At the crossroads

You know when people use the cheesy analogy of 'crossroads' to represent change in your life, well I feel like I'm at the crossroads at the moment. I know it sounds a bit dramatic, but I feel like I'm waving off my student years, and moving forward. But it's strange. I mean, I'm not an adult yet, like one of my fellow bloggers wrote about a few days ago (check it out on the link to 'Dreaming Of The Country'). I'm still technically a student. It's strange how I feel so much like I'm in limbo - neither here nor there, just in between the student mindset and the adult mindset. I just dont know where I am.

I know I sound like I'm complaining. I suppose in a way I am. I love what I'm doing at the moment, but it does feel like everything is shifting under my feet. Looking through photos from Aberystwyth, I still get that tug, that pull which says 'go back! Dont you wish you'd never left?' At uni I further grew into the person I am today. Looking through photos of the town, of people, of events, it just makes me wish I could wind back the clock and do it all again.

Man, I sound like an old person who remenisces about the past and forgets there still is a present to live in. However, I am coming to recognise that God's given me lots to be thankful for. Like the fact that I have joined an amazing cell group, which is so encouraging. That this past week God has answered my prayers through the words and actions of those around me. And awesomely, that my home church collected £300 for me to donate towards Careforce! I have so much to praise God for.

So, to encourage you, life is filled with the good and the bad, the bitter and the sweet. I have this awesome card given to me by my parents which says 'it takes both rain and sun to make life's rainbows'. On a final note, I remember reading this really awesome bible study which said that we shouldn't let past blessings stop us from moving into God's present blessings. How true. So if any good thing from the past is distracting you from the future, then do what I am doing. Surrender it to God, and cross into the good things God's called you to.

R. I. P Fluffy

Oh, and my cat was put down today. We had Fluffy for 18 years. She was practically like a furry sibling. A very furry one. But alas, she was blind, she couldn't hear, she had kidney failure, she was weeing everywhere, she kept bumping into things, her eyes were turning to puss, she had a heart murmur. So you know, there wasn't much chance. But this is simply to say rest in peace Fluffy. It was good while it lasted.

a bit of a catch up

Hello,

there's not all that much to report from the land of Sheffield... I haven't got any interesting anecdotes or thoughts from the day really. But generally life is going well! I'm settling well into Lodge Moor, which is currently under quite a thick mist. I'm all warm and snuggly in my room. I went out this evening to my cell group (which is with another church called St Thomas') and it was really good. We seemed to bond really well tonight, particularly after I sneezed really bizarrely. Yes, as weird as that sounds. Basically I sneezed, but my sneeze 'malfunctioned' so I didn't do the "choo" bit, I just did the "ahh" bit (though it was more of a squeal/scream thing). Odd, but a good laugh. I really love my cell. They're so welcoming and nice, particularly considering I dont go to their church all that often. But it's a fab way of getting fresh perspectives and making new friendships and finding support and giving it too. And that's what a cell is all about.

On another note, school is going well (I work at a school twice a week as a voluntary class room assistant). It's really good fun, and I do quite enjoy working with the kids, though I feel like I have no authority over them! I really want to practise raising my voice and doing death stares. The thing is though, I'm not scary. I'm not naturally a kind of person that can scold and give an impression of power and authroity. I'm just the blonde who can't sneeze properly. But oh well. It's not like I have intentions of becoming a teacher... do I?

Your ideal sleeping tunes

A couple of weeks ago I tried to listen to classical music on Classic FM whilst falling asleep - I wouldn't do that again, as it turned out to be anything but calming! It was something like film night, so it was really dramatic and high energy - not helpful in the least! Then, a couple of nights ago I listened to disney music whilst falling asleep. It was heavenly, listening to Pocohontas asking (or rather singing) John Smith if he knew the Colours of the Wind. As you do of course.

Then it got me thinking about Debussy and Clare de Lune. Would that be the ultimate tune to fall asleep too? What would be your ideal tune to fall asleep to?

The Careforce Conference

I realised that I haven't updated you about the Careforce Conference I went to two weeks ago. So I'll give you a few details. It was based at the Quinta (http://www.quinta.org/) which is in Oswestry, on the Welsh/English border. It is very beautiful and is used for Christian events, one of the biggest being Forum, which is an annual Christian Union event.

Me and some of the girls from the conference. We all got on really well.

The whole team, of which I imagine 90% were from abroad. There were 120 people there.

During the four days we were there we had seminars, worship and talks, all of which was focussed on settling into your placement and serving God wherever we are. There were loads of testimonies, which were really powerful, moving and encouraging. We also had time to hang out and eat cake(!). We also had area groups, I'm in the Yorkshire area group, and our group plan to meet up very soon. It was a really fun time of fellowship, which is what has given me a lasting impression (e.g. one night we sang songs in the big hall of the Quinta. It was really fun and we clapped, sang and danced. Singing with people from Africa and India is amazing as they have beautiful voices and unique worship styles) We're all so different and from all over the world, yet we are united by one thing - Christ. I loved the people there like true brothers and sisters, and I shant ever forget what a time of blessing it was.

We will have a second conference in February, so keep your peepers open!

Suicidal Cat

Well it's been a couple of days since I last blogged. Probably longer, really. Sorry for my terrible blogging tendencies. In my defence though, I have been busy doing youth and children's work. The last couple of weeks has involved me mainly observing how things run, though last week, Steve mentioned to me about me taking over the reins of some of the weekly events. This is exciting news. In many ways I am itching to get in there and start getting more involved. It'll be good. As well as that, I went to see John (the Vicar) which was good and encouraging and he was really helpful. It was good to talk through things and to think 'hey, I've come quite a way since then' or to think 'oh, I feel like I've overcome that' or whatever. Because after all, settling in is pretty tough, but it is good to get closer to that point where you feel that this is the right place for this time.

On a different note, I went to town today to buy Mum a birthday present. Geez, shopping is hard work, especially when you dont know where all the shops are. I still need to find Monsoon and Debenhams. In fact, walking around the centre of Sheffield made me realise I dont know ANYTHING about Sheffield and that the only area I know, really, is Fargate (which is where all the big shops are) but other than that I have no idea. Everyone says that Sheffield is very green with lots of parks, but I've only been to the Botanical Gardens and I dont know how to get to it! SO my plan is to inflict on my poor Sheffield based friends the task of showing me around. This is the plan, I must put it into action.

On a more random note, on the bus back, I saw a big ginger cat sat plonked right in the middle of a road, without a care in the world. Was it suicidal? Well, probably not, though if it sat there long enough it probably would have been. It probably was enjoying the warm tarmac road, I just hope it noticed any oncoming cars.

My little random thought

So I'm settling in. I have to admit I have found the first few weeks hard. Between missing Aber, missing home, missing Thomas, missing friends, tackling a new house, tackling a new church and tackling new people, I have been pretty busy!

However, I'd like to say that I've come to a conclusion, formed for the most part by Thomas, which is to recognise that I am settling into a new area (which is bound to present its challenges) and that I should not to be paranoid about all the difficulties and challenges but just get 'stuck in' as it were. I am liking this new conclusion. I mean, I have been driving myself nutty by worrying about EVERYTHING possible, but it's such a waste of energy. I am here because I believe God led me here, and I also believe I dont have to waste my time worrying and fretting. It is bound to be strange, alien and a bit tough, but in a few weeks I'll be settled. So until then, I'm going to bite the bullet and enjoy it for what it is. Plus, God has been awesome in providing me with many lovely and supportive people. Yesterday I went on a walk with members of the church, and so now I have loads more friendly faces in the crowd of new people :) it is amazing how God provides. So I cant complain at all. God has been good. So everytime any thought strays into my head that is panicked or stressy, I'm just going to hand it over to God as we're meant to :). After all, He is my boss and He'll sort it.

Another exciting note is that I'm heading to Careforce conference tomorrow. Off to Oswestry I shall go, via Shrewsbury (tempted to stay on to Aberystwyth, but no no no! MUST NOT DO THAT!). It is going to be awesome! I'm so gonna buy a hoodie too. Anyway, there'll be teaching, praying, encouraging stories, walking, talking, eating and all other lovely things. I will tell you all the details soon!