I have officially finished at Elmfield now. Last Sunday yesterday, and finished clearing out my desk today. It seems weird to not have a job anymore, but equally, I don't think it's really sunk in yet. I'm not leaving the area, but I'm leaving church, and I'm not yet out of my accomodation that is right next to Elmfield!
I think in a week or so it will seem more real, and I'll feel like I'm not going back. As for now though, I've got to pack and get out of my place by tomorrow, AND sort out everything for the start of term which is the 21st September.
For those who dont' know, I'm going to study a PGCE in secondary school music at middlesex. ANyway, I guess it won't be tales of a youth worker anymore...more like tales of a trainee teacher! Sounds much less fun! lol.
This is the basic message of the sermon I heard last night - and it was just what I needed to hear. God does provide...and boy has he proven that to me in the last day!
1. God gave me someone wise to chat with - someone who encouraged me greatly 2. God has given me somewhere else to live for the next three or so months - away from the cockroaches and mice, The contract specified that two months notice had to be given, and because of the mice and cockroaches, i have managed to be freed from the contract by the end of the month - Praise the lord! Also, I have somewhere else to live, with people too!! 3. God has provided me with a speaker for the youth service on Sunday evening! I asked Lucy today to speak on prayer for the youth service coming up on Sunday evening - and her plans had been cancelled for the weekend I think yesterday - so she has time to speak, and to prepare for it - Praise God!!
I have felt very encouraged that God will provide today - even when things look like they suck, God has proven faithful to me once more, and provided for many things that I thought would never be able to happen. I just wanted to share that with you all, and hope that you feel encouraged. Put your trust and faith in God, and he won't let you down...even if things seem difficult at the moment.
Holiday club ended yesterday with holiday club taking over the first half of the service, and having our final session and a pizza lunch. Sooooo good!
One of the things that I want to share with you all is the video that Debbie and I made for the forfeit. We had to do something embarrassing because the children got all the questions right from the quizes we had each day!
I have had a lot of positive feedback which is really good - and the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves so praise God for that! Please pray that they will take something away from what we did last week, and perhaps one day in the future want to explore it further.
The team did a great job - they were very commited and built up some great reltionships with the children so pat on the back for them! Now onto the new term...let's see what it brings.
(I've been trying to post this for the past week or so, but have only just managed to upload it onto the web! Dumb internet)
Holiday club 2009 - 'License to Fish'! We are half way through, and the kids seem to be loving it. We have sung the great song Who's the King of the Jungle, watched about half of Finding Nemo, and drunk ALOT of cupa soups!!
We went to the London Aquarium today, it has only just been revamped - so it was very busy. I had a great group of girls with me - the Perfect Purple Penguin People (all started from wearing purple bands to make sure we could find each other!!). It was a really good trip, and hopefully we would have built up better relationships with the kids!
I am responsible for the upfront stuff - and the lovely Debbie is helping me out. I am very fortunate to have someone so experienced and good at thinking on her feet! I am getting to play my guitar to lead some songs too - and its really good fun!
If you are reading this, please can you pray for the rest of holiday club...we have three days left, a family party, and an afternoon out with the teenage helpers who have been great!
I will post some photos at the end of the week - maybe even a video!!!
I haven't been too good at setting aside half an hour each day just to pray. It started really well, and then things got way too hectic, and I stopped trying to make time. I have to say that as soon as I stopped having that time with God, the way I thought about things completely changed! Everything seemed very difficult, and my frame of mind was not the best.
The song by MC hammer 'We've got to pray' really sticks in my head! We listened to it a while back in one of my youth groups, and it talks about praying just to make it through the day... This I have found is a vital truth to living my christian life. If I want to get through the day in a way that is most honouring to God, then my mind needs to be focussed on him. How do I do that?! I've got to pray!!!! (sung in my head to the same tune as the song)
Praying, I have been reminded this lent is vital to thinking, speaking and living like a christian, like someone who loves God! It changes me more than it changes God - which is why I need to do it more and more. Even though I know it is sooo good for me, it seems suprisingly difficult to actually sit down and make sure I have that time. There are always more fun things to do it seems...but none of them as beneficial as sitting down and having a chat with the God who loves me, and who wants what is best for me!
I have been reading this really short quiet time book thing called 'My utmost for his Highest'. It gives you a verse, and a reflection on that verse for every day of the year. Today it was talking about how once Saul/Paul had his encounter with God, and believed who Jesus was...his focus for his life was very clear. He lived for God, and was so focussed on spreading the fantastic news of God to lots of other people. This consumed his time, his thoughts, and his actions. This is where I want to be - BUT I know that without the help of God's spirit, none of this can happen.
My challenge to myself and to you all is will you take that vital time out to spend with God?
My sister and I had a little visitor last night - a little mouse. We got very freaked out and stood on the bed for a while wondering how to deal with it! (By this point, it had run away and blatenly was hiding from us!!) We are hoping it was a one off - but if it isn't then there is a great video on youtube about a mouse....this is what will happen - Mice, be warned!!!!
What a great song from u2! Whenever it is sunny and slightly warm I find myself singing just that one line over and over again 'It's a beautiful day!' Partly because I can't remember the rest of the song, but also because it is a beautiful day!
This week has been full of them. The sun has been out, and I'm sure it does something to people's moods! I always want to be out in the sun - make the most of it while it's here...the sun doesn't seem to stay out too long in the UK!!
I really just wanted to share with you that it has been a beautiful day, and you should all go out and make the most of it! Kevin and I went for a walk, and it was great! We walked along the canal for a bit, and the sun was glistening on the water, and loads of people were out. Amazing! Don't let beautiful days get away - make the most of it! Nature really helps me to remember God's amazing creation, and I hope that it can do the same for you too!
Here's some piccies from our walk....
Go and make the most of the beautiful weather - don't let it get away!!
