God can't tell a lie.
If he did it would become true.

Discuss

The cost of commitment part 1...

This weekend has been a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions...
On Saturday I saw some amazing photos of GGA and now have a better idea of where I'll be and of some of the places I'll be working. The happy smiles of some of the children as they carry their month's supplies off on their heads were amazing. It was good to find out more about what I'll be doing, although 'keep an open mind' seems to be the one thing I can have first in my head as I prepare. My title will be 'General Manager'. I'm very excited about the adventures that I'm going to have out there and the difference that I can make in being part of the GGA family.

Fast forward to Sunday night church and a service on 'treasure in heaven' (Matt 6), with almost every single dedication (and therefore hard to sing) song possible...
I bow my knee before the throne, I know my life is not my own.
Lord you have my heart .... let me be to you a sacrifice...
and my own personal (almost impossible to sing) favourite
All to Jesus I surrender, all to him I freely give...
I couldn't quite sing that one very well, something to do with sobbing too much...
the realisation had hit about all that God is asking me to give up in order to go to SA. A very cosy and easy lifestyle, fantastic friends and a wonderful family, to name but a few blessings.
It's so easy to sing these songs when life is wonderful and you're not really thinking about what God might ask you to give up, it's really really hard to sing them when you have to actually give up all you hold dear and take that step further onto God's path, the narrow road. And I guess it's only the promise of amazing blessing for being obedient and for following and going where I'm told that was holding me up last night. It was terrible and yet amazing at the same time.
I am already SO sad about the friends I'll be leaving here, I know that in some respects it's almost harder for them to let me go, but they must. I'm not sad about leaving my job though ;)
or at the prospect of living by faith again, that's an adventure...
It's the fact that over the 2 yrs, which will go fast in some respects, people and situations will change here in England. Change is inevitable, it's our ability to adapt that holds us together. I've lived abroad before, I've done the long-distance friends thing, it's hard, but it's not impossible.
And yet God is good. It's exciting to think of all the good things that will happen over those 2 years, to me in SA and to my friends here and all around. There are some things that are not negotiable but remain true wherever I am, such a God being faithful and true, his presence with me in EVERY situation I find myself in, his protection and his love never leaving me.
And so it is sad that I'm going, but also incredibly joyous too, and time will prove that.

from the mouths of babes...

short story competition...

CHANNEL4 are running some competition with a company called Cafediverso (www.cafediverso.com) to write stories about where you live...

You can win a publishing contract, and free trip to Barcelona

(one of my favourite places in the world ;-) )

Here's the start of mine...

A Grand Day Out in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

The early morning mist was rising as she idled a while on the suspension bridge overlooking the glasshouse of gigantic green leaves. The coupling together of the magnificent backdrop of the domineering parish church and the Victorian bridge near the pump rooms evoked the idealism of Regency Britain, a world far removed from the town of today. Later, the birds would harmonise with strains of the classics as people would gather to hear an afternoon concert, live in the park, whilst revelling in the mellow tranquillity of the landscaped gardens. Children would delight in feeding the ducks and swans amidst a gaggle of turbaned gentlemen putting the world to rights in their own language.
Leamington Spa. Such a small town, yet such a melting pot of cultures and ideas. The annual Peace Festival had taken over another part of the park, welcoming all faiths and none to celebrate in the long-sought after… She meandered a little among the stalls, past the adjoining monthly farmers’ market with its tasty temptations of freshly baked baguettes, meats and cheeses, but there wasn’t time to linger long. Time was short; she only had a day to reminisce and to make the most of this place.

PS: St please don't write some amazing piece on the same place and get published instead of me - can't you write about Brum!?!?! ;-)

Un pas dans mon passé

I have a confession to make, I LOVE the Christian channels on Sky...
(well not all of them, but GOD, GOD2, Revelation and TBN Europe especially)

You never know what you'll find when you scroll through, but it's usually uplifting and encouraging.... (how many people can say that about Eastenders or Corrie)

And today I've just had a great trip down memory lane as I discovered a French programme about a church in Perugia, Italy... my 'home' town... Years ago I led a Bible study group in French with Africans living in Italy (are you with me so far??), it was a laugh a minute as we attempted to bring our various dialects of French together in working out what God was saying to us through His word... ah, happy days!

Great to see views of 'my' town, to see that the Italians have dug up several streets so no-one can get through (they don't care about accessibility), to be encouraged that things of God are still moving there...

Am hoping that there'll be lots of Italians and French coming down to volunteer at GGA, it's so amazing when you get lots of different cultures all living together, working together with a common purpose, improving the lives of these children who've suffered so much...

'I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus' Philippians 1v3-6

God calls me to do a job and then starts doing little miracles to show me he's with me all the way. And this is why I love him so much!

Went to get some thank you cards printed yesterday to give to all the lovely people who have helped me out financially so far -Thank you! - and the guy in the shop, for no apparent reason, deliberately charged me much less than he should have!! Hurray! ;)

And today I felt absolutely at peace about my next vaccinations, in fact more than that, I felt totally ok about having not only Hep B, but Hep A, Typhoid, Dipthteria, Polio, Tetanus as well!!! Feeling great at the moment, praying for victory over this and that I won't get ill with it at all...

...although I've stocked up on food and dvds, just in case! ;-)

...I am tough because the Holy Spirit is in me!

On Valentine's Day...

This song, by Rebecca St James, is all a single woman of God waiting for her principe azzurro* can really say about Valentine's Day...

"Darling, did you know that I had a dream about you,

waiting for the look in your eyes,

when we meet for the first time.

Darling did you know that I pray about you,

praying that you will hold on,

keep your loving eyes only for me.

I am waiting for, praying for you, darling.
Wait for me, too
Wait for me, as I wait for you.

Darling, did you know I dream about life together,

knowing it will be forever,

I’ll be yours and you’ll be mine.

And darling when I say ‘til death do us part’

I’ll mean it will all of my heart,

now and always faithful to you.

Now I know you may have made mistakes,

but there’s forgiveness and a second chance,

so wait for me darling, wait for me…"

*Italian women don't wait for knights in shining armour, that's so very King Arthur. Instead they wait for their Principe Azzurro to come into their lives, which means 'blue prince' - which could account for all those wonderful, amazing shades of blue shirts that Italian men can wear so sophisticatedly, that make them so dashingly handsome... guess the horse is replaced by a ferrari too... ;-)

Happy Valentine's Day one and all !

PS to party pictures

It's my ACTUAL Birthday on Valentine's Day (Tues)
not wanting to spend the evening watching soaps in Warwick Gates,
I'll be in town for a 'quiet' drink*...
If you are free and avoiding the red heart brigade that is the festa di san valentino, and fancy joining me to celebrate...
let me know, we'll probably be in Mumbaii Blu from 8pm
(but text me if you intend to be there, in case of change of venue)

*unless I get whisked off my feet by my prince charming on his black stallion, that is
(hope reigns eternal...)

Party Pictures...

If you weren't in the Jug and then Evolve on Friday night, you missed a TOP NIGHT...
Just like HELLO magazine, here's a compilation of who was there!
The pictures probably tell more stories than I can here justify...

Here's a brief run down of events..

• The Jug speakers didn't work so DJ Jon Potts had the easiest evening's work of his life - enjoy the wine Jon! But the CD's were great anyway!
• Loads of wonderful people came and it was great to see them all, especially my sister and bro-in-law who drove all the way from Ipswich to be there...
• Loads of wonderful people also gave me money for GGA, thank you SO much!
• No-one drank too much (as far as I can remember..... ;-) )
• A whole gang of people came to experience GLAM @ Evolve, Leamington's newest nightclub!
• Only a few made it through the sea of 'cheese' to the funky VIP lounge for some R&B fun.
• 5 of us made it through till 2.45am, and still got up before midday on Sat!
• I managed to wear stilettos for 7 hours straight, although I couldn't actually walk at the end (nothing to do with alcohol consumption at all!!!)
• Angus and I very much enjoyed my birthday cake (which we consumed BEFORE the party to save all the candle hassle etc etc) It did only serve 2!
• Ben tragically missed 'Livin' la Vida Loca' - our favourite song, by being on another dancefloor at the time...
• ...But I skillfully managed to avoid dancing to 'Cotton Eye'd Joe' (if you have a copy, burn it immediately and seek therapy)

Party Prizes and special party bags go to....

1. Tom for more than surviving his first clubbing experience and still coming out smiling
2. Ben for his ostentatious and extravagant dance moves - almost as flamboyant as his t-shirt ;-)
3. Angus for his ghost impressions (see photos)
4. Claire W for forgetting that she'd left her keys in Ruth's bag
5. Lucinda's parents for driving back with them at 2.30am!
6. Nic for being in almost as many photos with blokes as me...
7. Oscar for being the latest arrival anyone has ever made at a party of mine...

Thank you all for coming, it was fantastic fun and that was largely due to the fabulous friends I have ;-)

next year, party in the Kruger...

Munich

Watch it if you like:
well-shot documentaries of a slice of the Arab/Israeli conflict, long films, opportunities to listen to a multitude of languages, violence, Eric Bana

Give it a miss if you don't like:
blood and death, long films, cheesy stereotypical shots of European cities - sunny piazzas in Rome and constant rain in London...

Possibly worth it for the future James Bond's South African accent...

And is it significant that the closing shot of a movie about terrorism features the twin towers?

burst of creativity...

THE GREAT PLAGUE OF COPSEWOOD, JANUARY 2006

Monday morning, fresh and new.

Some children, poorly with the 'flu,

Have stayed at home today it seems

For Fear of giving other teens

The nasty bug.

Yet some have braved

It into school, though sleep they craved.

A weary band of strugglers they,

But some did not quite last the day.

Better then, at close of play,

To rest until it goes away;

And stay at home to stop them sharing

Bugs with others, that's more caring.

Forget Politics tests.... what muppet are you?

Animal!! You scored 84 Mood and 68 Energy!

No doubt about it: You are pure id, you pure animal. You are a ball of happy energy, and when you get going, nothing can stand in your way. Sometimes this energy can be intimidating to others, but it will take you far in life.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 96% on Mood You scored higher than 67% on Energy

Link: The Muppet Personality Test written by TheLadyEve on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test