Half way!

We have now completed half of our 10 week course and it seems very strange that we will be flying to Guyana 5 weeks on Sunday!   We are not looking forward to all the goodbyes but are now looking forward to putting into practice all we are learning and getting on with it!  It seems to have been so long in coming! 

 Community life continues to cause some irritations but we are learning to cope and deal with situations as they arise.  I feel more peaceful about things in general and am thankful for all your prayerful support.  I believe God is using this time to teach me humility, patience and grace though sometimes those qualities are well hidden and you may not notice!!  J

Last week we did a whole day on the Myers Briggs personality types – they gave us a prayer for each personality type.  Mark’s (ENFJ though we dispute the ‘F’!!) is ‘Lord help me to do only what I can and trust you for the rest.  Do you mind putting that in writing?’ and mine (ESFJ) is ‘Lord give me patience – and I mean RIGHT NOW!’  Profound eh?!!   Now everyone on our course understands why we both appear so anal and keen to start every lecture on time!!

The whole college had a quiet day on Wednesday and we were encouraged to spend time in prayer and reflecting on all we have learned so far as well as relaxing.  After we had spent time with God we went out to Maldon to have a walk by the estuary and lunch in a pub and really enjoyed our day off lectures. 

Maldon, Essex

Looking the other way up the estuary!

We had some lectures at the end of last week on staying healthy in body, mind and soul and were encouraged to make sure we take regular time off for rest and relaxation so that we don’t burn out.  We also had some very practical advice about food preparation, medical matters, emergency situations and potential psychological problems.  We are aiming to be sensible but entrust ourselves into God’s care and are not fearful despite all the warnings!

Last Saturday we had to spend a day with our Methodist colleagues learning about the history of Methodism and the life of a Methodist Mission Partner.  It was a long and tiring day on top of the lectures and chores all week so we were very glad of a very quiet day on Sunday just slobbing around to recover! 

Our group of Methodist Mission Partners

Tomorrow we have a whole morning on personal security and risk and have been told no details of what will happen apart from the fact we have to come prepared to be outside all morning whatever the weather to work with a simulation team so we have no idea what to expect – we may be fake kidnapped or attacked!   I’ll let you know next week what happened!!  

We continue to look forward to Jo and Ayo’s wedding on 17^th November – it will be really lovely to have all the family together for such a happy occasion.  Please pray for them as they make final preparations.  And also please continue to pray for Emily and her jobless situation from the end of November.

I close with a mediation given to us to reflect upon on our quiet day that I found very powerful and pray that it will bless you and draw you closer into a relationship with Jesus:

Finding the heart’s true home

‘Today my heart is an open wound of love.  My heart aches over your distance and preoccupation.  I mourn that you don’t draw near to me.  I weep over your obsession with much ness and many ness.

I long for your presence.  I am inviting you to come home, to come home where you belong, to come home to that for which I have created you.  My arms are stretched out wide to receive you.

For too long you have been in a far country:  a country of noise and hurry and crowds, a country of climb and push and shove, a country of frustration and fear and intimidation.

I welcome you home, home to serenity and peace and joy, a home of friendship and fellowship and openness, a home of intimacy and acceptance and affirmation.  I invite you to come to be a co-labourer with me, to work together to determine the outcomes of events.

I am inviting you to my rest where you will find new peace, where you can be naked and vulnerable and free, the place where you can enjoy deepest intimacy with me, a place where you can hear the beating of my heart, the place in which you belong, where you are known…just come…I give you the key of this home, the key of this home is prayer…

 Richard Foster (adapted)