Slow progress

11.12.12

We slept really well and our bed is soooo comfortable which is a real blessing.  We had the air con switched on and don’t know if we are acclimatizing already but when we had it on 24 degrees C we were too cold so have turned it up to 28 degrees and it still felt cool compared to the rest of the house! 

Progress is slowly being made.  These are the things we have achieved since arriving:

This shows how small Felicity is compared to the match boxes!

Meet our latest pet!  LOL

• We have moved the bedroom furniture to where we want it!
• We now have one Guyana mobile phone!  (we were slightly worried we weren’t going to be able to get one as they wanted proof of address which we haven’t got…however they very kindly let us have one on production of our passport!)
• We have found the local internet café and been able to at least send a message to everyone.
• We have found the village supermarket and bought a few supplies – though nothing I can really yet make a meal out of. We at least now have bread, peanut butter, eggs, onions and a few tins (but no tin opener as yet!!).  At the supermarket I introduced myself to one of the young Indian girls who works there asked her if another day she will tell me what all the items for sale are and how I can cook them! 
• We have found the petrol garage (for when we get a car!), post office, pharmacy and local market for fresh fruit.
• We have discovered that any post addressed to us gets put into a little mail box at the end of our drive – Mark went to check it yesterday and found it empty apart from a tiny frog which we have named Fernando!  We also have our little frog in the kitchen who we have named Felicity!  We have heard that these little frogs are harmless but sometimes pop out of the tap or plughole while you are washing and make you jump!  Eek!
• I have found out how much a quart is! 
• I have learned to use the washer.  Just need to find where to get pegs now to hang out the washing!
• Our Isle of Wight calendar is hanging up…a lovely picture of Godshill in thick snow to remind us of the cold weather! 
• Our next door neighbour has a cat which is about to give birth so we may get a kitten!  Name suggestions please!  Good grief we must be crazy!!  

Hello Guyana!

10.12.12

We’re here!  Still awaiting internet connection as I write this but will write it anyway and post it once we get connected! 

We checked in quickly and easily at Gatwick and miraculously weren’t over our weight limit on our baggage so didn’t have to pay any extra costs.  While waiting for our flight we enjoyed a final cooked English breakfast and a lovely cup of tea!

Our final English cup of tea!

I felt quite calm and peaceful in the run up to getting on the plane but as we took off and soared away from England I did have a wobbly and felt very upset thinking about how far away from our loved ones we were going.

Goodbye England :-( 

Our flight went smoothly and the transition at Trinidad was easy.  When we arrived at Guyana’s international airport all our baggage had arrived safely and we had a lovely welcome party of all the circuit staff waiting to greet us so we were very thankful.  We then had a 50 mile drive to our manse where a group of lovely ladies were waiting to greet us and show us around our new home.  We were so blessed and thankful to see they had put air con into our bedroom, painted everywhere and even bought a washing machine for the manse.  After a little chat and a welcome prayer they all left us to it and we fell into bed exhausted 24 hours after getting up at the hotel in London!

I was woken up 4 hours later (6am local time…that would have been 10am this morning in the UK) by the following mixture of sounds:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Torrential tropical rain

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->A pack of dogs barking

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->A cock crowing

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Something scurrying in the roof above us (possibly rats?)

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Tropical birds welcoming the dawn!

I did think for a moment…’What have we done?!!!’ but quickly recovered and had to laugh as I never realised the rats at college were preparing me for this all along!! 

So, this morning I have unpacked all our cases and started to find homes for things…it is so wonderful to have an actual house to live in again and to spread out!  The water pressure is very low but we do have running cold water, electricity (mostly…though it has just gone off as I am writing!), the local church have put tea, milk, cereal, fresh tropical fruit, eggs and bread in the kitchen for us so we have food for today and we are very warm!  Hooray!  We found a tiny cute little frog in our kitchen this morning about the size of a 50p piece but she jumped away before I could take a photo! 

Our prayer requests today then are as follows:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->For all our freight boxes to arrive safely so that we have all our resources and the rest of our personal belongings.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->For us to orientate ourselves quickly and find out where to get things we need such as loo rolls, washing powder and more food! 

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->For us to get connected to phone and internet asap so I can actually send these messages to you lovely supporters!

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->That we can remain calm and peaceful and not panic when we keep thinking about all the things that we need to find out and do!

Right off to make some scrambled eggs for our lunch…I can hear children playing so there must be a school very close by and a little brightly coloured bird is singing melodiously outside my window!

We're on our way!

We’re on our way!  8.12.12

We are finally on our way!  I am writing this from our hotel at Gatwick Airport.

It has been quite an emotional week travelling around the country visiting our family and friends and saying our farewells but now the goodbyes are over and we are waiting for some hellos!  Some of you will be relieved we have gone at last as I know you are fed up of saying goodbye to us for so long!!  We know that God is already ahead of us and his presence will be with us in all that we will face in the coming months. 

Now we would ask you to pray that we, and our luggage, arrive safely in Guyana, and that all our freight arrives intact next week some time.  Also for us as we start to settle in to our new life and our loved ones adjusting to life without us!  In the words of the apostle Paul, ‘Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace.’

As soon as we get some internet connection I will update you all again but for now, goodbye cold old England and hello tropics!  

Last week

It seems hard to believe that we are now in our final week at college.  We have felt a bit emotional and flat since the wedding – that was the top of the roller coaster and now we are zooming downwards to the goodbyes and partings! 

Last week and this week each of us on our course have had to give a 15 minute presentation about something we have learned on the course then we have all prayed for each other and that has been quite emotionally draining.  I didn’t want to get close to anyone as I knew we were only here for three months but spending all day every day with people you get close whether you like it or not and now it is sad to be going our separate ways – to all parts of the world! 

Here are a couple of photos of our group who have been on our course!

Sensible people

And not so sensible!

 

We had a lecture this morning on ‘re-entry’ in preparation for reverse culture shock on our return so I shall file those notes away for a later date and warn you all what to expect nearer the time!

College life itself continues to have its tests!  We kept hearing scurrying feet in the loft above us and upon further investigation a colony of rats was found up there!  Pest control have put down poison but it could take up to 5 weeks to eliminate them all so we are being kept awake at night by scratching, scurrying and digging feet above us!   If one of them breaks through into our room you will hear me scream from wherever you are!!  

So, we have some final end of term events this week including a carol service, a party for our group and a Christmas dinner and party on Friday, then on Saturday we begin our final final tour saying goodbye to family and friends.  We are not looking forward to that and would appreciate your prayers for strength for all of us.  We will then travel to the airport on Saturday 8^th December ready to fly out to Guyana on Sunday 9^th.  Please also pray that our luggage and freight boxes arrive safely and that we don’t lose anything!

This morning in class someone sang the following song as part of her presentation and made us all cry!  I found it so moving and the words are just lovely – I close with a link to the song as this is really my prayer for us for the next two and a half years. 

Lou Fellingham - Build this house

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcco3LFoIhM

Wedding Day!

We had the most AMAZING day!  Thank you to everyone for all your good wishes, love and prayers – we felt truly blessed!

Jo and her bridesmaids (Emily and her friend Kate) arrived at our hotel at 0750 to start getting ready and having their hair and make up done and it was a lovely morning of chatter and girlie talk. 

 

Jo adding the finishing touches

 

Ready to go!

 

Once we were all ready we went to the top of the huge staircase down to the lobby so that the photographer could get some shots and paraded down, much to the delight of the other hotel guests!  

Walking down the lovely staircase to the lobby

 

It had been raining all morning and when the chauffeur came in to the hotel he had his umbrella up and was wet, but by the time we all went out the front to the car, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining…it then stayed sunny the rest of daylight hours!  We are SO thankful…a miracle to have a sunny, reasonably mild day in November…in Manchester! 

Jo and Daddy arriving at church

 

A very proud Daddy

The bridesmaids, then Jo and Mark walked down the aisle to the music of a string quartet. The service was absolutely wonderful – very moving and powerful…God’s Spirit was with us and it was just beautiful.  Jo and Ayo had written their own vows to each other and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!  There was special moment in the service in which both sets of parents welcomed the other’s child into their family and we promised to uphold them in their marriage and relationship. While they signed the register the quartet played music from Phantom of the Opera, one of Jo’s favourite shows!  Jo and Ayo’s church home group leaders gave the address together and it was so moving to hear testimony of their characters as individuals and as a couple from people who have come to know them so well.

 

A lovely glance at Mum and Dad during the service

Proud mother of the bride

Signing the register

Ready to leave the church

 

We then paraded out of the church and the bridal party went off to a Roman fort to have photos taken while the rest of us went to the hotel for drinks.  Jo had made masks for each of the 100 guests by hand…each one had taken her an hour to make so they were really precious gifts for everyone.  Jo and Ayo had devised an amazing game for the tables to play during the meal, which involved a lot of healthy competition between the tables and ensured that everyone mixed with the others on their tables and around the room.  It was genius! 

One of the tables...all planned meticulously by Jo

The lovely room - planned on a Venetian theme

Top table...showing the amazing masks Jo made each guest

 

This was my beautiful mask

Lovely bridesmaids - Emily and Kate

 

Mr and Mrs Campbell

 

Proud parents

Chris and Emily

A family shot

The speeches were all brilliant and brought laughter and tears from the guests.  Jo was a little nervous especially when Mark told stories about her as a little girl but she laughed so he got away with it! 

Daddy's speech

The lovely cake

Cutting the cake

 

We had a great boogie in the evening and it was moving to see Mark and Jo dancing together to ‘Isn’t she lovely’ by Stevie Wonder. 

Jo and Ayo's first dance

Dancing with Daddy...I love this shot...it captures the joy of the day!

 

After all the guests had gone Mark and I stayed behind to clear up the room so it was a very long day but the most amazing, joyous celebration of their love for each other and testimony to God’s work in both of their lives. They have gone to Rome for their honeymoon now and everything seems very mundane back here!   We have so many happy memories and a few pictures have started coming in…as soon as we get the link to the official photo website I’ll let you know so you can have a look at them all! 

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.

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)