the latest life change:

Hello Family and Friends! I am so excited to be writing this week's blog because I feel that so far it has been the most important week in lectures and growth in general. I am so blessed to be here!

Soo, this past week the lectures were on our Identity in Christ and we had a husband/wife team come and share with us. The first half of the week we learned about our Original Design - so learning who it is that GOD created us as individuals to be and to rebuke any lies about ourselves that either we have told ourselves or that others have spoken to us. We had a time of prayer and other times of affirmations and encouraging one another. It was so neat to see how God had so clearly given each of us parts of HIS character to enbody. And to see how because of our different designs we can work so much better together when we are walking in the design we are intended for. THEN the second chunk of the week was leanring about 'Strongholds' or areas of sin in our life preventing us from fully living in our orignal design. Again we had a prayer time, and a couple different teachings on different strongholds and how to repent and accept forgiveness. An example of this is the stronghold of PASSIVITY where the stronghold is the trunk of a tree and the leaves (or ways that sin is displayed in your life) would be not asking for prayer when needed or waiting for people to come talk to you at an event instead of initiating and the roots of this could be injustices - so things that happened in your past that you had no control over and did not deserve or generational or inherited sin (like when this is looked at as just a way of life or 'who I am').... So we individually had a time of prayer about a major stronghold in our lives and then how to take practical steps with God to defeat this. I wont share so impersonally over the computer about this area of my life, but I do believe that one of the greatest tools we have to use is accountability and you need to be vulnerable in order to do that. We also learned this week about Blessings and Cursings that come from our mouths and how when we speak out against someone or group of people we are in a way cursing them (which really does nothing for you, and can only harm that person). So we talked about blessing people, especially those who have cursed you. One really important thing that Ive learned this week is the impact the spoken word has, whether that is in repenting verbally or rebuking evil, or affirming someone... It is important to speak.

On another note.. Christmas is almost upon us! Last night we had a little bit of a christmas party at our house - with a few friends over that we have made here (they are part of another program called Sword of the Spirit and we have been joining our groups occasionally because we all get along so well. They have 5 students or gappers in their group, but we have also been making friends with THEIR friends too. Its great.) We baked Christmas cookies and decorated them and had a huge community meal at our house and watched a movie, and ended with a dance party in our living room!! My favorite! Tonight there is another Christmas party that I may make an appearance at, and on Tuesday another one where we are having a gift exchange. On Christmas day I am going to help a church out with a meal they are serving to homeless people and families in need, and i think we decided to do a big Christmas brunch all together. I have plans over the holidays too to go to Giants Causeway (look it up) and a church formal or dance and possibly to a castle and a hike or two. And theres a chance I may go to 'Puffin Island' with Isaac.. Im not too sure how I feel about being on a bird island though... We are losing three of our family for the break - Jack Cortney and Carolyn are all going away, and Megan and Brian both have people coming. So Isaac me Steph and Nosipho will hold down the fort. It doesnt quite feel like christmas to me, but it is close. I did not expect to have a tree or any decorations - which we kind of do.. and I didnt really think I would experience any sort of the normal traditions that my family does, but again in some ways we have and will. I am looking forward to the intamacy with God I am sure this rest will give me. It will be nice to take time to just dwell in Him for a bit.

Other activities I have done so far have been... mmm there is a Christmas market here that has been up for a month or so and we went exploring that - they have food and goodies from all over the world. This is where I tried Kangeroo burgers. Ive also been to the coast now with Steph and Cortney and some of Stephs friends here. We went to watch Neil's rugby match (SO COOL!) and went to the coast and to an Irish pub after with the rugby team. Earlier this week I went and joined the Sword of the Spirit group and did some carolling. OH and last weekend we went exlporing the university grounds here which look like Hogwarts in Harry Potter. It is BEATIFUL. Weve also been in a lot of charity shops around the area. Mostly though our days are pretty simple. We are pretty contented to stay close to our house so far - partially because transportation is expensive and still unknown to us. And there is ALWAYS something to do at our house - conversation is never lacking when you are living with ten people and theres always journalling and laundry and letters to write. Mondays I am still grocery shopping, Tuesdays I am cooking, Wednesdays I have outreach at a youth centre, Thursdays I shop again (but its a smaller trip), Fridays we have community meal, and Saturday I usually come to the city to do emails or hang out, and Sunday is church of course. Those are things that are pretty consitant. Then all my other time is filler around that stuff. My outreach on Wed is at a place called the Hammer, and me and Cortney are supposed to be working with a group of girls there to get a fundraiser up and running with them to have a formal/dance for youth at the centre - we are setting up a tuck shop in the centre for treats throughout the night but so far no girls have shown to start this (even though it was their idea!) So we have been entertaing the boys for the past two weeks. The average age would be probably 15-17, and they basically just play football (soccer) and table tenis and pool. It was a little intimidating the first week, but I can see great potential with this outreach, and Im really looking forward to getting back to it after the break.

I tried to remember collectively all the questions Ive been getting, but ask again if I forgot anything. I miss you all, but I am so not ready to come home yet :) If anyone wants to call me I need to write down our phone number but you could get that from me and get a calling card. Just a thought...

Peace love and Joy

(and have a brilliant christmas)