Salut!

So my stay in Aber has come to an end.  I had a wonderful 2 weeks catching up with old friends, making new ones, hearing about new ideas and projects and meeting little babies!  Fun!

I arrived back in Preston on Thursday evening.  On Saturday night my friends from Carey Baptist church here in the city organised a French evening with some very yummy coq au vin!  The rest of the week I’ll be taking it easy and preparing for the final 3 weeks of travels.

It really is lovely to be meeting up with so many great people, but it’s quite tiring too!  I really like routine and to be away from a home and a settled routine for the past 5 months has not been easy.  I’m looking forward to getting back to France, finding a flat and getting back to work. 

I’m back in Aber and how wonderful it is!  I love being back here, it is such a special place.  The sun has been shining - most of the time -  and the people have been smiley!  I was interviewed in church and I said I wanted to catch up with as many people as possible while I was here, and I’ve got 19 coffee dates!!!  It is so nice to catch up with old friends over a warm drink and a sea view!  However, I’m doing  so much talking that every night I go to bed with a very sore throat!

I’ve also drunk coffee with 4 phd students.  I thought I was old when my friends started getting married and having babies.  Now I know I’m old when they’re all doing phds! Scary!

In France there are Zebra crossings all over the place.  They are used to mark places on the road where it is considered a good place to cross.  You may stand for ages trying to get across the road, but nothing slows down for you.  You may even be beeped to tell you to get out of the way if you cause a car to brake.

In the UK there are fewer zebra crossings.  But when you want to cross you the cars just grind to a halt.  You are the king!

I love the power of the Zebra Crossing in the UK!  

Today I went back to Redcliffe Mission Training college for the day.  This is where I spent a year before I came out to France. 

Such a good day!!

In the morning I learnt how the new European research centre works and they even gave me a croissant!  nice.  Then I went to the weekly devotions which was great.  Dinner in the dining room was a blast from the past and great to see so many people I knew.  Then coffee with a couple of ecm-ers.  And then the best surprize of the day was a set of lectures on evangelism which I was able to attend which were super interesting!  Then tea and chatting with a girl who’s going to be going to Spain with ECM and then a spot of babysitting to round the evening off!!  (during which I changed my first nappy!!!)

Phew!  A packed but very nice day!

I was 30 last weekend and I wasn’t looking forward to it!  But I thought, rather than moping around I should just plan something fun to mark the occasion.

So a group of 22 family and friends got together for a meal, then we went over to Blackpool and went to the Tower Circus!  It was really fun and a will create a great memory.  The brave ones then followed up with fish and chips and a walk through the Illuminations.  I’m so greatful for good friends and family. 

This is me and my immediate family

Proof that we made it to the top of the tower to see the sunset!

Hiya!  I’ve spent a few days in Preston…photos of my very exciting 30th birthday to come!

I’m now back on the road again, hereford, Gorsley, Gloucester, Aberystwyth and maybe Haverfordwest.

those trains again…

I’ve had 3 weeks of sunshine and warmth in the south of England…and now it’s raining in Preston.  Surprize!!

 I’m exhausted.  I’ve spent 3 weeks talking with people, listening, learning, sleeping in diferent beds, riding on trains, and telling people all about france.

I want to sleep for a year.  (I slept for 10 lovely hours in my own bed last night - luxuary!)

Me in sunny London!

On the underground today, somebody brushed against my COAT which was on my knee.  They stopped to apologize twice!!?  Then on the esculator I banged somebody and THEY said sorry.  On the way home a man was shaking a sheet on the pavement which meant I had to do a 50cm detour and he excused himself.  This country is obsessivly polite!!!

I’ve arrived at St John’s Ealing where I’m shadowing the youth worker.  I spent the first night with my head over a bucket and the morning lying in bed.  Not a great start!

However, my impressions so far:

The pastor’s wife not remembering which pastor had said something to her and me thinking, ‘Well, just how many pastors are there in this area?!’  Apparently there are 7 big congregation churchs and 10s of little churches.  This place is SO blessed.

Going to a peer led Bible study for boys.  The eldest was 18 and the youngest 15.  They did a self-written study on repentance.  Humbling.  These are lads who are so secure in the Lord, are gifted and being given the space to grow.  What wonderful leaders they will make.  Praise God!!

I’m jealous for France.  This area has a super abundance of gifted leaders, wealth and therefore amazing church projects and masses of fantastic multi-use church buildings.  Is it a bad thing to be jealous of that?  I want to see growth like this in France, Jesus.

I’ve been in Shepton Mallet in Sommerset for the past week at a big Christian event called Momentum.  I was manning the ECM stand in the exhibition hall with a guy called Don.  The event was fantastic and I was so thankful that I was able to be a part of it.  The worship was amazing and the teaching excellent.  I managed to meet up with lots of old friends and make many new ones…all while eating too much cake!

We were on the stand 8 hours a day which was pretty long.  There were quiet periods when it was really boring but during that time we had fun with the other exhibitors!  Then when people came by, it was a real privilege to be able to talk with them and give them info on mission in Europe.  Who knows, maybe they’ll be my new team mates out in France?!  

It was a really encouraging time to recieve during the worship and teaching and also see how God is moving in people’s lives and encourage them to seek His will.  Exciting!