Ambushed!

So…last week we were held up at gunpoint!  All part of everyday life at the college!!   It was actually a brilliant morning and we all took part in a simulation in which we had to get visas and currency and try to cross a hostile border into a pretend country.  We had to deal with officious customs officers, beggars, drunk taxi drivers clamouring for our custom, gun wielding youths at the ‘border’ and then we were ambushed in the woods and robbed at gunpoint.  After all the excitement we had a plenary session in which some experienced security people talked through what we had done well and what would have got us killed if it had been real!    We picked up a lot of helpful information though thankfully Guyana is pretty safe compared to a lot of places.

We spent a morning looking at our love languages and how to use them with partners, colleagues etc.  I have read Gary Chapman’s book anyway but it was fun to discuss it in our group who are all getting to know each other a lot better now.  We now know who to hug, who to do kind things for, who to say nice things to, who to meet for coffee and who just wants gifts! 

We also spent a morning looking at ways to communicate with our friends and family back home and I showed the group my blog to give them an idea.  Hoping it won’t get too boring for you all to keep reading!!   It’s certainly easier than typing newsletters to post!   We also talked about making movies to upload to share so I will try and have a go at some point! 

Last weekend we drove over to Canterbury to get away from college…a place we have always meant to visit.  One of Mark’s ancestors (William Warham) was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1503 to 1532 and crowned Henry Vlll!  It was exciting to visit his tomb and then we joined the service on the Sunday morning which was very interesting - we wouldn't want to do it every week but enjoyed the solemnity and reverence of the service.

Carolyn in the cloisters!

Canterbury Cathedral

Mark at the tomb of his ancestor

The plaque next to the tomb

 

 Points for prayer this week please…

• Jo and Ayo as they make final preparations for the wedding next week.  Praying for a lovely day and not the usual Manchester in November weather!!
• Emily’s job situation…deadline getting closer now – eek!
• For our freight boxes to be collected on time, to arrive safely in Guyana and for us to be able to collect it all without a hitch and without anything getting lost or damaged.