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| The California Republic flag |
So here is my (Alison) summary of our time in Los Angeles:
Monday
Flight to Los Angeles. Was excited as we got to fly on the new Airbus A380 which is the biggest passenger plane in the world. It had only been in commission for British Airways for just over a week, so was lovely and new!
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| Airbus A380 |
Border control in LA: I think we picked the wrong queue! Was there a long time, definitely the most thorough check I have had, but the lady at the counter was very nice.
Introduction to Los Angeles traffic: journey which can take half an hour took an hour and 10 minutes, but was excited to look out of the window, though my first impression was hello concrete city!
Taken out for food by Daniel and then to our home for our stay at Jeanne's :)
Then bed at 9pm which was actually 5 am UK time :)
Tuesday
Met with John Hester, a lovely man who was to be our guide for the day and also teach us how to drive Jeanne's car and navigate the roads.
Just a side note on the car:
- It was huge
- It had no hand brake
- It had no gear stick (a.k.a. stick shift) - i.e. it was automatic
- We had never driven a car like this!
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| Our car during the visit |
Anyways... back to the day. Started with a lovely breakfast in a place that had 101 different omelet fillings - nom nom, food was lovely. Then a tour round some areas of Santa Clarita including The Master's College. Then over to Santa Monica Pier and the old muscle beach. That was fun, and also great to put my feet in the Pacific for the first time - was a bit cold, but the weather was lovely and hot. Then a drive up the coast on North Pacific Highway.
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| Dipping my feet in the Pacific |
Was a lovely introduction to Los Angeles and am thankful to our tour guide John who was full of interesting and helpful information :-)
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| At Santa Monica Pier with John |
In the evening I had my first experience of Walmart - impression being pretty much like a giant supermarket here in the UK. Though I do get weirded out by not having to type in my pin number or sign when paying by card for anything under around £30.
Was also first time Miska drove a car in the US, we are living proof that all went well on roads of Los Angeles. I did drive too but only on two occasions, mainly because I am by far the better navigator ;-)
Wednesday
Lazy morning, both of us were not feeling 100%, Miska in particular was suffering from a bad cough for past few days, which was particularly bad at night. We did go to the pharmacy to get some paracetamol - though turns out Americans don't know what paracetamol is! Turns out they use another name... confirms another reason for me not to be a Nurse in America ;-)
The afternoon was spent with Telda and Richard Peskett, a lovely couple, Richard is in his last year at The Master's Seminary. They are from England, so was great talking to a couple who know about the transition from one country to another and was great to ask loads of little questions.
In the evening Telda took me to Seminary Wives, that was a great evening. Basically, it's an evening for all of the wives of Seminary students to get together. They have talks, small group studies and importantly fellowship with one another. Looking forward to this very much.
Thursday
Day at the The Master's Seminary sitting in on chapel and classes. One of the students Kyle Swanson, showed us around and took us for lunch in campus, where we had an amazing burger. Had the privilege of hearing Paul Washer in chapel, and also briefly meeting him afterwards. Sitting in on classes was interesting and nice to have a feel what Miska will be doing, but I can say I am glad it is him rather than me... the thought of more study is not for me... then again I have done 7 years at university so I have done more than my fair share! Although I do think I will be sitting in on some of the counselling classes especially.
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| Miska posing in front of The Master's Seminary sign |
In evening went to a shopping mall (look at me getting into the local lingo - we parked in a parking lot). Was pretty much like a UK out of town shopping centre and many familiar shops. Then we had Chik-Fil-A. That was good food and like most food places in America, bottomless refills and the lemonade is real lemonade - and it's so nice.
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| Enjoying Chick-Fil-A! |
Then back at Jeanne's house we had Sauna, don't think many Californians have a sauna in there garden, but it was so good.
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| Sauna with a Finnish flag inside :) |
Friday
Back to The Master's Seminary again, this time we met with Ray Mehringer - vice president for admissions and placement. Again, he was so welcoming - which really is a true American trait. We got to ask loads of questions again, and found it very helpful and very much put my mind at rest about things. If God wants us there, that is where we will be... we will very much learn to put our full trust in God while at Seminary.
He took us for lunch at Cocos, a tasty diner famous for it pies, it did not disappoint, we had a lovely apple pie :-)
In the evening, I finally got to meet Jeanne, she flew in from Hawaii, where she had been with her family. Was lovely to meet her at last, lovely lovely lady with a huge heart for God and someone whom I could learn so much from.
Saturday
Miska and I met up with Daniel and Julie Ruhkala and their children Hannah and Andrew. We went to a 'pumpkin patch' and I had such a great time. This is what I imagined America to be like. There was basically loads and loads of pumpkins to buy and fun things for kids, including a tractor ride through corn with scarecrows and a maize maze. We also had chilli and corn on the cob and pumpkin pie. Really had so much fun, already look forward to going again next year!
In the afternoon, had a little walk around the area, saw a man made lake with lots of turtles in it. Then we went to eat and had frozen yoghurt, in the shopping mall... a different one and some what nicer one.
Sunday
First time at Grace Community Church (although had been to site as seminary and church are in the same campus). We first went to Sunday school - Faith Builders, this started at 9. Then we went to the main service at 10.30. John MacArthur was away that Sunday, so had a former Seminary student who now pastors large church in Florida. The church seats around 3000. One thing that surprised me was the singing of congregation, I thought with that many people it would be very loud, though I guess I am used to the hearth singing of the Welsh.
In the afternoon, we visited the grave of Jeanne's husband Rick, who is now with the Lord, then we went on a search for the Hollywood sign, contrary to what I naively thought you can't see it from everywhere in Los Angeles. Jeanne, said she had only seen it a few times herself. Although we had a good laugh and adventure, alas we did not reach our goal of actually seeing it, we appeared to have chose one of the few days when there was something on at both the Griffiths observatory and the outside theatre!
In the evening we were back at church, we saw 2 people baptised with great testimonies to the work God has done in their lives and also 58 new people came into membership at the church!
Monday
Lovely home cooked breakfast by Jeanne - American style - meaning pancakes and bacon :-)
Then we went horse riding at Griffiths park. Was my first time ever on a horse and I have to admit I was a little apprehensive and went with the option of wearing a helmet BUT I loved it! It was a lot of fun and we had some lovely views too of over Los Angeles.
Then take two of trying to find the Hollywood sign. Woo hoo, we were successful, we went up to the Griffith Observatory and could see it from there, as well as other lovely views of L.A.
Back to The Master's Seminary again, this time we met with Ray Mehringer - vice president for admissions and placement. Again, he was so welcoming - which really is a true American trait. We got to ask loads of questions again, and found it very helpful and very much put my mind at rest about things. If God wants us there, that is where we will be... we will very much learn to put our full trust in God while at Seminary.
He took us for lunch at Cocos, a tasty diner famous for it pies, it did not disappoint, we had a lovely apple pie :-)
In the evening, I finally got to meet Jeanne, she flew in from Hawaii, where she had been with her family. Was lovely to meet her at last, lovely lovely lady with a huge heart for God and someone whom I could learn so much from.
Saturday
Miska and I met up with Daniel and Julie Ruhkala and their children Hannah and Andrew. We went to a 'pumpkin patch' and I had such a great time. This is what I imagined America to be like. There was basically loads and loads of pumpkins to buy and fun things for kids, including a tractor ride through corn with scarecrows and a maize maze. We also had chilli and corn on the cob and pumpkin pie. Really had so much fun, already look forward to going again next year!
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| The pumpkin patch |
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| Eating fresh corn on the cob |
In the afternoon, had a little walk around the area, saw a man made lake with lots of turtles in it. Then we went to eat and had frozen yoghurt, in the shopping mall... a different one and some what nicer one.
Sunday
First time at Grace Community Church (although had been to site as seminary and church are in the same campus). We first went to Sunday school - Faith Builders, this started at 9. Then we went to the main service at 10.30. John MacArthur was away that Sunday, so had a former Seminary student who now pastors large church in Florida. The church seats around 3000. One thing that surprised me was the singing of congregation, I thought with that many people it would be very loud, though I guess I am used to the hearth singing of the Welsh.
In the afternoon, we visited the grave of Jeanne's husband Rick, who is now with the Lord, then we went on a search for the Hollywood sign, contrary to what I naively thought you can't see it from everywhere in Los Angeles. Jeanne, said she had only seen it a few times herself. Although we had a good laugh and adventure, alas we did not reach our goal of actually seeing it, we appeared to have chose one of the few days when there was something on at both the Griffiths observatory and the outside theatre!
In the evening we were back at church, we saw 2 people baptised with great testimonies to the work God has done in their lives and also 58 new people came into membership at the church!
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| Inside Grace Community Church |
Monday
Lovely home cooked breakfast by Jeanne - American style - meaning pancakes and bacon :-)
Then we went horse riding at Griffiths park. Was my first time ever on a horse and I have to admit I was a little apprehensive and went with the option of wearing a helmet BUT I loved it! It was a lot of fun and we had some lovely views too of over Los Angeles.
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| Riding the horses with Jeanne |
Then take two of trying to find the Hollywood sign. Woo hoo, we were successful, we went up to the Griffith Observatory and could see it from there, as well as other lovely views of L.A.
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| The Hollywood sign |
Then an evening in eating some orange food :) Grilled BBQ ribs, sweet potato,carrots and oranges.
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| Orange food :) |
Tuesday
Our last touristy day
Jeanne took us to an outlet mall, got some nice cheap clothes. Though another thing I learnt while in America, they put the tax on at the checkout - weird if you ask me, I may be bias but I do prefer the British way of doing things, this way you know what you expect when you go to pay.
Then we headed to the coast, we went to Ventura, visited the beach and a few quaint little shops. We had In-N-Out burger for lunch, famous for being a good burger - it was good :-)
Then we headed over to Santa Clarita to meet the newly arrived Finnish contingency for dinner. Well I say Finnish - they all came from Finland, but consist of one American (Pastor Tom), one Northern Irish (Pastor Kyle) and one Finn (who is a Swedish Finn - Fredrik). Also there was Daniel and family and Julie's parents. A lovely evening of good food and warm fellowship.
Wednesday - Friday
The Strange Fire conference
For me - a truly eye opening conference about the Charismatic movement which has had a huge negative impact on 'Christianity' all over the world. Conference addresses from John MacArthur, Conrad Mbewe, Steve Lawson, Tom Pennington, RC Sproul and Joni Eareckson Tada.
Was a great few days, which I know sparked a bit of controversy over the internet, but I earnestly ask everyone to listen to all of the addresses or read the book Strange Fire before jumping to conclusions about what the conference was about.
It was a great time of fellowship with the Finnish contingency and others and a truly well organised and run conference and a great way to round off a wonderful trip.
Our last touristy day
Jeanne took us to an outlet mall, got some nice cheap clothes. Though another thing I learnt while in America, they put the tax on at the checkout - weird if you ask me, I may be bias but I do prefer the British way of doing things, this way you know what you expect when you go to pay.
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| Jeanne and Alison at the beach in Ventura |
Then we headed to the coast, we went to Ventura, visited the beach and a few quaint little shops. We had In-N-Out burger for lunch, famous for being a good burger - it was good :-)
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| Ventura |
Then we headed over to Santa Clarita to meet the newly arrived Finnish contingency for dinner. Well I say Finnish - they all came from Finland, but consist of one American (Pastor Tom), one Northern Irish (Pastor Kyle) and one Finn (who is a Swedish Finn - Fredrik). Also there was Daniel and family and Julie's parents. A lovely evening of good food and warm fellowship.
Wednesday - Friday
The Strange Fire conference
For me - a truly eye opening conference about the Charismatic movement which has had a huge negative impact on 'Christianity' all over the world. Conference addresses from John MacArthur, Conrad Mbewe, Steve Lawson, Tom Pennington, RC Sproul and Joni Eareckson Tada.
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| Q&A Panel at the Strange Fire Conference (Todd Friel, Phil Johnson, Nathan Busenitz, Conrad Mbewe and John MacArthur) |
Was a great few days, which I know sparked a bit of controversy over the internet, but I earnestly ask everyone to listen to all of the addresses or read the book Strange Fire before jumping to conclusions about what the conference was about.
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| Joni Eareckson Tada sharing her testimony at the conference |
It was a great time of fellowship with the Finnish contingency and others and a truly well organised and run conference and a great way to round off a wonderful trip.
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| The Finnish group (Tom, Fredrik, Kyle, Alison, Miska) at the conference |
Saturday
Sadly our trip was over, time to pack and then head to the airport. Not as nice airplane on the way home (we were spoilt on the way), but a little bit of much needed sleep was done, ready for adjusting to time difference and a drive back to Cardiff.
Overall thoughts from the trip:
Sadly our trip was over, time to pack and then head to the airport. Not as nice airplane on the way home (we were spoilt on the way), but a little bit of much needed sleep was done, ready for adjusting to time difference and a drive back to Cardiff.
Overall thoughts from the trip:
- Americans are genuinely friendly people
- The traffic in L.A. was not as bad as I expected - though we did try our best to avoid it
- The trip eased my mind about a lot of details about going to study there
- I am not sure I could live there forever, but three years will be good, think I will miss the colour green and probably even the rain
- You need a car to get around
- And many many more but I guess this is quite a long blog post and you are all bored by now :)
