Chapter

" 1. a main division of a book, typically with a number or title.
2. a period of time or an episode in a person's life, a nation's history, etc. "

I've finally finished Les Miserables. It was a mammoth task, taking three months and 1200 pages of reading. It resulted in eye strain, yes, but also a desire to be more interested in the history and politics of France. This is because many sections of this very long book are almost separate from the main plot, elaborating on historical and factual details from the nineteenth century.

French, History and Politics were not my subjects in school and so these parts of the book were a little more than tedious at times. However, bearing with them, I did manage to grasp the story as a whole and consequently, they accentuated the plot. Naturally I didn't understand all of it, but am genuinely proud of the (small) effort I made in reading these parts.

The metaphor I'm tenuously trying to create is that my life in London feels like a new chapter. Since arriving, I feel like I've moved my story forwards but in a way which is entirely separate from the summer that's just happened. It seems the tedious planning has ended and the exciting action has begun.

It's been beautiful and during the past two weeks there have been highlights which I'll hopefully share without too much extraneous detail.

One. 
Interning with Christian Aid means accepting that you're going to be pelted with an abundance of information and you're not sure which bits are relevant. It also means going to an arts, faith & justice festival and adopting a forced love of wellington boots because the mud you have to wade across is just too deep for any other footwear. Interning at aforesaid festival also meant sacrificing cleanliness, but partaking in bus-making, bee-making and badge-making with muddy (yet lovable) small people and realising that children are great. Most excitingly, however, interning with Christian Aid means getting to know a group of people who are equally passionate about social justice and the eradication of poverty, but are also incredibly great at creating laughter and raving at silent discos.

Two.
Living in London is a house which has a conservatory to provide all the light that was missing from last year's college experience. It's a place where there are four supermarkets and great shopping only 20 minutes walk from the front door. Minus internet but only a short walk from Starbucks wifi, it's also a place which only 48 hours later, feels a little bit like home already. And that can only be a good thing.

Three. 
God has demonstrated a presence which is found in the quiet times. It's felt a little bit manic, yet in the stillness,  Bible reading has been a blessing which provides comfort. A lack of Church family is a work in progress, but one which is an exciting journey and I'm confident it's going to be a rewarding experience.

And so the office is tomorrow's adventure, where planning and practical chats will occur, giving an idea and hope of what the next ten months will entail and also, achieve.

This chapter is different. But different is exciting and means a new part of my story which will contribute to the whole.