Home Sweet Home... well kind of

Last week I went home for the Easter holidays, well kind of. I went to my parents house, however it was my first trip there. The last time I went to my parents house they lived in sight of the Scottish boarders however this time they were a stones throw from London. I flew home from the island on the Sunday afternoon after being at church in the morning. Monday was a quiet day of sorting my room making it actually look like a usable bedroom and learning were everything belonged. Tuesday was a day I had been looking forward to for a while. My mum and I went into central London to go shopping and to see Wicked which was amazing, it was the first time that I have seen a show on the westend and I was very impressed. I have been to the theater quite a few times but never in London and you can definitely tell the difference. The only complaint that I had was that it was really really hot and the theater had no air-conditioning, the benefit of this was that we had ice-cream in the interval. The next day I headed back into London to meet a friend of mine from university. We went to convent garden and then bought stuff for a picnic which we then ate in St Jame's park. We then did all the sights while watching the police and workmen set up for the royal wedding the next week. The rest of the week was mainly family time which was great as we haven't all been together for about eighteen months, and it could be another eighteen before we all are again. By the end of the week the house was beginning to feel more like home as I began to learn where things lived. Having moved so frequently home has become the place where my belongings are, and where my family are and right now that is my parents house

A day in the life ...

Today has been an interesting day, started of being very normal consisting of a staff meeting and lent lunch and then returned to an unusually quiet house due to people being on holiday. The afternoon then consisted of costume making. For the last few years the Islands churches have put on a live nativity which has shown the real Christmas story to any member of the public who chooses to attend. This year in addition to doing Christmas on the Hill, an Easter play (Easter on the Hill) has been written and is currently being rehearsed. One of the other youth workers is playing the part of Jesus and has been given some of his costumes but his final costume still needed to be created ... a loin cloth! This made an interesting challenge as it had to both look authentic and be safe and secure as it needs to be worn, outside for at least 30 minutes, while he is stood rested on a cross above a crowd. In the end I attached / sewed the material to a pair of underpants. In the end he felt that it was very secure and would work for what was needed for the day. Oh well the dress rehearsal is on Saturday which means if there is any alterations they will need to be done before I go home on Sunday afternoon, we'll wait and see ...

Possible but not easy

When I came to this Island my intention had been to start a blog straight away to document the year I was intending to spend here, a year out from my career path, a year to serve God, but life got in the way. Then at Christmas I thought I'll start it in the new year to record the time I have left here before I figure out where I am to go next. Now it is almost Easter and I have finally started it. My plan for a year out before I return to the NHS has now turned into at least two years, and the NHS couldn't be further from my current future plans. In the seven months I have spent here I have learnt so much and God has changed my mind from what I had believed to be my future. I live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world and spend my days teaching and being taught by some of the worlds most interesting people, kids. I love to see their take on the world and what goes on around them.

The work that goes on here, of which I am only one small part, can be very hard. We are working with a generation that has been taught that faith is not important and has little or no value in life, a generation that has been taught to expect immediate results and does not like to wait, a generation who are take, take, take not give, give, give. However as God promised the remnants will remain. We also work with kids who are passionate for God, kids who long to see their nation changed, and kids who shine for God in every situation they are in.

We pray for a changed nation, a nation that will stand for God's truths above all else and a nation that will stand united, across generations, under God's word. This is future is possible but not easy