From Under The Duvet..: June 2008

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Schools, Scores and Shopping

I went into my old school today to drop back the cup I won for RS. Even if they couldn't spell my name correctly in the engraving... ahem. But my old headmaster started talking to me and, despite me wearing my Cardiff hoodie, couldn't even figure out where I'd went to uni.

I told him all I needed to do would be to join the organisation for old school members. He told me I definitely have to do that because he thinks I'll be a very active member in years to come. I replied that there would have to be some failing for that to happen - and he laughed, assuming it was a joke... I'm not sure how much of a joke I meant it to be!

I didn't hang around at all - he was the only person I talked to. I maybe should have went and talked to the librarian or the English teacher who spotted me in the car park as I'm not sure when I'll be back! It was lovely to drive in with Elaine again though - just like old times! hehe.

I came back to find out what my actual results were - not only did I pass but I passed well! 66, 68, 68, 69, 78 and 78. The 78s were in stats(!) and cognitive - that last one I hated! So an average of 71 which I'm so delighted with. God is so good (and I'm praying I could have said that even if the average had been 41!).

Then this afternoon and evening was spent shopping with the girls from discipleship group. We all had pizza in Pizza Hut together and then split up. Within half an hour and a few shops another leader/helper and I decided that that was enough - and off we went to a coffee shop! I'm not a big shopper!

All the girls in the youth group came back with bags from Primark - containing matching pants! They all bought pants or something. So comforting to know all the youth group girls have matching pants made by six year olds paid in buttons. They all know this is a big button for me and it's so nice to see how willing they are to push it... Praying for all our eyes to be opened wider to see how we can be Christ in more areas of our lives! Even our shopping...

Labels: good days, results, school, shopping

Real

Tonight I was at Hannah's hen night - a lot of fun! With silly games and linedancing! It's scary to think that Hannah will be married in less than two weeks - at the age of twenty-one!

Today I was told that I'm real.. I'm not entirely sure what Val meant by that but.. why be fake? Life is hard enough without lying to those around you. And we all need so much help. I know I've been splurging to some of those around me recently but I feel a little saner because of it!

And maybe saying how you feel sometimes isn't appropriate.. But sometimes we need to challenge people and institutions. If what we say is like water of a duck's back then that could be good - it means people are really sure of what they're doing... Maybe!

Challenging can be good... Challenging can be stretching... Challenging can lead to growth... Challenges change and shape us and make us exactly who we are.

I'm so far from perfect but all the events of my past have made me who I am. So maybe the challenges were ok. And I'm still alive. That's something(!).

Not sure what I'm saying.. be real? Yeah, be real. Be always real. Then, at least if people hate you they'll hate you for who you are.

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. "
2 Corinthians 4 v 8-9

Labels: bad times, faith, good times, life

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Goes together like a horse and carriage...

Today the majority of my conversations have been about marriage and weddings, for various reasons. On Sunday night we heard from a family friend how their niece got married and the wedding cost €30,000! And a girl mum knows spent £1000 on her wedding (thanks largely to ebay!). And Rose's sister is getting married in less than two weeks - I'll be at the hen party tomorrow (line dancing!).

I've decided that rather than wear proper shoes to my wedding I may just wear Birkenstock (white, maybe!) - this is a step up from me deciding barefoot would be the way to go! That is assuming I'll get married though (although many Cardiff friends have decided I will and who to!) - and that I don't do what my granny did (get married abroad, posting the invitations on the way to the airport - because people were going to fly out to South Africa a day after getting invitations! although I don't think I'd do that).

Talking about marriage on the way home I was saying how Julianne and I have decided we need to marry guys who will be moderating influences on us - Paul has decided he'd love to meet a guy who could be a moderating influence on me. Apparently I'm a "strong, secure", "determined" and "focused" - all of which I'm fine with!

Paul has also decided it'll be fun to see how submission works in my marriage - although as I could only marry someone I really and truly respected.. I'm not going to say submission would be easy but it would have to happen (being a biblical command and all that!).

However, being a wee while away from announcing any engagements don't go buying a hat!

Labels: good times, laughter

Sunday, June 22, 2008

A bit of a bitty update!

On Friday morning I was told by the ex-evange sec that he and the ex-male-pres had decided that I have taken over the role/personality(?) of the ex-ex-female pres. I have met her and thought she was lovely! So when I asked what they meant by that apparently her nickname had been “The Iron Rod” and the phrase “I won’t say bossy… disciplinarian” was used.

After talking to her about it we’ve decided that without direction some people do nothing. And I think the reasons for me being labelled “disciplinarian” are perfectly valid choices. Just because I occasionally take no prisoners (after giving potential prisoners plenty of time to “escape”) doesn’t mean I’m always bossy…

Perhaps I should simply embrace my bossiness?

The summer ball was a lot of fun! Scouting for Girls were great and it was so good to see all the lovely guys and girls for one last time before summer! It was nice to get dressed up – although my strappy shoes gave me a wonderful five blisters. This would be why they’ve only been worn three times in the last year and a half!

It was also a lot of fun to go on the fairground rides! There were dodgems, horizontal-twirly things and vertical-twirly things. Very interesting in dresses! There was also a “chill out” room at the ball – filled with loads of bean bags! It was nice to relax there when feet got sore!

And then walking back to Talybont for the last time. I stayed with Miss Johanna and we didn’t spend the whole night talking – it was good to sleep! I showed my parents around the city a little and we went to that fantastic milkshake place!

The trip home was uneventful! And within half an hour I was back in the cottage (where youth stuff happens in my church) at the girls’ only night. They watched PS I Love You (I didn’t see a lot of it!) – and when one girl saw me (I’d kept my homecoming quiet!) she cried! And still couldn’t quite forgive me the next day.

As I went to church that next morning the flower festival was in full swing. As I sat surrounded by eleven flower exhibits, each “representing a period of church history”, costing a total of £2225.

I must admit that I felt a hideous irony in singing the hymn “Lord, for the years” that morning as one line is “past put behind us”. Did we really mean that as we sung it, after spending so much money on flowers? Are we going to learn from our mistakes?

Now, I will admit that the flower festival did get a lot of donations which will be given to mission at home and overseas. And the church itself did not give money from the offering/tithes/whatever to pay for the flowers – although some were paid for by organisations which yearly raise funds…

I had only been home a day and yet by Sunday evening I had submitted a letter to the Mission Action Group of the church – they decide where the £50,000-£60,000 raised through my church’s mission shop goes to. I was asking for money for a mission team I’m involved with and will continue to be involved with which needs money!

I was talking to the minister about the request for money and he said there shouldn’t be a problem and I replied, in that tone I’ve mastered so well, “Over £2000 spent on flowers? I’d like to think so!”

I told Paul and Val what I said – Val was mortified and Paul seemed delighted… I did apologise to James (later, in an email!) just in case that was too rude! But he said it was fine. And my church blew me away with the amount of money they have given that mission team.

In church the following story was told (the sermon was given by the Church of Ireland minister from the village – quite a sight! Haha!) during the sermon:

There was a poor cleaning woman who came from the wrong side of town who wanted to become a member in a well-off church. The minister continually answered her requests to join with “Pray about it and come back to me” – he feared his well-off members may not like that poor cleaning lady sitting beside them during the sermon.

Months passed and the minister hadn’t heard any more from the cleaning lady – until one day he bumped into her as she cleaned the floors of an office he was visiting. He went over to her and started talking to her. He asked if she had prayed about joining the church; the lady replied she had. The minister asked her what God had told her and she replied, “God told me not to worry and to persevere as He’s been trying to get into your church for many years…”

And today I had my first Czech team meeting! It was good to see so many of the team members – although we’ve yet to all meet up! One of the perks of having four uni students and two Americans on the team! It was a great wee meeting and we covered how we can encourage one another and the students at English camp.

And it turns out that last year I was actually teaching an advanced class – not intermediate as I thought! I spent the afternoon flicking through English manuals and I’m so excited! I decided to put all last year’s English stuff and this year’s in one folder – and it filled a lovely big lever arch file!

This year between us James and I will be leading the team devotions each day so I’m looking forward to planning those too! I’m so excited about what God is going to do this summer in the Czech Republic. I’ve plenty to do but it’s all so exciting (overuse of the word exciting? Perhaps! But it’s all so… exciting!)!

I also found out that I passed my exams! So I will definitely be going to Colorado Springs and Portland (OR) this summer – a huge relief as I booked the flights at Easter…!

Better go to bed!

Labels: Czech, good days, summer 2008, update

Friday, June 13, 2008

Echos

So, my parents came this morning and upon walking into the flat said "This is all yours?!"

My response? "Yeah, but there's some stuff in my room and the kitchen stuff is sitting on the table..."

That did not go down well! And they seemed to forget me saying "I'm going to leave the kitchen stuff for you guys to help me with."

Oh well.

There are now four boxes, a printer and a tesco bag of electrical items at my wonderful host family's house (through church). The car is full - and I mean FULL! I will probably be getting the bus to the airport tomorrow! hehe.

But now my room is empty apart from pjs, a change of clothes and things I'll need to go to/get ready for the summer ball tonight.

I just have to clean the bathroom floor and my desk. I'll pop to Tesco to get some money and then it'll be time to get ready for the ball.

My room echoes (I don't even have duvet in here - staying with Jo tonight!).

I hear every key stroke I make echo across the room.

In three months someone will find out that this will be there address for the year and they will be so excited to move in.

They will call my wee home home.

They'll get frustrated by the shower that you stuggle to turn off and the cold tap that's similar in the kitchen.

They will put their photos on the wall and sit in this seat at this desk and tell loved ones how everything is going.

I can't believe this year is over... I can't believe I'm heading back to NI again.

Scary scary biscuits...

Labels: Cardiff, first year ending

Thursday, June 12, 2008

A little less conversation?

So, I'm sitting in my room after returning from the Hard Rock Cafe. My whole house (all of us that were still in Cardiff - so about 24 of the original 36) went out tonight for a meal. It was really nice to catch up and see everyone (after exam time where it's lilke ships in the night, although I never have been all that close to my house).

I decided not to go to the pub afterwards so started to walk back - and another guy who has lived in the other flat on my floor was walking back too. We had an amazing conversation. It turns out he "grew up" in the church (until that age where parents no longer force you) but I don't think he could be called a Christian.

But it was so interesting talking to him - he talked about how when you meet Christians it can be so clear that they've something else to live for. Something that even when everything seems to be going so wrong they can cling to - he even talked about how we have a hope that is unbeatable.

He even admits he learnt a lot from church - about right and wrong and respect etc. And he knows Christians live differently with a different outlook, with a confidence that isn't based in any way in their own abilities.

We need Christians who are willing to live lives so radically and authentically different, in the midst of all the mess of this world, that people can't escape this hope and faith.

It was even mentioned that when you meet Christians you "just know" - how amazing would that be if Christians lived out life with hope and light just radiating out of them!

I'm praying that my actions would be a megaphone in this world... it's only then people are willing to listen to what you want to say...

An absolutely awesome conversation...

And now I need to pack! Eep!

Labels: faith

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Best. Sign. Ever.

Someone stole the trailer a church uses to store all their stuff. In an effort to get the thief's (or possibly plural) attention the church put messages on billboards all around the area.
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On their website they they had this video from the pastor talking about how the church forgives them.
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I think this is the best billboard I've ever seen and, personally, I think this is a little more WWJD than a church flower festival costing more than £2000 (which is this weekend if you're about in my NI village).
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(HT: Stuff Christians Like).

Labels: church

Monday, June 09, 2008

More than Photos

Today has been another lovely day. The weather was beautiful again (although I haven't quite forgiven the sun as I still resemble a lobster in select places including one inch wide strip down each calf..). Church was good - it was on mission and it's great to see how many Highfielders are heading out to serve God across the world or even.. in the Welsh valleys!
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Then back home (it's weird... in a week this room will no longer be "home"...) for a quick lunch before heading to a meeting of people from the CU and people from the Islamic Society. One person from each society shared what their faith means to them and then we had small group discussion. It was really interesting and I look forward to the relationship continuing. I also discovered how awful my apologetics/even more general stuff is as I struggled to fully answer what we believe about the Old and New Testaments... oops!
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As Jo and I walked back from town this evening (about two miles) at 10 o'clock it was so beautiful. In the distance you could see the pinkly striped sky and as we walked back the sky changed from that beautiful fresh blue to a more bluey colour.
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The crescent moon was out and looking beautiful with the blue backdrop and the trees matched in perfectly. The air wasn't cold but it was slightly cool and the gentle breeze felt so nice against my sunburn!
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I was going to get out my camera and take a photo of the blue sky (I did take one from the building of the sunsety sky) but I'm slowly realising that photos so very rarely do anything justice...
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They don't capture the coolness and a fresh smell of the air or the way the sky changes colour... The nights that turn into mornings as we talk and put the world to rights... They don't capture the embraces...
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Here's hoping I remember all those things...
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The photo at the top of the coast is somewhere up around Torr Head on the North Coast and was taken on that wonderful day spent with Rose up there just before I left in September.
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Labels: good days

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Beach Party... SUMMER!

So, last exam is now over me and I’m free to enjoy my last week in Cardiff…

Enjoying this last week involved getting up at 7am this morning to head to Llangennith Bay (which is, of course, pronounced Clan-gen-nith – weird welsh!) which is on the Gower (on the bottom left of Wales) with CU.

It was a beautiful day – the sun was shone so beautifully (bear in mind that before Thursday we’d had pretty much two solid weeks of rain here!) and only disappeared ever so briefly behind the clouds. There was a little wind at times – but that’s to be expected in the kite surfing spot that it is.

Unfortunately the wind kept us rather deceived about the strength of the sun… and, despite wearing factor 30 today, I am home with a sunburnt shoulders, front, face and… hands?! I also have literally one strip of burn on each leg… so weird! And I think I can proudly announce that my Birkenstock tan line is back already…

Weather aside… it’s a beautiful beach with lots of sand, some beautiful pebbles (which, I decided, matched my summer ball [and touchdown formal] dress perfectly – speaking of the dress I thought I’d try it on to make sure it fitted but it’s loose! Which is good – I’ve a lot of food to get through this next week!) and there were lovely dunes.

After arriving I spent some time just lying on the sand in the dunes. And of course had to dip my feet in the water and get freaked out by all the crabs. Also got ice cream! Dinner was a bbq (on the beach! So cool!) and smores (toasted marshmallows eaten in between to disgestives with chocolate on them!).

It was a great day… and I can’t put my finger on one thing that made it so special – the weather, company and location all contributed! Of course I got sand everywhere and fear I've brought a large amount of it back with me! I've decided I'd really like to be able to surf though...

What a brilliant start to what I hope is going to be a fantastic summer!

I can’t believe it’s summer already!

Labels: beach, CU, good days, summer 2008

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

My own worst enemy?

Sometimes I think I’m my own worst enemy.

I know that God works for the good of those who love Him and I know that He knows the plans He has for me and that they are good.

But… and this is what I find myself thinking… wouldn’t it be nice if x, y or z were His plans?

And I find myself saying things like “Ok God, I know you know what you’re doing… but could you please be doing this?”

And I know that when doors are closed it is for my own good and that God is opening a much better window… but I still have a bit of a tantrum and shove at the door, desperately hoping that appearances are deceptive.

And when said door is closed and I’m left searching for a window (not that you ever really search for one, you find yourself in one – it’s just usually not the one you want and you’re look for the better one, the one resembling that closed door) I discover that I was holding on to that door rather than the one who knows the layout of the “house” (a stretch in the analogy?).

Realising this I try to let go off the dream of the door and just cling to Him… secretly hoping that in the quiet moment that unexpectedly arrives one day in the future when I stop dreaming about the door it’ll open…

Thinking I know so much better than God… forgetting the mystery of grace and getting what is so undeserved… thinking God is some primary school teacher who works on a system of points gained and rewards earned…

I have so much to learn about the God of doors and windows… I have so much to remember about His love and grace…

Labels: faith, God

Sunday, June 01, 2008

Living Life

So, I survived the hair appointment and despite only getting a tidy up of one inch of my hair it feels so short again! Will probably have to face the scissors again before Czech but there we go.

What else have I done this week…

In short, not a great deal. It’s been half term here so there was no crèche and as my friends were still finishing exams (most have now finished and a big tongue stick-out to them) so it’s been quite quiet there too. And my back has been pretty bad – not allowing a lot of sleep and being generally energy zapping. I have accomplished quite a bit of reading though, which is always nice!

Ana left on Thursday for home so it’ll be a whole three and a half months before I’ll see the weird but wonderful Portuguese element in my life again. It’s all so strange! We had tea and cake in a newly found coffee shop (the high number of students means the area of Cardiff we largely inhabit is full of independent coffee shops, something I love!) – if you buy a hot drink you get free cake! And the guy is rather strange – with only Ana and I in the café he left and said he’d be back shortly. He went next door and bought some things!

On Wednesday night Louisa and Rebecca said “I love shopping for men” – a quote I’d quite like to remember! Apparently they meant they love shopping for clothes for men but not quite what they said!

I stayed with Rebecca on Wednesday night as we were getting up at 5am to get the bus into London! At 2am I woke up to Rebecca saying “…and he’s a really great author, so good if you want a book on Mars, a really great author.” After establishing it was sleep talking I wondered who the great author was.

London was really good. We saw many of the main sights: Big Ben, Westminster Cathedral, the statues of Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela etc (and nearly died crossing the road to and from them!), Buckingham Palace. A boat trip along the Thames let us see lots of beautiful buildings – although I felt cheated that the Tower of London isn’t actually a tower.

Covent Garden was fun and I bought my mum and Amy birthday presents. There was a great street entertainer and lots of fun little shops! After that the weather broke and rain led us to seek shelter in a coffee shop where we people watched for a long time and came to the conclusion that North Face fleeces/coats instantly make men more masculine looking.

We also went to Harrods and it was fun seeing all the strange and wonderful things (and the extortionate price tags!). I bought a jar of buttermints which are lovely and I even look forward to finishing them so I can have a lovely jar (no doubt to start a button collection in!).

I returned to my wee room to discover 34 emails had accumulated in the day I was away. They were mostly from facebook alerting me that in my absence I had received 4 event invitations, a friend request and that a new group set up about me! There being three Rach[a]els in my NI friend circle they’ve set up a group to try to figure out which of us is the favourite…

Also in my absence, although they’ve recently done it again, Jo and Ana changed their facebook statuses to:

This stems from the chick-flick-esque idea of someone coming to the airport and declaring, a hopefully welcome, affection for the person jetting off. I’m not holding my breath!

Friday was a normal relaxing day and yesterday I had a birthday picnic! Charlie (my teddy) went and there were several attempted kidnappings! Then in the evening I went to a birthday bbq which was lovely.

Among the topics discussed (which also included the idea that badgers and pandas don’t actually exist… mm hmm…) was some apparent midnight texting rule. Apparently if you text a member of the opposite sex after midnight it means “something more”.

I argued that it really depends on what time people go to bed and that surely a text sent in the morning (like 8am-10/12am – we are students afterall) would be worse. A text after midnight might just be “Right, who else do I have to text before I go to bed” whereas surely a morning text says something more like that person being your first thought. Conclusion? Perhaps “good Christians” only text between 10am and 10pm.

I’m slowly learning that the best times are when people just hang out talking the night away (didn’t return until almost 2am last night)… talking about badgers and rules about texting. Or just sharing life.

Today I had a relaxing day – church and little else. Will tidy my room and reply to the emails waiting in my inbox so I start the week ahead with a fresh slate. Got a few things planned – including being back at crèche for the first time in four weeks and co-writing the geography round of the pub quiz for freshers’ week (I’m putting in an NI question…), another birthday party, meeting up with committee and church leaders. Will also be revising as my last exam is this Friday which will be followed by birthday celebrations and, on Saturday, beach party where I’ll experience my first wide game.

Life is busy but life is good! When asked where my “life is” I struggle to know… I spend 8 months of the year in Cardiff now and I will miss Cardiff people in the three summer months that are two weeks away! And yet I’m excited to see all the crazy Saintfield people I miss when I’m here. Although both places are so busy it’s I don’t know how much I notice that I’m not in the other place!

And then with a mission trip to the Czech Republic and a possible trip to the States this summer… part of my life is there.

In short, my life is exactly where I am at that exact moment in time, thinking otherwise would be ridiculous. I’m going to stop writing this blog post to get on with living it…

Labels: good times, life, uni life