Saying goodbye

This post probably won't be as jolly or exciting as the other ones, but it still has a lot of truth in it. Since the holidays ended, it's been as hard as always to get over such a great summer, especially as this one is the best so far, and to get on with school. The miserable weather doesn't help! People have gradually been leaving to go home to all their different countries or areas, so my life has emptied more and more in the past couple of weeks, which is quite hard to adjust to. Anyone that knows me well can tell you I get emotionally attached very easily, so having a big bunch of incredible, God-loving friends around who start to disappear can be a bit painful, but I know I can do it, I do every year, and this time my relationship is God is strong enough for me to know that I can find peace and joy in Him, anywhere, at any time.

The people I have said goodbye to have all been a big part of my life this summer, and I will miss each and everyone of them. The most recent ones being Marco, Delila, Nelly Jelly, Myria, Cerstin and Tundi. Then there is my beautiful Kateri, who is like a sister to me- one of many- and who left to go back to America this morning, after I spent 6 great months getting to know and love her. But it is all I can do to repeatedly thank God for her this summer, and everybody else. Getting back into school isn't hard, just boring, as it's not where I want to be but I know I just have to get through this year and do the best I can, then I can begin to do God's work out in the real world! Beginning with bible school in Germany next September which I could not be more excited about!! I have nearly completed my application, so soon I hope to be sending it off and praying I get a spot at Bodenseehof! :)





Not a lot of things have happened these past few weeks, except a few games of Mafia, movie and pizza nights, and hanging out with some of the loveliest girls I have ever met! A group of us all decided to buy hair dye in town and then all dyed each others hair, I went chocolate truffle so sort of reddish brown, so that was good fun! I have also been keeping up with driving lessons and I am now booked in for my practical driving test in a few weeks which is a scary thought!! The weather is indeed turning into a typical British autumn now, it has been raining non-stop for about a week and we have a usual puddle building in our front garden! But the only good point is that I love starting to wrap up warm and putting wellies on and going out for rain walks!!

There was another worship night a couple of weeks back, which was the best of all three I have been to this summer, and as it was the final one, me Anna and Kateri all got a bit emotional after a deep prayer session for the next year! But a big positive is that in just a few days, my best friend Sarah is moving down here for bible school, so I will get to see her every day (lucky me!), but honestly, I am so excited to have her close by for moral support and my own personal stash of Abercrombie and Hollister clothing! :D Thanks Saz!

This is us, by the way!

In terms of looking to the future of the year to come, the title of my post also has a metaphorical meaning. This summer transformed me, and I really want to remain the strong Christian I am, even though I know there are plenty of tests and trials out there waiting for me back in the real world, especially at school. But the difference this year is that I am saying goodbye to any old me that made mistakes, or denied my faith to my peers, because I am so determined to show everyone just how incredible God is. Already, it isn't easy, but I am sticking with it and can already feel God strengthening me, in the way only He can, and blessing me for standing up for Him. A verse that is very fitting for this is one Sarah gave me a few days ago, from Romans 8: 18 - 'Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us'. So basically, it should be seen as a privilege to sacrifice reputation and dismiss what other will say, because the result is eternal life with God, and what bigger reward could there be!?

So, this year I am letting God take control of all areas of my life, my relationships, my commitment to school, my faith, my fears, my future and everything else. I am trusting in Him completely, and I invite you all to share the same confidence with me, and although we may stumble and doubt, we should not give up on believing that God really has what is best for us in mind and no matter what we are going through, he will never leave us, and we can always find blessings from Him, if we are looking to Him. I will leave you all with this:
Psalm 25: 4-5
Lord, tell me your ways, show me how to live. Guide me in your truth and teach me, my God and my Saviour, I trust you all day long.

Have a fantastic year, not that this is actually goodbye, I will be posting in another few weeks no doubt! God Bless you all! :)

P.S. WE ALSO GOT A CAT! She is adorable, and her name was Milo, but that's a boy name so it's MILA :D

Romania, France and beyond.

Okay, so where I left off I was just about to go on a mission trip to Romania. That was Thursday 16th Aug, so it's been about 3 weeks since then. I have a LOT to blog, but bear with me, it is all pretty exciting!

 So, that evening we left North West England and travelled for 18 hours by car, plane and then minibus, finally arriving in the small town of Baru, Romania, at about 6pm the next day! It was HOT! The rest of the day was unpacking, showering to get rid of the sweaty bus, journey, then going to the House of Hop orphanage for tea; getting to see lots of gorgeous kids who are like a second family! Then the weekend was spent preparing for the football and craft clubs we were going to run for the weekdays. On Sunday we registered the children (all 60 of them) for the clubs, and then went up the hill to look over Baru and pray. This is something we do every year before the clubs begin, so that we know God's presence will be with us as we try and show his love to the poor children of Baru. It was, as always, a great experience. 

During the weekdays we ran the clubs each morning and the kids got to make a vast array of crafty things, much better than I could. But it was great, we all were responsible for a table of children, and I had the chance to get close to the best kids I have ever met in my life. The rest of the craft team also felt the same, which was my parents, and two friends Emma and Hester. My brother Josh and two of his friends Chris and Jake were running the football. In the afternoons we would either have a chilled time as it was FAR too hot to do anything, or go to the local swimming pool which was completely not heated - which is perfect when you aren't used to the 40 degree heat!

Wednesday night I had one of the most incredible times of summer. It started off with a lovely dinner for a friend's birthday, and then the villages church youth group were going up into the mountain late at night for a bonfire, prayer, worship and of course some toasting over the fire! It is their version of a youth group social, but it is fairly different as it started at 9, ended at 2:30am! We also were taken up the mountain on a trailer that appeared to be falling apart! So it was pretty extreme youth group, but it was amazing! Hearing the children and adults singing praise in Romania, sat in front of a bonfire in the early hours of the morning is not an experience you get to share every day!
On the Friday we took the craft club children up into the valley by a river and played some games with them, and it was hot and stressful for us, but they had so much fun! :) It was extremely hard to say goodbye to 30 children I are in love with, but it had to come to an end. The Saturday was our final day in Romania and we visited a castle where Dracula had stayed a long while ago, and a McDonalds after!! The evening was spent at the House of Hope orphanage, with lots of love, prayer and laughter shared. It was the hardest thing I have had to do in a long time to leave, and I feel God putting it hugely on my heart to go back one day for a longer period, so I am excited to see how that works out. 

As we left at 12am again, we had a similar journey back, and stayed overnight in London on Sunday night. The Monday morning we were off again, this time through a tunnel under the sea to France! For a week we stayed on a campsite, just me, my parents and my best friend Hester. We visited the D-day beaches of Normandy, and all the key historical cemeteries, St Michael's Mount etc. We also got to relax a lot and swim, read, go out for lunch on the beach, and for the first time in a few years we had a holiday! It was good for us all. Then the following Monday we packed up for a final time and headed home, and another 17 hours later we were home! 

Since we got home, I have been settling back into normal life, school, and catching up on sleep. It has been fairly emotional because of the relationship area, but also after having the most incredible summer of my life, but I am ready for the last year of school, a few rounds off late night Mafia games! and for a chance to share God and His love to everyone I meet, because I cannot thank Him enough for the miraculous things He has done in my, through me, and all around me this summer. I love Him, and all you lovely people reading this, very much! Happy September everybody! God bless :)

P.S. Also jumped in a river fully clothed, and had a waterfight with my brother whilst in Romania. Forgot about that crazy one! The first photo is the Romania team of summer 2012, before we jumped in the river!