Lou has landed...

So I'm back in Sri Lanka...that makes it sound like I was here just last week - it was in fact 9 years ago which is an absolute age.

I had a smooth easy travelling experience apart from all the waiting around and the unfortunate situation of overweight baggage with BMI which I had to pay for (amazingly the first time i've ever had to pay!) It's so annoying that we have domestic flight weights when we have to fly to England in most cases to get a long haul international flight! Anyway, after 8 1/2 hours of killing time in Heathrow I boarded the plane for another 10 hours of waiting, only in a slightly more confined space! But it was fine and went by relatively quickly although chicken and potatoes for breakfast was slightly odd, why is it that when you travel you seem to eat at the strangest times??

We were greeted in the airport by mask wearing officials ensuring that none of us needed quarantined - very reassuring, but i have to admit i did find myself stopping breathing and turning in the opposite direction anytime anyone near me in the airport sneezed!!...mass paranoia has set in!!

But then the exciting bit...i don't know why I enjoy this so much but I was met by 2 representatives from the Colombo Theological Seminary which I am staying at for the next 2 weeks, holding a sign with my name on it...excellent...one of those things you always see in the movies :) They were very welcoming and made sure I had the most comfortable seat in the taxi nearest the air conditioning!!

At one point in the car on the way through the busy city traffic I realised I hadn't actually stopped smiling since i stepped out of the aeroplane. Yes its hot 30° c when we got off the plane and today was cool!!...humid and sticky but it just feels right :) and that feels good...knowing that you are where you are meant to be and will hopefully be doing what it is I am meant to be doing...and through His strength all things are possible. And as someone shared with me before I left, "even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me" Psalm 139:10

The guest accommodation in the college has only recently been put in place it's not quite finished just yet in that the kitchen area isnt functionable but it is very impressive indeed and my room is just lovely. I do however have a room mate - a tiny little gecko whom I have affectionately named Goliath. He is more than welcome though if he keeps all the other bugs away!! I will introduce him to you all very soon once I can get a picture of him close enough that you can actually see him in!!

Well i think that's all for my first installment now I'm off to bed for a good nights sleep before I try and organise my programme for the next couple of weeks in the morning.