I don't like this word official anymore. It's got some scary thoughts to it, well for me anyway.
In just about under 6 weeks, i shall be having my first 'Official' Candidates interview at DHQ, with Kelston, Matthew and the DC. Wearing Uniform. Like official. The reason why everything is happening so quickly, is that Kelston feels that nothing has really happened, and if i want to go in three years, they need to start interviews.
Oh, and my after that my next step is to fill in registration forms. Which makes it all final, and it's all sounding far too scary, and exciting. But at the same time, i need some time to get my head around this.
Anyway. Christmas is coming which means the following:
7th - Divisional Carol Service
14th - Vocational Fellowship Christmas feast, at Kelston & Cindy's
15th - The Greenock bunch are up <33
17th - Gig at the Blue Lamp, Aberdeen
- Laura home (?)
18th - Day off (?)
21st - Band at harbour for the lights thingy (like last year)
- YP workers Christmas meal
22nd - Madeleine is home =]
- Gemma is home =]
- Driven Christmas meal
24th - Working (?)
-Watch night service =]
25th - Christmas Day, Hatton (?) <3 =]
11/29/07
11/18/07
Youth Councils! <3
It was youth councils this weekend, and I've been looking forward to it for a long time, because i missed last years, and it's always good to meet up with everyone.
The whole theme of the weekend was 'HEROES!'. Saturday night was Bowling and a social. After bowling we all shard some food, then had a had few songs, and good fun trying to come up with our own superheroes in little groups. Good good fun! Ha ha.
Mark Herbert (Candidates Director) was here this weekend as a speaker, and i thought he was really scary to start with, bad idea telling Fiona that, because she told him, so when he talked to me it was all awkward. But it's okay now.
Today was the day that made me think the most, today was the day that, i don't know, just planted something inside of me that i can't really explain, Even if i tried i wouldn't do it any justice.
This morning, I had to say my testimony about officership. Before the meeting this morning, Kelston asked me if i wanted to pray with them all. So i went out to pray with the band, Russell, Mark & Martin, And Cal. It was a nice way to start the whole day off, and it encouraged me so much.
The meeting went on, and it was nearly time for me to share, after Cal shared his testimony. Which was really good, it's nice to hear how he's getting on, and how God is using him through the essential programme. Then i got up, a little unwilling, to be honest, but kelston handed me the mic, and i just got up there, and done better than i thought. A few people told me i spook really well. But what stuck out to me more, was that, there's this girl i've known since i've been like what, 8 or something. She came up to me after youth councils had ended, gave me a hug, aked me how i was, how i was doing, and then said this "You have given me some hope. I always thought i was too young to do anything!" That girl, my friend, made me smile, made me cry. I am thankful to God for her <3 class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">saturday night, that she has had an experience with god, and is now like on fire for him, and that was so evident today, and yeah. It was nice to see her again!
I had a chat with Mark after tlunch today. Well it was more of a, Samantha come here, from Kelston, to a table with Him, Cindy, the DC, Russell and Mark, ha ha. It was a good chat though. And they're sending the officership training stuff so we can get started with that, and i'm meeting my officers on tuesday afternoon.
Excitment!
' And I will live for all my days
To raise a banner of truth and light
To sing about my saviours love
And the best thing that happened
It was the day I met you
I've found Jesus
I've found Jesus
I've found Jesus
I've found Jesus
Well you lifted me from where I was
Set my feet upon a rock
Humbled that you even knew about me
Now I have chosen to believe
Believing that you've chosen me
I was lost but now I've found...'
- Delirios?
The whole theme of the weekend was 'HEROES!'. Saturday night was Bowling and a social. After bowling we all shard some food, then had a had few songs, and good fun trying to come up with our own superheroes in little groups. Good good fun! Ha ha.
Mark Herbert (Candidates Director) was here this weekend as a speaker, and i thought he was really scary to start with, bad idea telling Fiona that, because she told him, so when he talked to me it was all awkward. But it's okay now.
Today was the day that made me think the most, today was the day that, i don't know, just planted something inside of me that i can't really explain, Even if i tried i wouldn't do it any justice.
This morning, I had to say my testimony about officership. Before the meeting this morning, Kelston asked me if i wanted to pray with them all. So i went out to pray with the band, Russell, Mark & Martin, And Cal. It was a nice way to start the whole day off, and it encouraged me so much.
The meeting went on, and it was nearly time for me to share, after Cal shared his testimony. Which was really good, it's nice to hear how he's getting on, and how God is using him through the essential programme. Then i got up, a little unwilling, to be honest, but kelston handed me the mic, and i just got up there, and done better than i thought. A few people told me i spook really well. But what stuck out to me more, was that, there's this girl i've known since i've been like what, 8 or something. She came up to me after youth councils had ended, gave me a hug, aked me how i was, how i was doing, and then said this "You have given me some hope. I always thought i was too young to do anything!" That girl, my friend, made me smile, made me cry. I am thankful to God for her <3 class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">saturday night, that she has had an experience with god, and is now like on fire for him, and that was so evident today, and yeah. It was nice to see her again!
I had a chat with Mark after tlunch today. Well it was more of a, Samantha come here, from Kelston, to a table with Him, Cindy, the DC, Russell and Mark, ha ha. It was a good chat though. And they're sending the officership training stuff so we can get started with that, and i'm meeting my officers on tuesday afternoon.
Excitment!
' And I will live for all my days
To raise a banner of truth and light
To sing about my saviours love
And the best thing that happened
It was the day I met you
I've found Jesus
I've found Jesus
I've found Jesus
I've found Jesus
Well you lifted me from where I was
Set my feet upon a rock
Humbled that you even knew about me
Now I have chosen to believe
Believing that you've chosen me
I was lost but now I've found...'
- Delirios?
11/15/07
My Testimony (Updated)
It happened at the youth rally this year, but I now see that people were trying to tell me what God had in store for me before then, and I just didn’t listen, and thought there was no way I was doing that.
It was during the evening event at the youth rally, that I just fell to pieces on the inside, this is when it all began to happen. Where God called me to officership. I’ve never had a feeling like it before. The band had just finished playing ‘In Christ alone’, and the line ‘Jesus commands my destiny’ kept going through my head.
The bus journey home that night was interesting. The weather was full gales of rain and snow, and my phone battery had died which meant I couldn’t tell anyone what just happened, and how I was feeling, I couldn’t even tell my youth worker as the rest of my youth group were screaming and all so hyper in the back of the bus. I sat there crying for the majority of the bus journey home, crying & questioning God.
I kept thinking, No way! I can’t do this, I was only 18 years old, and had hardly any experience of life. I kept thinking that I can’t lead people to the lord, but in amongst all my tears and upset, a friend told me…”yes you can. You brought Laura to the army!”
I was scared. I tried my best to block it all out, and it worked, for a while, but it didn’t last though.
One Friday night at Driven (our youth group), the week after the rally, it was all about feeling God’s call & what it was like when it happened & what being silent meant. For me, being silent was just sitting there, with the loud music in the background. There was another few nights that confirmed being called to officership, but I’ll only say one. It was a meeting led by Catherine Wyles, where she talked about how God gives us everything we need, in his time. So the doubts about not being able slowly fade away.
There’s a bible verse that stuck with me during the summer, and it’s Psalm 51 v 13 – 15…”Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise”
Things have changed a lot since February. I’ve been attending the Vocational Fellowship groups, and I’m going to be having meetings with my officers about everything.. I’ve already had a interview at DHQ, but more than anything, I have a year on my heart that God’s been telling me to go, that year being 2010.
To start with it was all scary to think in 3 years, I’ll be in London at Training college. But now that I’ve had time to think about it, it’s becoming more exciting, and I just know that it’s all in God’s hands.
(updated for Youth Councils, as Kelston asked me to share about officership)
It was during the evening event at the youth rally, that I just fell to pieces on the inside, this is when it all began to happen. Where God called me to officership. I’ve never had a feeling like it before. The band had just finished playing ‘In Christ alone’, and the line ‘Jesus commands my destiny’ kept going through my head.
The bus journey home that night was interesting. The weather was full gales of rain and snow, and my phone battery had died which meant I couldn’t tell anyone what just happened, and how I was feeling, I couldn’t even tell my youth worker as the rest of my youth group were screaming and all so hyper in the back of the bus. I sat there crying for the majority of the bus journey home, crying & questioning God.
I kept thinking, No way! I can’t do this, I was only 18 years old, and had hardly any experience of life. I kept thinking that I can’t lead people to the lord, but in amongst all my tears and upset, a friend told me…”yes you can. You brought Laura to the army!”
I was scared. I tried my best to block it all out, and it worked, for a while, but it didn’t last though.
One Friday night at Driven (our youth group), the week after the rally, it was all about feeling God’s call & what it was like when it happened & what being silent meant. For me, being silent was just sitting there, with the loud music in the background. There was another few nights that confirmed being called to officership, but I’ll only say one. It was a meeting led by Catherine Wyles, where she talked about how God gives us everything we need, in his time. So the doubts about not being able slowly fade away.
There’s a bible verse that stuck with me during the summer, and it’s Psalm 51 v 13 – 15…”Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise”
Things have changed a lot since February. I’ve been attending the Vocational Fellowship groups, and I’m going to be having meetings with my officers about everything.. I’ve already had a interview at DHQ, but more than anything, I have a year on my heart that God’s been telling me to go, that year being 2010.
To start with it was all scary to think in 3 years, I’ll be in London at Training college. But now that I’ve had time to think about it, it’s becoming more exciting, and I just know that it’s all in God’s hands.
(updated for Youth Councils, as Kelston asked me to share about officership)
11/10/07
I wanna go deeper...
So, we've all been back for about two full weeks now, and trying to settle back in to your own lifestyle here, and boy it's difficult. So much choice, and it's just well different.
I went to bug a drink at my work today, something to waken me up, and it was gonna cost me £1.29, i just stood there, all i thought of was, how much that is in anfrica, the fact you can just about get 7 bottles of water for that price, it's nuts.
We had a Team Tanzania reunion tonight, which was good fun, was nice to meet up and have a banter with everyone. After we had our meal, we sat on comfy chairs and had a yap about things to do with next year, prices of flights, details of the trip, fund rasising, etc etc, so yes, things are getting started and it's very exciting. I so can't wait to go back <3 Miss it so much.
And in other news, i think i might be meeting up with the officers on tuesday afternoon for a wee chat, not sure what about because i have told them that a few things need changed, but it'll probably cover nearly everything. So i'm looking forward to that, it'll be nice to actually sit down and talk to them, because i've not really had that chance yet.
Was at Dundee for Vocational Fellowiship, and got to have a wee tour round a social centre, where all the homeless stay and learn what things they go through, what the Salvation Army does to help them up to the place where they are ready to move back into the city and look after theirselves. But they were saying last night that, when they move out into the city, the accomodation they will recieve wont be as good as the hostel they have right now.
Please keep Strathmore lodge in your prayers, they have a lot of men, and have about 50 odd staff members for two centres within the city, and they has to be at least two staff members covering at each shift, each day of the year, 52 weeks a year.
The end of vocational fellowship last night was spent in worship, and some of the guys that life there joined us, and that was lovely =] But the thing that hit me deep down, was the song Kelston used, because it was my Song - The potters Hand. I guess it was just one of those nights, where God really talks to you, and you just feel his call again, that reassuring presence, it was lovely.
So thanks to Kelston for starting up the Vocational Fellowship group, for always being there, and for being so sweet, and just looking after me.
I really do have thee most amazing people around me! I love them all heaps!
I went to bug a drink at my work today, something to waken me up, and it was gonna cost me £1.29, i just stood there, all i thought of was, how much that is in anfrica, the fact you can just about get 7 bottles of water for that price, it's nuts.
We had a Team Tanzania reunion tonight, which was good fun, was nice to meet up and have a banter with everyone. After we had our meal, we sat on comfy chairs and had a yap about things to do with next year, prices of flights, details of the trip, fund rasising, etc etc, so yes, things are getting started and it's very exciting. I so can't wait to go back <3 Miss it so much.
And in other news, i think i might be meeting up with the officers on tuesday afternoon for a wee chat, not sure what about because i have told them that a few things need changed, but it'll probably cover nearly everything. So i'm looking forward to that, it'll be nice to actually sit down and talk to them, because i've not really had that chance yet.
Was at Dundee for Vocational Fellowiship, and got to have a wee tour round a social centre, where all the homeless stay and learn what things they go through, what the Salvation Army does to help them up to the place where they are ready to move back into the city and look after theirselves. But they were saying last night that, when they move out into the city, the accomodation they will recieve wont be as good as the hostel they have right now.
Please keep Strathmore lodge in your prayers, they have a lot of men, and have about 50 odd staff members for two centres within the city, and they has to be at least two staff members covering at each shift, each day of the year, 52 weeks a year.
The end of vocational fellowship last night was spent in worship, and some of the guys that life there joined us, and that was lovely =] But the thing that hit me deep down, was the song Kelston used, because it was my Song - The potters Hand. I guess it was just one of those nights, where God really talks to you, and you just feel his call again, that reassuring presence, it was lovely.
So thanks to Kelston for starting up the Vocational Fellowship group, for always being there, and for being so sweet, and just looking after me.
I really do have thee most amazing people around me! I love them all heaps!
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