To-Do Lists

I have so much to do I don't even know where to start, so I'm bypassing it all and writing a blog instead. This will be more of a diary post than an insight post but hey, that is where it all began.

I'm suddenly committed to loads of things. I'm enjoying it; it's fun; but I'm beginning to feel the responsibility that I don't want to let anyone down and I'm a little bit scared that I might.

Next Sunday (that's right, ten days away) I will be travelling down to London to work for an organisation called 'The Challenge'. They take 16-yr-olds who have just done their GCSEs and set them challenges they will achieve to teach them life skills, give them confidence in themselves and get them involved in their local communities. I'm going as a Residential Mentor. On week 2 of the 3-week program they stay in a halls of residence and do workshops each day (I've been assigned to enterprise!?!?!) so I will basically do that week with a group, then come back the next week and do it with another group, 4 times over. So basically by the end I'll be great at enterprise, shattered, and as one of my colleagues said, tough as nails. Maybe. This is a rubbish explanation but have a look at the website (above) for more flashy info. But that's okay. I've sent of all my child protection stuff so now all I really have to do is go down there and do what I'm told really.

In August is M:Powered. Despite the fact I will have just done something similar four times over, I'm really excited about it this year. I'm hopefully going to be leading a small group, I'm helping write some of the bible study notes and I really want to be able to sow into the delegates that are coming this summer. Gary and I are looking at journalling in preparation and this blog might be subject to some experimentation over the next month or so, but obviously a large amount of that time will be spent in London, and I don't want to lose momentum while I'm away. Who knows, maybe I'll gain some :)

Also, I'm the 'student worker' for City Church Leeds at the moment. Currently it's just a title as there aren't really any students with which to work but come September we need to really get the ball rolling. I spoke to a girl from Fusion today who was very encouraging, but lots needs thinking about and doing and setting in place before September, and I am going to be in London for all of July (and weekends in Sept, oops) and then at M-Powered for a week of August. So time is getting squeezed.

Also, I need to live. By live I mean earn enough money to eat, travel, put a roof over my head and fund some of the other crazy things I am involved in. I qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist almost a year ago now and I'm supposed to be starting a career sometime soon. I'd like to have a home where I could unpack and use my pressure cooker and hang up my calendar and have a craft box- that's been about a year too.

I think I need a PA. Someone whose mind works in straight lines and who can plan time and motivate me and stop me procrastinating. You will be paid in endless gratitude and perhaps some tasty treats of your preference. Any applicants?

Debut

The Orchard

A new issue of "The Orchard" came out on Wednesday. This is a webzine that has been set up by some friends of mine to bring together valuable Christian resources from across the internet. They are great at finding inspiring videos and podcasts, as well as posting thought-provoking quotes and bible verses. If you subscribe to blog feeds (e.g. Google Reader) you should definitely add this! http://the-orchard.info/feed/

This month I was asked to write the feature article which was a huge privilege and a little but daunting as it's the first time I've written something purposely for other people to read, people who don't know me and aren't necessarily on my side from the beginning. But it was a good experience, hopefully it stretched my writing a little further :)

So have a look, but check out the whole site, because it's great!