A Month Gone By

I was doing really well and now there has been a whole month without a post. No good!

It's been quite a busy month. This might have to be a life-update post.

At the beginning of October I went to Frankfurt to the 24-7 Prayer Eurogathering. It was an amazing weekend. I went by myself and met some amazing people, learned some incredible stuff and had my mindsets and stereotypes challenged, again. I'm sure there will be lots to come out of that in the months to come.

The following week I had a job interview at the Hollybank Trust. This is an organisation I have wanted to work for ever since I graduated, and when the job was first advertised at the beginning of September, I lost a day's worth of work because I was just so excited about it! So reflecting on Germany was put on hold for a little while as every waking moment was dedicated to interview preparation. And, I got the job! It's the most amazing feeling, but at the same time very surreal. I'm still waiting to get a start date and do induction training and all of that, so it's a funny transition phase where I have a job, but don't have it yet. Can't wait to start!

Since then I have spent time catching up on everything I didn't do whilst preparing for trips abroad/interviews. I've had a hectic month, but things are finally slowing down. Today was an amazing day off- I left the house once, to buy some milk for a cup of tea!

Clocks go back tonight, loving my extra hour's sleep :-)

Look what I found!

I went 'prayer-walking' again today in the blazing sunshine. I'm not sure it really counts to be honest, more like just walking around, learning the neighbourhood, taking in the sights, sounds and smells as I go, and forgetting from time to time that I'm still in England. It's fun.

Today I planned a route before I went out, to try and discover some new areas, and discover new areas I did! My most exciting discovery was down a little back road that I'd chosen to go along to stay off the main road for a little bit longer, which had a huge mural all along it.

"Pockets of Hope" is the correct poetic term, I believe.

Wherever the sole of your foot shall tread...

Yesterday I went for a prayer walk around an area of Leeds called Harehills. Lots of people I've spoken to recently seem to be prayer-walking the area and it's a place I need to invest some time into. Since my Kidz Klub round had been moved forwards a day I thought I'd make use of the extra time by going to investigate.

I don't really know how to prayer walk, especially not on my own. It's easy to get distracted by things that you see, or to let your thoughts run away down different routes. But I walked, and kept my eyes open to see what was going on. I zigzagged up and down terraced streets; I sought out the huge Mosque and the new library and supermarket that are being built in the centre of the community. I looked, I listened, and I asked God that he would touch these streets. When I got distracted I took comfort in the fact that just by my very being there, by the soles of my feet touching those pavements, I was bringing the Spirit and rule of God to that area.

And I guess I'll try again. History is littered with people who didn't really know what they were doing but decided to give it a go anyway and learn as they went. That's how prayer movements and revivals start. So I will learn those streets and hear their stories. I'll walk and pray, or worship, or just wonder what's coming next, but Harehills will find itself quietly invaded with love.

Image © Copyright Betty Longbottom and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

I walked here

Transition

Yesterday I moved out of Leeds. It was a sad day, but at the same time it didn't feel particularly real, just like I was going away for the week. It's odd to think that when I come back, things will have changed so much- Leeds as I knew it is gone. It's exciting though as well, knowing that there is so much ahead and that I have good friends that will last a lifetime, whether we live in the same house or on opposite continents.

I decided on Sunday night that I was going to look forward to Nepal after all. I had been dreading it just a little bit- the prospect of living, working, eating, breathing with the same few people that I didn't really know frankly terrified me. But on Sunday night as I was sat with Sarah and Scot and we were talking about our expectations for various trips (Scot's off to Mozambique and Sarah's back to South Africa on Friday) I realised that this is a great opportunity to grow- I might make some more lifetime friends and in the meantime I will learn to become more and more dependant on God's love. I also realised what an amazing group of people I have here- the India crew (including Andy who was at work) will be all over the world but we still have a friendship and a Spirit that unites us.

And partly- why expect the worst when you can expect the best? It's never going to be what I expect anyway, but there is absolutely no point at all in worrying about something that might never happen! Smiles all round :)

Here is a prayer I wrote while I was trying to work out God's love for me. I've linked it because it doesn't really need shouting from the rooftops, but if it can help just one person, just a little bit, then I'm willing to be transparent in my own struggles. I'm so glad that God's love is so strong and his grace is so vast that there is nothing that can separate us from Him any more.

Revision time...

Revision time works one of two ways on these things. Either there are hundreds of posts in a desparate effort of procrastination, or there are none as all else is cut out except working, eating and sleeping. I've been veering towards the latter this year; with so much to do and minimal time to do it in, I began to wonder whether I should cut out eating and drinking time as well! Suffice to say there hasn't been much to post about save the ins and outs of stammering, effect of bilingualism on language development and the occasional breakdown.

On Wednesday we started the students group by soaking for a bit, then sharing what God had been speaking to us recently. A recurring theme was starting your day with God, something I did start doing on Monday really thinking about it. Kate shared Psalm 127:

¹ Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
² It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.

In my own strength I'm not going anywhere, I don't stand a chance. But when I learn to accept the rest that God gives me, and when I seek to work only in his strength, then I will find that "with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible!" (Matt 19:26).

Incidentally, I'm going to Nepal in the summer! I'm so excited, I'm going out with three other girls who are graduating from my course and we're going to be working with a charity for children with cerebral palsy, setting up a speech and language service there. It's a bit daunting; we're going for three months minimum and I don't really know the girls I'm going with, but it is such an opportunity I can't miss it. This is exactly what I saw myself doing in the long-term; I was thinking India but they're close enough. Who knows what will come of it?! Eeek!

Like, wow

So here I am, sat in the library with my laptop, feeling very efficient and important although both probably couldn’t be much further from the truth. Ah well. I’m taking up residence this week while I write this darned essay, although if only the academic psychological words would flow as easily as these rambling ones it would be over in an afternoon!

Soon I have to go and get some 3-month-old paint out of a carpet. I’m not convinced that it’s even possible but to work I will go and we’ll see what happens. Any ideas, anyone? Answers on a postcard :P

Also, on Sunday we prayed for my friend Tim. One of his legs was shorter than the other and it was affecting his walking and sports etc. So we prayed, and it grew! Here, in Leeds, we prayed for a leg and it grew in front of out eyes! Like, wow.