From the trainee pilots

Some of us, of course, have yet to fly the nest. So we thought it might be good to say what we're doing so that those who have flown off to north, south, east and west can know a little of what we're doing.

J is the one who might be closest to flying off. She's at College, learning about working with young children, with plenty of practical experience. The work is hard at times - bending down to push a squadron of young children on their trikes can give you terrible back-ache!

K is trying to keep up to date with work, and particularly the coursework which has to be done before exams at the end of May and beginning of June. This is her AS year, so it'll then be back to school mid-June to start the Year 13 work. Meanwhile, the other K has just moved house at the end of last week, so everything's still in boxes at the moment.

The rest of us are concentrating on surviving the usual - school, parents, that kind of thing - and looking forward to the social programme - a Games Night tonight and a visit to the Police Station next week. Three of us will be going to the Confirmation preparation course which Andrew is leading, so if you're around on July 15th, come and support us at Pangbourne!

We love hearing about what you're doing, so keep the blog posts going!

Points for prayer:

• Give thanks for the report which Fiona's mum gave in church following the family holiday in India, and pray for Fiona as she prepares to return home in about a month
• Give thanks for Jackie standing up at the APCM and saying how much she was enjoying leading WAM, and pray for new leaders to come forward to join Jackie and Andrew
• Pray for all preparing for exams in the coming week, particularly for K as she prepares for her AS exams - we pray too for you as you face exams, particularly for Nat and Linda as they face the final weeks of their University courses
• Pray for K, K and E as we think and pray about whether this is the right time for us to take the step of Confirmation.

We look forward to seeing lots of you when term's over!

Emily's update from UEA

Hello everyone!

I hope you are all well and it’s so good to hear what you are up to- despite being scattered around the country and across continents!

I have been back at UEA for a week now since the Easter holidays. It’s so lovely to be having great weather, but it is distracting me from my essay-writing!

To be honest, there isn’t too much to report at the moment. We are reaching the dreaded ‘exam period’ here (as I’m sure a few other WAMmers will be soon…) and the summer holidays will arrive upon us. Too quickly, in my opinion! I can’t believe that I am nearing my second year at UEA. At the end of August, my course at UEA (American Studies) will be taking me to Redlands University in California for a year. Quite different from Norwich, I think you’ll agree! I didn’t see it becoming reality, until I started to begin filling in my visa forms. I know I will miss home / UEA a lot, but judging by how quickly the second year has gone makes the prospect of going away from home seem easier.

Please pray for:
• My family, after my grandmother has recently passed away.
• Maintaining my faith; a more challenging environment here, than at home.
• The difficult visa application that will give me permission to study in the U.S!

I’m giving thanks for:
• My enjoyable second year here at UEA.
• Housemates and friends who have given me much support over recent weeks.

Thanks!
Best wishes to you all,
Emily xoxo

Update from Banbury

Hi everyone!

Seems like a long time since I have seen many of you (probably because it is!!) buts its been good to see your posts on here and reading what you are all up to.

I'm trying to think what to write as my life doesn't really seem very exciting compared with everything you all are getting up to. Will do my best though.

Most of my time seems to be spent travelling to and from work and trying to keep up with that. Luckily work have given me a laptop and I work from home 2-3 days per week which is making a big difference. Adam is still extremely busy with his uni work and he is coming up to the big rush at the end of the year to get all his work in. Its hard trying to find time and energy after travelling on a train for over an hour each way and doing a 7hr day at work and then having to do uni work. Because of both of us having long journeys to and from work we are both pretty tired for anything else but enjoy just relaxing as and when we can. We are members of the National Trust and both enjoy photography.

The flat is pretty much finished apart from the odd touch up here and there. We're both proud of what we have acheived there and think its looking pretty spiff!!

Still going through quite a nightmare with sorting out my claim after my car accident. I am still suffering from my whiplash (coming up to 2 years ago now!!) and am getting more and more frsutrated with my solicitor as she doesn't seem very helpful. I am currently waiting for more treatment to be approved and until then am just putting up with the pain.

We have plans for the future but I'm a little reluctant to post them just right now until things are set in stone - but as soon as they are I will update you all. Our plans will involve moving so certain things are a little stressful at the moment.

I hope everyone is well and please, please keep in touch!!!

Please pray for:

-Adam as he comes to the end of his 3rd year of uni out of 7.
-My recovery from whiplash and that my solicitor finds suitable treatment for me.
-Please pray that our future plans will soon take effect and that we make the right choices.

Give thanks for:
-Any spare moments we have to relax.
-The continued love and support of both of our families in everything we do.

In expectancy...

I am at last allowed to pass on the happy news that relative newlyweds Gareth and Beki are expecting their first child in November. Please pray for them as the time approaches: for a safe and healthy pregnancy and that they would be wise as they prepare for the responsibility of parenthood.

My turn

Well, I have been a little disorganised of late, where the blog is concerned. After creating a deadline for everybody else, I have failed to keep my own! So, some 10 days later than planned, here is a little update from Manchester...

As the summer term gets its wheels on the tarmac, I realise that there are only a couple of months left until the end of my life as a first-year Music student. This is not altogether a bad thing as far as I am concerned. For a start, it is a hint at nicer weather as the trees blossom and Spring ensures we know that it has truly sprung -- today I left my flat at 7:40am to go for a walk in the sunshine in a local park before a percussion ensemble rehearsal at 8:30am. But more than that, it means that second year is around the corner: an opportunity for greater specialisation in the course (the first years' 'general overview' is a little bland in places) and a chance to live with friends in a real house (I have found living in halls accommodation more difficult than expected, but will spare you the details).

Nevertheless, I have been enjoying myself this year, with plenty of chance to get my teeth stuck in to various performance opportunities, joining a good local church (and playing the organ for another one -- only four miles' walk away of a Sunday morning!) and wonderful friends for whom I'm really thankful.

Those of you still in Purley -- or in touch with what's going on at church -- will know all about the ministry for people with learning disabilities which has started up since Mum's been working with Causeway Prospects (http://www.prospects.org.uk/index.php/causeway_prospects). Some of my favourite few days of the Easter break were spent at Spring Harvest in Minehead. I was there on team with Causeway Prospects, and whilst I expected to do little more than play away on my keyboard at the back, I ended up leading worship about half of the time. God turned up at the meetings -- true to his word! -- and we all had a great time and came away feeling blessed. I could write much on that, but the start of my post has already disappeared out of the top of this box in which I'm typing.

Just one more thing before I really must go and collect some laundry: to encourage those of you who are praying for friends to become Christians. One of my friends arrived at University particularly vehemently opposed to faith and religion, particularly Christianity. Last term, he was taken along to hear William Lane Craig speak (part of UCCF's Reasonable Faith tour around the UK), and has been a different man ever since! He wouldn't yet call himself a Christian, but I pray that that day is not too far away. Please pray for him.

So, in summary, and for your prayers, if you would be so kind:
GIVE THANKS
* for all God's blessings, especially friendships that he puts in our paths
* for the Reasonable Faith tour, and how God used it
* for a great time at Spring Harvest, and the chances to serve there
* for the year past

PLEASE PRAY
* that God would make it clear if and how he wants me to take worship-leading at Spring Harvest and other events forward, working with people with learning disabilities
* for Seb (the aforementioned friend) and for Linda (the other offspring of the Mackie clan in Purley)
* for wisdom with respect to accommodation for the rest of this year
* that I'll continue to be a willing channel for God and not become blocked by unhealthy obsessions about exams, recitals or anything else

Thanks so much :o)

Greetings from Canada! (News from Paula and the girls)

Greeting from Canada - we are now coming out of hibernation and starting to enjoy the sunnier days Calgary has to offer.

I apologise for not adding to this blog before and I will endeavor to post a photo of the family as soon as I know how.

Katy has a friend (Pip) to stay from England and they went on her first freedom trip to Banff. Skiing was the order of the weekend and judging by the bruises on both, falling down was the game. Pip decided to teach herself to snow board whilst kt decided to see how slow she could come down the Diamond Black Run - I think she got lost!

Please pray for Katy as she battles against her homesickness and her work load, she is doing an IB, Alberta Diploma and 2 A'levels via correspondence course.

Mizzie has enveloped the canadian way of life with full vigor, she even has the accent! Her favorite past time is shopping and with the many malls we have here, she is always poor (so am I as I have to supply the money) but in her element. To her credit she stepped forward to play one of the leads in the church youth group play, when they were doing the service, she surprised us, as I was expecting an British accent to come out over the mic, but a canadian one did instead - that was the start of it and it continues to be her chosen one.

Praise for: Calgary Education system for sorting out Mizzie's education program so swiftly and making her so very happy and settled. Especially Elaine Bolt, who not only is a fellow christian, but has a son with the same condition as Mizzie, she has been a tower of strength to us both - God bless.

As for Tom and I, we look forward to celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary, moving in to our new house and praying for a less eventful year, so we can just enjoy our new life with our family in Canada. We have started a plan for all the places we would like to visit as we are now going to be here for at least 5 years.

Pray for: Continued strength and love in our marriage.
For me to find my pathway in Calgary.
For Katy and Mizzie to enjoy the experience and opportunity this move will allow.

Praise for: Tom's career, which has taken off since moving here
All our new friends for making the transition easier
All our old friends who keep in touch and make us still feel part of home.
Tom, Katy and Mizzie, who are my support.