14 Weeks today ....

Okay - I'm going to try not to do a weekly countdown on this blog - even though I have one in my diary but I am so excited and this coming week is going to be a week of wedding plans! Zapping for the gift list, page boy and flowergirl outfit sorting, mother of the bride outfit sorting and my first dressing fitting! Once this coming week is over I shall endeavour to keep my excitement a bit more to myself and my beautiful!

So I have just come back from my week long Corps Placement to Bedford Congress Hall. It's been a busy week but I've really enjoyed it. It's brought me back on track and reaffirmed my calling which is a good thing!

I've not been a comfortable christian this week which has made me happy - I've stepped out of my comfort zones. I've relied on God lots and that's made me happy. I've been with some quality officers who are very lovely and funny which has also made me happy.

There are a number of highlights from the week - beating an armed robber at Rummy three times in the homeless drop-in. Mashing the potatoes with the worlds biggest masher at the Luncheon Club. Watching as a drunk man stood up in the evening meeting and shouted with his hands held high "I love Jesus, Stand up if you love Jesus" and then watching him as he then passed out! But it's also been a bit of a deathly week. On Monday morning, the CO had to lead a funeral at the Crematorium and afterwards we had a tour around the back from Jim. Did you know the incinerators need to be 850 degrees to be hot enough and it takes on average 100mins to do the "job"? Many people who work in this profession really see it as a vocation and it was lovely to walk around with Jim and listen to him tell me all about what he does and how he treats the job with dignity. Good on Jim. He loves his job - not in a weird way but a lovely caring way. Anyway, the only way to ensure the job is done is to turn the burners off and ensure that all the embers stop burning. To get an idea of how things are going there is a little spyhole into the incinerator - and I got to look in it! I was a bit nervous to start with but once I looked once, I couldn't stop! It was fascinating - to actually see a body burning! I saw the skeleton! wow! The next day, a lady from the funeral directors came to talk to the Over 60's Club - I wasn't sure how sensitive this was but it was actually a good afternoon and they all seemed to enjoy it. It made me laugh when the leader asked them if they felt a lot happier after the lady had spoken! I certainly learned alot - especially in light of the previous day's experience. Then the next day I spent the morning at the local Funeral Director's! I found out all about what they do - it was very interesting. There is a coffin called The Last Supper. This is their most expensive one and it has a carving of The Last Supper on the side! I was taken for a tour around. I felt distinctly funny when I went into the embalming theatre though - and my tummy still turns at the thought of it! I felt the colour draining from my face and was rushing the man to move out of that particular room before he noticed or before something happen which made it really obvious! I was ok in the mortuary though. I borrowed a College Zafira to go on placement which is a fairly long car - afterwards, I checked to make sure they hadn't mistaken it for a hearse - I did not want any little 'surprises' or whacking great human surprises when I opened the boot!

Anyway, to balance the death stuff out, I did go and see a newborn baby as well - he was beautiful - although he must have known I was coming as he decided to give me a nice 'present' as I held him! What does the song say:
'how sweet to hold a newborn baby, and feel the pride and joy he gives'
- no mention of the smelly parcels he also gives! Ah the joys of being a CO!

So now I've got a week off which I'm muchly looking forward to.

laters
cx