Hello!
Got back from New Wine yesterday and then slept for 13 hours last night!
It was alot of fun but being a leader is extremely tiring, I honestly don't know how I did it! I mean, I loved it because it meant I got to be the one having really cool conversations with all the youth about what was going on with their faith and oh my goodness so many of them have amazing faiths and I really hope and pray that they bring that back home and it isn't just a one week thing.
I'm not going to go through day by day because most of it has kind of rolled into one! But some particular memories are:
- I ended up going to evening sessions at Venue 1 with my parents which was really nice, most nice I was falling asleep because it was the first moment I'd been able to sit down but it was nice to have my own space and it was really nice to be with my parents. There were a couple of good talks, my particular favourite with Elenor Mumford who I've heard speak before and really enjoy listening to. plus the worship was amazing :D
- on Friday and Saturday afternoons I ended up in the cafe in the food court with different groups of girls from the youth, just drinking hot chocolate and talking about everything under the sun and it was so much fun! just really relaxed and enjoyable time.
- went speed dating on wednesday night, only got 2 matches and they were from guys I already knew and weren't real matches but I had a really good time, I don't mind that I didn't get matches (I was worried some of the youth would make fun but they didn't, they were really lovely and said that they'd had a bet who would get the most out of the people going and I was at the top so that was nice!). actually the 2 nicest guys I met the whole week I didn't meet during speed dating!
- just sitting playing mafia in the communal tent with all my friends in the youth, different people sat on my lap, chatting, playing silly games, just having fun.
- on friday night I just happened to get up and get out of my tent in time to see a huddle of half naked boys from my youth group as they were about to embark on Boxer Run 2008...30 seconds later I heard cheers and whistles and shouts coming from the food court as they were obviously running through! I have to admit I felt a little burst of pride :) obviously as a leader I had no prior knowledge of this boxer run and most certainly did not encourage it!
I think those of most of my memories, I had some really great moments but I'm exhausted from it all, especially because the youth are rather noisy at night and I was one of the people having to tell them to be quiet but it was another great year at new wine :)
my plans for the next two weeks are pretty loose at the moment considering I HAVE FINISHED WORK!!!!!! I mean, I still have Holiday Club and the Space Goodbye Meal, but I am no longer working :D and I'm so happy! It's been a brilliant year with many ups and downs but I am so ready to go to university and to just have some time off before that. Kat and I plan on using the next 2 weeks to make this years Holiday Club set amazing and brilliant because we went on a tour of the kids work at new wine and were highly jealous of their backdrops and sets so we're going to really go for it :)
that's all!
much love xxx
Monday, 11 August 2008
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
out of the norm
today is a day that is out of the norm, not necessarily a bad thing though.
today I'm helping at Prime Time which is the over 50's holiday club at church, I'm actually just the first aider which means I can do some work at the same time. I'm using one of the office computers which is nice, and people know where I am if they need me, plus Tiff, Sarah and Lydia are around so I can chat to them every now and then.
at the moment they've broken for lunch so I thought I would too, I'm hoping one of the girls will bring me some food through hehe. after lunch I think I'm supposed to be going on a walk with them but I don't really know to be honest. at some point I'm picking up Hannah B from oxford because she's doing some work experience there. plus I need to go to Tesco's, so I guess we'll see what time everything happens.
to be honest it's an interesting way to spend the day, on the one hand it's quite nice not to feel stressed or rushed about what's happening during the day but just to be here and be able to get on with some work, but on the other hand it has the danger of becoming boring once I run out of work. which is likely to happen soon...the fact that I'm actually writing in my blog should be evidence of that!
it is giving me some time to reflect though, since I don't have very long left. I'm working this week and then working New Wine. but then I'm done...well, apart from Holiday Club and the odd church service, but they don't really count as work since I would have done Holiday Club anyway and the services and things are so I have the chance to say goodbye to people.
I had my Goodbye lunch with the staff team yesterday and Tim was asking me what my highlight was, what my biggest suprise was, things like that, and it made me think about it.
I actually think that getting to work with LF and the kids and congregation there has been my biggest highlight, before this year began I wasn't sure about it because it meant leaving Godzone but now I love it, I don't want to leave it because it's been amazing and definitely my highlight.
I think the biggest suprise of this year has been that I'm much more capable than I think I am, alot of the time I have to do something and I stress out about it because I think I'll fail but actually I can do alot more than I think, and I can do it well. I've also learnt to work as part of a team but also on my own, which will prove useful when working in social work I think!
I'm better at time-management, at protecting my time off, at planning sessions for groups, at talking to people I don't know, at upfront roles, at trusting God, at having peace, at many many things! I definitely think learning to trust God in every situation has been the biggest thing, it's an easy thing to say that you do, without actually doing it, but because of the whole university decisions and different challenges this year I'm actually trusting God with the little things too. For instance, the food shopping for New Wine is stressful but I'm trusting God that it'll work out, and silly things like trusting that he'd provide a good car for us to take on holiday when Dad's broke, it's those kind of situations that I'm beginning to just trust that God has it in hand and he'll usually suprise you with quite how specifically and amazingly he can answer your prayers.
anyway, tonight I'm going out for dinner with Beth, Anna, Phil and possibly Gareth, should be alot of fun :) and probably very relaxing too. they're the sort of people that I don't have to try very hard with, they're just good company and like me for me.
tomorrow Emma and I are going to Bookers for our 2nd New Wine food shop which will be good to do. plus in the evening I'm having dinner and going to the cinema with Kate and Lucy, which will definitely be good.
thursday I plan to start preparing some stuff for Holiday Club, small group material and things like that.
friday and saturday are filled with New Wine preperation mostly.
ok well I should go and finish my work.
much love xxx
today I'm helping at Prime Time which is the over 50's holiday club at church, I'm actually just the first aider which means I can do some work at the same time. I'm using one of the office computers which is nice, and people know where I am if they need me, plus Tiff, Sarah and Lydia are around so I can chat to them every now and then.
at the moment they've broken for lunch so I thought I would too, I'm hoping one of the girls will bring me some food through hehe. after lunch I think I'm supposed to be going on a walk with them but I don't really know to be honest. at some point I'm picking up Hannah B from oxford because she's doing some work experience there. plus I need to go to Tesco's, so I guess we'll see what time everything happens.
to be honest it's an interesting way to spend the day, on the one hand it's quite nice not to feel stressed or rushed about what's happening during the day but just to be here and be able to get on with some work, but on the other hand it has the danger of becoming boring once I run out of work. which is likely to happen soon...the fact that I'm actually writing in my blog should be evidence of that!
it is giving me some time to reflect though, since I don't have very long left. I'm working this week and then working New Wine. but then I'm done...well, apart from Holiday Club and the odd church service, but they don't really count as work since I would have done Holiday Club anyway and the services and things are so I have the chance to say goodbye to people.
I had my Goodbye lunch with the staff team yesterday and Tim was asking me what my highlight was, what my biggest suprise was, things like that, and it made me think about it.
I actually think that getting to work with LF and the kids and congregation there has been my biggest highlight, before this year began I wasn't sure about it because it meant leaving Godzone but now I love it, I don't want to leave it because it's been amazing and definitely my highlight.
I think the biggest suprise of this year has been that I'm much more capable than I think I am, alot of the time I have to do something and I stress out about it because I think I'll fail but actually I can do alot more than I think, and I can do it well. I've also learnt to work as part of a team but also on my own, which will prove useful when working in social work I think!
I'm better at time-management, at protecting my time off, at planning sessions for groups, at talking to people I don't know, at upfront roles, at trusting God, at having peace, at many many things! I definitely think learning to trust God in every situation has been the biggest thing, it's an easy thing to say that you do, without actually doing it, but because of the whole university decisions and different challenges this year I'm actually trusting God with the little things too. For instance, the food shopping for New Wine is stressful but I'm trusting God that it'll work out, and silly things like trusting that he'd provide a good car for us to take on holiday when Dad's broke, it's those kind of situations that I'm beginning to just trust that God has it in hand and he'll usually suprise you with quite how specifically and amazingly he can answer your prayers.
anyway, tonight I'm going out for dinner with Beth, Anna, Phil and possibly Gareth, should be alot of fun :) and probably very relaxing too. they're the sort of people that I don't have to try very hard with, they're just good company and like me for me.
tomorrow Emma and I are going to Bookers for our 2nd New Wine food shop which will be good to do. plus in the evening I'm having dinner and going to the cinema with Kate and Lucy, which will definitely be good.
thursday I plan to start preparing some stuff for Holiday Club, small group material and things like that.
friday and saturday are filled with New Wine preperation mostly.
ok well I should go and finish my work.
much love xxx
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Summertime :)
the weather is gorgeous today :) I'm enjoying cruising round in my car with my windows down, sunglasses on and music playing. makes having to work alot nicer!
sorry for the lack of blogging recently. we were on holiday last week so everything kind of got put on hold. it was a lovely holiday, alot of fun and I loved the chance to just get away.
now I'm back and working hard in the run-up to new wine. Emma and I are busy sorting the food out which is a big job but it feels like we have it under control now. just got alot to do in the next week.
plus alot of my friends are home and wanting to do social stuff which is great but means that my evenings are booking up fast too.
at least new wine is only round the corner, hopefully it'll be amazing...it normally is :)
then I'm free for 2 weeks, then it's holiday club, then another 2 weeks before I go to uni!
crazy!!!!
anyway I have some work I need to do this afternoon so I won't write much more.
will try and write again before new wine and then you'll get the very long run-down of new wine hehe.
much love xxx
sorry for the lack of blogging recently. we were on holiday last week so everything kind of got put on hold. it was a lovely holiday, alot of fun and I loved the chance to just get away.
now I'm back and working hard in the run-up to new wine. Emma and I are busy sorting the food out which is a big job but it feels like we have it under control now. just got alot to do in the next week.
plus alot of my friends are home and wanting to do social stuff which is great but means that my evenings are booking up fast too.
at least new wine is only round the corner, hopefully it'll be amazing...it normally is :)
then I'm free for 2 weeks, then it's holiday club, then another 2 weeks before I go to uni!
crazy!!!!
anyway I have some work I need to do this afternoon so I won't write much more.
will try and write again before new wine and then you'll get the very long run-down of new wine hehe.
much love xxx
Monday, 7 July 2008
alcoholic alien
ok so a short blog today, apologies for the lack of writing, just been so busy! i know thats a rubbish excuse but it's true- i'm sure come the summer and september when i start uni i will be writing more :)
medical update:
had a CT scan last thursday and some more blood tests (yes, thats right, MORE blood tests!) and saw the consultant today. the CT scan was clear which is great, but the doctor found another abnormal blood level, basically one of my liver function tests was high...the level that is high in people that drink alot....which i don't.
so i am an alcoholic alien apparently- basically when the first level was high so many times with no explanation PJ decided i was an alien...this new level now means that i am an alcoholic alien...fun(!)
so the doctor ordered even more blood tests! but is happy to write to me with the results and assuming thats no different, he doesnt want to see me again (yey!) but recommends that i have 6 monthly blood tests for the next couple of years just to keep an eye on it.
thats all for now. i'm completely shattered, it's been a long day on top of a long week, especially with the doctors and other stuff going on today.
i ended up going to house group and having a fantastic time, i wasnt sure i wanted to go but they were all amazing and really cheered me up which is good :)
alright, off to bed.
much love xxx
medical update:
had a CT scan last thursday and some more blood tests (yes, thats right, MORE blood tests!) and saw the consultant today. the CT scan was clear which is great, but the doctor found another abnormal blood level, basically one of my liver function tests was high...the level that is high in people that drink alot....which i don't.
so i am an alcoholic alien apparently- basically when the first level was high so many times with no explanation PJ decided i was an alien...this new level now means that i am an alcoholic alien...fun(!)
so the doctor ordered even more blood tests! but is happy to write to me with the results and assuming thats no different, he doesnt want to see me again (yey!) but recommends that i have 6 monthly blood tests for the next couple of years just to keep an eye on it.
thats all for now. i'm completely shattered, it's been a long day on top of a long week, especially with the doctors and other stuff going on today.
i ended up going to house group and having a fantastic time, i wasnt sure i wanted to go but they were all amazing and really cheered me up which is good :)
alright, off to bed.
much love xxx
Monday, 30 June 2008
i have good reasons!
I honestly do have good reasons for not writing for ages.
Most recently our youth group at church have been dealing with the fall out of an accident involving some people that we know. I won't go into details but be praying for us all.
Also I had alot of meetings and stuff to prepare for the all age worship I lead last sunday at LF. Plus just general youth work stuff. Oh and weekend before last I just ended up having alot of really nice relaxed social things with house group friends- which was brilliant because it was pretty spontaneous and alot of fun...something I hadn't done in a while.
To update you all on my medical stuff:
I saw the consultant today, pretty nice doctor man which is always good. Asked some questions, did an examination, took more blood (because I'm a pin-cushion apparently!) and has ordered a CT scan. So I'm having that on thursday. He says his instinct is that I'm absolutely fine and basically the CT scan is to rule out that 1% chance that there's something else there. If the scan is clear and there's no changes in the blood levels then he's happy to just leave it there.
And I'm pretty happy with that too. I trust him, but more importantly I trust my mum who was with me and I know if there was something wrong with his judgement that she wouldn't leave it...the professional in her wouldn't let her. It's really good having a mum who's a pretty senior nurse- means that she knows alot of stuff from experience so can come with me and ask the questions that I wouldn't think to ask.
Anyway that's all, I'm pretty shattered again which isn't good but I'm hoping this week can only get better. I've got Tiff (a girl from the youth) shadowing me this week because she couldn't sort anything else out for her work experience, but she's a friend so it should be fun :)
Keep praying
much love xxx
Most recently our youth group at church have been dealing with the fall out of an accident involving some people that we know. I won't go into details but be praying for us all.
Also I had alot of meetings and stuff to prepare for the all age worship I lead last sunday at LF. Plus just general youth work stuff. Oh and weekend before last I just ended up having alot of really nice relaxed social things with house group friends- which was brilliant because it was pretty spontaneous and alot of fun...something I hadn't done in a while.
To update you all on my medical stuff:
I saw the consultant today, pretty nice doctor man which is always good. Asked some questions, did an examination, took more blood (because I'm a pin-cushion apparently!) and has ordered a CT scan. So I'm having that on thursday. He says his instinct is that I'm absolutely fine and basically the CT scan is to rule out that 1% chance that there's something else there. If the scan is clear and there's no changes in the blood levels then he's happy to just leave it there.
And I'm pretty happy with that too. I trust him, but more importantly I trust my mum who was with me and I know if there was something wrong with his judgement that she wouldn't leave it...the professional in her wouldn't let her. It's really good having a mum who's a pretty senior nurse- means that she knows alot of stuff from experience so can come with me and ask the questions that I wouldn't think to ask.
Anyway that's all, I'm pretty shattered again which isn't good but I'm hoping this week can only get better. I've got Tiff (a girl from the youth) shadowing me this week because she couldn't sort anything else out for her work experience, but she's a friend so it should be fun :)
Keep praying
much love xxx
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
a quiet day
today has been alright so far, since I'm working every night this week I'm taking today as a quiet day...particularly because I also saw the doctor this morning.
my xray is back and is clear...my blood test was for a different level which was fine. saw my doctor to talk about the next steps:
he doesn't want to leave it alone, although he's sure it's nothing serious so he's going to do some phoning round and find a consultant to refer me to for further investigation.
so things are progressing slowly.
in other news I've joined a facebook group for brookes freshers and already met some people from my halls (different blocks but same campus) and a girl who's also doing social work :) I love facebook!!
my gap year is coming to an end...I'm starting to book in farewell BBQ's and goodbye lunches which is weird but kinda nice...people are really keen to give me a good send-off which makes me feel like I've done some good stuff this year :)
anyway I know that isn't a very long blog but I will try and blog again soon
much love xxx
my xray is back and is clear...my blood test was for a different level which was fine. saw my doctor to talk about the next steps:
he doesn't want to leave it alone, although he's sure it's nothing serious so he's going to do some phoning round and find a consultant to refer me to for further investigation.
so things are progressing slowly.
in other news I've joined a facebook group for brookes freshers and already met some people from my halls (different blocks but same campus) and a girl who's also doing social work :) I love facebook!!
my gap year is coming to an end...I'm starting to book in farewell BBQ's and goodbye lunches which is weird but kinda nice...people are really keen to give me a good send-off which makes me feel like I've done some good stuff this year :)
anyway I know that isn't a very long blog but I will try and blog again soon
much love xxx
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
not much of an update
I still don't have my xray results, have just had another blood test so also waiting on those results now too.
I'm exhausted and the week doesnt show much sign of letting up.
Other than that I don't have much to say!
Apologies for the lack of interesting news :)
much love xxx
I'm exhausted and the week doesnt show much sign of letting up.
Other than that I don't have much to say!
Apologies for the lack of interesting news :)
much love xxx
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