The Wonderful World of Becca

Saturday, September 08, 2007

CMS

Well week 3 at work has certainly been manic.... my colleagues in the office spent the first 2 weeks saying "You just wait till next week/term starts". So I waited and I was hit with it this week!! OK, so it really was manic - there are so many different projects going on and things to get ready for the start of term, but things really weren't as bad as they made them out to be!

I enjoy being busy, in fact, I thrive on it! It was ironic coz while the rest of the office were completely stressing yesterday, there was me, calm as anything!!

No 2 days are the same, every one is different! I love it there :-)

Sunday, September 02, 2007

major update!

Wow, life has been busy… it’s been so long since I’ve been on here!

I didn’t even tell you about Portugal!! That seems like such a long time ago now! So I wrote in my last post about asking God why… well I guess it’s when things go wrong and this seemed to be what happened in Portugal on the last day… one of the guys was a complete idiot… the plane was delayed… Dee’s cello case got damaged… the coaches weren’t right… there were randoms on our coach who wouldn’t get off (they did eventually) and the coach driver managed to drive into a concrete pillar and smash one of the back windows (fortunately it was double glazed and no-one got hurt!!) So I was really asking God why… why did all this have to happen. Portugal was an amazing time… hot, musical and a fab week. It was a good time to really develop relationships. I got to know folk so much better; some I knew well before, some a bit and some not at all, so it was really good to get to know some of the orchestra and start and develop some friendships which I hope will last forever.

I came back and had Holiday Club at church the following week. That was another amazing week of seeing God move and developing relationships with the team and the kids.

On the Saturday after it was Jess and Aaron’s wedding; another amazing occasion. They both looked so happy and stunning. Jess’ dress was gorgeous and she was the happiest I’ve ever seen her in the 16 years I’ve known her. It was awesome. They are clearly so well suited and I just pray and trust that God will bless their marriage.

The following morning I set off at about 8am for Langton Matravers 1 – a CPAS camp in Dorset. I must admit I was feeling fairly nervous about it as I didn’t know anyone at all on the camp. But I was greeted with a really warm welcome and everyone was so friendly and made me feel at home and at ease within the team. The week flew by. I had an amazing bunch of girls in my dorm and the leadership team really were amazing. I seemed to fit in so well and by the end of the week it really felt like I’d known some of the team for years. On the second night I gave the talk and it was such a privilege to do. I didn’t feel all that well prepared for it… I’d tried to scribble some notes at 8am in the car on the way after having had 3.5 hours sleep – never a good start for giving a Bible message!!! Anyway, fortunately I had an hour in the morning of my talk to look over it again and get inspired. Fortunately at this point I turned to God and admitted my disorganisation and I called out to him to use me and help me get prepared. So the talk came round in the evening and it was amazing. I felt at such peace delivering it and the kids seemed to be really responsive. They just sat absorbed by what I was saying. I really felt like God’s mouthpiece and it was just the most amazing experience. So that was a tiring, but fantastic week.

The day after coming home from camp I went to Tenerife with my family. It was so good to get away from Croydon for a time and to be in the sun, in great company, with a swimming pool!!! As ever, it was gorgeous and much fun. I’m always drawn to God when I’m in beautiful surroundings – mountains, seas… my personal favourite moments were seeing pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins in their natural environment. We went out on a boat on 2 separate occasions to see whales and dolphins; it was awesome. Throughout the holiday I managed to work my way through the majority of the hotel cocktail menu!! I think I’ll be heading off to AA soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We came back from Tenerife and the following day went to Beth and Jonny’s wedding. I had the privilege of playing piano in the band for the service. It was a wonderful service and again they looked so happy and in love. Beth looked stunning, as did the bridesmaids. It was so awesome to see some old faces again, especially the Ridouts and to be able to meet Lizzie’s husband and Dom’s wife. Good times.

I had a weekend to breathe before starting work at CMS! I was really looking forward to starting and I can’t believe that I’ve now done 2 weeks. I seem to have fitted into the office nicely. There seems to be a lot to learn, but nothing I can’t cope with yet!!! My colleagues are all lovely and it’s great to work with so many different staff. I think I’m gonna really enjoy working there. Having a job is great. I feel like I’m actually useful and that I can do something that’s actually gonna make a difference to people. My colleagues have been really encouraging and I really feel like God has placed me at CMS to shine for him and I can tell they can see something different about me.

This week has been the YG show at the Ashcroft Theatre. I’ve spent the week in room 4 with 10 new girls. It’s been amazing to be a part of their live’s for a week and to then watch them, and my brother, cousin and some friends in the show. They all did me proud J Seeing such a large group of talented youngsters makes me so emotional. I met 2 amazing mums this week as well. It was really odd coz when we first started chatting, straight away it seemed as though we’d known each other for years. It was so amazing. I later discovered they are both Christians and I had a few really encouraging conversations with one of them.

These past few weeks I’ve also been reading one of my books for college. It’s called Children Finding Faith. I’m really enjoying it. I find it so exciting and interesting to read. It’s basically about child development and how that links with children’s relationships with God. It’s so insightful.

I was reflecting recently how much God has changed me… a few years ago I wouldn’t say I was that much of a confident person, but now things are different… over the last few weeks, maybe even months I seem to have been in situations where I’ve had to meet and spend time with so many new people. Put me in that situation a year back and I’d have freaked out not knowing what to say. But recently it’s been awesome… I’ve made conversation and feel I’ve made some real headway into beginnings of relationships. In some cases it really does feel like I’ve known the person for years, especially on camp and with these 2 mums from YG. God has changed me so much and I’m so excited and happy about it. I guess it’s an answer to prayer actually coz I’m sure I prayed about it a while back.

It still gets me that so many people seem to have disappeared temporarily or permanently from my life… Kathy, Leona, the Powleys, Stuart, Zoe and various other people along the line. But I feel really encouraged… through facebook I’ve been able to get back in touch with some old friends… I’ve had the opportunity to meet up with folk and spent quality time with them… and I’ve had the opportunity to meet new people and start up whole new relationships.

God is good hey? I just need to remember that and trust him at all times instead of just when I feel like it!