Three Stories to Share

So I've been meaning to make this post since the day after I made the last one. So things have been piling up, and today they finally hit a point where I had to write. We'll get to that.

Ok so first I remember one of the stories that happened a few weeks ago but I forgot to tell you about. Don't worry, it's a happy story. Ok so there's this group here at Wycliffe that meets every week I guess, which consists of the spouses of students - people who are just as new to Oxford or perhaps the UK as the new students are, but aren't themselves in the Universiy. Because this is Wycliffe this includes a lot of women who are or will be pastor's wives. Long story short they are awesome and super nice. And each term they host an event that they invite others too - this year it was a really good talk, one of the best talks I've heard about Christian responses to homosexuality/same sex attraction in the church. But that's not what I came here to talk about.

So afterwards they all thanked us for coming and we thanked them for putting on the event - it really was very good - and we get to talking and one of these ladies asks "oh do you have any laundry you need done? I've got some I need to do but it's not a full load. Maybe bedding or something?" - OK first of all this lady is offering to do my laundry. Huge points right there. Unfortunately I did my laundry just the previous night. And as for bedding, I just have the one set, so if I wash my sheets I have to do it in the morning so I can have them back by nightfall. I say all this but thank her and she says that that's a sad situation.

I kind of forget about this conversation, until two days later I see her on the way to lunch and she says "Oh Rissa good! This is for you." And hands me a bag. based on that one conversation she has gone out and bought me a set of bed sheets, including a duvet cover (that is pretty and stripey). I don't know if you're reading this but I really cannot say how touched I was. Seriously. To not only think of me, but to actually make such effort to take care of me and give me such a useful gift - thank you so much. I don't think I said it well out loud but I am so very touched by your love and generosity.

So now I have clean sheets and a stripey duvet and pillow :)

That's story number one: people at Wycliffe are wonderful.

Story number two: no surprises here, it's rugby! I have two rugby stories actually but first things first.

We played Oxford Brookes last Sunday, and i've a funny story from that game. Okay so I went in rather late (which is good) and the first thing we did was a line-out (theirs). So they get the ball and are able to rush past us. I am now offside. I know this. So I do the sensible thing and begin running to get back onside. I was a bit lost in the confusion and so didn't really know where the ball was. Since I wasn't onside it wasn't like I could do anything until I got there.

Ok so the problem was this: apparently the ball carrier was right in front of me. I somehow did not know this (like i said, jumping into chaos). As I'm running to get back onside, I'm running the same way at Brookes is. And the first thing I see of the ball is when it hits me, straight in the face. I was told afterwords that I had actually ended up in the other team's 9-10 channel, which is a very bad place to be, but I didn't even know I was there! Anyway so this ball smacks me in the face, and I mean like right between the eyes/on the nose. Made my vision go funny for a sec. Anyway so obviously play stops and we all kind of look around like.... what do we do? I mean technically I was offside and did interact with the ball... but only because their 9 accidentally chucked it straight at my face.

So the ref comes over and comes to me like "you were offside, you can't do that" and I think what I actually said was something like "sorry", but in my head it was just like "YA DON'T SAY?!" or "do you think I MEANT to do that?" Anyway it gave them a penalty unfortunately (penalty against us I mean) but it was really odd. After the game no less than 4 of thier players tried to apologize for it, even though I was still rather unsure what exactly had happened.

Ok so there's your touching story and your funny story of the day. Here comes the not so fun story.

I'm writing this while I wait at the JR Hospital. Now before you freak out I'm not like dying or anything or even in serious pain at this point.

We were supposed to have another away game yesterday. But at the last minute the other team called it off because their pitch was flooded, and they weren't prepared to come down to us. This ws a bit disappointing of course since we were all ready, but all in all I think it was ok, because several of our starters were sick this week. Instead, I was able to go to the beginner's development sessions, which I always really enjoy.

We had a different coach than usual this week, because the others couldn't make it, but they were good. Had us do some different things than normal. We also had a few brand new girls, which is always really fun - even though I'm not that good, I love helping to introduce new girls to rugby, walk them through tackling, etc. These new girls were really great.

Then near the end of practice I got back with my friend Fiona, another Panthers forward, because we were going to do one-on-one drills, and that would be unfair if we were with the beginners. Now normally one-on-ones for us are really basic and easy, but this time they tried to introduce a bit of footwork - trying to get around a tackle.

Fiona and I had some fun with this. Some sillyness ensued, and a few totally missed tackles, many of the sort where the ball carrier doesn't go down immediately, but is eventually brought down a bit sideways. This is normal for us because we're both pretty sturdy.

So we're doing this, and it's my turn to be tackled, everything is going normal, I try a bit of footwork so the tackle is a bit low and sideways, I don't go down, I keep fighting - this isn't the first time that day, and she does just what she should, she hangs on and tries to bind my legs.

And then I got twisted round backwards and my knee made this terrible, terrible noise than no knee ever ought to make.

I will admit that while in pain I have a far more vulgar mouth than any of you - especially you, mom, sorry - would like to know. There was a fair amount of shouting. The coach cam over and was going to call an ambulance. Fiona also came over - she has done some first aid training - and helped me move my leg a bit and roll over. The pain was really bad at first shock, but called down pretty quick once Fiona helped me move my leg, so I told the coach that I didn't think I needed an ambulance. After sitting and icing my knee for a bit I was even able to walk/limp home. I even went to church last night (I took the bus halfway but still!) I put some heat on it, because we were pretty sure what happened was i stretched a ligament or something - my knee wasn't swollen. I got an appointment with the team physio on Tuesday afternoon.

I had a LOT of trouble sleeping last night. I think I slept from 9:30-1am, and then from 3-5am, but very on and off, trying to figure out what to do with my knee. When I woke up I could barely walk, so I asked the Wycliffe students if anyone had any old crutches laying around that I could borrow, and I got like 7 responses all telling me to go to hospital, and at least one offer to drive me there.

And so here I am. Waiting in the hospital. First experience of non-american health care, and the first time I've been in a hospital since I got stitches when I was very young. Now that I've stopped heating it and started icing it again my knee is doing a bit better, but they've told me that they'll get me a wheelchair in a bit.

I mean the good thing is it doesnt actually actively hurt much at all. it's more a nuisance (not being able to walk, having to be careful with it) than anything else. But I'm glad I didn't wait until tomorrow. I'll keep y'all updated with what they tell me whenever they do.

Thanks again for reading, sorry for dropping that bomb at the end :P

And on that bombshell!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly hosts, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.