Te-Mika Visits London

Left: Saturday evening at a loung named "Essence"

I was very excited that my friend Te-Mika intended to visit me in London. Te-Mika and I have been friends for about 8 years (time sure does fly). We met at an event at Harvard Law School where I was ministering through dance with my former dance ministry Consecration Ministries. Te-Mika, then a law student at Harvard Law School, helped organize the event which invited Consecration Ministries to the law school to dance as part of their Sunday service. During my travels with Consecration Ministries throughout the New England area, I came across thousands of people but for some reason Te-Mika and I stayed in contact. We became very good friends and developed a close friendship over the years. She is a woman who is not only very smart but is truly after God's own heart.
Left: Tuesday evening Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club

In October 2006, I was honored to be a bridesmaid in Te-Mika's wedding and I had not seen her since then. As soon as she bought her ticket to London, I immediately planned a 5 day schedule of all of the wonderful things that we would do in London. Unfortunately, things became very hectic at work and when Te-Mika arrived not only did we not do anything that I had planned on our schedule but I saw very little of her. This was a very very difficult week at work for me and I felt horrible that one of my dearest friends came to visit me from the states and I would see very little of her. I literally worked about 15 hours a day almost every day. We did spend some time together and I tried to make the best of it.

Although I saw very little of her, I was thankful that she was here because the last few days were challenging for me emotionally and physically. In some ways, even though Te-Mika's visit was not at all what I had planned (nor what she had planned), I felt that God had sent her here to comfort me because I was under a tremendous amount of stress and pressure. It would have been very unpleasant to endure what I had been experiencing alone. I am thankful of the time that we did spent together. We went to some of my favoite restaurants including an Indian restaurant named Mehat and a dim sum restaurant named Ping Pong. On Monday night, I met her at Ronnie Scott's a very famous jazz club in London (although I was four hours late and did not get there until midnight). It was my first time going to a jazz club and even though I had missed most of the set, it was exactly what I needed to relax.

During her stay she shared some principles about a book that she had been reading called "Boundaries in Marriage" by Dr. Cloud and Dr Townsend. The authors have a series of books about boundaries. Some of the concepts that she shared with me were very thought provoking. With the backdrop at all that had taken place that weekend and over the last few weeks, it became very clean that I needed to set some boundaries not only at work but in all areas of my life.

While the weekend was not anything that I had planned, it was apparent that God had sent her from DC to London to comfort me because He had the foresight to know (being the all knowing God that He is) that I was under a tremendous amount of stress and pressure and I needed someone to encourage and comfort me. The Word of the weekend was about boundaries. I look forward to not only reading this book but allowing the Holy Spirit to give me the power and the courage to set some boundaries so that I can powerfully live the life that God intends for me to live. Selah.

My Cousin's Birthday

I spent the weekend working and running around London like a chicken with its head cut off. This seems to be a regular in my life and it is more than apparent that I need to work on balance. The highlight of this weekend was attending my cousin Femi's birthday party.

Femi's birthday dinner was supposed to be a surprise planned by his girlfriend Haley but guess who ruined it? Yours truly. About two weeks ago, I received a text from Haley inviting me to Femi's surprise dinner, she had mentioned it a few days earlier when we were having dinner at my aunt Eudie's house so I was not at all surprised to receive the text message. The problem is that I do not know how to work my UK cell phone. In addition, I am horrible about checking text messages and voicemail messages at home and on the cell. I check them maybe once or twice a week-- hey, I am busy woman. When I received the text message it had been two days after she had originally sent it. A week later I emailed my cousin Femi and apologized profusely for missing his "surprise birthday dinner that Haley had planned." He responded to my email with utter confusion because his birthday was still a week and a half away. I was mortified but we decided that we would not share this with his girlfriend.

Fast forward to this weekend- it was clear that his dinner was not a surprise but Haley seemed to be okay with this. I wanted to confess to Haley but decided to keep my mouth shut and unless asked, I was not going to admit to being the one who ruined the surprise. Anyway, we had a lovely time. Approximately 18 of Femi's friends and co-workers met at a Thai restaurant named Busabi. I had eaten at this restaurant when Astrid and Nira were in town and was appalled that we had to stand on line for 20 minutes to get in. Thankfully, this weekend Haley rented a private room for Femi's birthday dinner and I was able to whisk right in. The food was phenomenal and his friends are wonderful people. After dinner a small group of us went dancing at a lounge/bar nearby. The wonderful thing about having male cousins is that you can use them as stand-in boyfriends when random men try to talk to you and dance with you. I do not remember the name of this lounge but the music was great. I continue to be amazed at how much of an influence American music has internationally---especially hip hop music. We danced to Beyonce, Faith Evans, Biggie Smalls, Tupac and Chubb Rock (remember him?). All in all, I had a great time. I love hanging out with my cousins-- they are the brothers that I have always wanted. It feels like they have always been a part of my life. I count this as a tremendous blessing. Their girlfriends Haley and Effie are wonderful women and alot of fun as well. In sum, I had a great weekend. Whenever I am with good people, good food and good music, I am sure to have a blast. See . . . it does not take much to make me happy.

My Weekend in Bath

Left: PJ and I having dinner at a noodle bar named Wagamama

I have had a truly phenomenal weekend. The United Kingdom has several "Bank Holidays" which are three day weekends and no one truly understands why we have them but we do. Upon realizing that we had a three day weekend I decided that I wanted to go to Spain. To make a long story short-- I did not really come up with the idea until three days ago and it was such short notice that a trip to Spain would have been too expensive. So I decided to make the most of the weekend even though I could not travel abroad.

On Friday, my friend (and now soror) PJ came into town. PJ is actually a friend of my friend and former roommate Ellyn. They attended Barnard together. PJ is from the Bahamas and we met several years ago when Ellyn, our friend Marene and I went to the Bahamas in 2000. We had an amazing time. That vacation is one of many memories that will remain close to my heart. Even though PJ and I did not stay in contact over the years, I have never forgotten her tremendous hospitality and was looking forward to catching up. So on Friday, PJ and I decided to go to the theater and the dinner. We saw Porgy and Bess which was phenomenal and had dinner at a noodle bar named Wagamama. It was a lovely evening and we had the opportunity to catch up everything that had been happening in our lives over the last seven years.

Saturday morning, my cousin Lesley, her friend Aziza and I took a three hour bus trip to Bath. Even though I was terribly disappointed that I had to miss my dance classes, I was looking forward to the trip because it was my first time traveling outside of London since my arrival. To be honest, I did not know much about Bath other than the fact that there there is"a Bath" there and it had something to do with "the Romans." When we arrived at the destination, Bath was truly more beautiful than I could put into words. And "The Roman Bath" was simply extraordinary. The architecture and the history was breathtaking.

I do not want to bore you with too many details (although being that I was a history major, I did take extensive notes on the tour) but in Bath, the Romans built an extensive temple and bathing complex now known as the "Roman Bath" or "The Great Bath." This is the only bath in the United Kingdom that flows with natural warm water. It is believed that the water is from rain which fell in 4 A.D.and the rain has percolated over several centuries years thus making the water which come from the earth in the Roman Bath warm. History reveals that the Roman Baths were bulit in 43 AD in honor of a goddness named Sulis Minerva. Many Romans would come to the bath when they needed healing and would provide an offering to the goddess. The Bath was rediscovered in the 18th century. Bath (the town) has seen many wars over the years but the Roman Bath has generally stayed intact. I could go on and on but again, I don't want to bore you. Bath is simply amazing and if you ever make it to London you should take some time to travel there. Also located in Bath is Jane Austin's home unfortunately, we were not able to take a tour because you arrived too late. While it took three hours to get to and back from Bath, it was definitely worth the trip.

On the way back, I had an extensive conversation with my cousin about family matters. It was very interesting. I am still making sens of all that was shared between us but all I have to say is that things are not always what they seem and it is ever so important that we remember this especially as it relates to complicated family matters. I met Lesley for the first time 4 years ago when I visited London with my dad for Lesley's sisters wedding. Since they we have stayed in touch and this trip provided a wonderful opportunity to cement our relationship. This weekend was truly wonderful. And God is revealing some things. He is in the business of revealing and unveiling and we have to be prepared for those things that he is trying to uncover. I am sure that I am loosing you but be blessed.