So today my classes were:
-Salvationist Doctrine
-New Testament
-Old Testament
Do you think this was an interesting day for me?
Am going to learn some self defence tonight so watch out!
laters
cx
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Here's an interesting question ....
So today my classes were:
-Salvationist Doctrine
-New Testament
-Old Testament
Do you think this was an interesting day for me?
Am going to learn some self defence tonight so watch out!
laters
cx
Tuesday, 2 October 2007
Just in case you missed it ....
... my beautiful new nephew!
He's so gorgeous! I love him. I am eagerly waiting for a picture with him wearing the tee-shirt I bought in the summer which says "If you think I'm cute you should see my auntie"!
However, I would like to point out that I am feeling somewhat missed out in this whole situation. I would like you all to know that being an auntie is no less an joy and an privilege than being a grandparent - so why is it that my parents have received many "congratulations on becoming grandparents" cards and I have received diddly squat cards which say "congratulations on becoming an auntie". Why? Because they don't make them! Now in this day and age when they even have cards for Happy Divorce and Happy Birthday to my pet - why don't they have a card for me! I feel neglected and undervalued! I am very very very very very happy about Luke and his birth and very very very very very happy to be an auntie!
So the welcome weekend is over. It was fine. I marched ok. I saluted ok. I remembered most of my words to the sessional song and I managed to just get my uniform skirt on although it was very tight! It was good to see Rita who was the YPSM at Gainsborough Corps when mum and dad were the officers there about 30 years ago and remembers me when I was in the primary - and quite grizzly! It was also nice to see Dawn and Jim on the Sunday and of course, it was lovely to see mum and dad and my beautiful! I'm sad Richard, Heidie and Luke weren't there but they will be back soon and I am excited about that.
Now we have started our classes in earnest. We have had Understanding People the past couple of mornings which has been quite challenging. We have been dropped into the deep end a bit in terms of asking us how we would deal with some pretty heavy pastoral issues but I guess that's life. I feel quite affirmed in that some of the things we've discussed I've already encountered and dealt with.
It's all been interesting and at the moment I am feeling very motivated and determined. These feelings I am going to nurture and cling onto for dear life.
This afternoon we had our first sessional meeting - it's Ronseal (does what it says on the tin!). At this meeting over the next 3 weeks we will get the chance to hear every one's story. Already it's been really interesting and challenging to hear the diversity in people's experiences of life and of God but yet how he has had the same call on all of our lives - for such a time as this. The overwhelming thing that has already come out is that God is faithful! He's also very very very persistent! But actually, how when we give in to his persistent calling and signs things seem to fall so much into place. It's not brain surgery! So if you know God is telling you to do something, beware, he'll not rest until you've done it and then you'll rest so you might as well do it and save the hassle and time!
laters
cx
He's so gorgeous! I love him. I am eagerly waiting for a picture with him wearing the tee-shirt I bought in the summer which says "If you think I'm cute you should see my auntie"!
However, I would like to point out that I am feeling somewhat missed out in this whole situation. I would like you all to know that being an auntie is no less an joy and an privilege than being a grandparent - so why is it that my parents have received many "congratulations on becoming grandparents" cards and I have received diddly squat cards which say "congratulations on becoming an auntie". Why? Because they don't make them! Now in this day and age when they even have cards for Happy Divorce and Happy Birthday to my pet - why don't they have a card for me! I feel neglected and undervalued! I am very very very very very happy about Luke and his birth and very very very very very happy to be an auntie!
So the welcome weekend is over. It was fine. I marched ok. I saluted ok. I remembered most of my words to the sessional song and I managed to just get my uniform skirt on although it was very tight! It was good to see Rita who was the YPSM at Gainsborough Corps when mum and dad were the officers there about 30 years ago and remembers me when I was in the primary - and quite grizzly! It was also nice to see Dawn and Jim on the Sunday and of course, it was lovely to see mum and dad and my beautiful! I'm sad Richard, Heidie and Luke weren't there but they will be back soon and I am excited about that.
Now we have started our classes in earnest. We have had Understanding People the past couple of mornings which has been quite challenging. We have been dropped into the deep end a bit in terms of asking us how we would deal with some pretty heavy pastoral issues but I guess that's life. I feel quite affirmed in that some of the things we've discussed I've already encountered and dealt with.
It's all been interesting and at the moment I am feeling very motivated and determined. These feelings I am going to nurture and cling onto for dear life.
This afternoon we had our first sessional meeting - it's Ronseal (does what it says on the tin!). At this meeting over the next 3 weeks we will get the chance to hear every one's story. Already it's been really interesting and challenging to hear the diversity in people's experiences of life and of God but yet how he has had the same call on all of our lives - for such a time as this. The overwhelming thing that has already come out is that God is faithful! He's also very very very persistent! But actually, how when we give in to his persistent calling and signs things seem to fall so much into place. It's not brain surgery! So if you know God is telling you to do something, beware, he'll not rest until you've done it and then you'll rest so you might as well do it and save the hassle and time!
laters
cx
Friday, 28 September 2007
The Big Change
Well it’s been a couple of weeks of change in the lives of the Bradbury family.
Last week I moved to London to the training college to start my 2 years diploma in Salvation Army Officer Training. I have a nice little flat although it is on the third floor so I have to climb many steps to get to it. I don’t mind – I have a uniform skirt to fit into and ultimately a wedding dress so the exercise will do me good! Thankfully, when I arrived at the college the other Monday most people had moved in and some helped carry my stuff up the stairs so Adrian, mum and I didn’t have to do it on our own (I was dreading the thought of that). I’ve managed to unpack most things and it’s weird but nice to see all my familiar things around the place. Every time Adrian comes to see me he either brings something I have forgotten or takes away something I don’t need.
Here are some pictures of my flat.
Life here at the college is ok. We have had a week and a bit of inductions and study skills classes; plus we have been given our first essay, which has to be handed in today. It was only an 800 word practice assignment to get us into the habit of writing essays but the essay title was mammoth and it was really difficult to fit it all into 800 words. I experienced something in writing this essay I don’t think I have ever experience when writing an essay – having too many words! I had to spend a good hour editing it to get the word count down! Classes start in earnest on Monday after the welcome weekend. Today we have Marching practice and our final chance to practice our sessional song (which I’m liking a lot) for Saturday night’s welcome. It’s all a bit surreal really. The Witnesses for Christ are a nice bunch of people – I think we’re going to have a nice time together.
And secondly…. Please say a warm welcome to my beautiful new nephew: Luke Jonathan!!!!! (da daa! – that’s a fanfare by the way!)
Isn’t he just so beautiful? He was born last Thursday (20 September 2007) at 20:50 in Chikankata hospital (for a fuller account of the birth see my big bro’s blog on the link list). It was a bit traumatic last Thursday because we received word from Rich that the baby’s heartbeat had weakened and so they decided to do a C-section. When they did the section they found the cord wrapped tightly around Luke’s neck and he had stopped breathing so they had to resuscitate him. The placenta was also in a bad state and bleeding. They told Richard that had they waited for Luke to be born naturally he would have most likely died and Heidie would have had permanent damage so I say thank you to a great big mahoosive God who I believe worked in that whole situation and produced this miracle. Thank you also to a brilliant load of friends who I texted to pray that night.
I got a chance to speak to Luke that night on the phone – I told him that it was he Auntie Clare speaking and he cried! He better not be giving me that cheek when he’s older!
And finally, I say congratulations to my friend Jane who married Ross last weekend. It was a lovely day and nice to see some familiar faces.
Adrian and I travelled up to Scotland by car on the Friday afternoon; went to the wedding on Saturday afternoon; stayed for the meal and the speeches (which were some of the best I have heard at a wedding) and then drove back down to London just as the evening reception was starting so that I could be back for the Spiritual Day at the college the next day! I arrived back home at 3am! When saying goodbye to Jane she told me to text her when I got home. I looked at Adrian and commented that I did not think my welfare would be utmost on her mind that night and I didn’t want to be part of that night - even in text - at all. So I feel it’s safe now to say to Jane that I got home!
Laters
cx
Last week I moved to London to the training college to start my 2 years diploma in Salvation Army Officer Training. I have a nice little flat although it is on the third floor so I have to climb many steps to get to it. I don’t mind – I have a uniform skirt to fit into and ultimately a wedding dress so the exercise will do me good! Thankfully, when I arrived at the college the other Monday most people had moved in and some helped carry my stuff up the stairs so Adrian, mum and I didn’t have to do it on our own (I was dreading the thought of that). I’ve managed to unpack most things and it’s weird but nice to see all my familiar things around the place. Every time Adrian comes to see me he either brings something I have forgotten or takes away something I don’t need.
Here are some pictures of my flat.
Life here at the college is ok. We have had a week and a bit of inductions and study skills classes; plus we have been given our first essay, which has to be handed in today. It was only an 800 word practice assignment to get us into the habit of writing essays but the essay title was mammoth and it was really difficult to fit it all into 800 words. I experienced something in writing this essay I don’t think I have ever experience when writing an essay – having too many words! I had to spend a good hour editing it to get the word count down! Classes start in earnest on Monday after the welcome weekend. Today we have Marching practice and our final chance to practice our sessional song (which I’m liking a lot) for Saturday night’s welcome. It’s all a bit surreal really. The Witnesses for Christ are a nice bunch of people – I think we’re going to have a nice time together.
And secondly…. Please say a warm welcome to my beautiful new nephew: Luke Jonathan!!!!! (da daa! – that’s a fanfare by the way!)
Isn’t he just so beautiful? He was born last Thursday (20 September 2007) at 20:50 in Chikankata hospital (for a fuller account of the birth see my big bro’s blog on the link list). It was a bit traumatic last Thursday because we received word from Rich that the baby’s heartbeat had weakened and so they decided to do a C-section. When they did the section they found the cord wrapped tightly around Luke’s neck and he had stopped breathing so they had to resuscitate him. The placenta was also in a bad state and bleeding. They told Richard that had they waited for Luke to be born naturally he would have most likely died and Heidie would have had permanent damage so I say thank you to a great big mahoosive God who I believe worked in that whole situation and produced this miracle. Thank you also to a brilliant load of friends who I texted to pray that night.
I got a chance to speak to Luke that night on the phone – I told him that it was he Auntie Clare speaking and he cried! He better not be giving me that cheek when he’s older!
And finally, I say congratulations to my friend Jane who married Ross last weekend. It was a lovely day and nice to see some familiar faces.
Adrian and I travelled up to Scotland by car on the Friday afternoon; went to the wedding on Saturday afternoon; stayed for the meal and the speeches (which were some of the best I have heard at a wedding) and then drove back down to London just as the evening reception was starting so that I could be back for the Spiritual Day at the college the next day! I arrived back home at 3am! When saying goodbye to Jane she told me to text her when I got home. I looked at Adrian and commented that I did not think my welfare would be utmost on her mind that night and I didn’t want to be part of that night - even in text - at all. So I feel it’s safe now to say to Jane that I got home!
Laters
cx
Sunday, 16 September 2007
Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye ....
Well here I am, Cadet Bradbury, at the Lord's service! I've said all my farewells (apart from my Beautiful's which I'm not looking forward to) and I depart tomorrow morning for the Training College.
People have been so very kind, generous and supportive. The past four years have been such a pivotal few years of my life. The decision to move down here was completely a God decision and I've never felt so much that I've been right at the centre of God's will and doing what he wants as I have done over these years. I can see now how my whole life he has taken me on a journey and each decision and move made has been a stepping stone to me getting nearer to his destination for my life. I feel now that I've reached that destination. This is precisely where God has been leading me and preparing me for my whole life. of course I didn't necessarily see that at the time but now with my degree in Hindsight I can. I'm so grateful to God for all the adventures along the way and all the beautiful people he's placed in my life to guide me when I was getting lost or just for the company.
So from tomorrow I start a new journey and I'm excited - I don't mind telling you! I'm not so excited about taking all my belongings to my flat which I found out this week has moved from the first floor of house 5 to the top floor. I am seriously worried about the inability my body will have to move the next day - but I have My Beautiful to help and my mum. However, I am excited about the possibility of all those stairs helping to make me thinner - I have a wedding dress to get into you know!?
Anyway, there are many things I am excited about but the main things is that I know I will be right at the centre of God's will for my life and I can't even begin to tell you how amazingly happy and content that makes me feel.
laters
cx
Sunday, 2 September 2007
Ring a bling bling!
You are reading the blog of a very very very very smiling person! I am smiling because my Saviour from Numptiness, my Godsend - Adrian last Wednesday, on the shore of Loch Lomond at Luss in the beautiful sunshine asked me to marry him! I said yes - hence the picture above of the beautiful bling bling ring!
He really is wonderful. You know Luss has very many happy memories for me. I'm sure for most people there is a place which is a real spiritual place for you; a place where you feel really close to God, a place which fills you with happiness, refreshment and the awesomeness of God. Luss is that place for me. I always said that my dream proposal of marriage would be there. However, because I told everyone it seemed unlikely that this would happen as it wouldn't be a surprise.
Can I just said that God is a dream maker! He has worked so many situations out this year for me to make my dreams come true. Being with Adrian is one of them; this week away was another and the proposal yet another.
In truth Adrian and I knew pretty much as soon as we got together that God had planned for us to be together. Everything just clicked nicely. I often pray that I will live in the joy and contentment of God's plan for my life and being with Adrian has just put the cherry on the cake in that way. I feel a deep contentment being with him and a great excitement about all the future holds for us.
So we went on holiday this week. I didn't know where we were going - it was a magical mystery tour! We started off in the Lake District and then he drove to Luss on Monday. You can imagine my absolute joy when I realised we were staying in the hotel just next to Luss called the Lodge on the Lomond . I had the meal to celebrate my graduation here about seven years ago and always dreamt that one day I would love to return and stay here with the love of my life (you know - like girls do!).
The hotel is right on the shore of Loch Lomond and each room has a balcony with a direct view right over the loch. Here's the view from my balcony:
Isn't it so beautiful? And what's amazing is that everyday the weather was different yet the Loch with the hills behind never lost it's beauty - every time I looked I was filled with amazing gratitude to God who created all this beauty for us to enjoy and I was so grateful that I had someone to thank for the beauty. I wonder how people who don't acknowledge God as the creator manage to channel their feelings when they see such beauty?
Anyway, We went for a lovely walk on Wednesday morning before breakfast because the sun was shining so brightly and it was such a beautiful day. We sat on the bench overlooking the loch, watched as an aqua plane landed in front of us and as a couple of boats came in and moored at the pier and I joked about us witnessing a drugs heist (it was very peculiar - especially as there was a dodgy man hanging around) and Adrian asked me to marry him right there and then. It was so beautiful and I will never forget it. You see I am just an old romantic and he made my dream come true! I love him.
laters
cx
Saturday, 25 August 2007
Michael Schumacher Wannabe ...
And the second reason for not blogging recently is that I have been in a state of invalidity and shock! Yes shock!
You see as I was coming home from camp a week last Tuesday I crashed my car and wrote the blooming thing off! Now the roads around Milton Abbey are little country roads and it had been raining. I was listening to "Abide With Me" on my ipod (quite fitting really!) and suddenly a bend appeared before me which I knew I wasn't going to get round at the speed I was going. So the car skidded and went up on the bank on one side (just managed to stop it from rolling right over) and then back over to the other side, through a big hedge, down a bank and into a field! Amazingly, I was not hurt in anyway and immediately phoned my saviour from numptiness (as he's now know) - Adrian. Who advised me to call 999. They said they would get the police out to me asap and to flash my lights if I saw a helicopter in the sky (wow - how exciting, a police helicopter coming to save me). I avidly looked out for this helicopter but it didn't come (apparently it was too misty) - however, the armed police came in their car instead which was still pretty impressive!
I couldn't find a way to get up onto the road because of this whacking great hedge but the policeman managed to and helped me out. I then phoned the lease company to help recover the vehicle. The policeman took a look around the car to inspect the damage. It was then that I remembered that as I was on my way to camp the week before, I had stopped to meet my mum. We were chatting in front of Frank the Tank (my car) when I suddenly noticed that the tax disc said 31.01.07!!!! I had been driving around for 8 months with an out of date tax disc!!!! So thankfully, the day before this accident Adrian phoned the lease company to order a copy of the tax disc as I had no recollection of them sending it to me. Plus, with your own car you get sent a reminder when the new one is due but as this is a fleet car that reminder is not needed to be sent to me so it's not my fault really. Anyway, I was really panicking thinking that I was going to be arrested on top of everything else. When I explained the situation to the policeman, he said "oh don't worry about that!" can you believe that - all that nervous energy? Anyway, what if I had stolen the car? What if it was a bodged up car? What if...? What if...? I don't know, policemen of today, no wonder we have so much crime on our streets!!!! Only joking, I was very relieved really because I couldn't have coped with being arrested and was really and truly grateful for the kindness of the policeman.
So Adrian was driving to meet me as well. The police asked where he was and I explained that just before they had arrived he was at the Ferndown roundabout. The policemen estimated that it would probably take him another 30-40 mins to get there. However, I knew the concern that Adrian was showing when I called him and therefore, knew that despite me just having had an accident because I was speeding, it probably wouldn't have stopped him going slightly over the speed limit to get to me. So I pleaded with the police not book him if he did arrive before the estimated 30-40 mins, which they were very good about.
When Adrian (my saviour!) arrived the local bobby also arrived and the armed police then left. The bobby suggested that we got my stuff out of the car. It was now very dark and we couldn't see so a torch was suggested - can you believe the policeman did not have a torch? He was in a massive range rover car and there was absolutely no torch! However, Adrian (my saviour!) had one. So I started my mount up the hedge to get to the boot but it was quite difficult so Adrian (my saviour!) told me to come down and he would get it - at this point the bobby was just kind of watching. So I came down and stepped off the bank onto the road but as I did this, I went over on my ankle and fell to the ground! Can you believe it? I manage to write off my car and escape any injury but I then sprain my blooming ankle half an hour later just walking along the side of the road!!! Adrian (my saviour) suggested I got into his car (probably out of harms way in case I did anything else!) I got into the back so I could stick my leg up to try and stop the swelling - it also helped the pain. Adrian came and opened the back door to speak to me and then as he went away slammed the door shut - nearly injuring my ankle again!
Finally, after a while of waiting (and a tea and toilet break in a local pub) the recovery man came - unfortunately he came in a little van even though the police had advised the company that they would need a truck to hoist the car out over the hedge. The wee recovery man said that he would have a go with his wee van but would probably need some help so Adrian (my saviour) put on his Salvation Army emegency tabbard which excited him no end to help (he had nearly been knocked over by some maniac driving too fast along a wet country road earlier on so wanted to make sure he was wholly visible!!) As we thought, the wee recovery man with his wee recovery van couldn't get the car out and so we had to leave it there for the night to be recovered the next day by tommy truck. That, my friends, was the last I ever saw of Frank the Tank! Since then, no one (including the lease company and the accident management company/insurance company)seems unable to locate him! He's probably already gone off to that great garage in the sky.
Anyway, I got home at 2am to be then taken to A&E at about 6am the next morning because of the pain in my ankle. They x-rayed it but found no breaks. I had just sprained it and apparently sprains are often very sore the next morning. I have been waiting eagerly since then for a massive bruise to come out so I can take pictures but there's only been the smallest hint of one which is a bit pathetic really.
I've had a couple of shakey moments since - mainly due to my mum's driving - not giving way at a give way junction and going up on the curb does nothing for your nerves when you've just had a car crash. I've also had a bit of a pain in my chest where the seatbelt must have saved me and of course some pain from my ankle but apart from that I am fine. Amazing really. I think God was certainly looking out for me that night and has some ways still in which He wants to use me on earth.
A special thanks must, of course, go to my saviour from numptiness without whom I would have definitely been a complete mess and who was - as always - my Godsend!
I'm now off to put my ankle up!
laters
cx
You see as I was coming home from camp a week last Tuesday I crashed my car and wrote the blooming thing off! Now the roads around Milton Abbey are little country roads and it had been raining. I was listening to "Abide With Me" on my ipod (quite fitting really!) and suddenly a bend appeared before me which I knew I wasn't going to get round at the speed I was going. So the car skidded and went up on the bank on one side (just managed to stop it from rolling right over) and then back over to the other side, through a big hedge, down a bank and into a field! Amazingly, I was not hurt in anyway and immediately phoned my saviour from numptiness (as he's now know) - Adrian. Who advised me to call 999. They said they would get the police out to me asap and to flash my lights if I saw a helicopter in the sky (wow - how exciting, a police helicopter coming to save me). I avidly looked out for this helicopter but it didn't come (apparently it was too misty) - however, the armed police came in their car instead which was still pretty impressive!
I couldn't find a way to get up onto the road because of this whacking great hedge but the policeman managed to and helped me out. I then phoned the lease company to help recover the vehicle. The policeman took a look around the car to inspect the damage. It was then that I remembered that as I was on my way to camp the week before, I had stopped to meet my mum. We were chatting in front of Frank the Tank (my car) when I suddenly noticed that the tax disc said 31.01.07!!!! I had been driving around for 8 months with an out of date tax disc!!!! So thankfully, the day before this accident Adrian phoned the lease company to order a copy of the tax disc as I had no recollection of them sending it to me. Plus, with your own car you get sent a reminder when the new one is due but as this is a fleet car that reminder is not needed to be sent to me so it's not my fault really. Anyway, I was really panicking thinking that I was going to be arrested on top of everything else. When I explained the situation to the policeman, he said "oh don't worry about that!" can you believe that - all that nervous energy? Anyway, what if I had stolen the car? What if it was a bodged up car? What if...? What if...? I don't know, policemen of today, no wonder we have so much crime on our streets!!!! Only joking, I was very relieved really because I couldn't have coped with being arrested and was really and truly grateful for the kindness of the policeman.
So Adrian was driving to meet me as well. The police asked where he was and I explained that just before they had arrived he was at the Ferndown roundabout. The policemen estimated that it would probably take him another 30-40 mins to get there. However, I knew the concern that Adrian was showing when I called him and therefore, knew that despite me just having had an accident because I was speeding, it probably wouldn't have stopped him going slightly over the speed limit to get to me. So I pleaded with the police not book him if he did arrive before the estimated 30-40 mins, which they were very good about.
When Adrian (my saviour!) arrived the local bobby also arrived and the armed police then left. The bobby suggested that we got my stuff out of the car. It was now very dark and we couldn't see so a torch was suggested - can you believe the policeman did not have a torch? He was in a massive range rover car and there was absolutely no torch! However, Adrian (my saviour!) had one. So I started my mount up the hedge to get to the boot but it was quite difficult so Adrian (my saviour!) told me to come down and he would get it - at this point the bobby was just kind of watching. So I came down and stepped off the bank onto the road but as I did this, I went over on my ankle and fell to the ground! Can you believe it? I manage to write off my car and escape any injury but I then sprain my blooming ankle half an hour later just walking along the side of the road!!! Adrian (my saviour) suggested I got into his car (probably out of harms way in case I did anything else!) I got into the back so I could stick my leg up to try and stop the swelling - it also helped the pain. Adrian came and opened the back door to speak to me and then as he went away slammed the door shut - nearly injuring my ankle again!
Finally, after a while of waiting (and a tea and toilet break in a local pub) the recovery man came - unfortunately he came in a little van even though the police had advised the company that they would need a truck to hoist the car out over the hedge. The wee recovery man said that he would have a go with his wee van but would probably need some help so Adrian (my saviour) put on his Salvation Army emegency tabbard which excited him no end to help (he had nearly been knocked over by some maniac driving too fast along a wet country road earlier on so wanted to make sure he was wholly visible!!) As we thought, the wee recovery man with his wee recovery van couldn't get the car out and so we had to leave it there for the night to be recovered the next day by tommy truck. That, my friends, was the last I ever saw of Frank the Tank! Since then, no one (including the lease company and the accident management company/insurance company)seems unable to locate him! He's probably already gone off to that great garage in the sky.
Anyway, I got home at 2am to be then taken to A&E at about 6am the next morning because of the pain in my ankle. They x-rayed it but found no breaks. I had just sprained it and apparently sprains are often very sore the next morning. I have been waiting eagerly since then for a massive bruise to come out so I can take pictures but there's only been the smallest hint of one which is a bit pathetic really.
I've had a couple of shakey moments since - mainly due to my mum's driving - not giving way at a give way junction and going up on the curb does nothing for your nerves when you've just had a car crash. I've also had a bit of a pain in my chest where the seatbelt must have saved me and of course some pain from my ankle but apart from that I am fine. Amazing really. I think God was certainly looking out for me that night and has some ways still in which He wants to use me on earth.
A special thanks must, of course, go to my saviour from numptiness without whom I would have definitely been a complete mess and who was - as always - my Godsend!
I'm now off to put my ankle up!
laters
cx
Ah ha! I'm back again!
It's been a long time - in fact over a month since I last wrote in this blog which is quite disgusting but I have had a good excuse. Firstly, I have been preparing for Ministry and Mayhem 07 (MaM) which is the camp the SA runs for the children (8-12 yr olds) down in the Southern division.
The camp is held in the Milton Abbey School. It's an absolutely beautiful setting - out in the middle of nowhere which is great but a bit of a bummer to get a mobile signal.
Everyday the children spend the morning in collective worship and bible teaching. In the afternoon they do ministry and mayhem workshops. They choose which ministry workshop they want to do for the week (stomp, dance, multimedia or puppets) and the the mayhem workshops they all have a go at (Craft, T-shirt printing & sports). In the evening we have different activities such as a games and quiz night, the big games night (with inflatables and giant connect four etc..), a video night (it was High School Musical this year), the talent night with a disco and the final celebration.
As it was my last year, they organised a cheeky little surprise party on the Monday night which was good fun - thanks guys! It proves as the camp director that I have absolutely no knowledge of what the staff or the kids are doing really nor do I have any control over them!!
Each day we have a theme day which we keep a secret from the children and then wake them up in our fancy dress. Monday was Pirate day, Tuesday was Wacky day (an old favourite), Wednesday was Circus day and Thursday was Wild West Day. We try to decorate the theatre and dining hall accordingly and do extra little bits during the day to fit in. On Wednesday for circus day in the afternoon we had people come to teach the children circus skills such as juggling, plate spinning and acro-balance which was really cool. We also had a surf simulator and Jackie face painted for four hours!!!!
The theme for the week was I'm Livin' It! and we looked at what it means to live out God's greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbour as yourself" . We looked at a different parable each day which fitted in with the love that we were looking at that day eg: love with heart: the Pearl of Greatest Price and the Hidden Treasure; love with soul: The Barren Fig Tree; love with mind: parable of The Talents; love with strength: the parable of The Sower and finally love your neighbour as yourself: The Good Samaritan. When you truly think about what it means to love God in these ways - it's actually really difficult and was a massive challenge to us adults as well as the children.
Each morning during our collective worship there was an opportunity for us to spend time on our own with God. Everyone was given a prayer journal and a daily devotions booklet to help focus our thoughts for the day if needed. At the end of the day we had our Quiet Celebration where we did the Fanfare of the Day (when we celebrated something 5 different children did for the 1st time that day - they receives a specially made medal, we gave them a standing ovation and they lifted the trophy up accompanied by the Olympic anthem - it's fab!) and then in groups the children discussed what they had learnt that day and whether they had managed to live out that specific love for God.
The staff team as usual were absolutely fab and I love them very much. God has given them such amazing gifts and it was really amazing and heartwarming and encouraging to see them using those gifts to encourage 65 children in their relationship with God.
At the end of the week as Adrian drove me home up along the beautiful main drive he stopped the car, made me get out and look back at the school and we prayed. As he prayed in that evening light - just as the darkness was closing in - the most perfect, bright and single star was shining right at the centre above the school. I believe it was God's sign that he had set his seal on MaM and was well pleased!
laters
cx
The camp is held in the Milton Abbey School. It's an absolutely beautiful setting - out in the middle of nowhere which is great but a bit of a bummer to get a mobile signal.
Everyday the children spend the morning in collective worship and bible teaching. In the afternoon they do ministry and mayhem workshops. They choose which ministry workshop they want to do for the week (stomp, dance, multimedia or puppets) and the the mayhem workshops they all have a go at (Craft, T-shirt printing & sports). In the evening we have different activities such as a games and quiz night, the big games night (with inflatables and giant connect four etc..), a video night (it was High School Musical this year), the talent night with a disco and the final celebration.
As it was my last year, they organised a cheeky little surprise party on the Monday night which was good fun - thanks guys! It proves as the camp director that I have absolutely no knowledge of what the staff or the kids are doing really nor do I have any control over them!!
Each day we have a theme day which we keep a secret from the children and then wake them up in our fancy dress. Monday was Pirate day, Tuesday was Wacky day (an old favourite), Wednesday was Circus day and Thursday was Wild West Day. We try to decorate the theatre and dining hall accordingly and do extra little bits during the day to fit in. On Wednesday for circus day in the afternoon we had people come to teach the children circus skills such as juggling, plate spinning and acro-balance which was really cool. We also had a surf simulator and Jackie face painted for four hours!!!!
The theme for the week was I'm Livin' It! and we looked at what it means to live out God's greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbour as yourself" . We looked at a different parable each day which fitted in with the love that we were looking at that day eg: love with heart: the Pearl of Greatest Price and the Hidden Treasure; love with soul: The Barren Fig Tree; love with mind: parable of The Talents; love with strength: the parable of The Sower and finally love your neighbour as yourself: The Good Samaritan. When you truly think about what it means to love God in these ways - it's actually really difficult and was a massive challenge to us adults as well as the children.
Each morning during our collective worship there was an opportunity for us to spend time on our own with God. Everyone was given a prayer journal and a daily devotions booklet to help focus our thoughts for the day if needed. At the end of the day we had our Quiet Celebration where we did the Fanfare of the Day (when we celebrated something 5 different children did for the 1st time that day - they receives a specially made medal, we gave them a standing ovation and they lifted the trophy up accompanied by the Olympic anthem - it's fab!) and then in groups the children discussed what they had learnt that day and whether they had managed to live out that specific love for God.
The staff team as usual were absolutely fab and I love them very much. God has given them such amazing gifts and it was really amazing and heartwarming and encouraging to see them using those gifts to encourage 65 children in their relationship with God.
At the end of the week as Adrian drove me home up along the beautiful main drive he stopped the car, made me get out and look back at the school and we prayed. As he prayed in that evening light - just as the darkness was closing in - the most perfect, bright and single star was shining right at the centre above the school. I believe it was God's sign that he had set his seal on MaM and was well pleased!
laters
cx
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