Blessings

Last Saturday I headed down to the beach at Compton with a few friends. The car park is a little smaller than it was the last time I was there before the recent storms (the rest of it is still there... just halfway down the cliff!). We had a lovely walk in the sunshine along the beach, and just as we turned around to walk back to the car, a storm rolled in so we got a little bit damp!
A dry pair of jeans and a hot chocolate solved that one, and I finally made a start on my essay! 

Compton on Saturday

The reason that this week's blog is titled 'Blessings' is because I've been so blessed this week to catch up with some of the people that I'm closest to. I enjoyed a long conversation on Saturday evening with two of my closest friends in Uganda. We couldn't use Skype, so we messed around with picture messages instead.

Messing around with Brian and Angello on Saturday

I was involved in leading the service again at church on Sunday, and I also lead the Rising Tide youth group as usual. I discovered that the combination of stress and tiredness doesn't make for the best morning when you've got a lot of responsibilities and to top it off, the technology doesn't want to play ball! Fortunately, other than essay writing, I was able to chill out (and eat lots of chocolate!) in the afternoon.

Being half term, this week has been a bit different in terms of youth work. On Monday morning I met up with a couple of girls in my youth group to bake some cakes for a coffee morning. They did really well, and Linda and I were pretty much able to sit back and watch and just give a few instructions. I did a bit of essay writing and spent some time with friends for the rest of the day. On of my friends had been inspired by Lego Movie last week, so his dining table was covered in an impressive Lego collection!

The girls got to sell their cakes at a coffee morning on Wednesday and they were keen to be independent of adult help, so I was banished! After the coffee morning I spent a few hours making preparations for 'The Space' - the new youth cafe that we're opening after half term. I got my weeks share of exercise lugging big foam cushions around to work out how to set up the room.

Another great blessing on Tuesday evening - I left the island and drove up to Esther's halls in Southampton to spend the night with her. I arrived just as her halls' Christian Union was starting, so she took me to join in with prayer, praise and a study on 2Corinthians which was nice. It was really good to just participate in a bible study and not to have any leadership responsibility. Later in the evening we Skyped Clare which was great fun and absolutely lovely.

Esther, Clare and I making silly faces at each other on Skype.

Wednesday was an amazing day.
Esther and I got up at 5am(!) because we had arranged to Skype Brian in Uganda at 8am (Uganda time). Unfortunately there was a power cut where he was, which meant that he had no internet so we couldn't Skype. Never mind; Esther and I decided to make the most of the early start by going out to watch the sunrise.

When I got home I was greeted by a big pile of mugs on my bedroom floor that have been donated by people from my home church for The Space youth cafe. Thanks!!!

In the evening my friends Angello and Brian in Uganda were together and they managed (after much effort) to find some power and internet to Skype me - wow, what an incredible blessing that was! Its hard to explain how much I miss them - in luganda I would say 'nkumisinga nyo nyo ddala' which directly translates as 'I miss you much much really'. To get to chat to them both together was just so special.

Brian and Angello on Skype from Kampala

So all in the space of 24hours I got to spend time with my 'sisters' Esther and Clare, two of my closest friends Brian and Angello, and also my wonderful Mum and Dad. After a tough few weeks, I just felt more and more whole and blessed as the day went on! I really do have some incredible people in my life... they're just quite spread out geographically!

I finally finished my essay on Thursday. I've been writing about 1 Corinthians and the problems in 1st Century Corinth which has been pretty interesting. Now I'm working on a sermon as I'll be preaching on Joshua 1 at the beginning of March.

Prayer Requests
- Pray for The Space - the youth cafe that I'm launching on Wednesday. Pray that we get a good turn out, and enough cakes and volunteers.
- Pray for safe travels down to Sopley and then back to the Isle of Wight on Tuesday.
- Pray for me as I write this sermon.

Studying, Climbing and Playing with Fire!

After such an intense weekend, I was glad to be able to sleep in and take most of Monday off before a meeting in the afternoon. I went for dinner with a family from church in the evening as usual which was lovely, and afterwards I headed up to a friends house to just hang out with friends for the evening which was great.

We took a couple of visitors to Moorlands on Tuesday - 2 young people from the island who are thinking about studying there, so it made a change to have them with us. We had some interesting lectures about the importance of context and about the geography of the Old Testament and the archaeology involved in researching it. I also got back my New Testament essay on the culture of New Testament Galilee.

Wednesday was very exciting because I got to go climbing for the first time in a very long time! We took the young people from DofE indoor rock climbing, so I got to train them in how to tie in, how to communicate properly whilst using the wall and how to belay safely for a climber. I also had a Steering Group meeting on Wednesday and I went to help out another youth worker with his 'Go Deeper' group where we did a bit of practical work - putting lots of tins away for the Food Bank, and we did a bible study on Acts 1.

By Thursday the tiredness was setting in, but I got all my planning and preparations for Rock Solid ready and I ran the session in the evening around the theme of love - rather appropriately for the time of year!

At YFC we completed our listening training on Friday and we said goodbye to Dan who left to spend 5 weeks in Canada for his Moorlands block placement. Afterwards we just about had enough time to grab some lunch before we went to school for lunch club where I gave out lots of cards advertising our new youth cafe - The Space which we're opening after half term.
We decided after school to go to the cinema to see 'Lego Movie' which was a laugh!
In the evening a bunch of us got together to spend the evening together. After watching the guys shooting zombies (on a screen), playing with fire, and then playing with knives (in real life!) I concluded that I just don't understand boys!

Lego Movie

Come Saturday, I definitely was in need of a lie in, which I was glad to take!
I've been thinking a lot lately about what I'm actually doing here... after running a seminar on God's plan for our lives, I had a think about my own life and what God's plan is in it. I think that this period of my life is definitely a time of a lot of growth and learning.  I face a lot of challenges in my work, but the biggest challenge for me isn't in the work that I'm doing, but in the fact that I feel so torn between where I am now and a hot, dusty but stunningly beautiful country 4000 miles away. So right now I'm just trying to do my best. I'm doing what I think God has called me to do right now. I'm training and growing and trying to become more like Jesus Christ. And all the while I'm trying to help other people to do the same.

So if you're up for praying for me this week...
- Pray for energy.
- Pray that I'll have enough time, motivation and efficiency to get an essay and a sermon written.
- Considering the recent weather, pray that I'll get off of the island easily on Tuesday.
- Pray for Rock Solid - I currently have no leaders which is less than ideal!

Bacon on a camping stove and Catalyst Weekend Away

After a much needed day off last Saturday, I helped to lead the service on Sunday. This included giving an illustration about following Jesus in which I climbed (twice!) through a toddlers play tunnel, and almost got stuck in front of the whole church! We had a covenant service, so the children's and youth work was a bit different, but the service went well. In the afternoon I had lunch with a couple from church and met their son for the first time. He had lived in Uganda at exactly the same place that I was, but a year before me, so it was great to meet him and to chat about our experiences.

At our prayer breakfast on Monday we were talking and praying about trials that we face. We then had a meeting about the weekend away. Afterwards, I went to a local school with a couple of other youth workers to hand out free juice at lunch time and to chat with some of the students which was good fun.

I just about had a bit of time to get some planning and bits done before another meeting in the evening about another service that I'll be involved in leading.

I went to Moorlands on Tuesday as usual, but college was very quiet this week because all the second and third year students are away on their block placements in various places around the world! We started two new modules on Old Testament and Hermeneutics which were both interesting.

I met up with a friend from church on Wednesday morning for a drink and a chat which was lovely, and then I got on with planning and preparations for youth groups. In the evening I went to DofE where we were teaching the young people how to cook on trangia camping stoves. Something tells me that they might have a different choice of food to cook during their expedition, but they enjoyed their bacon and pancakes!

I had a whole load of planning and paperwork to catch up on on Thursday morning, but I also somehow found some time to spend in at church tidying, sorting and organizing the storage in the room that I use for youth work. I found lots of boxes full of lots of interesting things and I found more suitable places to store them. This meant that I could make some more room for my youth work and for storing all kinds of things that I use for games.
I had Rock Solid in the evening, and I had a challenge finding leaders because of illness but eventually we managed to go ahead. We had a new young person at Rock Solid which was great.

Games at Rock Solid

On Friday we (The YFC team) had listening training again, and then we all headed off to Westbrook for the Catalyst Weekend Away. We had around 60 young people from all over the island, and we spent the weekend learning about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, eating good food, playing lots of crazy games (including muggle quidditch!) and worshiping God. We ran lots of seminars, and I ran one on thinking about God's plan for our lives.

So now I'm back after the weekend away, and definitely ready for a good night's sleep! It's been a difficult and very busy week, but followed by a brilliant weekend. It was a great chance to get to know some more young people, to have fun with the team and to spend lots of time with God, and although I'm exhausted, I definitely feel refreshed!

Please pray this week...
- For everyone that was on the Weekend Away to not lose their passion but to grow even more in relationship with God.
- For my Rock Solid leaders - for good health.
- I have a couple of important meetings this week, so pray that they go really well.

The end of January

My week started like usual with our YFC prayer breakfast and team meeting. We thought about having specific things to be deliberate to pray about.
The rest of Monday very quickly filled up with meetings, but I did also manage to squeeze in a dinner with some friends from church which was nice.

I went to Moorlands on Tuesday and handed in my essay. We finished 2 modules on Youth and Society, and Christian Doctrine, so next Tuesday we will be starting new ones. I had a meeting in the evening about the service on Sunday which I'm involved with leading, and after a long day I was glad to climb into bed!

I made myself very productive on Wednesday making flyers and updates and getting things ready for a new cafe that we want to open soon at church. I also had the challenge of finding volunteers to help at my Rock Solid club, planning this week's Rock Solid, and just generally lots of admin!
In the evening I went to DofE where we recapped some map skills and then I led a team building exercise. It was really interesting to see how the team worked together and was great to see some of the quieter members of the group gaining confidence.

I worked on some more flyers on Thursday, and also on a seminar that I'll be running at the Catalyst Weekend Away (A youth weekend that YFC are putting on next weekend). I also had to prep Rock SOlid which involved sewing some marshmallows together (don't ask!).
In the evening I ran Rock Solid which went really well. We focused on the Body of Christ and tried out some strange new games. We also had a time of creative worship with some paints and other things.

Getting to see these girls responding to God is such a blessing.

I went to a local school with some others from YFC on Friday. We went in at lunch time to just chat with some of the young people there and to build relationships. A couple of the girls from my Rock Solid group were very excited to see me in school, and they introduced me to their friends which was good.

When I got back I just had time to have a chat with a couple of friends in Uganda on the phone before I had to go to help set up for Emerge - the youth event that we were running in the evening. I ended up helping to cook dinner for all the youth leaders and the band. Emerge went really well. Simon gave a talk about the Gifts of the Spirit and we shared lots of sung worship and prayer. It's great to spend time with God.

This has been a bit of a crazy week for me with some stuff I can't really write about in my blog. I get the feeling that God is trying to teach me something at the moment about perseverance, or about working through his strength rather than my own. That is easier said than done. Although I don't really understand it right now, I know that God's plan is greater, so I look forward to the day when I can look back and understand what was going on right now, and I can celebrate what he did through it.

So I'd appreciate your prayers if you're up for it...
- For me to remember that it is through God's strength, and for his glory that I work.
- Pray for the  new cafe, 'The Space' that I'm currently trying to set up.
- Pray for all the young people that I work with.
- Pray that numbers will increase in the groups that I run.
- I have a couple of friends going through a tough time at the moment so pray that God will work in their situations.


I've set up a new blog with youth work updates which will be published on Sunday. It's mainly for the benefit of the people at the church I work at, but anyone is welcome to have a read at http://gunvillemethodistyouthwork.blogspot.co.uk/
(or just click on my blogger profile and find it through there).

A few crazy journeys and a 4000 mile conversation

After our YFC meeting on Monday at which we did lots of planning for a weekend away that is coming up, I finally got my essay finished! I went round to have dinner with a couple from church which was lovely and I had a meeting afterwards about the services in February. We had some rather exciting ideas!

As usual I went to Moorlands on Tuesday. This meant that I left the house at 6 in the morning and after a delayed ferry, a boat in the way meaning that the journey to the mainland took twice as long as usual, and then a cancelled ferry on the way back, I finally got back 14 hours later!
I did however have some great lectures. Our lecturer managed to include a Lord of the Rings clip in a lecture on Jesus, and a Star Wars clip in a lecture on the Holy Spirit! We also had a lecture on Equality of Opportunities which sparked some good discussions.

From the ferry on the way back I called my friend in Uganda. He works as a driver, so he was in a National Park taking some people on safari, but unfortunately he was really unwell. I was really worried about him but all I could do for him was pray, and so I phoned again the next day to see how he was, and praise God, he was feeling and sounding so much better! What an incredible blessing to be able to have a conversation spanning 4000 miles, and hear such a good friend, from a boat on the River Nile, describe the scene in front of him of exotic birds, monkeys, crocodiles and even elephants whilst I was sat in my room in the UK!

Fortunately I didn't have too much out of the ordinary to do this week as I wasn't feeling up to much, but I managed to get the necessary planning done and to sort out my portfolio for Moorlands. In the evening on Wednesday I went to DofE and we helped the young people to start to put together a route for their first day walk.

On Thursday I had a meeting with my field work tutor for Moorlands, we were able to go through my portfolio and have a chat about my placement which was helpful. I did some planning for Rock Solid but unfortunately had to cancel it this week as all of my leaders couldn't make it.

On Friday morning we had the second session of listening training at YFC. Its interesting to think about how we listen in such detail! All week I wanted nothing more than to just be at home, so after the training, I drove over to East Cowes and got on a ferry to go home to my parent's house for the night. It was lovely to see them and to chat about how everything is going. My lovely Mummy made me some chicken soup with dumplings which was very yummy, and Dad and I spent the evening together as Mum had to go out. I made a quick apple crumble too which was nice.

The next day, Dad and I washed all three cars (they all certainly needed it!) and Mum and I did some more cooking. We made a chicken pie from scratch which reminded me of my time in Uganda, when the only way to have a pie at all was to make it from scratch. I did it a couple of times and introduced some Ugandan friends to the concept of pastry! My brother John and his girlfriend Cat came round for dinner which was really lovely. Despite winding each other up so much when we were kids, John and I get on really well now, so its always good to see him.

Washing cars

Chicken Pie

I had a bit of a crazy journey back because my friend Tallie from the island had been in London for the day, and was stuck in Guildford because there were trees down on the railway lines and no trains were running, so Dad and I made a dash up to Guildford to rescue her and then I drove the two of us back to the ferry in Southampton.

This morning I had the opportunity in church to show some photos and tell people at church about what I've been doing which was good. It also gave me a chance to make a request for volunteers for the new things that I want to set up. I also ran the youth group and we thought about choices and peer pressure.

As I've been reminded this week; sometimes prayer is all we have, but it certainly works. So if you'd like to help me out, I'd appreciate your prayers...

- Pray that I'll get completely over this cold.
- Pray that some more volunteers will come forward to help out with new things at church.
- Pray that I'll be able to hear God and to feel at peace about what he wants me to do.

'Build Your Kingdom Here!'

Last Sunday I decided to try to start putting together a program for my youth groups over the coming months so I asked my youth group about what they want to do and learn about this year ... turns out that they didn't have as many ideas as I was hoping that they might, so it looks as  though I'll have to get thinking!
I made good use of my afternoon by making some brownies with a friend which was fun.

On Monday at our weekly prayer breakfast at YFC we all agreed to give something up for the week in order to try to step out of our comfort zones a bit to get closer to God. I chose to give up Facebook for the week and I actually really enjoyed it! It was strangely refreshing and actually made me miss the simplicity of life that I experienced in the village when I was living in Uganda. Unfortunately, I think a lack of power would cause a few more problems in an English winter!
Not being distracted by Facebook made it a lot easier to get on with some planning and with my essay - this one is on youth work and has been really interesting.

At Moorlands this Tuesday we had Chris Bell from the Christian mission organisation, 'Interserve' as the speaker in chapel. He gave a brilliant talk about working for God and the fact that we are called to be uncomfortable. I had lectures on Christian Doctrine and on Community and we managed to get the early ferry back to the island which gave us an extra hour in the evening which was great.

This week's pile of books for my Youth Work essay

I went have a catch up with Linda (from church) on Wednesday and we ended up talking about a few exciting ideas and visions for the church. I'm so desperate to see God transform this church and the people in this community. Now I just need to figure out how to make these visions become a reality!
I did some more planning and essay writing in the afternoon, and in the process I came across a blog about the madness of christian youth group games which really made me laugh http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/youth-group-games
I went to DofE in the evening and we started to teach the young people how to read maps and take grid references.

The planning and essay writing continued on Thursday (who said that youth work was just messing around with a youth group!?) and then I had a meeting with Simon in the afternoon to talk about my role at Gunville and how everything is going. It was really good to step back and think about what I'm doing, what my vision is, and how I want to get there, but also quite daunting! I really want to see God starting to make a huge impact and bringing more of his Kingdom in this area. My prayer is that that passion wont die out, but will be the fuel that starts to make things happen.
Rock Solid in the evening went really well. We played some games around the theme of giving, and I told an interactive story to get the young people thinking about what we can give back to God. Then one of my other leaders ran a craft activity for everyone to make a bookmark to give away. I got very excited by all the stickers and pretty, shiny things!

Our YFC team had the first of 4 sessions of listening training on Friday morning which was interesting, and in the afternoon we set up for Catalyst which we then ran in the evening. This month we were looking at prayer, and lots of different people shared stories and testimonies about prayer. It was great to see so many young people sharing their stories and to hear lots of different experiences from lots of different people.
After we finished packing away, a few of us went to a friends house to relax for a while, before we realized what the time was and promptly headed home to bed.

I went over to Cowes on Saturday as the IOW Foodbank was changing location and they needed help to move 14 tonnes of food! We manged to pretty much get everything on the new site by mid-day, so I spent the afternoon writing my essay (still!) and then headed back over to Cowes in the evening for a worship service that my friend and her youth group were running.

Some of the last few boxes of food to
be moved to the new Food Bank site.

In my youth group on Sunday we looked at the Body of Christ, and I devised a great team work game from an empty Pringle pot, some string and a rubber duck - genius! I also discovered a cupboard that was pretty much empty, so I spent some time moving a few bits around and creating some storage space which I desperately needed! You know you work for a church when you get excited by an empty cupboard!

If you're up for praying, I'd appreciate prayer this week for...

- Good health as I'm getting a bit of a cold.
- Pray that God would continue to grow a passion in me to see him at work and to get closer to him, and give me the wisdom and ability to make things happen.
- Just a good week in general - pray that God will use me and that I'll enjoy the week.

Back on 'The Island'

After a pretty chilled out day at home last Monday, I made my way down to Moorlands on Tuesday morning. I had a good day with some interesting lectures, particularly on the humanity of Christ. I also got to see one of my best friends Esther whose Mum lives near (and studies at) Moorlands, so Esther came to see me which was lovely! In the evening, Phil and I made a rather rocky ferry crossing back to the island.

Despite lots of people being away on the YFC staff conference, a few of us still managed to get together that evening. It was nice to do something social as a bit of a 'welcome back' to the island!

I did a lot of essay writing (well... procrastination, and a bit of essay writing) on Wednesday. (To be fair, I am being a 'model student' and planning to hand it in early, so I think I'm allowed a bit of procrastination!) And in the evening I had a meeting with the other leaders where I help at a DofE group to talk about the coming term.

Thursday brought more essay writing, and some planning too for my Rock Solid group in the evening. We thought about the future and what our ambitions are which was exciting. Afterwards I headed over to join some friends for games and a general catch up which was good fun.

On Friday I continued the theme from Rock Solid of thinking about the future and had a phone call with Clare, talking about our plans for more adventures after we finish studying. I can't wait! Its really nice to have something to look forward to and to get excited about and I can't wait to spend more time having some crazy adventures with such a good friend. 

My lovely 'sister' Clare and I back in September,
I really don't know what I'd do without her!

I also did some more planning on Friday, and then in the evening I had the blessing of a Skype call with my good friend Brian in Uganda. It was also great to get to chat briefly to Alex and Innocent - two of the people I used to live with out there, and to catch up a bit with some of the gappers that are there now. 

Brian on Skype on Friday

On Saturday my lovely parents paid me a visit to see the place that I live and work. It was great to see them and to show them around (and to have a moan about the state of the island roads!) Being home over Christmas made me realise actually how much I love being at home,  and how much I love spending time with Mum and Dad, so although I haven't been back yet for very long, it was nice to see them again for the day.

After they left I had a lovely long phone call with Clare, and I realised how much I've been neglecting God lately, and how much of an effect it's been having on me. It's so easy to get so caught up in doing the work that God calls you to, that you forget about the God that is behind it. If anything is important, it is maintaining and growing in relationship with God, and that's something that we all struggle with sometimes. 

So this week, if you're up for praying for me...
- Please pray that I'll get excited and hungry for spending time with God and in his word again.
- Pray that my youth work will grow and that the young people I work with will grow.
- Pray that I'll have a really good, positive week, and enjoy everything I get up to.