Cheesy Adventures

Working out Salvation

2011-05-21T17:14:00.000+01:00

So I'm working on an assignment that feels never ending at the minute but I came across this wee quote...

Those who know that God will one day wipe away all tears will not accept with resignation the tears of those who suffer and are oppressed now. Anyone who knows that one day there will be no more disease can and must actively anticipate the conquest of disease in individuals and society now. And anyone who believes that the enemy of God and humans will be vanquished will already oppose him now in his machinations in family and society. For all of this has to do with salvation.

David Bosch, Transforming Mission

How's your heart doing today?

2011-03-30T11:42:00.000+01:00

The Prodigal Son is one of those well known parables that it can be very easy to read without looking for anything new in it as you think you know the story and its interpretations so well. But today i've been given a little bit more of an insight into the older brother...the one who was left behind and feels so left out.

The character of the older brother seems to be a direct reply to the Pharisees and scribes, in response to whose criticism Jesus told the three lost-and-found stories. The older brother is the upstanding but critical Pharisee who not only knew the religious rules but actually kept them all. in our context, the older brother is the upright, devoutly religious person, the respected yet resentful churchgoer. He is the ultimate insider someone who controls the committee meetings, holds the keys, keeps the books, reads the lesson, leads the intercessions. But in the story it turns out that he is not inside at all, but outside, because even though we may live on the property, a cold heart removes us from God's presence into a darkness of our own making. No matter how perfectly we keep our religion, it's our heart that places us inside or outside God's presence.

Maggi Dawn

This certainly made me think - How's your heart doing today??

Physical or Spiritual?

2011-03-14T18:43:00.000Z

Today is my first full day fast this Lent. I decided to fast a full day once a week and it's been going ok...so far! But todays devotional reading was particulary appropriate!

...life is about more than physical appetites and desires...

...One of the purposes of the Lenten fast is to remind us daily that we are physical creatures and live a physical existence. In a society that is both over indulgent and excessively body conscious, perhaps one of the challenges of Lent is to befriend our own bodies and find a good balance between taking care of ourselves and simply living comfortably in our own skins. At the same time, Lent reminds us that we are more than mere animals: we have spiritual and moral capabilities. We are governed not only by our appetites and needs but also by our will and our imagination.

Maggi Dawn

I'm not so sure about that last line about our will and imagination - are we governed by them in a spiritual sense just as our bodies can be governed by physical desires, and is one or the other easier to contain or control...now that's certainly something to think on!

But what do I need to do?

2011-03-11T22:55:00.000Z

I'm trying to follow a devotional book throughout Lent to Easter Sunday, so any points that I find particularly thought provoking will most likely end up on here and will hopefully get you thinking too.....

Fasting in the Christian tradition is essentially about recognising that there's nothing we can do to improve ourselves...

In the end, Lent is about denying ourselves some of the essentials of everyday life in order to focus on the reality that we depend upon God for life itself...

If our Lenten fast is understood well, it will relieve us of the need to try harder, achieve more, feel more worthy. It will ground us in the firm and unshakeable knowledge that we are human - we are but dust, and to dust we shall return - but that to be human is enough, under the loving gaze of God...

Maggi Dawn

Lent 2011

2011-03-09T23:20:00.001Z

My prayer for this Lent...

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,
For all the benefits thou hast won for me,
For all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me,
O most merciful, redeemer, Friend, and Brother,
May I know thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
And follow thee more nearly,
Day by day.

St Richard of Chichester

Lent begins with a challenge to clear out the mental and spiritual clutter and so discover how to live life to the full...

Maggi Dawn

2011-02-22T17:20:00.001Z

"...in the diocese of which I was until recently bishop, many of the most spiritually lively congregations had as yet no building of their own. One became accustomed to worshipping, preaching and administering the sacraments in a semi-public place - perhaps under the shade of a tree, or on the veranda of a village house. Always on such occasions there would be a circle of non-christians standing round, watching and listening. There was always the probability that, on the next visit, some of those now standing on the outer circle would be in the centre as candidates for baptism. thus one was savrd from the tendency to think of the Church as something withdrawn from the world to live its own life for itself, and compelled to see the church as a thing sent out into the world, an expedition rather than an institution, the visible form of the action of God the Holy Spirit in sending his people out to draw all men to Christ..."

Lesslie Newbigin, A Faith for this One World

Essentials of Christian Faith

2010-10-20T16:26:00.003+01:00

In my random reading toady I came across the "Wesleyan Essentials of Christian Faith" which were adopted by the World Methodist Council in 1996, under discussion as to whether there was in fact an overriding Methodist Doctrine or Theology because John Wesley never actually produced an official set of doctrines.

Anyway...the one that really struck me was...

We serve the world in the name of God, believing that our commitment comes to life in our actions, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It's so easy to fall back in to the way of thinking that everything we do is done in our strength, when really it's not! We may be the hands and feet that give physical identity to what we do but then we have to sit back and let the Spirit work, for it is in that moment alone that the power of God is felt as he works 'supernaturally' through our 'natural' actions.

What a privilege to be that vessel.

Is it all in a name?

2010-10-20T00:51:00.002+01:00

Paul never took a course in missions. He never sat in on a committee meeting. He never read a book on church growth. He was just inspired by the Holy Spirit and punch-drunk on the love that makes the impossible possible: salvation.

The message is gripping: Show a man his failures without Jesus and the result will be found in the roadside gutter. Give a man religion without reminding him of his filth, and the result will be arrogance in a three-piece suit. But get the two in the same heart-get sin to meet Saviour and Saviour to meet sin-and the result just mght be another Pharisee turned preacher who sets the world on fire.

(c) Max Lucado The Applause of Heaven

The Summit

2010-10-16T18:52:00.007+01:00

...What may happen in the next few minutes borders on the holy.

The quietness will slow my pulse, the silence will open my ears, and something sacred will happen.

The soft slap of sandaled feet will break the stillness, a pierced hand will extend a quiet invitation and I will follow.

I wish I could say it happens every night; it doesn't. Some nights he asks and I don't listen. Other nights he asks and I just don't go. But some nights I hear his poetic whisper, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened..." and I follow. I leave behind the budgets, bills and deadlines and walk the narrow trail up the mountain with him.

You've been there. You've escaped the sandy foundations of the vally and ascended his grand outcropping of granite. You've turned your back on the noise and sought his voice.. You've stepped away from the masses and followed the Master as he led you up the winding path to the summit.

His summit. Clean air. Clear view. Crisp breeze. The roar of the marketplace is down there, and the perspective of the peak is up here.

Gently your guide invites you to sit on the rock above the tree line and look out with him at the ancient peaks that will never arode. "What is necessary is still what is sure." he confides. "just remember:
You'll go nowhere tomorrow that I haven't already been.
Truth will still triumph.
Death will still die.
The victory is yours.
And delight in one decision away - seize it."

The sacred summit. A place of permanence in a world of transition.

Think about the people in your world. Can't you tell the ones who have been to his mountain? Oh, their problems aren't any different. And their challenges are just as severe. But there is a stubborn peace that enshrines them. A confidence that life isn't toppled by unmet budgets or rerouted airplanes. A serenity that softens the corners of their lips. A contagious delight sparkling in their eyes.

And in their hearts reigns a fortresslike confidence that the valley can be endured, even enjoyed, because the mountain is only a decision away.

(C) Max Lucado, The Applause of Heaven.

Be still and.....wait!!!

2010-08-21T23:21:00.010+01:00

This picture pretty much sums up today!!!

It seems that God has brought me back to Ghana to try and teach me the same thing all over again that he tried to teach me before....Be Still!

Today i learnt something new about James, he doesn't like having free time on his hands as he just doesn't know what to do with it...he always has to be doing something. So yes there has been a lot of sitting around today and sometimes we just have to wait. God's timing is always perfect...as are His ways. But dont get me wrong its not like we did nothing!! We had a wee trip to the Accra Mall and once more i couldnt help but be astounded that somewhere like that exists in the middle of Accra!! It has always been a shock for me to walk back out into the heat and smells of Ghana having walked through the mall as it just seems so out of place.

I have to admit I was a little disappointed that we werent going to be staying in the Guest House that we usually stay in when in Accra (yes i like what i know) but it turns out that God was working out His perfect ways, as we truly believe we were guided to this Guest House so that we could meet another person who is staying here and has good contacts in and knowledge of the import/export business here in Ghana. So while we were sitting around today he was at work getting information and making contacts for us which may prove to be extremely useful in trying to have the container released.

So we may have another day of waiting ahead of us...but we will try to Be Still and Wait upon the Lord. As those who wait upon the Lord will be made strong.

Blessings :)

Back in Ghana and back in blogland

2010-08-21T00:01:00.004+01:00

It is my intention over the next couple of weeks to attempt to break my blogging drought. I haven't really felt that i have had much of a helpful input to give so i have remained quiet.

But now im back in Ghana....wow...seriously im back in Ghana. I can hardly believe it myself, but it feels good to be here and i have a feeling that another big adventure is about to unfurl itself.

So im looking forward to having something to say over the next while, to keep people at home updated but also when i see what God has been doing here over the past couple of years but also what He has in store for us in our adventures with the container and back at the Clinic at Lake Bosomtwe. So keep posted and i might even come up with the occasional pearl of wisdom...or even i might remain quiet enough for the first time in a while to hear one.

Blessings :)

Our early morning send off party from David's

Good Friday Reflections

2010-04-03T15:01:00.000+01:00

On friday evening the Seymour Street prayer room was opened for 24 hours of prayer by a time of prayer and praise led by SNASS. So I thought I would share here my reflection on Good Friday that I shared there having read John 19...

Why is Good Friday called Good Friday? I would be surprised if most people haven't thought about that at some stage or other.

There is no more humiliating death than crucifixion - hanging practically naked, stripped of all covering, stripped of all human dignity, strung up high against the skyline just outside the city walls, exposed for all to see.

It was a terrible death that was excruciatingly painful and long drawn out causing absolute agony before slowly suffocating.

Then Jesus died - releasing his spirit.

But what happened then?

There is a line in the song 'The Wonder of your Cross' by Robin Mark that says...

"Were heaven's praises silent in those hours of darkness?
Your Holy Spirit brooding round that empty throne?"

These lines catch me everytime I hear or sing that song...was there quiet in heaven, was there mourning after Christ had died and descended into hell or were they preparing for a celebration because as the song goes on to say...

"Until the declaration 'He is RIsen', You are Risen Jesus,
He is not dead, behold He lives for evermore."

And that is our hope, because of that painful and excruciating death that was experienced in our place we can know and have the peace of Christ, the peace that passes all understanding in the knowledge that we too will share in the celebrations in heaven as we receive eternal life.

Are you there God...it's me??

2009-11-16T15:48:00.012Z

I haven't written here in ages and lots has been happening in life with church, college now that im living in Koinonia House and various other things. But i feel the time has come after the past weekend.

We had a Lay Witness Weekend in Seymour Street with a team of 15 fantastic people who came to share with us as a church family. If im honest I was really excited about the weekend, i've had a few struggles over the past couple of weeks, so I was really excited about what God was going to do in our church and in our lives individually. But I was a little let down...the meal on Friday night was great and i believe I was sitting beside the person i was meant to as we had wonderful conversation about things that were on both of our hearts but I left the event feeling a little...empty!! I was really disappointed that God hadn't shown up for me, why when I was so open and excited to receive was I leaving with such a disappointed empty feeling. Or maybe I wasn't as open as I had thought and God had shown up but I just didnt recognise it?!

Saturday came and I went to one of the coffee mornings, a wonderful time of fellowship, friendship and sharing with an awesome and powerful testimony shared very openly with the group and yet i was still asking, "God where are you in this? Why can't I hear what you are saying to me?"

If im honest once more, I was reluctant to go again on the Saturday evening but through the persuasion and encouragement of a good and caring friend I went. After all, how could I expect God to move and give if I wasnt there and open to receive. Again it was an enjoyable time of fellowship and sharing with the Witnesses who very openly shared their story of their walk with God. But once more I couldnt understand why God was being so silent to me. After being so excited and so expectant.

It wasnt until the Sunday that I 'woke up'...during the service on Sunday morning i had such a sense of God's presence and a real sense of being told 'I am with you and I will be there the entire way'

This continued into the evening service which was a true blessing...so many people shared an encouraging testimony/story of what they had received from the weekend. I also received an image of what our church was part of...during one of the first songs we sang during worship "The Splendour of the King", I had an image of our church standing in front of the throne of God which was blazing with light, shining golden and we were joining with hundreds of other people from everywhere alongside Angels and Archangels, all the hosts of heaven in bringing praise and glory to our Father and God. It was a humbling and amazing image and a very special insight into how we as a fellowship are part of the bigger picture of God's fellowship.

So after struggling to find God in what was happening He made it very clear to me that He was there all along. If anything I was depending to much on my emotions and feelings to know that right from the start. Sometimes we just need to relax and know....

All I Want is You...

2009-08-25T00:42:00.005+01:00

I love the song 'All I Want is You' by Bellefire (yes I know, before anyone says it is an original U2 song I just happen to prefer the other version!!)

Anyway I was listening to it tonight as i was walking round Hillsborough and one of the verses just totally caught me off guard, as if I was listening to it for the first time...or with fresh ears maybe!!

You say you'll give me
A highway with no one on it
Treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night

You say you'll give me
Eyes in a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest

But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you

Not being a huge U2 fan I don't know it there's any kind of story behind the song. But it just really struck me that this could be a song, sung by a child of God to their Heavenly Father and reminded me of a conversation I had with a very wise and Godly man when I was in Sri Lanka this summer. God wants to give us so so much, He wants to provide for us, heal us, love us and fill our lives with the goodness and great abundance of heaven.

We can complicate that and make it so difficult sometimes. We make so many promises right through life...at baptism, marriage vows, at acceptance into membership, dedication services and for Methodists in our annual covenant service and Im sure there are many others...but what do those words and promises mean if we dont seek that abundance that God wants to bless us with, if we don't seek the glory of Christ...ALL we should want is Him and His glory but yet we will receive so much more if that is all we seek.

Retreat...

2009-08-24T22:12:00.000+01:00

Last week I took out time once more to go and 'chill' up in Newcastle. Time alone with me, my thoughts and I...and of course my God. Once more I loved driving through the Mournes...I even took a wee walk up Butter Mountain...not quite reaching the top, even though it was just within reach!! Surveying the beautiful mountain scenery around me. I definitely think this is where God does some of His thinking and planning. Walking in the cool of the evening through the Mournes :)

I also did some more star gazing...when it wasnt raining...lying out in the garden staring up at the bright, clear night sky. I could do that for hours and never lose the awe and majesty of it all. And my time there was rewarded with lots of shooting stars. The first being the most spectacular, it just burst across the sky seeming like it was on fire just above me...awesome =]

Then there was the tree I spoke about the last time, as I watched the leaves appear in front of me in the warm Spring sunshine. It was now fully covered in thick green leaves and 'helicopters' ready to fall in the fast approaching Autumn. Makes you wonder why they go to all that bother...all that effort for the leaves to come out...then in a couple of short months they will be strewn across the ground withered and brown. But that's the cycle that tree's go through...blossoming life and then what can so often look like a barren death in the cold hard winter...but no...deep down in the heart of the tree that blossoming life is waiting and preparing to burst forth once more. So often our lives can feel like that...a barren wasteland, a desert but deep down if we search for it in our hearts and in our souls that blossoming life and spirit that God has placed within us is waiting to burst forth, with lots of help from Him...no matter what season it is!!

Has anyone contacted 'Hello'???

2009-08-23T23:26:00.000+01:00

I haven't written anything in a while and I have so much I want to catch up on...So im going to start with the biggest day of the summer!!! :)

Friday 07-08-09

The day of the wedding...it was such a beautiful day in all ways, the weather, the ceremony, the reception and above all the people.

It all started with early hairdressing appointments and a visit to the chemist as the bride called for some 'rescue remedy'...which i felt it was my duty as one of the bridesmaids, to look after for her!! :)

Then it was back to the house for make up and final preparations. We thought we had so much time but that last hour and a half just disappeared and suddenly we were 'fashionably' late as we got Janet into her car and Karen, Jill, Roberta and I climbed into the Limo!

The beautiful Bride ready to go and not a sign of nerves!!

When arrived at the church shortly before Janet with a little time to get some photos taken and then it was time to end the poor Groom's long wait!

The ceremony was led beautifully by Brian and was wonderfully relaxed and enjoyable as a wedding ceremony and as an act of worship.

Then it was on to Belfast Castle a beautiful setting overlooking Belfast Lough. Lots of pictures, smiling and mingling in the sunny afternoon.

Then it was time for speeches, dinner and dancing...even some monkeying around!! :)

The very cute monkey, Janet and Gareth made by Karen!!

And we managed to last right through to the very end!!

A fantastic, relaxed and fun day for a lovely couple, now may God pour out His many Blessings upon them as they start out in married life together.

im truly back home...

2009-08-06T12:23:00.003+01:00

I had quite a surreal moment this morning...

Tomorrow is Janet's wedding so I have been doing some last minute preparation type things. This morning that involved getting a spray tan...to fill in the white bits!!!...and a french manicure on my nails. As most of you will know i'm not exactly the girly girly type so this was an interesting experience. I quite enjoyed getting my nails done, it was very relaxing and i was nearly asleep, especially with the calming music in the back ground.

Then at one point it just hit me...hold on a minute...whats going on here??!!

This is such a complete and utter world away from where i was last week...and for the past month. Who would have even thought of getting a fake tan or getting their nails done in Eppawella?? There are so many different priorities in life! Like feeding your children, making sure they have clothes to wear and putting them through school. And yet this is the culture I live in where fake tans and getting your nails done is an ever day occurrence for some people, so its about finding your own priorities...what are the really important things. What are you going to spend your time doing and spend your money on buying?

Moving on...

2009-07-17T18:02:00.005+01:00

Today was my last day in C.T.S. and tonight is my last sleep here before the team arrive tomorrow afternoon.

I took the time to speak to all the people who I have been involved with these past 2 weeks as i have been made to feel so very welcome in the college and they couldn't have been more hospitable. Apparently I have been one of their 'least troublesome' guests (and the Dr wasn't bad either!!!! :) ) So either we were particularly easy to please or they haven't had very many guests stay!

This last week has been very chilled...in relaxation that is as the temperature continued to soar...that was until today as it has rained all day and the air has been relatively cool...clearly some one knows the Irish are on their way!!

Anyway, I had the opportunity to meet a most wonderful retired Anglican minister from the Church of Ceylon who was an absolute pleasure to talk with. He was able to share from a lifetimes experience of serving in the church and working amongst the Buddhist population so I was able to glean a lot of very interesting and helpful information from him for my research. His wife very generously provided some light refreshments in the form of cookies and King coconut milk. (which I was told has been known to be used in the place of saline if none was available - interesting fact for the day!!!) I'm not quite sure if his final comments to me were prophetic but when talking about what I intended to do after I finished my degree he said something along the lines of...well when you come back to either Sri Lanka, Thailand or...a 3rd country which i cant remember!!...you will now know what to do when you go and live in one of the remote villages!!...hmmmm...we'll see...only God knows that at the minute!!!

Well, the next part of this Big Adventure starts tomorrow when Layasing picks me up from C.T.S. and we head to the airport to pick up the Irish ViM team. (they should all pretty much be in Heathrow by now waiting for their flight here!) Then we head a little in land to Anuradhapura where we will be ministering for the next 2 weeks.

So please pray for them as they travel tonight and as we travel in land tomorrow. Also pray for the people in this college - staff and students as it is a wonderful place sharing God's love, and preparing people to go out and minister to many others.

Im not sure what internet connections will be like where we will be staying so im not sure if i will be able to update this for a while...but sure keep an eye out and we'll see what happens!!

Blessings :)

Surrender...

2009-07-12T22:00:00.004+01:00

I had a wonderful experience of worship today.

I think Diyonus, the college caretaker is a little concerned about me being on my own, especially as Derek has now returned to England leaving me in the apartment on my own. So this morning in extremely broken English he asked me if i would like to go to church with him...at least at the time I assumed that was what he was asking!! So i agreed as i had no other arrangements made.

So we set off for a church that I had kind of gathered was pretty close by and it was indeed only a short walk from C.T.S. The sign out the front told me that it was a Dutch Reformed Church of Sri Lanka and that the English service began at 9.00am and that was the service that Diyonus had very thoughtfully brought me for. We went into the grounds and he introduced me to a few people and in chatting we discovered that this week the English service and the Sinhalese service had actually been switched as the English congregation were having an Alpha thanksgiving service. I decided that this was the perfect chance then for me to experience a Sinhalese worship service and tild Diyonus that i would stay for this service rather than come back for the English. So he introduced me briefly to the minister who was preparing to start, then took me to a house that was in the grounds ringing the bell numerous times until someone came to the door. A man cam out and Diyonus introduced me, I assumed this was another minister of the church as each different language congregation appear to thave their own pastor. It turned out in the midst of conversation that he was in fact the President of the Dutch Reformed Church!

So i was guided in to the church and Diyonus tried to get me to sit in one of the front pews but no the Methodist in me kicked in and I headed for the back sitting under a very welcome and cooling fan. Sadly as the service began the electricity cut out, the fans stopped and there was a little reorganisation as song books had to be found because they couldnt use the OHP! It was a wonderful service with A time of lively worship led by 2 young men from the congregation, backed up by a small band consisiting of a piano, guitar, drums and bongo drums. There was then what i could only assume was a time of confession and testimony when many people - all women it has to be said, stood up and spoke briefly.

The pastor, Rev Faber then brought the message, speaking on Hebrews 11:13-16, how we are strangers on this planet and our real home is the one prepared for us in Heaven. He very thoughtfully threw in a few English phrases for my benefit (very like some Sinhalese TV programmes when every now and again you quite randomly catch an English phrase...very amusing!!) to try and summarise his points. I did however catch that he spoke about Michael Jackson at one point, not quite sure how that fit in to what he was saying!! Halfway through I was very grateful when the electricity kicked in once more as it was really starting to get very hot in that little church - even with the slight breeze coming in the door!

All in all it was a wonderful act of worship with lively praise and from what i could tell of the way the preaching was delivered very passionate and so despite the language difference and not always understanding what was happening or being said I could most definitely feel God's presence amongst His people in that little church. For me that is what truly matters God's presence with us ministering to His children in the way they need most. During the service there was one word that kept coming back to me and that was 'surrender'. Surrendering ourselves...myself...to God's moving around me and within me. Letting Him minister to me where i need it most, it may not even be something that I know needs dealt with but He does. So i must surrender myself to Him, make myself vulnerable to His power working and healing within me and make myself available to what He asks of me...no matter what.

Saturday morning shopping...

2009-07-11T09:24:00.006+01:00

I feel like such a westerner this morning!!!

A lovely couple called Lallita and Chris took me out this morning. Lallita works in the library here at C.T.S. and was worried that I wasn't leaving the college so offered to take me out today. So I asked her to take me to ODEL which is a big western style department store selling all sorts of things from clothes to books and dvd's, homewares and souvenirs. It was nice just to wander around for a while to see what was on offer and it was full of white people who were clearly tourists.

They then took me to a food court at a local supermarket which had a huge range of food from Asian, to Western, which included Italian and British, and Australian!! Having this opportunity I went for something British!! So a burger and fries it was :) I then felt i could not turn down the offer to try a traditional Sri Lankan dessert - curds and honey, assured that it was just like yogurt. So when it arrived i gave it a go and it was actually not too bad just like a natural yogurt smothered in honey, it was then that Lallita told me it was no normal curds, from a normal cow but rather they were from a Buffalo!! Well sure its something different!! We had some very good conversation over lunch which ranged from their children and grand children to religious issues, thoughts on church and the much debated anti-conversion bill.

So all in all its been a lovely morning with some lovely people...now to relax and enjoy the rest of my saturday afternoon :)

Day number 7 in the C.T.S. apartment...

2009-07-09T15:00:00.000+01:00

(you were supposed to imagine that title said in the style of the Big Brother announcer, so please read again if you did not do so the first time!!!)

So yep I have been in Sri Lanka for a week now and it has been a pretty good week.

So what have I been up to since Sunday? Well Monday was a Poya holiday which is a Buddhist full moon holiday...so you are guaranteed at least one ‘bank holiday’ every month...not bad. But I have been told that this used to cause havoc when the poya calendar was followed because there were so many holidays and it was difficukt to follow what day was a holiday and what wasn’t because it wasn’t a set pattern where it was the same day every week or month as it followed the cycle of the moon.

Anyway that meant that the college was closed and very quiet.

Yesterday I took a trip across town by bus as I had to go and sort out a visa extension. I had a great guide and companion in Spurgeon (the college IT guy) who was able to keep me right at all times. But the bus journey was quite the adventure. A great opportunity just to watch city life go by and people watch from the safety of a bus window...it can be really fascinating watching the way people interact and how differently things are done compared to our cultural norms. The process of getting my visa extension was relatively straight forward if somewhat time consuming. You generally find that there are maybe 4 or 5 people you have to see when at home it would be a job for one person.

While I was waiting I had an interesting conversation with a gentleman originally from India, now living in Australia who is a practicing Hindu married to a catholic. Wow! It’s hard to know quite how much you can say to people before you might cross the invisible line or before you might offend but he seemed quite open to what I was telling him about the purpose of my stay in Sri Lanka.

Today I had meetings with two church leaders in Colombo to gather some information for my research project. So I set out in a little tri-shaw...they are so much fun and a very handy way to nip in and out of the traffic but a little bit dicy when you’ve got a huge great bus bearing down on you!! But I had a great driver! It was interesting talking to the Pastor’s and to hear the history and the stories behind the churches and the people, also how they have grown and expanded as they have reached out into the community surrounding them and also as they have felt Gods call to different regions of the island.

A random shot from my tri-shaw as we were speeding along the busy road!!

I was very pleased to be able to make contact with Sugi who was someone I had met the last time I was here in 2000, so I couldn’t come back without trying to contact him. He and his family put me up in their home making me part of the family, when the youth team were working with the Moors Road Methodist congregation. We wrote to each other for a long time and then as happens we fell out of contact. So I was very pleased when Layasing told me that he knew Sugi and would give him my number. So when my phone rang the other day I was very pleasantly surprised to hear that it was Sugi on the other end. He seemed to remember everything that I could have possibly told him about me and my family back then. So I was very happy to hear he was now married and had a son. I really hope to be able to meet up with him before I leave Colombo.

Sugi and I back in 2000!!

Sunset from the apartment.

The sun sets pretty early here and it is usually dark between 6.30 and 7pm so I have been enjoying the coolness of the night air compared to the great heat of the day. It is also gives a chance to be able to enjoy the nightly display of the fireflies dancing through the trees at the end of our balcony...the type of scene that you would just love to be able to capture and share but just isn’t possible. It is a wonderful display of Gods creativity at work once more. Sometimes It’s easy to wonder what is the purpose in something that God has created but if it brings us enjoyment or makes us smile I think that makes our Father smile too and he enjoys watching our wonder at the beauty He made for us to enjoy.

What's your pill??

2009-07-07T20:20:00.005+01:00

Sometimes it can be very easy to feel just like P!nk in her song, ‘like a pill’...

I think I’ll get outta here... Where I can run just as fast as I can,
To the middle of nowhere to the middle of my frustrated fears
and I swear you’re just like a pill
stead of making me better you keep making me ill...

There can be so many things that we want to avoid. Things that we don’t want to deal with or don’t want to face up to. Or else we look for the answers in the wrong places and what we think is our ‘pill’ is in fact doing us so much more harm than we can ever imagine. Then we just drop it all and run...anywhere...as far as we can, try to escape, leave it all behind and hope it just disappears.

But there are 2 things we cannot run away from. The first is our own mind, as much as we try to blank it out or where you run to those things will always be there in your mind, it goes with you wherever you go. The second is God. There is no where we can go in all of creation to hide from God, no rock we can hide under that He will not find us...He created it and knows every inch of all creation and He knows every part of us. Including our mind!

So if we are going to run...it should be to God. Only He can satisfy...

No one but You Lord can satisfy the longing in my heart, Nothing I do Lord can take the place of drawing near to You. Only You can fill my deepest longing,
Only You can breath in me new life,
Only You can fill my heart with laughter,
Only You can answer my hearts cry,
Only You...

Father I love You, come satisfy the longing in my heart,
Fill me, overwhelm me, until I know Your love deep in my heart. I long for You, I yearn for You and I’m calling out, I’m crying out for You.

(c) Andy Park

Cry out to Him and let Him come to us as He wants to, let Him fill us with cleansing living waters as He fulfills our every need, our every longing...nothing can take the place of what He can do in our life...if we just let Him in, surrender what we cannot control to His mighty love and grace.

Remembering...

2009-07-05T11:07:00.005+01:00

Well i've had a few days to get acclimatised and i'm getting used to the heat(!) humidity(!) and the food.

This morning was the first I have ventured out of the College complex and I was really looking forward to going to church at Kollupitiya Methodist Church as it was one of the churches we had worked with back in 2000. Ivor picked us up shortly after 8.00am and we made our way into the heart of Colombo.

It was great to see areas that were starting to look familiar and I recognised the church straight away. We were welcomed by Rev Duleep Fernando while the Tamil congregation left, as their service is before the English service (and the Sinhalese service is held shortly after the english) then I went off to find a seat.

The worship was led wonderfully by a young woman whom I think was a member of the choir and the Message was brought by Rev Dr Derek Tidball who spoke engagingly on Psalm 103

"Bless the Lord, Oh my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits..."

I was however a little disappointed by just how traditional and reserved the service was - I found that I have actually no recollection from all those years ago as to what worship was like and was expecting it to be a little more lively, I guess with my most recent overseas experience being in Africa. But none the less it was a wonderful act of worship and as Derek reminded us we are not alone in worshipping but join with congregations across the globe and with the Angels and Arch-angels worshipping around the throne in heaven.

We had a chance to chat for a short time after the service and as per ususal the Irish connections were made...Duleep spoke of Rev George Good and his grand daughter Tara, who was of course on the team with me back in 2000, so we chatted about them and of course Rev Norman Taggart and Rev Stephen Skuce...Methodism really is such a small world! :)

Myself, Derek and David Griffiths, a field worker for CSW were then wisked off by Mano a member of the CTS (college) staff for drinks at the Galle Face hotel before lunch. This is a beautifully grand old colonial building situated right on the coast and it was wonderfully cool sitting chatting in the shade with a fantastic view of the Indian Ocean (I think!!) and the sound of the powerfull waves crashing against the rocks.

David, Mano and Derek by the Beach

The Galle Face Hotel

The hotel is extremely proud of its heritage and has many plagues stating the names of famous people who have stayed and even boasts a small museum containing Prince Phillip's first car!!! I have one memory of the Galle face from my last visit and that was of coming for drinks one evening with the team, and that is of Raymond sitting with a rather large King Coconut with a straw sticking out of it...strange the things you remember!

Mano then took us to the Chinese Dragon Restaurant (the first restaurant we ate out at back in 2000!!) for a wonderful meal.

On the way back to CTS she stopped off at the side of the road to buy some fruit to let us try...sadly i cant remember the name of it. [NB: Just discovered they are called Rambutan and are indeed realted to the Lychee!!]

To me it looked llike one of those odd bouncy ball type things and when you open it you get something that looks like an eyeball!!! But it is very nice indeed, almost like a cross between a grape and a lychee, so very tasty and quite refreshing.

This afternoon I thought I would take some photos of the college so you could see where Im actually talking about...so here they are.

The main college building
Me outside the College Reception

Lou has landed...

2009-07-02T16:08:00.008+01:00

So I'm back in Sri Lanka...that makes it sound like I was here just last week - it was in fact 9 years ago which is an absolute age.

I had a smooth easy travelling experience apart from all the waiting around and the unfortunate situation of overweight baggage with BMI which I had to pay for (amazingly the first time i've ever had to pay!) It's so annoying that we have domestic flight weights when we have to fly to England in most cases to get a long haul international flight! Anyway, after 8 1/2 hours of killing time in Heathrow I boarded the plane for another 10 hours of waiting, only in a slightly more confined space! But it was fine and went by relatively quickly although chicken and potatoes for breakfast was slightly odd, why is it that when you travel you seem to eat at the strangest times??

We were greeted in the airport by mask wearing officials ensuring that none of us needed quarantined - very reassuring, but i have to admit i did find myself stopping breathing and turning in the opposite direction anytime anyone near me in the airport sneezed!!...mass paranoia has set in!!

But then the exciting bit...i don't know why I enjoy this so much but I was met by 2 representatives from the Colombo Theological Seminary which I am staying at for the next 2 weeks, holding a sign with my name on it...excellent...one of those things you always see in the movies :) They were very welcoming and made sure I had the most comfortable seat in the taxi nearest the air conditioning!!

At one point in the car on the way through the busy city traffic I realised I hadn't actually stopped smiling since i stepped out of the aeroplane. Yes its hot 30° c when we got off the plane and today was cool!!...humid and sticky but it just feels right :) and that feels good...knowing that you are where you are meant to be and will hopefully be doing what it is I am meant to be doing...and through His strength all things are possible. And as someone shared with me before I left, "even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me" Psalm 139:10

The guest accommodation in the college has only recently been put in place it's not quite finished just yet in that the kitchen area isnt functionable but it is very impressive indeed and my room is just lovely. I do however have a room mate - a tiny little gecko whom I have affectionately named Goliath. He is more than welcome though if he keeps all the other bugs away!! I will introduce him to you all very soon once I can get a picture of him close enough that you can actually see him in!!

Well i think that's all for my first installment now I'm off to bed for a good nights sleep before I try and organise my programme for the next couple of weeks in the morning.

Church family...

2009-06-28T22:11:00.003+01:00

I really enjoyed church tonight!!

As I was sitting waiting for the service to start I became aware of the low babble of noise which was the congregation...friends...family chatting, greeting each other, chatting over the week or the day.

That made me smile as I thought about friendships and relationships that grow within the church family.

The service itself was great with a passionate preacher who exudes faith and as he speaks and prays it would be difficult not to see the wonderful and close relationship and journey he has walked with God and that is what he wants to share.

I couldn't help but wonder how I would experience worship next Sunday in Sri Lanka, I've no doubt it will be different but at the heart of the experience I will be worshipping the same God with our extended family. I was however very touched by the well wishes of my Seymour Street family who I know will be praying for me during this summers adventure and it is greatly appreciated.

I'm really looking forward to finally getting there and travel on Wednesday which means I have a lot to do between now and then including packing...which is not my forte at all!!!

Big Adventure...

2009-06-06T19:30:00.018+01:00

This day last year was my first full day in Ghana and the start of my Big Adventure.

After a hospitable night with the Sims family in Accra, I travelled with them to Amakom and my first sighting of the lake and greetings with the Jernigan’s, Rebecca, Hollie, Michael and James. A very long but very special day.

The view over the lake from Michael's porch

The Jernigan family with their 3 interns

Never has a place, people or community touched me so deeply and made me feel like one of them so quickly.

So what are some of the things that I miss... (in no particular order!!)

Koko...fried plantain...it just doesn’t taste the same bought from Tesco
Hobnobs with peanut butter and nutella...and the ants that shared them with us
Greeting people on the road as we walked through the villages
The cries of children greeting us “ mama louey” or Abena Louise
Sunsets over the lake
Open, free and enthusiastic praise and worship of the Lord...dancing in church : )
Random visitors popping in for a chat
Girly nights
Long chats into the night
Movie night...with popcorn and taffy
Fun road trips to Kumasi to gather in provisions
Spectacular rainstorms
Lucas and Luiza’s inventive games
Michael’s bright smile and willingness to help us at ANY time!!
Clear starry night skys
Spontaneous dance parties!!
Days spent in the air conditioning and chats with Andrew
James’ constant and joyful singing unto the Lord
Becca’s French toast and Hollie’s ‘hamburger pie’!!
Becca’s great wisdom and Hollie’s wacky sense of humour
Sunday afternoon football
Banter with the builders

I could probably go on forever but I’ll stop there. However, one thing that was constant was God’s presence, comfort, love and protection through every challenge and predicament we found ourselves in.

Michael and I enjoying a bowl of Tizette with intestines and tuna!!

Me and James...my brother who loves to sing!

Me, Rebecca and Hollie returning from our first 'mudding' road trip in Kumasi

My first taste of Fufu!

My 2 football heroes

The builders!! :)

My time in Ghana and at Lake Bosomtwe was such a blessing to me and a year on I’m still learning from my experiences and making sense of some of the lessons that God was teaching me.

The sun has set on one adventure but I will be setting out on another Big Adventure this summer when I travel to Sri Lanka at the start of July where I will spend just over a month. 2 1/2 weeks working on a research project in Colombo and the rest of the time working with the MMS(I) ViM team, which is travelling to Kitiyawa to work on a building project, alongside continuing work on my research project. I’ve no doubt God has many wonderful experiences and challenges in store for me again this year but I have no doubt He will be walking alongside me every moment of the journey once more.

New growth and a spectacular sunset...

2009-04-21T23:30:00.004+01:00

Another sunny day after a slightly worrying start!! Yet I was able to spend all afternoon in the garden reading and making the most of the rays!!

As the afternoon progressed I suddenly realised that the big tree at our gateway which had been bare that morning now had some very big and quite prominent buds.

A little later I moved to sit under the tree and looking up I could see a few little green leaves starting to appear.

This just amazed me that I had been able to see the progression actually happening...from bare to buds opening and leaves appearing in the warm spring afternoon sun...quite literally God’s handiwork in creation in action.

In the early evening I thought I would take a drive into the Mournes visiting some of my favourite places along the way. I drove out through Bryansford, past Tolleymore, past the Trassey track, up on to the road leading to Spelga Dam past Fofanny Dam. As I drove along here I couldn’t help but smile as if I’d been in a car with my Dad I would have heard that usual tale of how my Grandfather had transported all the electricity poles out along this stretch of country many years ago when they were first putting up the lines. A little piece of family history! As I got closer to Spelga the sun was starting to go down behind the mountains, blazing gold out across the countryside...just stunning.

Parking up on the road I walked for a few minutes up the slope to try and get a better view...I found me another rock and took a seat to watch as each moment the Greatest Artist changed the magnificent picture before me.

Beach...

2009-04-20T23:00:00.006+01:00

Another stunning day...I could not have hoped or imagined that the weather would be this good and I have definitely picked the right time to come away!

So what did I do...I went to the beach of course!!! Murlough to be precise...

It was a little windy and chilly even though it was so sunny but you gotta take every chance you can get living in Northern Ireland!!! Here I played around a little with my new mini tripod but it was too hard to see anything as the sun was just too glaring...but I don’t think I did too badly!!

When I couldn’t take anymore of the chilly beach I just made my way back through the sand dunes!!

Then back to the homestead via Mauds and the library!!!

Back at the house I tried out some more tripod shots, so here’s my rock where my nightly star gazing took place!!

Time to Retreat...

2009-04-19T22:00:00.004+01:00

I‘ve decided to spend the next few days staying at our little house in Newcastle, on the coast just past the Bloody Bridge. The weather was amazing today and I’m looking forward to just relaxing, chilling and taking some time out.

Right from the moment I drove into Newcastle I could just feel myself relax. I just love the view you get of the Mournes as you approach the town from Murlough. I don’t think I will ever get tired of that view – it takes my breath away every time and today was no different, it was stunning with a slight heat haze hovering over them. Any time I’m away and I think of home that is usually the image that comes to mind first, there’s something almost steadying or grounding in that view...for me anyway, a little piece of my homeland.

Although it does still make me a little bit sad when I drive past our old caravan park which is now covered in house's...so many memories of fun times there all dug up and covered in bricks and mortar...but they still remain where they are important in my head and in my heart.

Then as I drove through the town out towards the harbour with the window down there was a briny, seaweedy smell that was actually really fresh...maybe different...or else the sun just makes everything seem so much better!!

I love looking at the stars in a clear night sky and here the sky is so so clear at the minute. At home you can’t get the full effect of the stars because they are dulled by the street lamps, so when I went and sat on my rock staring up at the black night it looked like there were thousands more stars than usual. It was awesome. Sitting there on my rock with the distant sound of the waves crashing on the rocks, the wind idling in the leaves of the trees beside me, the occasional bleating of a nearby sheep and the vast expanse of the starry hosts above me. I could see the odd aeroplane pass over silently obviously miles above, the constant flash of the lighthouse at St John’s point, the plough...the only constellation that I can recognise and even a shooting star. Brilliant!

He Has Risen

2009-04-12T15:36:00.013+01:00

I really like Easter.

I think I would even say that it is my favourite time of the year - yep even more so than Christmas!

I had quite an odd conception of the period of time between Christmas and Easter when I was younger. It was like we prepared for Christs birth in December and then all of Jesus' 33 years and the entire gospel message fit in to 3 or 4 months depending on when Easter fell. After that there was some kind of Summer-y abyss when nothing happened!!

I guess in a way that is where we are in present days...in that summer-y abyss but we live in hope, hope of the return of the one Who Has Risen and it is only because of that fact we have any hope at all.

So yeh, Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday is my favourite week of the year and it was celebrated wonderfully this year throughout the Lisburn circuit. It was particularly interesting to be part of a Passover/Seder meal on Maundy Thursday when all of the elements of the meal and their significance were explained as we shared in it together, this was significantly brought to a close by sharing in communion together, the Christian Eucharist or Love Feast which Jesus asks us to do in remembrance of Him and which He shared with the 12 disciples at his final Passover meal.

Good Friday seen the carrying of the cross up Bow Street by the leaders of the main city centre churches. I had intended to get some pictures of this but as soon as the procession led by the cross began to move the heavens opened soaking everyone but the message of the cross was still proclaimed and celebrated.

The celebration that I look forward to most of all is the dawn rise service at Hillsborough Lake. As much as it may surprise many people I enjoy getting up really early to go and worship the risen Lord as the sun rises up over the lake. It may be cold, it may be damp and there may be lots of little flies eating you for breakfast but for me there's just something really special about being there to greet Easter morning and I don't think my Easter would be the same without it.

Then there was our Easter celebration service, a service full of life and Joy as well as a few surprises - especially for the young boy who had an egg smashed over his head by Rev Brian!!! Fair enough it was an empty shell but i'd have loved to have seen his face if it hadn't been - he was surprised enough as it was!!!

Brian shared a wonderful poem with us that really captures the essence of Easter....

Because He is Risen

Because he is risen
Spring is possible I
n all the cold hard places
Gripped by winter
And freedom jumps the queue
To take fear’s place as our focus
Because he is risen

Because he is risen
My future is an epic novel
Where once it was a mere short story
My contract on life is renewed in perpetuity
My options are open-ended
My travel plans are cosmic
Because he is risen

Because he is risen
Healing is on order and assured
And every disability will bow
Before the endless dance of his ability
And my grave too will open
When my life is restored
For this frail and fragile body
Will not be the final word on my condition
Because he is risen

Because he is risen
Hunger will go begging in the streets
For want of a home
And selfishness will have a shortened shelf-life
And we will throng to the funeral of famine
And dance on the callous grave of war
And poverty will be history
In our history
Because he is risen

And because he is risen
A fire burns in my bones
And my eyes see possibilities
And my heart hears hope
Like a whisper on the wind
And the song that rises in me
Will not be silenced
As life disrupts
This shadowed place of death
Like a butterfly under the skin
And death itself
Runs terrified to hide
Because he is risen

By Gerard Kelly

All of this is possible because He is Risen...because Christ died for each of us...but rose again conquering the grave. The service was closed in sharing the Eucharist and a rousing version of 'Thine Be the Glory' (prompting another childhood memory for me. My Nanny would have taken me to Newcastle Methodist on the odd occasion during 'caravan season' and i have a distinct memory of singing this song one Sunday morning after they had shared communion and I was convinced in my innocence and naivety that the words were 'Risen Concrete Sun'!!!) but there seemed to be a real sense of pure worship and expectancy and so may we take that attitude of worship and expectancy out in to the 'summer-y abyss' knowing our Risen Lord walking by our side.

Today I choose....

2009-03-30T15:46:00.006+01:00

I had one of those moments today when a song just spoke into my heart.

Listening to music while trying to work on an assignment for college I just had to stop and listen to the song a couple of times and let the words sink in...

This is what we...what I need to do each and every day. It's about making that choice...dying daily and choosing to say YES...choosing to follow...where ever that may be...choosing to listen for the voice that leads the way, and gives us life...life in its fullest sense.

And why not...

2009-03-25T00:31:00.003Z

Well, everyone seems to be doing it...so I thought I might as well give it a wee go...so here's my album cover!!!!!

Follow instructions exactly:

1 - Go to "wikipedia ." Hit “random... Read more”
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to "Random quotations "
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.

SNASS weekend - the real story!!

2009-03-16T22:26:00.015Z

On friday night SNASS headed off to the North Coast for our annual weekend away. We were staying at Sheep Island View Hostel in Ballintoy. We arrived without an hitches and settled in to the accomodation.

Our theme for the weekend was FREEDOM and our speaker Hollie led the first session getting us to do some word association around freedom and there were some interesting ideas that came out. Some recurring ideas were that of chains being broken, release, running through fields, birds flying and eh...nakedness (thanks for that one Jules ;) )

Worship was led throughout the weekend by or resident SNASS band, who are so good at creating an atmosphere of worship and praise leading us into God's presence as we offer our song of praise to Him.

Our activity for the evening was to recreate a famous movie in a different genre with a specific prop. An example was Cool Runnings, filmed as a musical using a saucepan. There were definitely some interesting and very amusing results. My favourite had to be The Lion King filmed as a horror...certainly an interesting take on the Disney film!!!

Then it was time for bed and apparently for my music collection to be ripped apart - thanks for that Jules and Michael. At least I had Pete to back me up with some things!! What can I say I have a wide range of tastes!

Saturday started all too early...granted earlier for some....

The oldest and the two youngest (also the cutest!!) SNASSers who were at the weekend!! Sorry Pete but I couldn't resist.

Events soon got underway and SNASS hit Ballintoy with an interesting Photo treasure hunt and 'Egg dropping' competition at the harbour. There was an evil forfeit thought up by Jules for those teams whose egg was broken on contact with the tarmac!!

A bowl filled with soup...flour and strategically placed jam...containing 4 mini mars bars which were to be found by memebers of the losing teams. Great fun for those watching...but not so much fun for those having to do it...hehe!!!

Our first 'victim'!!!...delightful

The last victim...and what the mixture looked like after 4 people had been rooting around in it!!!...Yum!!

But don't worry our 3rd challenger found something a little tastier to eat not long afterwards!

While the crew had been out, Jo and I had stayed behind to try and get dinner ready...cooking for 28 people ain't that easy...

I don't actually have any pictures of Hollie speaking but she did help to clear up the saucepans...a true servant!!!!

Saturday night began with a further session on Freedom and a panel to answer questions posed by the young people. This gave a chance for a few of the leaders to talk a little bit about their own christian experience and how they cope with issues which the young people are facing. Also showing that even though they are leaders they also have to face these issues and the young people aren't on their own.

Saturday night seen the airing of mine and Helen's big quiz with a difference, including a play dough round, a sports round, a picture round - guess the 'baby' leader and a music round with a difference.

The star of the night had to be Steve and his 33 press ups in 30 seconds helping his team to victory.

The night was rounded up by a late night walk to the park and then a round of Mafia...a game I always beleive brings out a persons true self...hehe!!

Making friends with the Hostel's statue!!

Jules monkeying around!!!

I had a short sharp intro to motherhood on Sunday morning when Jo appeared in our room at 3.15am saying her and Pete had to go to casualty (nothing serious and everyone was ok!)...so could I look after the boys until they got back. So I got some back up in the form of Julie and we went in and slept in their room with the 2 boys. The first thing I did before I went back to sleep was to pray that they were so worn out from their busy day with their 'big friends' that they would lie in a little later than their 5.30am saturday morning!! And well they did...till 6.30!! Amazingly both boys awoke with a giggle and a smile on their face, not too bothered about the 2 strange girls they woke up to find in their room. Although it was a little disconcerting when the older pointed at me in my bed and said daddy!!! But we got nappies changed (well Julie did!) when we eventually worked out which one went on which child, without any problems...hehe...well just a bit of a close call!!!! Then we headed off to get breakfast and bobo! At this point we had to try and remember Pete's hurried instructions for making a bottle, and once it was made we discovered they were actually back so parental supervision was handed back to them. But I reckon Julie and I made a fair attempt!!

Just before lunch on Sunday we all piled in to the mini bus and headed off to the beach for a quick walk and a time to take in the peace, chat, take some more pictures and even play some rugby!

We tried to get a jumping shot...not very successfully...but eventually got one of Julie...better than nothing I guess!!

All in all it was a great weekend which everyone enjoyed, good fellowship and teaching, great worship and praise, much banter and many many laughs. They are a great group of young people and leaders and it was my privilege to be able to share with them this weekend and every week on a sunday night.

SNASS weekend

2009-03-13T16:49:00.003Z

This weekend 28 SNASSers are heading off up the North Coast to Ballintoy for our annual weekend.

Im just home from doing a huage food shop, my car is so full and Im now trying to put final things in place!!

It's always a great weekend of fun, fellowship, banter, a few adventures, undoubtedly some embarrassment and really not much sleep but we love it!!

Anyway, I've lots to do so i'll fill you in on monday with how we get on...that's if I survive to tell the tale!! :)

What prompts us to serve??

2009-03-04T22:50:00.008Z

I have been using Oswald Chambers 'My Utmost for His Highest' during my devotion time recently and each day there has been a phrase or a thought or something that has really got me thinking and today was no different. But I thought I would share the particular thought that got me thinking today!!

"It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide."

My thinking around this is not very clear at the moment, so in a sense I am thinking out loud. Where I'm kind of headed with it is a sense of hiding from God in our service to Him...denying our true calling or even blocking it out and instead deciding ourselves where or what we should do to serve - therefore is that for our own ends and not for God's glory. Yet will He use it to make something good come from it - yes?...because He can.

But then on the flipside my mind goes to why would you bother serving if it wasn't ultimately for God's glory - is that where the 'christian emotion' comes in? Knowing the theories, the words to say, what is expected of a christian...and then doing it!!

Here I want to call in a term used by one of my favourite authors - Terry Pratchett in his discworld series. He writes about a group of witches (its purely for escapism and he is very very funny!!) and Granny Weatherwaxes form of magic is 'headology'...not hocus pocus but instead making someone believe something.

Is it a 'headology theology' of service...our head tells us and convinces us this is what we must do so we do it. Instead of a sacrifice that comes from a sense of compassion for others and wanting to share the gospel message...from the heart.

So is it easier to say that what we are doing is for God than actually listening for the small still voice of God to guide us to the task that he wants us to do. Are we looking for the recognition and taking the glory for ourself instead of directing it towards the One whose name in which we work and who deserves the glory? Are we scared to listen because the job we are asked to do will be too difficult...or even...too menial without any recognition?

I'm not sure if any of this makes any sense...I'm not even sure it makes any sense to me...so I'm just throwing it out there!!!

(Just to note, Oswald Chambers is not suggesting that we serve without a sense of call...it was his leading in to a thought on why we serve...to read a version of the full devotion check it out here)

Further Lenten thoughts...

2009-02-25T16:14:00.009Z

So I am continuing my thoughts on lent with a little help from a few helpful thoughts and comments from Mr Moo and from Jane via Facebook.

So my thinking at the minute is mainly regarding some kind of self-sacrifice, greater focus and the motivation behind it. Ultimately it is to bring myself before God and bringing a greater glory to Him. When thinking around this for college prayers today I came across the first instance in which Jesus talks about fasting in Matthew 6:16-18....

And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

So it should be done with an element of humility (...does that include broadcasting it on my blog...hmmm!!!?) but also with Joy and the expectation of meeting Jesus.

So what have I decided to do...I'm going to try my best to fast from lunch for the next 40 days, but I will continue to enjoy the fellowship around the meal table when I am with friends (unless they continue to make comments such as...mmmm this curry is amazing!!!) but if I am on my own I will try to make an effort to spend the time I would take to prepare and eat my lunch in prayer and/or bible study.

Well my first day hasn't been too bad and it is nearly teatime!!! But this is a journey that intrigues and excites me just a little bit.

Lent

2009-02-24T17:18:00.006Z

So what is Lent and why do people give things up that they enjoy for 40 days??

Lent is the 40 day long period leading up to Easter starting on Ash Wednesday. The number 40 has many biblical references - the 40 days Moses spent on Mount Sinai with God, the 40 days and nights Elijah spent walking to Mount Horeb, God made it rain for 40 days and 40 nights in the days of Noah. Jesus retreated in to the desert, where he fasted for 40 days and was tempted by the devil, all 3 of which temptations he overcame.

Traditionally the 3 practices to be taken up with renewed vigour during lent are prayer...justice towards God, fasting...justice towards self, and almsgiving...justice towards neighbour.

Today some people give up a vice of theirs, add something that will bring them closer to God and sometimes give the money saved to charity.

For most modern Protestants the observation of lent is considered to be a choice rather than an obligation deciding to give up a favourite food (chocolate) or drink (alcohol) or activity (video games, facebook) or take on a new or strengthen a current discipline.

My question is what does giving up chocolate or sweets do in the eternal scheme of things? Does it really have any effect? (other than potentially on the waistline!!) Is that what God wants us to do? Does not using our hair straighteners for 40 days help to bring us closer to Him? Or is it all about the attitude in which we approach these acts? Is it about testing our will power and turning to God for the strength to persevere?

So what Im trying to decide is am I going to give something up this year...or am I going to take on or work harder at a discipline?? But what??

Not long left to decide so any thoughts or suggestions would be very welcome!

Wee trip to the seaside...

2009-02-20T19:57:00.005Z

Today I decided to take some time out so I went for a wee drive and ended up beside the sea at an old time favourite place - Murlough Bay Nature Reserve. When we had a caravan in Newcastle I used to go there every morning with a friend to help her with her 2 dogs. I hadn't been there in ages and there were a few changes...like the herd of cows free to wander around!!

There were even some Irish Goats...I doubt these ones will make it on to a plate though!!

It was a perfect day, the sun was shining...it was still freezing but it was clear and bright and the scenery was awesome. Just me, my ipod and my journal and the inspiration of my Father's creation.

We Cry Out...

2009-02-19T17:01:00.014Z

This morning I went out to Hillsborough for a walk before college, I find it’s a great place to think things over and just clear out my mind. I was listening to some music and often that’s how I pray, through the words of the songs and well today I had one of those moments when I was sent the right song just at the right time and I wanted to share it with you.

A BIG shout out to Andrew Jernigan who first introduced me to Brian and Jenn Johnson's music...they have become a big favourite :)

Tears

2009-02-14T21:42:00.004Z

To follow on from what I mentioned in the last entry...one of the things that really struck me was about crying...cry if you need to. Sometimes the words just don't come and only tears make sense...even if they don't!! I certainly found this to be true during my time at Lake Bosomtwe...and one day Rebecca showed me the following passasge from a book and it just helped to make so much sense of some of my tears at least!!!

The Secret of Tears

One of the greatest gifts you can bring to your King is the gift of absolute sincerity. I’m talking about a purity of heart that says, “Lord, I’m coming to You because You really are the center of my universe. You truly are all that I live for. My heart is totally and fully set upon You.” Nothing surpasses the delight of being able to sing songs of total consecration with absolute abandon.

Feelings of sincerity are quickly defused when we allow the flesh to defile our conscience. No earthly pleasure is worth a defiled conscience. Feelings of guilt arise when we feel hypocritical before God – when we’ve spurned His overtures in order to gratify the desires of the flesh. Oh what delight when we can come boldly before His throne with a clean conscience! Even though we’re not yet perfected and even though we struggle with weakness, our hearts reach for Him with impassioned desire.

I call this “sweet sincerity.” This sincerity of heart has settled the issue once and for all: Jesus truly is the great love of my heart. This sincerity is “sweet” because when you know you’re totally sincere in coming to God, you feel the sweetness of His reciprocating love. This is when “love [is] without hypocrisy” (Romans 12:9). I have personally found my awareness of His presence to be strongest when I have had great yearning of heart for Him. When my soul longs for Him in sweet sincerity, even to tears, my awareness of His reciprocating affections is heightened.

True love must function in total sincerity, void of duplicity adulterous passions. This is why we must find those measures that evoke our sense of sweet sincerity before the Lord. Now, here’s the beauty of it: When love is without hypocrisy, the sweetness of this sincerity is often accompanied by tears.

Of the seven psalms that refer to tears, three are attributed to David’s pen. The man who had an absolutely sincere secret life with God was a man of tears. David cried, “Do not be silent at my tears” (Psalms 39:12), as though his tears commended his sincerity to God. Clearly tears are not meant for women only. Another psalmist expressed the sincerity of his cry by pointing to his tears: “My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, ‘Where is your God?’” (Psalm 42:3).

There’s something about tears that is pure and unfeigned. I suppose it’s possible, in a technical sense, to fake tears (as actors learn to do), but let’s be honest about it: Nobody is about to fake tears while praying. When it comes to the secret place, tears are either honest or absent.

So the presence of tears is a profound statement to your departed Bridegroom. Tears are liquid words. Tears say more than words often can. Whereas words can sometimes contain the pretense of plastic platitudes, tears come straight from the heart.

Have you known tears? You are blessed. Do you struggle to find tears? Then ask for them. It’s a request He will graciously fulfill.

We cry because we desire or because we’re in pain; so tears are the language of desire. We desire Him, even to tears. If we lack that desire, He will cultivate it within us by seemingly withdrawing from us in His mercy. It’s famine that makes us hungry; it’s drought that makes us thirsty. Deprivation produces desire.

Do not despise the pain that gave you tears. Pour out your heart to Him; God is a refuge for us! Those who “love much” still wash the Lord’s feet with their tears (see Luke 7:36-48).

Weeping and tears have always gained the Lord’s attention. David understood this when he wrote, “Put my tears into Your bottle” (Psalm 56:8). Not only does the Lord notice our tears, He actually bottles and stores them as an everlasting witness in His presence.

There are two kinds of sickness in the Bible that produce tears. The first is mentioned in Proverbs 13:12, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” When the hope of God’s deliverance is deferred, the heart grows sick. This heartsickness produces a groaning from the depths of the spirit and is expressed in tears. These are the tears of the brokenhearted, and they are not despised by God. Heartsickness cries, “Oh God, visit me! Come to me in Your power and fulfill your word in my life!”

The other sickness that produces tears is seen in Song of Solomon 5:8, “I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him I am lovesick!” Lovesickness is the consequence of our Lord’s restrained self-revelation, who reveals Himself to us dimly as through a veil or a dark glass. When the heart is awakened to the beauty of the King and the eyes long to behold Him, but He reveals Himself in but a fraction of His fullness, the saint becomes sick with love. Lovesickness cries, “Show me Your glory, Lord! I want to see You, I want to know You!”

Heartsickness is the product of unrequited power; lovesickness is the consequence of unrequited love. David articulated both passions when, during his years of hiding in the wilderness, he cried, “So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory” (Psalm 63:2). Heartsickness weeps, “Show me Your hand!” Lovesickness weeps, “Show me Your face!”

I am told the story of a certain young man who was seeking a breakthrough in his life in a certain area, but had exhausted all he knew to do to gain spiritual breakthrough. He wrote General William Booth (founder of The Salvation Army) for advice. The General wrote back two simple words, “ Try tears.”

William Booth had learned the secret. The inner chamber of prayer gains its impetus from the liquid power of tears. Do you long for a greater reality in your walk with God?

Try tears.

(C) Secrets of the Secret Place, Bob Sorge, Oasis House, 2001

Global Vision 2009

2009-02-14T19:42:00.004Z

Today was Global Vision...a yearly conference held by the Methodist Missionary Society (Ireland) to highlight overseas mission and to inform people of what is going in out there in the world of overseas mission, with our overseas mission partners and other current issues.

There was a great range of seminar topics to choose from including feedback from a mission partner recently returned home from Tonga, the story of a previous Muslims conversion to Christianity, the changing face of mission, Papua New Guinea and Afghanistan.

Everybody that spoke had a wonderful and engaging story to tell but for me the best part of the entire day was the last 15 minutes or so when the General Secretary summed up the day and added his thoughts. What were we going to do with what we had heard, learnt or felt called to. Would we go home saying we had, had a great day or would we go home changed...prepared to make a change...go home to pray...fast...and if we need to cry...but most of all let God use it and listen to how He wants to use it.

What would you attempt if you knew you wouldn't fail??

2009-02-11T23:50:00.010Z

I'm not quite sure what we were talking about or how this came up at SAP this week but someone mentioned that little phrase..."what would you attempt if you knew you wouldn't fail?"..It's so true that often we don't step out or attempt to do something because we are scared of our own failure.

There was one thing that came to my mind...which I am not going to reveal!!...and it's something that i've often thought, yeh i'd like to give it a go. So why haven't I? Am I scared what others will think, am i scared of rejection, scared i'll not be good enough, ultimately scared of failure?!!! Or maybe it's not something God has in my future, I guess it's something that needs a little more thought and prayer, all prompted by that little phrase.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

snow...woohoo...

2009-02-02T23:36:00.005Z

Tonight...there was snow...yay!! I love the snow it's just so fresh and pure.

But it can cause so much hassle for so many people. As a country which doesn't get very snow we are totally unprepared when it comes and everything just seems to shut down.

Which is why I was even out in it in the first place! To be fair when i left the house there was none in sight but when I arrived home a few hours later this was the scene. I had been babysitting for Janine as Clifford had been stranded in England...airports closing down because of the snow!

As much as I like the snow I'm glad it didn't even last the night...its nice to look at but it's not much fun to drive or walk out in!!

All for love...

2009-02-01T23:39:00.006Z

We have been following a series on Grace and Gideon in our evening services over the past couple of weeks which Ive really been enjoying or perhaps to put it a better way Ive got a lot out of it and learnt a lot.Something that just seems to keep popping up for me at the minute is just how incomprehensible God is. From studying Job who's suffering is inflicted by the Satan with God's approval. But suffering is not the only topic to be found in Job but also the journey that Job takes with God coming to the point of submission because he will never understand God's ways or means. Then there is the divine name of God...'I AM who I AM'. This is something that has always intrigued me...there is just so much meaning in those 2 very small words I AM. 2 words that sum up the essence of my God who was, is and evermore shall be...transcending all space and time...any wonder we could never possibly understand all that He is.

This was the conclusion I had come up with regarding the sacred name for my Old Testament exam but never got to use...but that's a whole other story!!!

In the diverse cameos which emerge in an attempt to unravel the complexity of the origin, meaning and significance of the sacred name YHWH, a rich tapestry of challenging ideas can be taken for our worship today. When we enter God’s presence is there the same echo of excitement which evokes an ecstatic cry from the depths of our being as we reflect on the otherness and greatness of God in creation and all of life. We often have a casual familiarity which can easily degenerate into a performance. But as it is revealed in the culmination of the passage in Exodus in which God’s name is revealed, Yahweh’s name and nature exists in all time, in all directions, for ever and for all generations. God is essentially the God of presence in every conceivable experience that life throws at us demonstrating that the unpronounceable I AM speaks in the life death and resurrection of the One who claimed in John 8:58 – ‘before Abraham was , I AM’.

It can really be quite mind bending stuff which i guess for me is where faith comes in...He is the great God...Yahweh...I AM...and He cares about me...how awesome is that. The creator of the universe who breathed life itself wants to know about me...even though He already knows everything about me, He still wants me to chat to Him about it!

And it was this I was thinking about as we thought a little more about grace and prepared for communion on Sunday night and there was a verse that kept running through my head...

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:19

How can we understand a love that is prepared to die for us...a stranger...but that's just it...we aren't strangers as God knows every little intimate detail about us and just loves us that much.

The Lion King

2009-01-27T21:29:00.004Z

Today was particularly exciting for me!! :)

I absolutely love the film the Lion King so when Rach asked me if there was a show i'd like to go see when I was over my immediate answer was the Lion KIng. So I was very excited all day.

As i have mentioned before i am emotional little soul and the Lion King makes me well up everytime...even before the actual film starts...the opening credits with the animals all making their way to pride rock for the presentation of SImba to the Circle of Life...wow!! And the musical was no different, it was awesome the way all the animals made their way in and the costumes were brilliant...i particularly liked the giraffes and the elephants.

The best character however had to be Rafiki the monkey, she was fantastic and really brought the character to life.

It was awesome watching the percusion guy up in the gallery playing the bongos etc he was just so full of life and animated...just how it should be. There was such an african feel about the whole thing which was just so good, they really had a wonderful atmosphere in the theatre and really made me feel like I wanted to be back again! :)

All in all it was a wonderful show and I reckon has cemented my love of the Lion King even more.

Happy Chinese New Year...

2009-01-26T21:26:00.004Z

Monday saw the dawning of the Chinese year of the Ox and what better way to celebrate than going for a chinese in china town??

After a relaxing day and some wandering around shops and of course a visit to Starbucks I met Rachel and 3 of her friends in china town for a particularly tasty meal and some 'interesting' conversation.

There was evidence of the new year all around china town as it was wonderfully decorated with lanterns that seemed to wind for miles up and down the streets. It created a wonderful atmosphere and i thought it looked very pretty.

Reliving our youth...

2009-01-25T21:18:00.002Z

It's very handy when you know somebody in the media business. Rach is usually able to get tickets for some concert or other and when she got tickets for NKOTB how could we possibly turn down the chance to see them!!

I was never a huge fan have to admit...I was more of a Brosette but I did recognise a few of the songs...the classics, 'Hangin' tough', 'step by step' and the 'right stuff'. I did however have to be told who was who as I just couldn't recognise them. It was quite a few years ago after all!!

Ah the classic boy band all in white ballad...you just gotta love how cheesy they took it!!

And how awesome is that...they are spelling NKOTB...ingenius!!! ;0)

But seriously they put on a good show despite the cheese. But it was unreal seeing grown women screaming and cheering as if they were still 14. Particularly how they engulfed the 5 of them when they came up to the balcony...I was literally waiting for someone to go over the edge!! Alot of them even still knew all the words to all the songs!!! There's just something weird and obsessive about that!!

My little adventure to London...

2009-01-24T21:35:00.002Z

Yay...exams are over...finally.

They only lasted for 2 weeks but it felt like they went on for ever.

Now I have a wee week off. So I headed off to London for a few days to visit Rach. She has been constantly asking me to come visit for the last ten and a half years since she headed off to university in Aberdeen and finally I have got round to it!!

It feels great to not have to worry about study or anything for a week, a chance to just relax and chill and that's just what we did tonight. Thai food, chat and a dvd...what more could you ask for :)

Health Warning

2009-01-04T23:30:00.002Z

There should be a health warning or small print included when you sign up to go on a short term missions team that it might just change your life...and in some cases drastically.

That's just what happened for Ruth Wilson. Ruth was a member of the MMS(I) Volunteers in Mission team to Togo back in July 2007.

Team Ireland 2007

From that visit she felt God's call upon her life and put herself forward as a Mission Partner with the Methodist Church. After a lengthy process she was accepted and in September went to Selly Oaks mission training college to prepare to go to The Gambia, where she will be teaching.

Ruth with some of her fellow international students who attend Selly Oaks

Today Ruth was commissioned in Fivemiletown Methodist as a mission partner in a wonderful service of worship and will shortly be leaving to take up her new post in Banjul.

Some of Team Ireland 2007 with Ruth at her commissioning

Ruth heard God's call, listened and followed. I know that He will continue to guide and to keep her through this big and exciting change, He will keep her paths straight and protect her from any harm.

When you surrender yourself to God's will and put your life in His hands you have no idea what you could be doing or where you could end up but you can always be sure that He has everything under control.

Thank you for the music!!

2008-12-23T23:55:00.000Z

I have been to 2 concerts within the past couple of weeks...both very different...yet both amazingly brilliant in their own way.

A couple of weeks back mum and I went to the Waterfront to see Mr Daniel O'Donnell... Only 7 rows from the front, brilliant, and 2 rows in front of Majella...but we'll not talk about her!!

It was a fantastic Christmas show with all my favorite classics and Christmas classics, a fantastic nights entertainment.

Tonight I went to the Odyssey to see Coldplay!! Awesome!! Again playing all my favorites.

I was a good bit away from the stage but I didn't care, I was happy I'd been able to get a ticket at all!! Then half way through there was a bit of excitement as practically all the bouncers were standing in the walk way in front of us cordoning off those on the ground...I happened to look round and half way up the block I could see them setting up guitars in our block.

They came down the aisle and up past us to the tiny little stage that had been set up and did a couple of songs...awesome!! Great seats after all!!

I'm not in the least bit musical...i have no musical talent and not a note in my head.

But music does something to me, it causes an emotion to rise within me, something I can't even describe, it makes me feel alive and it's a great release to shout out the words of a song. It's such a pleasure to share in someones God given talent.

I will have to agree...they are 2 extremely different acts!! As they say...variety is the spice of life!!!!

House MD at Lake Bosomtwe...

2008-12-16T22:30:00.003Z

I can't believe i'm actually sharing this with everyone!!!

You may remember a couple of months back while I was at Lake Bosomtwe I blogged about a Sunday afternoon we spent filming a spoof version of House MD?! Well it has now come through production and is ready for viewing!!!

Thanks to Fox for all the hard work he put into it...he did have a tough bunch of 'actors' to work with!!!

Enjoy!!!!!

Part 1...

Part 2...

Imprisoned for a day...

2008-11-23T23:14:00.006Z

Wow...today has been pretty full on with lots packed in.

Its started this morning with church in Magheragal Methodist where a few of the Ghana team were sharing a little of our summer adventures in the service. We were made to feel very welcome and it was great to be able to share with them as part of our circuit, particularly as Clem, one of our team members is part of the congregation.

We were then treated to a wonderful lunch prepared by Clem's wife before a few of us headed on to our next engagement at Meghaberry Prison, to share in their afternoon service also about our Ghana adventures. I was really looking forward to this opportunity but as the time grew nearer I started to feel a little anxious and could feel my nerves rising. Especially when we got through the first big security gate and I could see the actual prison building up close. It just looked so grey and dismal, a foreboding place. We were met at the prison by Rev Dennis Bambrick who has been involved in prison chaplaincy since he retired.

We had to go through security checks which involved having our palms scanned to allow us through the many security doors. I was first to have my palm scanned and id card produced...but the last to actually get in through the security door. For some reason my id card and palm scan weren't matching - not even able to get into prison!! Eventually the very patient warden discovered the problem and i was able to go through. Many security gates and a scan later we made it inside and Dennis guided us to the chapel. It was simple but serene, a little bit of peace in what I can only imagine is a dark and horrendous existence. We were shown in alongside the inmates and it was a extremely strange sensation to be walking in alongside them. We had been told by one of the guards along the way not to be under any illusions as to why they were at the service. Some of them would be there genuinely to worship and hear the word, whereas for others it was a rare opportunity to see inmates from other 'houses' and a chance to exchange 'goods'. I have to admit though that they all appeared to be very polite and welcoming to us. There was some noise while we were talking to them but then if your involved in any youth stuff you're used to that anyway!! All in all it was a very positive experience for me and we didn't have much of an opportunity to chat to them afterward as time was short and we had started late but a couple of African guys did approach and to say they were so pleased that we were involved in the work in Ghana because Africa needs so much help and they need to hear the message we were bringing. One of them explained to us how he was Ghanaian and his father lived in Accra...it really is a small world!

That was us finished, back out through all the security gates and freedom!!...and yes they let us all out!! The chaplains and prison fellowship do a wonderful work there with a group of men who need to hear the message of love. It's not a witness that I really thought much about but I am grateful for experience and I am pleased to have been able to be involved in it in a small way.

Well that was half way through my day...the next couple of hours were spent at the Lewis household enjoying tea, cookies and chilli!!

Before we went to Seymour Street for the New Members Reception Service...including a surprise interview sprung on Helen and I!! Five young people were received into full membership of the Methodist Church, four of which were SNASSers. One of those services that fills you with pride having seen how these young people have grown and matured in their own confidence and faith. Also one of those services that helps to remind us why we do what we do :)

Draw me close...

2008-11-12T20:43:00.001Z

Lord, this is my prayer......

Draw me close to You
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear You say that I'm Your friend

You are my desire
No one else will do
'Cause nothing else could take Your place
To feel the warmth of Your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to You

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know You are near

©Australia Hillsongs

Autumn Soul 2008

2008-11-02T21:04:00.012Z

This past weekend 38 SNASSers were in Bangor for the Autumn Soul weekend. There was a mixture of Seymour Streeters, Priest Hill, a Dubliner and some Fins!!

The SNASS group out and about during a prayer walk on the Sunday morning...(missing are Karen Hutchinson and Brian Anderson)

This years theme was Revolution and we had a fantastic time of great teaching, preaching, praise and fellowship...but as usual not very much sleep!! But I do believe that everyone who was there for any part of it left changed...if even just a little bit.

A couple of weeks back I wrote about a video Brian had used in SNASS. As part of the opening worship service a group of SNASSers performed the same mime. They did an amazing job and it was extremely powerful. It moved me once more and i was so proud of them getting up there and performing it.

Please keep praying for all these young people who are trying to live revolutionary lives in their schools, with their friends and in their homes.

Sunday afternoon spectacular...

2008-10-26T17:44:00.003Z

Introducing the "cousin's"...

Alex, Holly, Kerrie and Grace

This afternoon I had the pleasure of being invited to and attending one of their auspicious shows in aid of the N.I. Cancer Fund for Children.

A grand sum was raised through their show, penned by Grace, a wonderful tale of reconciliation and forgiveness, through the auctioning of a much sought after piece of art work, the selling of greetings cards and a ballot.

A lovely afternoon chatting with friends over a cup of tea and four very inventive and talented young ladies...yes, who make me smile :)

shell club update....

2008-10-24T16:48:00.002+01:00

Check out the update on what the Shell Club have been learning about this year on the Seymour Street Blog :)

He's all you need

2008-10-12T23:40:00.005+01:00

This is one of those videos doing the rounds at the moment and most people have probably seen it and indeed I had seen it before tonight. But Brian used it tonight as part of his talk to SNASS and as we were sitting huddled around the laptop (yep techno probs with the data projector!!) I felt like I was seeing it for the first time, indeed understanding the message for the first time and yes it gave me goose pimples!!

It has such a powerful and real message and I would recommend watching it if you've got 5mins to spare it may well help you see an old message with new eyes too.

Home sweet home!!!

2008-09-08T18:17:00.004+01:00

The final leg of the journey is complete!! And im back in the land of the Irish after what felt like a long long journey from Lome.

The flight was pretty uneventful other than the fact a gentleman 2 rows in front was pretty ill most of the flight - so at one stage most of the cabin crew were crowded around him (and there were a lot of cabin crew!!) along with a doctor who was on the flight!! There was no chance of any sleep at all, so I was very jealous of the guy seating beside me who pretty much slept from sitting down in the seat until we landed!! I can never understand how people can do that!! So 2 films and many episodes of Friends later we landed in Paris at Charles De Gaulle.

Then the long wait began...my connecting flight to Belfast wasn't for another 12 hours!! Any other time I might have gone too check out the sights of paris but I was in no fit state to go any where. So i tried to find somewhere quiet to sit down for a while. I happened to pass the multi-faith prayer area so i decided to check it out. The christian area was empty so i went in and sat down thinking this was the perfect place to spend some time thinking not to many people would be around. I guess with it being a sunday morning I was wrong shortly after that i had fell asleep listening to my Ipod when a couple people started coming in...before i knew it I was in the middle of a service of mass and even ended up giving one of the readings!!! Certainly an interesting expereince when it was all in french!!

The rest of the day was spent moving from seat to seat trying not to embarrass my self by falling asleep in any strange positions!!

Eventually it was time to check in and make my way to the boarding gate - here I knew I was on my way home when i heard the Northern Irish accents all around me...finall i was no loinger in the minority!! :) I did get chatting to a couple who were coming home from holiday, so i told them a little of what I had been doing and to my amazement when i said I had been in Ghana living near Kumasi the gentleman said 'oh yes i know it', apparently his uncle had lived there many years before working in either the univerity or college!!

Our flilght was delayed a short time and by that stage i though i was going to go out of my mind if i had to sit in an airport any longer!! But i held it together and boarded the flight (which Julie Dillon got off...walking past us on the walkway - not even waving having not seen me for three months!!! ;o) ) bound for the homeland!! The last leg of my long journey and my big adventure is nearly over.

But there was one last hurdle to get over...bags!! Would they be there or not and well they weren't!!! I had them checked through from Lome to Belfast Internetional and well it turns out that Easyjet dont do baggage transfers!! I didn't know that and well the airport staff at Lome didnt know that either - Im not surprised really they hadn't even heard of Easyjet!! So i'm currently waiting to find out if my bags are making their way from Paris or not!!!

Then it was out in to the cold Belfast evening for the final pick up by mum and dad, there was only a slight panic as we drove off on the wrong side of the road and went round the roundabout the wrong way but I soon settled.

So my big adventure is over...or is it!! No, it's never over as every day is new and different, you never know where God is going to lead you, what challenge He will put in your path or who you are going to meet.

Life is a big adventure :)

God is good...

2008-09-06T16:17:00.005+01:00

...All the time...Praise the Lord...Amen

The last 24 hours have certainly been heart stopping!!

I arrived safely in Lome yesterday morning to be met by Gerard and Fidele, friends from the Methodist Church Headquarters here in Togo. It was great to see them again and I am very grateful for their help with all things french.

So after settling in to my hotel Fidele took me to the KLM/Air France offices to confirm my ticket flying out on 6th Sept (tonight!) as it had been changed in Accra...something that I thought would be pretty straight forward. But no it did not turn out that way!! The lady we spoke to informed us that I did not have a reservation despite what it said on the sheet I was holding and the plane was full to capacity...no seats what so ever. The only thing I could do was have my name put on the standby list and pray...after that there next availability was 16th September!!! I could not believe what I was hearing!! I was so glad to be able to laugh about it...if I hadnt I think I would have went mad! And the lady did manage to smile and laugh a little when I asked was there no seat what so ever...what about the pilots...could I have his seat??

So we left the office and I was in a slight state of shock...all we could do was come back this morning ay 9.00am when the offices opened and pray there was a move on the standby list. We headed to the Methodist Headquarters to tell Gerard the news and he was just as shocked. We started to think of plan b and he rang around some other companies to see if they had any flights leaving Lome this weekend for Paris. We found one with Air Ivoire leaving on sunday night so i provisionally booked a place on it...just in case nothing came of the stand by list!! That was all I could do, so I can honestly say last night was not the most restfull of mylife so far!! Most of it was spent on the internet (thankfully my hotel is fully wireless) looking at ticket possibilites as I was not totally convinced by the Air Ivoire choice having looked at the itinerary more closely. There were about 3 stops - the first being in Accra!!! Then somewhere like Abidjhan before a stop in Paris which then went on to Paris!! 24 hours in total to get to Paris...not exactly something to look forward to!! So not only that my mobile battery was fast waning and well my charger was broken!! I had not expected to be making so many calls and texts between Accra and Belfast as Janet quite rightly put it, it was like something out of a horror story...lol!!!

So I slept some and was up and ready to leave for the KLM offices at 9.00am!! I actually felt so ill on the way there and sitting waiting for our little number to come up to see if I was coming home or not!! Then it was our turn...Fidele and I made our way to the desk for what felt like judgment - yes you allowed in or no sorry your not coming!! Praise God it was a yes!! The lady who dealt with us yesterday seen us and smiled saying 'oh its you, yes your on'. I dont know what happened, if someone cancelled or what and well it doesnt really matter anymore cause I have a seat on the flight :) it was the miracle I and many people had been praying for, for me! Such relief I do not ever remember feeling before...I'M COMING HOME!!! So with Fideles help I was ticketed for the flight and she managed to help me find a phone charger...amazing!! In a couple of hours I will be on my way to the airport extra early - there will be no stopping me getting on that plane now and I will still be praying right up until I touch down on the tarmac in Belfast tomorrow night!! :)

So a big thank you to everyone who was praying and standing with me, it is so appreciated and for all the texts, facebook messages and phonecalls of support and well wishes, they were amazing.

I'll be seeing you all so very soon!

Last days....

2008-09-04T20:30:00.009+01:00

So I am now safely in Accra – the first leg of my journey completed.

So how were my last few days at the lake?

Most of my time was spent trying to tie up loose ends regarding the construction project, trying to relax a little and spending time with friends. The team from Dunwoody UMC were here with us until Tuesday afternoon so there were literally hundreds of patients waiting all day Monday and Tuesday. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the compound so busy! So it was nice when peace and calm returned on Wednesday!

Rebecca and Lucas have been talking about the world in school so we had the globe in our house...i thought this was the perfect opportunity to get an intercontinental picture as there were 4 continents represented in the room at the time!!

Rebecca – North America, Me – Europe, Michael – Africa and Lucas – South America...what an international bunch we are!!

I also had lots of goodbyes to say and on Wednesday afternoon took the opportunity to say thank you and goodbye to all the construction workers – masons, labourers, plumbers and electricians – all of whom I have become very fond of, they are all awesome guys!! It was a common sight to see on of them hanging out a window or on top of a nearly finished wall shouting Abena, Abena Louise as I walked up and down the hill. Always trying to test my Twi which never quite lived up to the standards they thought I had reached!!!

On Wednesday I was treated to my final lunch by Michael (who had become a regular chef in our kitchen!) and Abena Rebecca. We sat down to a feast of Yam chips and peppe (?) one of my favourite dishes and of course Avacado which they seem to be able to eat at every meal...i don’t understand it myself!! ;o)

So that was my last day at the lake the end of a blessed time and I feel very privileged to have shared my summer with some very special people.

The Jernigan Family with their 3 mad interns.

Final moments in the house.

Today Rebecca and Michael came with me to Kumasi, i had never been to the market and well this was my last opportunity and it is huge!! There are little wooden stalls everywhere with narrow walkways between them. It was very crowded with many many people walking up and down often with 'Wide-loads' on their heads so we often had to duck to let them past!! It was pretty crazy with many interesting sights and smells but definitely had to be experienced before i left!!

Then it was to Pizza Inn for a farewell pizza before goodbyes at the airport!!

And finally Rebecca...you never know where Tweety will turn up!!!

The Last Supper!!

2008-09-04T08:56:00.001+01:00

Well this is my last entry from the lake…wow!!

I will be leaving very soon for Kumasi where I will fly to Accra later this afternoon, and so my journey home begins!

It has been really tough saying goodbye to everyone whom I’ve come to think of as family. But I know that bond will never be broken as we will always be united through Christ no matter where we are.

One moment I want to tell you about for now. Last night Michael and James came over for their last visit along with their friend Eric who is visiting. James has been saying at dinner practically every night since Sunday that it was the last supper…and well tonight it really was. We shared in our last supper together, sharing in fellowship, laughs, memories and a few tears over Sprite and cookies. True communion with friends who are loved greatly and will be missed very much indeed.

Ankaase Community Service...

2008-09-02T11:35:00.017+01:00

There is currently an American mission team from Dunwoody United Methodist Church here with us at the clinic on a brief visit as they are only staying 4 days on site, today being their last day. They have a medical team which is providing free consultation and drugs to many many patients and as i write they are a couple of hundred people waiting and it has been the same the past couple of days. People have come from villages all around the lake for the free clinic. They also have a construction team who are helping out on the building site, helping with electrical work and anything else that needs done.

On Sunday past we took part in another community church service. This time in Ankaase (which means under the orange tree).

While we were waiting for the service to begin Rebecca and I took the opportunity to sit by the lakeside with some of the local children who sat with us and talked to us and then joined us during the serivce.
People always make an effort to look their best on a sunday morning for church and this little guy was actually wearing a 3 piece suit.

Each church had their own meeting to take care of any business/announcements and then came to join us at the lakeside under the trees which was thankfully shaded and nice and cool, and it was great to see some of the workers from the site who live in Ankaase there with us.

Each church took part in the service whether that was leading the singing or praying.
Ankasse Methodist choir

Rebecca and I read the 2 lessons in English - being introduced as Abena Junior and Abena Senior to distinguish between us as we both have the same day name! - then a member of one of the local congregations read it in Twi.

Andrew and Michael then spoke to the crowd from Matthew 25:31-49 - the parable of the sheep and the goats.

Andrew was clearly having far too much fun!!

Which for me was particularly poignant as the first time this passage really struck me was when i spent some time in Uganda. So to be back in Africa and to hear this passage preached on was very special.

Of course there was plenty of dancing and singing with Grace one of the clinic ward assistants making sure that Rebecca and i didnt sit still for too long!

In the afternoon the team led a 'Vacation Bible School' in Ankaase.

We took over the football pitch playing games with the children, unfortunately the weather didnt really hold back long enough for the full programme to take place but the many kids who came (probably 2-3 hundred) all seemed to enjoy there afternoon with the team.

One memory i will go away with is dancing with a group of women looking over the field. Beetrum was playing some twi songs over the sound system so Rebecca and i started to dance - as we do anytime we hear music :)
Soon we were surrounded by a number of women young and old, only too happy to show us their moves and smiling with delight as we copied them. Sometimes we worry so much about not being able to communicate or talk to the people in Twi...but sometimes words arent even needed and this was one of those moments - those women were just happy to spend that time with us dancing, smiling and laughing.

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT)

Outreach in Douase and Doompa

2008-08-30T17:37:00.008+01:00

Well I have had lots of firsts since my Big Adventure began back in June – and now the lasts have started!! This is my last Saturday at the clinic and indeed in Ghana, but I’ll try not to dwell on that too much just yet!

This last week we have been involved in an outreach programme in 2 local villages. Starting with Douase where we spent 2 nights singing, dancing, showing the Jesus film and praying with the people form that village.

dancing in Douase

It was a miracle the first night that we managed to get through without any rain – it was threatening all night but we got away with the odd drizzle which thankfully didn’t affect the electrical equipment. There was also the challenge of ‘lights out’ – the term used when the electricity is not working – this time we thankfully had the foresight to bring a generator after previous experiences! These were 2 very challenging nights – its difficult to see what difference we are making when often the people leave as soon as the video stops – but there were also many children and adults who stayed and raised their hands for prayer and in acceptance of Christ.

I also finally sat on one of the little fishing boats the local men use – it was of course on dry land!! The second village we went to was Doompa. Here we received a warm welcome with many familiar faces as a number of the workers on the site live in Doompa (a 2 hour walk from the clinic) and of course Ya Ya the bread lady who comes faithfully each day selling her fresh bread. We took over the covered community area in the centre of the village, setting up our equipment with many helping hands from the children. During the showing of the video (which was in Twi giving Michael a break from translation) on the first night we had front row seat facing the huge crowd that had gathered this was amazing as we were able to see the reactions on some of the closer children’s faces. They were just transfixed by what they were seeing taking every single thing in.

The video started with creation and anytime a picture of animals or plants came up on the screen there was an audible and visible gasp of awe. Some of them may never have seen pictures of anything like that never mind on film up on a big screen. Also from where we were sitting we could see the odd flash of lightening lighting up the clouds from behind and any areas that were free of cloud was covered in bright shining stars. This really is an awesomely beautiful place with beautiful people with such gentle spirits living here.

Please pray for the people of these 2 villages that they may receive God’s message of love for them and that God will continue to shower his blessings down upon them.

This week I also got to drive again – this time I drove back from Doompa the first night we were there. So not only was I driving on the dirt tracks but in the dark!! It was, well, interesting to say the least. The hill out of Doompa is steep, uneven, steep, muddy, steep, rocky and yeh, steep!! At one point Bessie just wasn’t going anywhere so I decided to roll back a bit to take another go at it, to which there was a shout in the back from Obeng (the plumber working on the building site) “back is not good” so I went forward again and this time actually got somewhere. But there were many cries of Sorry-o from me as we hit another rock or pothole that I just hadn’t seen! The only other incident was when we hit a muddy patch after which we had to come to a halt with Becca shouting “Don’t over correct!!” at some points it felt like she was my rally co-driver as she shouted “go left”, “right right” or “keep going straight” but it was all good and we managed to make it back to the clinic in one piece without hitting any dogs, goats or bush rats to Becca’s disappointment!!

And people say i'm irrational...

2008-08-28T13:14:00.003+01:00

Ok, if you read this article people may understand my extremely rational fear of spiders!!!

They are nasty and horrible...I just hope that I don't bring any home in my luggage next week!!

It doesn't help that I had an 8 legged visitor in my room 2 nights ago...not only that, it was blocking the door so i had no escape route!! So i just had to 'RAID' it...only thing is i sprayed so much i nearly knocked myself out!!

The Germans have gone!!

2008-08-24T17:30:00.001+01:00

We said good bye to our German visitors on Monday morning;

it was fun having them about for a few days. We shared meals,

went to the football,

shared in one of the outreach nights,

cut Rebecca’s hair

and I learnt some German…well tried to remember some from years gone by!! It kind of scared me a little when I realized that it had been 15 years since I did any German in school! But Susie found my attempted description of Thunder and Lightening…Boom Boom Flash Flash…very amusing. I thought it was pretty accurate but apparently she thought I meant fireworks but it kept her laughing for a while. As did my pronunciation of many of the words I said but they were quite surprised at how well I could put together a sentence with the use of their little German ~ English dictionary!! :)

German Invasion!! And singing from the rooftops!!

2008-08-21T19:15:00.005+01:00

It can be so difficult to make plans here...when we get up in the morning we never know what is going to happen and today was definitely just like that.

Everything was going along nicely, Andrew and Michael had went to Kumasi for the day, Rebecca had been teaching Lucas in school and I was down in the office 'working'!! All pretty normal so far you might say...then it happened!! I could hear some talking and when i looked out the window i had to rub my eyes and look again!! There were 2 'obruni' girls walking past the clinic with back packs on.

As soon as I seen them I had to go and see what was going on. I introduced myself and discovered they were visiting Ghana from Germany, Susy and Nadine. They had arrived in Accra Saturday past and had left Kumasi this morning aiming for a clinic in a village on the lake called 'opovu' (well thats what it sounds like!) and they had walked all the way from Beposo already only to find when they reached our clinic it was not the right one!! Some of the workers went on to say it was the next village after Doompa which in itself is a 2 hour walk...wow!! They weren't quite sure what to do...I found out if it would be possible to take them in the clinic boat, so someone rushed off to get Isaac and I went to find Becca and our adventure for the day began!!

Rebecca, Susy, Nadine and Me...waiting on the boat!

We travelled across the lake with the 2 girls and found the clinic which is run by 'New Life Ghana'...

...but there was no one about.

Susy had worked here for a number of months 3 years ago but no one she remebered was there as she had not been able to contact anyone to tell them she intended to come visit.
So we sang and chatted to the little group of children that was gathering (...they seem to have some kind of sixth sense about 'obruni's' arriving) while they tried to find someone she knew!!

Susy and Nadine had hoped to stay at the clinic for a few days before travelling on further north. But this did not appear to be an option as there was no one she knew!! So Rebecca and I offered our spare bedroom - so we've got some house guests :)
It's good to have some fresh faces about the place - you never know who God is going to send your way!!

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

So no doubt the next day or 2 will hold some more adventures as we try to help them on their way!

The building work is also reaching an exciting stage as they are starting to plaster the exterior walls and there was maybe not siniging from the rooftops but definitely some work being done on the roof today which is awesome.

* * * Stars * * *

2008-08-20T22:30:00.000+01:00

I am truly fascinated by stars.

They are just beautiful.

Bright shining, twinkling little balls of light millions and millions of miles away on a dark velvety sky.

It's a dry, clear peaceful night here at the lake. The compound and our house is peaceful and still and most people are now in bed.

I took this chance to go outside and lie down on the concrete path sirrounding our house and just take in the wonder of the night sky. It was stunning.
As I lay there taking in the beauty of the night sky I could hear crickets, grasshoppers and many many other insects thet i dont even want to think about. The odd bat would fly over and i could see the silhouette of a palm tree swaying in the breeze. wow!!
For that moment i just felt so privileged to be sharing in my Father's masterpiece.

As i lay there I thought about the song 'indescribable'...

"Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and
You know them by name
You are amazing God"

Stars are mentioned a few times throughout the bible...

Each and every star was created in God's hands and he placed them exactly where he wants them to be...

'God made two great lights - the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars' Genesis 1:16

If He takes such care over the stars, how much more care and compassion will he show to us? God made us and places each and everyone of us exactly where he wants us and when He wants us there. And so i thank Him for this time in Ghana. Placing me here at this time, with these people for His purposes.

And if we are obedient to His purposes, listening to God's voice and following in His ways, we are told that we will shine like stars...

'Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever' Daniel 12:3

The best known star is of course that which led the three Magi to Bethlehem ans Jesus' birth place.

'Where is the new born King of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him' Matthew 2:2

So stars aren't just pretty little balls of light, millions of miles away in the dark velvety sky. They are signs of indescribable wonder and signposts and indicators of God's wisdom and love - if we let them be!!

So next time you are out on a clear night take a look at the sky and gaze at the beauty of the stars and the vast awesomeness of God's love.

Blessings :)

Fun and games in Kumasi

2008-08-18T19:30:00.000+01:00

Today started very early!!! I was up at 5.30am for our early start to Kumasi to try and beat all the traffic!! The 3 of us…Me, Rebecca and Michael were on the road by 6.30am for our day of fun and games in Kumasi, armed with our to do lists and shopping lists hoping to get as many items as possible ticked off. It was lively from the start…our first hurdle was trying to herd a flock of sheep along the road to Beposo – they just didn’t want to budge!!

There were many more firsts for me again today…I have been longing to drive here for ages as it’s something I really miss and today I got my chance.

Bessie, (as Hollie and I affectionately named her a while back – don’t think Andrew was too impressed with the name though – not manly enough or something like that :o) ) the 4 wheel drive Nissan Patrol and I got a little bit better acquainted today as I took the wheel once we reached the Accra Road. (don’t think I’m quite ready for the muddy tracks just yet...did you notice what the sheep were walking on??!!) It was great; however, I have never driven a left hand drive before, therefore never driven on the right hand side of the road!! So it took a little bit of getting used too and a few shouts from Rebecca in the back seat encouraging me to stay on the road and I only tried to change the gears with my left hand once!!

So that was fun and when I got some confidence built up I started to drive like an ‘Obibini’…overtaking taxi’s and trucks, first on straight roads then on a slight incline with double white lines in the centre of the road…rules don’t really seem to stand for much here!

But then I had my next ‘first’, I was pulled over by the police – I couldn’t believe it…and no not because of any of my overtaking antics…I was driving slowly through a town at the time. I was hoping they would wave me on by but no they waved me in and asked to check the back of the truck…so Michael had to show them in the back! When he got back in and we had driven off he then proceeded to tell me that he had never known of an ‘Obruni’ being pulled over before by the police…interesting!!!

I did let Michael take the wheel again once we’d reached the outskirts of Kumasi as I don’t think i'm quite ready for big city driving just yet either!

My next first of the day was to try ‘Tizette’ – a northern dish somewhat similar to Fufu, only made from corn, not just as chewy and perhaps a little more palatable for me. Rebecca and I shared a bowl of Tizette with Tuna,

...the tuna was quite good but the sauce was a little…gloopy…for me! Meanwhile Michael tucked into a bowl of Tizette with cow intestines…

...yes cow intestines. He said it was very tasty but we were both more than happy to take his word on that and that had nothing to do with the fact that it was hardly even 9.00am yet.

Our next stop was at the post office were we had to check the post box. There are literally thousands of little red boxes all around the building and it seemed as if ours was one of the furthest possible away. But it was worth the trip as when we got there, there was a letter waiting for me…yay!! It’s great getting post at the best of times but over here it’s just wonderful, such an encouragement and also great to keep up with any news.
The rest of the day was spent getting some much needed shopping and doing general errands.

We had a full car on the way home…of shopping…and of people. We picked up Sammy (the clinic administrator/accountant), Hubert (who is placed at the clinic on a training programme), FF (the clinic lab assistant) and his wife and young son. So they were all in the back seat, while Rebecca and I sat up front with Michael who was driving of course.

The banter was great…I had my Ipod plugged in to the radio and Rebecca and I were dancing and singing away (anytime we could agree on a song!! ;o) ) having a bit of a giggle in the front seat, it certainly helps the journey to go a little bit quicker.

But I found a comment from Sammy very amusing…I’ve been here now for just over 2 months and I guess some people still don’t really know me that well, I realised that when Sammy said, “eh, Louise I’ve never seen you in this mood before!” I suppose he only ever see’s me when I’m in work mode in the office – perhaps now making me seem like 2 different people to him (maybe stretching it a little bit…but go with me!)

Earlier in the day I had been joking with Michael about The Killers song “smile like you mean it”, asking him if he was smiling like he meant it or was it just a front and was he feeling differently inside – was it a mask??!! It can be very easy to put on a mask, to pretend that everything’s ok when it’s really not, or to hide behind a mask when we don’t want to face difficult or uncomfortable situations. But that is not want God wants from us…He wants honesty and integrity in all situations – and don’t get me wrong I do know how very difficult that can be.

However its only when we uncover our face and strive for honesty and integrity without that mask that our faces can reflect and shine with the glory of God…as happened to Moses. Moses listened to God and obeyed Him and having spent much time in His presence Moses appeared before the children of Israel and ‘his face had become radiant’ (exodus 34:29-35). If we remove our masks and are truly seeking God’s truth we to can become radiant, shining God’s light for others to see.

And finally to end on a lighter note and just to see if Helen Lynn is paying attention!!!
Helen...if you lived in Ghana this is so where you would work!!! :)

Water bombs, Storm chasing and Victories...

2008-08-15T20:47:00.015+01:00

This week feels like it has been full of mischief...Wednesday was such a hot day Becca thought it would be the perfect opportunity to test our water balloon throwing skills!! So we filled a few balloons...

...and made our way down to the worksite to try and find some ‘victims’ there were only a couple of people left on site, most of the workers had left for the day and only the plumber and a couple of his helpers were about...so we lulled them in by first offering them a drink of water.

But our plan was foiled when a delivery of cement arrived. We figured that would not be the best target!! So we waited and waited and waited some more hiding in the building (which has been moving along really well!)

...but it just wasn’t happening. In the end we decided to just be blatant about it...so we sat at the top of our steps and the victims ended up being an unwitting Michael and James as they climbed the steps...most satisfying!!!

We did, however, get very wet ourselves as there was a storm blowing in. We haven’t had a good storm here in a while so we decided to make the most of it...so it wasn’t quite storm chasing...more storm watching...as we sat outside and watched the storms progression over the lake ...

with the clouds and the sky getting darker and darker...then the big rain drops started – after such a warm day it was so cool and refreshing and the thunder and lightening was spectacular as always. Here most people dive for cover if they can find any when the rain comes, so to see us sitting out enjoying the rain is quite novel!!

Today the clinic football team was playing away against Ankaase. So Becca and I headed along to support them.

It had everything a good football game should have.

The clinic had a troop of “cheerleaders” along the side shouting and cheering for them and they even went all the way round the pitch singing when a goal was scored.

There was a brawl amongst the players because of a decision made by the referee.

There was even a pitch invasion with a local goat wanting to get in on the action!!...or maybe it was the Ankaase team mascot.

It didn’t do them any good as there were only 2 goals and they were both in the favour of the clinic...YAY!!

The team celebrated all the way through the village and all along the road home...a great victory.

The great thing was that spontaneously during the match the troop of cheerleaders would begin singing ‘Daa na se’ (thank Him) or ‘Me Nyame ya’ (my God is good) singing songs to God...a great victory indeed.

"No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us." Romans 8:37(NLT)

Back at the Lake

2008-08-10T23:31:00.015+01:00

I've been back at the lake now for a week. i was welcomed back at Kumasi airport last sunday night by Andrew, Rebecca and Michael after a very long, interesting and somewhat stressful day of traveling so it was good to see familiar, friendly faces.

So what has this week held for me?

More awesome sunsets...

A chance to spend some time with Luiza while Lucas was in school...we decorated the 'spider web' tree in our house with little tear drop gems and a red heart for all of her family and one for me and Rebecca...

Then on Saturday there was the big matinee of 'The Sound of Music'...kinda hard to remember we are in such a remote part of Africa when you're doing something like that!!!

Today was the first i actually made it out of the compound. Rebecca and i went to the Apostolic church in Adjamam with James and Michael as Michael was preaching. My first time at this church but we were made to feel very welcome.
On our way back we stopped to buy some 'gari and beans' for Rebecca and Michael decided to try his hand at making 'banku' i dont think he quite had the knack after seeing the lady who took over after him!!

I was on lunch duty today and well the gas canister decided to give up half way through cooking our pizza's...thats never good. So thankfully Michael and James were on hand to help 2 damsel's in distress......and of course nothing to do with the fact it was their lunch cooking as well!! Tonight we took a walk to Ankaase lakeside...speaking to the chief of Atafram along the way and a quick game of football with the children in Ankaase - which we won 2-1 no thanks to any help from me!!!

It was great to be at the side of the lake again, sharing it with 4 very special people.Me, James, Anas, Becca and MichaelSome lakeside banter!!Not quite sure what Michael was doing here!!
This picture was taken only minutes after the 1st group one - thats just how quickly it gets dark here once the sun goes down!
The other 4 decided to go out to one of the small fishing 'boats' or logs but i thought it would be better to remain on dry and solid ground along with our gathering band of followers...

They even followed , singing songs all the way, as far as Atafram... ...where we said 'Da Yie'.

So it's great to be back...and im sure there will be many more tales to come.

Blessings :)

Déjà vu!!!

2008-08-03T01:02:00.022+01:00

Today was a day that I thoroughly enjoyed and will remain with me for a long long time.

We’ve been in Togo a week now and most of us haven’t really left Lomé much…and in my case the hotel!! But today we made a journey along the coast. Our first stop was in Anecho were we had to greet the King. Not just as formal as the equivalent in Ghana but interesting none the less. One point of notice was that Pauline wasn’t allowed to wear her flip flops…she had to take them off before we went in because only the king is allowed to wear that style of shoe in the ‘kingdom’!! He was a very jovial chap and more than willing to chat to us…telling us a little of the Lawson family history (a name which is kinda like the equivalent to ‘Smith’ back home!!) and how they had descended down many years from someone who had spent much of his life in England. He even had this humongous book in which that person had kept every piece of correspondence he had ever made and which has now been published. He is from a line of Methodists so one thing we struggled with was that if he was a Christian how could he hold in line with the royal traditions of taking a second wife when he became king??!!

Me with the King of Anecho

Then we had a short lunch stop beside the meeting of the waters where a mad monkey tried to attack me. Well no it was small and cute…but it did try to attack me!!

The mad monkey!!

Our afternoon visit was to Agbodrafo which for me was an extremely surreal experience. It was in Agbodrafo that we spent two and a half weeks last year. Time spent in the church compound with the people and children as we built an extension to the school, renovated 2 other classrooms and spent time in children’s clubs. So it was very special to be back – to see the absolutely finished product and to renew friendships with people we had spent a lot of time with last year. It was amazing to see the faces of children who recognised us and just lit up as we talked to them. Many of them asked for other members of last years team by name... Pastor Wesley and Mr Mark were 2 that stuck out for me...its clear that they had a great impact on those lives to be asked for a year later.

Some of my welcoming committee!!

The site when we arrives last year(left) The site when we left last year (right)

The site as it was today!

Two pictures which were in the classroom

The whole experience held many mixed emotions for me...this was a place I honestly never thought I would see again so to finally get there having been in Togo a week I finally felt like I was back.
Back in Agbodrafo :)

That is where I would consider ‘home’ here...not Lomé...I don’t like cities at the best of times but I didn’t spend much time here and I think I left a little piece of myself in Agbodrafo when we left last year(...as I think I do with every place I visit.)

There was also another marker here for me – most definitely the mural which I had helped to paint in one of the classrooms. I just had to make sure it was there to help me realise it was all real. And it just made me smile as memories from last year cam flooding back – the painstaking process of drawing the mural, painting it – making sure not to go outside the lines...then there was the big brown smudge where Mr Wesley had managed to paint the wrong colour in the wrong place!!

The beginnings of the Mural : Moi et Mr Wesley et Moi avec Pauline

Moi with the mural a year on

So many memories came back as I wandered through the compound – but the one thing that was clear was that God is most definitely there and He is most definitely working in that place. It just amazes me to think that the witness and influence of our team could last so long and will probably outlast us – but that is not our doing, that is God using us as His hands and feet for His glory and He is still working amongst those fantastic people.

I’m just sad that I won’t be able to attend the church service tomorrow morning as I would love to be able to share with them one more time. But instead I will be preparing to fly back to Ghana and back to the lake, which I’m also very excited about – it’ll be great to be back home – we’ll home for now!! :)

Team Ireland/Togo 2008...Moi, Oliver, Elizabeth, Fidele, Pauline, Gerard et Glenn

Gerard, Moi et Fidele