Guess who's back?

That's right folks, voting time again in Northern Ireland for the second time in our history. Men and women will be voted in to power, men and women will fight when in power, men and women will get a pay-rise when voted into power, men and women will have no influence in British policies when voted into power and ultimately, men and women will do nothing worthwhile for the people when in power.

But...

One man will remain. One man who is 45 years old with two children, a man who has worked overseas in countries like Germany. He is a new face to Northern Irish politics with new thinking.

I'm not saying he'll do anything worthwhile either when in power, but he is...

BASIL MCCRAE!

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Heating

Hello everyone!

I thought I would blog again for the benefit of, well, mainly Evonne, Sharon and Grace who read this and comment. Ohh yeah, and my mother who likes to read but send her comments via text message.

I'm sat in a cold house, our heating is up the left and I've not had a hot shower in over a week now. It does affect you, it does annoy you but I'm not going to achieve anything by moaning about it.

I'm now into my fourth week in my new job with Christians in Schools. It has been going so well and I'm really enjoying it. It's mainly just listening and learning and although that can sometimes be frustrating, it's necessary and so worthwhile in the long term. So the job is going great.

You know, last week there when we had no heating for 3 days, I decided to make the most of that. I decided that seeing as the temperature was the same inside as it was outside, that I might as well get a change of scenery and go outside. So I had my two t-shirts, jumper, hoodie, hat, scarf and big boots on and went and stood outside.

When I got out there, the beautiful light pollution of Manchester meant that the cloudy sky was illuminated by pumpkin orange light. That kinda sucked. I did see one star though. Couldn't tell which one as the rest of the sky had that orange candy floss filling it.
Still, I had a good chat with God and asked Him to keep the three of us (Chris, Pete and myself) warm that night. I just asked for real practical help.

God is good. He answered straight away.

He gave me an idea for Chris and I.

For Chris, we moved the electric heater from downstairs into his room. So that was one person sorted.
For me, I moved my matress downstairs into the dining room and slept infront of the warm, open, gas fire all night. It was beautiful.
For Pete, well, Pete took what I like to call, "the king David approach". What I mean by that is, Pete took to bed with him a human hot-water bottle. So I guess each of us were kept warm that night in our own unique and individual ways.

New year, new job

Well hello again friends,
It's a new year and I am in a new job.

I started at Christians in Schools on Monday and it is sweeeeeeet! I love it!

I am shadowing Andrew for a while and so I've been into a couple of the clubs he does at lunchtimes. It's been exciting stuff! I'm also in the office quite a bit. We bought a desk for me on Monday and put it up and all. Got a nice swinging chair too. I get my own computer as well. It's brilliant!

Andrew and I popped into a school today to see how their Big Deal mission week is going. Sue, who we also work with, is in there all this week so she hasn't been in the office. We were in the back of a classroom which had a couple of The Message's band in doing a lesson. I got to meet one of the girls from Blush UK who was taking part of the lesson. She came and introduced herself to me which was great and said how much she's looking forward to working with me in the future. It settled my nerves about those guys which was good. You see, Blush UK and LZ7 are kind of Christian celebrities in this area and I'll be working with them directly when the Big Deal mission weeks take place in the schools I'm responsible for. Jess was great though and so nice when we were talking. I am actually really looking forward to working with them and the Message more in the future.

Tomorrow we have plenty to be doing as we go to Tesco, go into a school at lunchtime and then will be with Sue at her school from the afternoon into the late night as LZ7 and Blush UK have a gig there in the evening. I am looking forward to it although it will be a packed and busy day. Mightn't be home again until after 11pm possibly.

I do love this job already.

I keep turning to Andrew in the office and laughing as I say, "So we're going into school, then to a meeting, then in to see Sue and Blush UK". What a job!

P.S - If anyone didn't receive my latest newsletter and would like to, just leave a comment with your e-mail address or send me a wee e-mail and I'll send you one

Iceland baby! Pictures, yeah!

We had just arrived and Jón and Marisa insisted on taking our picture, we had been up since early almost the night before! We were wrecked!


This is the 4 of us in the car, inspired by pictures on a certain group of Seattlites myspace


This was one big geyser...


You can't tell the time in the car as it's a bit blurry but this was the sun starting to rise at 10am. Yes, 10am. In the morning. Wasn't really light until near 11am


This was the waterfall that's part of what is called, "The Golden Circle". "The Golden Circle" is these waterfalls and the geysers as they are within about 10/15 minutes of each other


Even though we weren't at sea, Jón's dad and Lindsey did have flares on new year's eve


This was Marisa and I as we wrapped up warm on new year's eve. I was actually surprised at just how mild it was when we were out there. It only really got cold at night


We played football on a beautiful artificial pitch the night before we left with Davíd and Fjóla


Davíd and I appreciated the art on show at the national museum of Iceland. The lady who worked there did not appreciate Marisa taking pictures though...


Marisa and I decided to go into hat modeling. There is a distinct lack of hat models in Iceland and where better to start our new jobs than at the national museum of Iceland...


I did a bit of preaching when I was in Iceland, just at a few churches, here and there...


It's true, Christ rocks. So does Christmas.


Lindsey and I helped Jón and Marisa clean the kindergarten they work at...seriously...we did loads of cleaning...


This is another picture inspired by a group of Seattlites. We love them and we love jumping


Hallgrímskirkja - a church and also Iceland's tallest building. True story.


Marisa and I outside Hallgrímskirkja just having a think

God's arms

Hello there folks,
I just want to wish you all a very happy new year. I hope your celebrations on new years eve were fun and safe. I have to say, in Iceland my celebrations were a lot of fun. Safety on the otherhand...well...Jon, Marisa, Lindsey and I nearly got taken out with a firework that fell over and came straight at us! But as we say here in Northern Ireland, "it'll harden ye" i.e. "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger".

I've not really taken the time so far this year to look back at last year and reflect, which is something I've tended to do in the past. I think part of that is that I don't want to look back at the past year. I mean, there has been a lot of good that has happened but I feel that for me looking back, I will dwell on the bad which will then overshadow the good. I want to try to focus on the good though - I was in America for the first time, I saw such good friends again when I was in America, I got to work a couple of weeks at Capernwray this summer which was such a blessing for me, I got to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers again at the MEN Arena in Manchester with Gary and I finished the year off in a beautiful country with 3 good friends. Those are some huge postives. Some amazing experiences to name but a few.

But I think for me, the way to sum up the past year is with this verse -

"The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms."
- Deuteronomy 33 v 27 (NIV)

I have known this verse so practically, so realistically, so immensely in my life over the past 12 months that for me to ignore this or say anything else about last year without mentioning these verses would be dishonouring to God. I have known what God as my refuge means, I have known what His everlasting arms underneath me feels like and I have known that both He and His arms will never fail, never let me down and never drop me.

I spoke last night at a childrens' meeting in Belfast on this verse. I went to that meeting to thank the children who have been praying for me faithfully ever since I started Bible school and to hear them pray again last night for me was just overwhelming. I updated them on my situation over the past year or so and based it on this verse. The amazing thing was, when I was clearing out my drawers at home, after I knew I was going to speak to them last night, I found a card they had sent me last year. What verse was on it? Yup, Deuteronomy 33 v 27. I took the card with me last night and showed it to them. I honestly cried when I found the card and read the verse afresh.

"The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms."
- Deuteronomy 33 v 27 (NIV)

I hope that no matter what happens in 2007, no matter where you are geographically, no matter who you have around you, no matter what you want to do in life, that you will remember and trust that the eternal God is your place of safety and rest and that His arms that will never, ever, ever drop you are continually below you.

Iceland baby, yeah!

Hello folks,
I type this on a mac in Jon and Marisa´s appartment. Yup, in Iceland. That´s where I am right now, in Iceland. With Jon and Marisa. In Iceland. Yup.

Lindsey and I arrived here yesterday at 2.30pm into an airport that looks like Pizza Hut. Iceland is on the same time as Britain so it meant jet lag wasn´t an issue, was just good to be here after being up from 4.30am so I could fly from Belfast International to London Stansted then Stansted on to Reykjavik.

This country is beautiful, very beautiful. The mountains are covered with snow right now but it´s not totally freezing. Yesterday when we landed it was 7-8 oC so that wasn´t cold at all. Today there is some frost and ice on the ground and it´s nearer 0 oC so it is cold today.

We´ve already been to a big church this afternoon, the biggest building in Iceland. We spent like 30 mins taking pictures, it was so much fun. Of course, pictures will follow , probably when I´m back home. I´m sure that Marisa one will have pictures on her blog too at some point.

Tonight is of course New Year´s Eve and after we go to church at 6pm we´re having something to eat with Jon´s family and some others then we´ll watch the fireworks, yippee! Should be a good night!

Well, I shall sign off for now, I´m being distracted by ´America´s Next Top Model´ on the TV with Icelandic subtitles.
Happy New Year everybody! Hope you enjoy your evening of staying up late and see you guys next year!

Ho ho ho! Merry pictures!

It's December 21st and I go home for Christmas on December 23rd.
That's 2 days time.
I am so excited.
I know that just by blogging this, you are feeling rather excited too. I can tell. Sit down before you hurt yourself or someone else.

When I fly out of Manchester on Saturday morning at 7am, that is my time at St. Andrews over. I feel it's time for me to move on and so when I return to the country of England in mid January it's for an interview for a different job but still in the same area I have been living.
If I get the job, I will hopefully be living in the same house which is great.
If I don't get the job, I guess I'll return home for a bit and see what happens next.
To be honest with you all, I have a great peace about this. I know that God will put the right person in this job and if it's me, great! If not, God's work in this area will continue but with a different person. No one is indispensible to God, no one.

I have been so blessed in my time at St. Andrews to have reached so many kids and teens. The two big things I am focusing on at the minute is the fact that I have so much more patience from being here and so that is a huge postive to take away from my time here. The second one is this - if I have impacted one kid or teenagers life, job done. If I have brought one kid or young person closer to God by me being then honestly, I am very happy. It's not about preaching to 1000 people, it's about reaching that one.

Guys, I would love to hear from you. Please leave me comments, please e-mail, please leave messages on myspace, bebo, facebook, MSN etc. I would love to hear how you are doing. I would love to hear where you are geographically and spiritually at the minute.
I look forward to hearing from you!

Up next for me is a flight home, a flight to Iceland, a flight home and then a flight back to Manchester for an interview. That's how the next 3 weeks or so looks for me. Plenty of fun, plenty of friends and plenty of f-relaxing (I could have alliterated with, 'free time' but that isn't really true and relaxing is a more appropriate word I feel. If you do know another word for 'relaxing' that beings with an 'f', feel free to comment).

All that's left for me to say is that I genuinely wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year. I hope you see the baby Jesus at this time of year and realise for yourselves that this baby grew up to die and rise from death because He loves you. Happy Christmas.

The Circle of Life

I know a thing or two about sheep

Well hello friends,
Long time, no post.

Anyone know anything about this new blogger and it's brand spanking new features? I'm a bit wary of it as it took me long enough to figure out how to work blogger the first time round.

That's pretty incidental really.

I just want to tell you guys that God is still good. I think it's a great thing to be reminded of. In His own timing, He will bring you His encouragement. In His own way, He will give you His joy. In His own person, He will give you His right people at His right time. I cannot complain about Him.

I did the story at the last Contact service yesterday. It was a service at 9.30am designed to get non-church families in but it wasn't meeting it's aim so yesterday morning was the last one. I spoke on how Jesus, in John 10 v 11 said, "I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."
We are the sheep. It's a clear parallel. We get easily frightened like sheep, whether that be from seeing a tiny spider or walking home alone in the dark. We hang out in flocks, he hate to be on our own, why do we always have people round or why are we always on the phone? We have natural predators, those people who pick on us for being different, those people, for whatever reason, don't treat us like real human beings with feelings.

I'm so glad that Jesus is the good Shepherd. I know no-one else who would die for me. I know no-one else who would want to save me from my natural predators, from my loneliness and from my fears. But not only that, I know no-one else who would save me from torture in Hell for ever and ever.

A List

These are always great fun, aren't they? Just making a list -

These are things that are on my mind right now -
1. Writing to Evonne and thanking her for her continuous encouragement despite me sucking at keeping in touch

2. Wanting to ring Marisa as we've not spoken in weeks now and I really want to speak to her again. Part of that is, I also want to wind Jon up about Liverpool's rubbishy season so far as Chelsea sit in second place in the table. Haaaa haaa!

3. I want to watch more 'Lost' as I borrowed season 1 and have only watched like 7/8 episodes of it so far and am hooked

4. I am very pleased with my new Starbucks loyalty type card thing that they've just brought out in the UK

5. I got a good wee bit of Christmas shopping done today which made me happy

6. I know I need to catch up on a load of e-mails

7. I'm going to Iceland next month!

8. I've had quite a good day off today so far, had a lie in and then went into Manchester

9. I'm very thankful for the friends God has given me, I truly am

10. I can't wait to see my family again at Christmas and to hang out with my wee bro again who I've not seen in months due to him being at Bible school in Germany and me being here in Manchester

Just some pictures

Just some pictures for your viewing pleasure that span the years. Well...months...

Jack Attack!

Hello friends!
This past Sunday I had a wee visit from Jack! I only found out a couple of days previously that she was even in the country and so not only did she visit but so did Becky. It was a great day! Was so good to see her again and to hang out with her and Becky.
We had a lovely curry at Sarah's house for tea and so the 4 of us had a mini reunion. Was splendid! It really was a great afternoon. It was a fantastic encouragement and joy to see Jack again and just hang out and laugh. Ohh, how we laughed!
Thanx for coming Jack :)

It's not too late but God is great

Just a wee update people,
I left that last blog up a quare (that's a N.Irish term for, well, not too sure really. I guess it can be roughly translated as, "quite") wee while as I really wanted people to read it. I guess I've never concentrated my thoughts and feelings regarding God's Word quite like that before.

I still think God is great and so is His Word.

I think even more so after the past couple of days.

On Monday things were getting to me a bit and the thought of the dentist today was making things worse. I had been to this dentist once on Friday when my toothache got so bad I couldn't take it anymore. But on the way there we got lost a couple of times and so I wasn't sure where exactly it was. So how was I meant to get back there today?! I was worrying about that.

I also wasn't sure what they'd do to me and was a bit worried I'd come out, after having some sleepy gas and not have anyone with me to guide me home. So that was a concern.

I've also found work tough going at the minute too and increasingly feel isolated and alone. That was playing on my mind.

You see, all of this just builds up to an amazing climax which results in the best possible outcome - All glory going to God.

You see tomorrow at CHS (one of the schools I go into to do the Christian Union)we are going to be looking at the third I am of Jesus - I am the gate.
When you think about it, why wouldn't you enter somewhere by the gate? Well, you wouldn't enter somewhere by the gate if you were a thief, as Jesus also explains in the verses previous. You are seeking another way of getting into the sheep pen if you can't just walk in through the gate. Your motives are not pure. Your goal is not wholesome. Many people try and get into the sheep pen by jumping a fence or trying to get underneath it. You will only damage yourself and the other sheep. People try different methods of getting what Jesus promises He would give - pasture. Peace. Assurance. Comfort. Support. Strength.
I decided to climb in the pen by worrying. By deciding Jesus wasn't big enough to help me. I decided to cast all my worries on me. Not on Him.

Jesus said that once you enter through the gate, He will give you pasture. He will give you peace, assurance, comfort, support and strength. He did this for me today. He provided me with fences that weren't there to hold me in but to show me that He was enough. That He cared. That He was there. And that, quite frankly, is all I need.

I realised as I went through today how much of a peace He gave me about going to the dentist and about work. He dealt with both. He can do that.

People were praying for me and He brought about incredible circumstances that meant so much to me. Today, I felt His peace. Today I felt His assurance. Today I felt His comfort. Today I felt His support. Today I felt His strength.

It is incredible how something you go to teach at school or a youth group can be seen as almost like just producing a lesson for kids. The fact of the matter is, if what you are preaching and teaching is not affecting you personally first and foremost then how can you teach it to someone else.
I will never be able to teach hang-gliding to someone as I don't know how to do it myself. I cannot teach Jesus as being the Good Shepherd, as being the gate and as offering pasture unless it has affected me personally first and foremost.

All the glory and honour and praise goes directly to God today for how He comforted, assured, supported, strengthened and gave me peace. Don't climb in over the back of the fence, go in through the gate and know what it's like to rest in His pastures.

Again, it's late and God's Word is great

Hey guys,
Spurred on by Marisa's recent post - www.iconformed.blogspot.com
I wanted to write on why I firmly, 150%, whole-hearted believe that the only thing and the best thing we need to teach our young people in church and in youth groups is the Bible.

We see it all over, not just Iceland, that for too long, people have underestimated and de-valued the power and authority of the Bible. God's Word. I know we throw that around a lot, "God's Word", but have you ever stopped and looked at those two words sat next to each other in a sentence? God's Word. The Word of God. Word's from God's heart and mouth. God communicating to us humans. God wanting to speak to us. God wanting to speak to me. God wanting to speak to you.

Over the past year I have realised how much I love God's Word and how much I love teaching God's Word. I cannot escape it, God has gifted me with a love for His Word and for teaching it. I love it! And I thank Him for gifting me in this way.
I have also realised that for every program we design, for every new booklet and prayer diary we come up with, the best and most important thing in it all and at the end of the day is the Bible. God's Word.

God's Word is amazing. Not only do we get comforting, correcting and confrontational verses but most importantly of all, in every book of the Bible, we see a picture of Jesus and see how every book points to Him. Up until about a year ago, I never fully realised that Jesus was not restricted to the Gospels. We have a book that was written by the Creator of the universe and as He wrote it, He took care to include, on every page, a sign of what was to come. He took the time to make sure that Jesus, the Saviour of the World, could be seen wherever you read in the Bible.

Is that not amazing or is that not amazing?!

God has revealed Himself to us through creation and so on but the greatest and most clearest ways of seeing Him is through His Word and His Son. Combined. Not seperate. Not as different identities or different options, but together. We cannot know Jesus without the Bible and what it says about Him and we cannot understand the Bible without realising it's all about Jesus! They go hand in hand.

So we cannot teach our young people just about how great God is through looking at the mountains or a waterfall or a snowflake or a flower. We cannot teach our young people about Jesus just from our experience. We cannot teach our young people the Bible without showing them Jesus on every page. We cannot teach our young people anything but Jesus Christ and what the Bible says about Him.

Let's get it out of our heads that the latest Christian book, idea, theory, speaker, program, website or jewellery is what we push or teach in our youth groups. No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. What we teach them is the Bible. From start to finish. What IT says about Jesus. What IT says about God. What IT says about the Holy Spirit. What IT says about homosexuality. What IT says about sex before marriage. What IT says about how to treat each other. What IT says about love. What IT says about your parents. What IT says about life after death.

Get my point?

If we are someone who claims to love Jesus and does not teach the truths and realities of the Bible as God has written it, then we are doing Satan's work for him.

Anybody ever seen a dead cow?

This is another photo I have with memories from last summer at Capernwray. Right at the end of the summer Ray was seen with this cow, stone dead, in the front of his digger, driving round the loop while a family walk for the guests was happening. Classic.
So that evening, Andrew Wallace, Grace and a couple others went up to see this cow. I've never seen a dead cow before but it stunk! Andrew had to peel the plastic back, I couldn't go near it. We had a laugh, took some pictures and basically dishonoured the poor dead cow by having a laugh and taking photographs.



PS-Andrew Wallace is from Northern Ireland (like me!) and one of the funniest guys I know. Grace is pretty funny too. Funny looking that is! Ohhh! I'm so funny too.

I heart music

This is a post about music.

I want to recommend some artists to you and also, give you some tour dates for some of these artists and others so you may inquire into the availability of tickets and possiblty attend one of their gigs. Let me commence.

First up - The Feeling
They are a recent addition to the British bands with "The" in their name. They have three superb songs circulating at the minute - "Sewn", "Never Be Lonely", "Fill my little world right up". They are just a fantastic band with happy, pleasant music. Listen to them. Their album is, "12 Stops and Home"

Secondly - Keane
They have their second album out now, "Under the Iron Sea" and takes a different approach from their largely instrumental first album. Two songs from their new album that have been released are, "Crystal Ball" and "Is it any wonder?"

Thirdly - Badly Drawn Boy
This guy is just amazing. Not only has he been around for quite some time as the music industry goes, not only did he do the entire, superb, soundtrack for "About a Boy" but he has yet another new album out next month. This guy is just so fantastically talented.

Some tour dates -

The Feeling -
North America
Oct 8 2006 8:00P Crocodile Cafe Seattle
Oct 9 2006 8:00P Berbatis Pan Portland
Oct 11 2006 8:00P Café Du Nord San Francisco
Oct 16 2006 8:00P Varsity Theatre Minneapolis
Oct 17 2006 8:00P Aragon Ballroom Chicago
Oct 21 2006 8:00P Kool Haus Toronto
Oct 22 2006 8:00P Le Spectrum Montreal

UK
Nov 15 2006 8:00A Academy Manchester
Nov 16 2006 8:00A Rock City Nottingham
Nov 17 2006 8:00A Academy Liverpool
Nov 21 2006 8:00A Academy (upgraded from ABC) Glasgow
Nov 22 2006 8:00A University Leeds
Nov 24 2006 8:00A Mandela Hall Belfast
Nov 25 2006 8:00A Ambassador Dublin

Red Hot Chili Peppers -
North America
Sep 14 2006 8:00P GM Place Vancouver, BC
Sep 16 2006 8:00P Pengrowth Saddledome Calgary, AB
Sep 17 2006 8:00P Rexall Place Edmonton
Sep 19 2006 8:00P Saskatchewan Credit Union Center Saskatoon
Sep 20 2006 8:00P MTS Centre Winnipeg
Sep 23 2006 8:00P Pimlico Race Course Baltimore, MD
Sep 25 2006 8:00P Air Canada Center Toronto
Sep 25 2006 8:00P Air Canada Center Toronto
Sep 26 2006 8:00P Air Canada Center Toronto
Sep 28 2006 8:00P Bell Centre Montreal
Oct 28 2006 8:00P Voodoo Music Experience New Orleans, LA

Keane -
North America
Unfortunately, Keane's North American tour seems to have been cancelled which included gigs in Seattle, Vancouver, Portland and LA
UK
Oct 18 2006 8:00P Apollo Manchester
Oct 19 2006 8:00P Press and Journal Arena Aberdeen
Oct 26 2006 8:00P Alexandra Palace London
Oct 27 2006 8:00P Alexandra Palace London

Badly Drawn Boy -
North America
Oct 14 2006 8:00P Mod Club Toronto
Oct 16 2006 8:00P Great American Music Hall San Francisco
Oct 18 2006 8:00P Troubadour Los Angeles
Oct 19 2006 8:00P Troubadour Los Angeles

UK
Sep 23 2006 12:00A Cohesion Festival (with Elbow, Graham Coxon & More) Manchester

So there you have it, some gigs for you to check out. I just love music and am quite surprised I haven't posted more on just music. I think it's a topic I could come back to.
You can of course look all these guys up on myspace and check tour dates yourself from their official sites or on their myspaces'
Enjoy!

Pictures and memories

These are some photos of when some crazy North Americans invaded my beautiful, peaceful country in search of new land, new scenery, new experiences and new people to annoy. Let me just explain each picture briefly -
1. This was all of us in Bewley's in Belfast getting something to eat
2. That was the Giant's Causeway
3. Caleb took this great picture of me clicking my heals in Dublin train station
4. Adrian and Joy had us to stay the night of Caleb's birthday
5. Caleb and Jeff were just messing around in Belfast
Good times, good times

God, friends and family

You know,
Although it is 1am, I felt the urge, while on the computer to write a wee blog on God, friends and family as the title suggests.

I do not mean to offend anyone by leaving people out as I type this but I just wanted to blog and really thank God for friends He has quite clearly given me.

My friend Alec for example. We met at Capernwray waaayyyy back over 10 years ago and he has been a loyal friend ever since. Over the years, we've never really seen each other more than once a year and as it stands at the moment, I haven't seen him in almost a year. We talk on the phone though and each time we do, it's a good time. He lives up in Scotland, in Aberdeen, where he is at uni. He originates from Scotland and has lived on the isle of Skye and in Campbeltown. Thank you God for Alec.

I just got off the phone today with another good friend, Marisa. She was just great at Capernwray but to think I have now known her over 2 and a half years, ever since we started talking via the Capernwray forum. I feel so blessed to have known her so long and to have had the privilege of getting to know her before Capernwray as well as during and of course after. To think she is now only an hour behind me in the whole time zone thing and that she is only a couple of hours away by plane makes me so excited! Thank you God for Marisa.

Jeff. Wow. That guy is just fantastic. In many ways, he has actually been a sensible and clear head to have around. He is kind, he is sensible and he does have an amazing sense of humour. Anytime we talk, it's just honest. We can be real with each other. That guy is a joy to be around and to talk to. What a champion. Thank you God for Jeff.

There is no way I can overlook my friend Caleb. When I was out in Bellingham, it just really strengthened our friendship and to know he wants me to be involved in his wedding next year means so much to me. He has been one of very few people I can just be completely myself with and just talk about anything and everything with. I love him to bits. What a guy. Thank you God for Caleb.

Matthias is another guy who has been outstanding. We get on so well and the times we have spent talking about God and to God have both encouraged and challenged me. His English is not perfect and my Spanish, is well, non-existent and yet we can communicate perfectly well to each other, it's amazing! All it would take is a look or a word and we know exactly what each other is thinking. We connected in an amazing way and our friendship has been encouragement for us both. Thank you God for Matthias.

Of late, I have found another friend in Matt. To have someone living close by, sharing similar passions, going to the same church and being a guy has been exactly what I have needed. I think that our real desire to build each other up and encourage each other over this next year has just fired me up and revitalised me. I cannot deny that this is from God. Thank you God for Matt.

One person who has really been there for me over the past year too has been Sarah. I think I could class her as one of about 3 friends I have within a 40 mile radius of where I live now. Her willingness to take me to get shopping, to hang out, to give me lifts elsewhere, to want to meet up has been such a blessing to me. Having her around, having someone who knows me and understands me way before I became the 'happy','friendly','childrens and youth worker' at my church has just been amazing. Thank you God for Sarah.

There are so many people who are a friend to me. You know who you are. They have been Jesus to me when I've needed it, they have listened to me ramble on endlessly, they have taken me out places, they have prayed for me, they have enjoyed my company and I their's, they have corrected me, they have prayed with me, they have travelled miles to visit me, they have brought me presents and they have loved me.

Without a shadow of a doubt, I think my biggest thanx to God goes to my family. They have always been at the end of a phone, they have always listened to me, they have always listened to my tears, they have always been ready and willing to help me out in any way they possibly can and they have always loved me. They support me 150% over here and yet they are always there with a big hug when I come home. My time in England would have been so much harder if it hadn't have been for them.

Above all, I cannot stop praising God. I can thank each person, I can thank God for each person but all I want to do is thank God. His provision and presence in the past couple of years has never, ever, ever, ever, failed to blow me away. He gives me friends. He gives me the food I need. He gives me the sleep I need. He nourishes my soul. He encourages me. He comforts me. He improves me. He challenges me. He loves me. He died for me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me.

God first. Everything else and everybody else second. My thanks for everything and for everyone goes straight to God.