were exhausted, since we might have slept one hour out of the 35 of traveling, and hadn't eaten in something like 10 hours... But we were both exited to be here at last. We're staying with some friend's of Bethany's from Djibouti, in a beautiful location... with an amazing view at the lush green english hills... the weather, unusually, is not bad, nice and sunny, although a little cold for Bethany of course, but not John. Obviously (by the quality of our writing) we are still getting over jet-lag...

We will be in Sheffield for a week, before taking the train up to Capernwray on the 27th. 

We miss you all so much.

lots of love, Jacques and Bethany

We leave in 10 hours...aaaaaaah

Well, now my real emotions are kicking in, and have been going for the better part of the day. However apt Hamlet allusions may have been in my first post, I now know what it feels like for me, not John Donne, the night before I leave for college. It was sunny today in Stockton, and cold, hinting at the weather to which I'll have to grow accustomed. I spent a great deal of my time today, after scramblevacbagpacking, compiling and editing a number of poems to send to an anthology looking for poems about the American West. So I explored again the Eastern Sierras, and Catalina, Hawaii, the Sea Ranch, Victory Park, and the other aspects of California life that have found their way into my philosophical and spiritual musings. Then to cap off the irony, I wrote in the required bio that I was studying in England this year. It was good though, to think about my life in California, or generally, the American West, and what I will miss and what it will be like to change. I'm really going to miss my family, and while I can't bring myself to deprecatingly reciprocate, my dog will miss me. He literally (not virtually or figuratively) followed me around my house today, three feet behind, even when I noticed and tried to out-maneuver him around and through the rooms. I know it's going to be really hard for Daniel, and I will be happy to wake up bright and early tomorrow (after excited and anxious sleep) to say goodbye before he goes to school, avoiding an awkward 'night!-but-goodbye-i'm-leaving-and-won't-see-you-till-Christmas. I'm not that excited about the plane ride, but it's always an adventure with a cousin who, unlike her amiable-enough sister, won't sleep the whole way. I have a lot of riveting fiction and, yes, some supple nonfiction to read, and Bethany and I have some other things to work on. I eagerly anticipate our week in Sheffield, especially when we go to the Somali district, or whatever it is. Of course, that means lots of spaghetti, but I joke that it will be "pesto," but really green with khat. On verra. Thanks for all your prayers. Goodbye.

The last american hours

So here we are, leaving in ten hours for England!!! yikes... We weighed our bags, got our papers and passports, confirmed our flight, ate our last pizza (good american comfort food)...  We're all set to go! We keep hearing nothing but bad news from my parents in Liverpool climate-wise... rain and cold is what they tell us everyday... so our rain-coats are packed in the most accessible place possible, just in case...

I can't wait to see us in the airport in Manchester- having travelled for over 10 hours, two tired americans each with two carry-ons and two 45-50 pound bags, lost in the train station in the cold rain. This is gonna be so much fun!! 

As we get ready to sleep for the last time in the USA for another year, both john and i are exited and anxious, yet a little worried at the challenge before us in this next year, not only getting ourselves and all our stuff to Capernway Hall, but also the school year ahead, full of outreach possibilities, classes, lectures, papers, chores, new friends, and of course, english food. But we're both so ready for this year, for this challenge up ahead of us, and will with God's grace (and your prayers) have an amazing year of growing in our faith and knowledge of the Bible and our religion, as well as be sanctified a little more as we interact with the other students, professors and communities around us. Praise God!! 

We both are feeling a little sad too leaving friends and family behind, and our love goes out to you all, as you are in our thoughts and prayers. 

So, tata for now, 

Bethany Thiel

Hi Everyone and Everyman,
I am about to embark on a journey, hence the Everyman reference. With sincere apologies to Pasqual, I begin this account of my nine months in England. Lancashire England, just south of the Lake District (immortalized by Wordsworth) and 70 miles below Scottland (pronounced Sco' land). That's all I know; I'll figure out where I'm going later. And I'll be staying part of my year in a 19th century castle, like Bowle's Hall at The University of California. Hello Capernwray! Top o' the morning, Rubbish-Ear! I won't be traveling alone, but will be accompanied by my illustrious cousine Bethany (or Sparkles)...not Good Works if I were to continue the Everyman conceit. We're excited...packing a hundred pounds of stuff and lugging it around..as Bethany recently intimated. Any hopes, dreams, fears, worries, anticipations? Bethany/Sparkles: the cold, bad weather, hoping to weather the bad weather so to speak...anxious, just want to go! John/Jack: Excited to meet lots of people and meet God in deeper ways. Please pray for us as we travel on Thursday. And we'll be praying for you. We hope you think of our parting (in the words of John Donne) not so much as a "breach but an expansion, like gold to aery thinness beat," though we part as "virtuous men" who "pass mildly away," be not "dull sublunary lovers" with their "tear-floods and sigh-tempests" (this isn't a joke, but please pray for all in harms way--like our sometimes sister, now our cousin--in the Southeast and Caribbean). We must "obliquely run," but know that we "lean and hearken after" you, who "make our circle just, and make us end where we begun."