7th July

4 years ago today, I was a part of something that changed London forever. The bits I remember are standing in the rain with a young policeman directing people after the bombs blew in Kings Cross. hearing the explosion of the bus in Tavistock Square and then the extraordinary unity amongst the people that shared those minutes, seconds and hours. I remember learning to flip burgers and laughing,crying and listening to and with the emergency workers. I remember not being able to contact my parents to tell them I was alive and okay. I remember running as fast as i could when a bomb scare happened. I remember waking up the day after and being convinced that I had dreamt it all. I remember making Mel come with me to Waterloo bridge to make sure that London was still standing.
That was four years ago and it seems so much longer, but each 7th July I will remember those minutes and hours and days that followed.
It was definitely a where were you moment? where was I? I was where I am now - in the midst of my community.

Here is a link to the memorial in London.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/?bcpid=4464161001&bctid=28653573001

Blessed

I have just climbed the stairs to get my phone when I suddenly felt the need to tap something out on here. Maybe it was because of the book that has engrossed me; maybe because I have been looking at my Mural photos on facebook again and all the lovely comments - who knows?
Today has been a weird day. the sun has been shining and I must been one of the few who was grateful for time in a dingy cool office, although the admin bit stinks but when you have music - all can be accomplished. It has been a busy few days but through the meetings and the thoughts and prayers and all the stuff that has happened recently (anniversaries, solitary trips to cemetery etc), I have had the chance to think about how blessed I feel.
On Monday through the medium of film - i shared with some of the men the abhorrence that is Human Trafficking - Taken, a great film starring Liam Neeson. All this whilst Chris and the Cadets were on outreach. As I saw the images of the women being bought and sold I thanked God that I was brought up in a family that never treated me like an object but a real person. I watched as J left and all I could offer him was a sleeping bag. I cleaned Faith House and then locked up the door to my nice safe house and put on an intruder alarm.



Tuesday came and I saw people get involved with the Mural that friends came and designed to symbolise Faith House. It isn't finished but it is getting there. The idea that I can happily fill in the lines and someone else cares about the detail is so comforting to me.

Then Wednesday came and we had a painting session again. Something special happened though. People with no connections came together to create something beautiful and something that will be there for hotel guests to see and enjoy. The Mural - it also brought someone who we haven't seen for a while come close and ask my forgiveness because she hasn't been round so much.

I am blessed because I have the time to read and enjoy and relax and cook my favourite food, but more than that - I am blessed because I get to work at Faith House and see God do some miracles each day.

too many thoughts.

since I last posted a thought here I have visited Italy and conducted a wedding there in Italian. I have been busy at work leading worship in a women's prison, reading books on trafficking of people, done lots of good outreach and remembered my parents as June the 7th has passed and June 21st approaches.
Lots has happened but I have to tell you some of the things that have changed me this month.
1. I am forever grateful to those that have become family and regularly remember me when the anniversary of my parents death rolls around. It's two years ago now and it seems like only yesterday.
2. I am forever grateful that God has allowed me to enter into the businesses that we do here at Faith House and after 2 years of praying and 6 months of making contact we are now welcomed with open arms into different businesses.
3. I am convinced more than ever of the vocation that God has given me and that even I can do this beautiful ministry that he has called me too. I am not always brilliant at it - if ever? But I am convinced that i am here because God has placed me here.
4. I can hold my own in Italian - I am confident in speaking it but never feel that i do it justice but after the wedding in Naples I know that i can and am able to communicate all I need to through another language and as a result I have decided to start studying Romanian.

Anyway, it's a very boring blog - but lots has happened and I have not much time to tell it all!

long time

I fly to Italy tomorrow very early. I am going to lead a wedding. What can I say - I got the best view in the house. I get to look at the bride and groom and be right there as a front seat witness.
A privilege to be with to friends as they share and make promises to each other.
On a different note - I am slightly freaking out cos it's all in Italian and I have to get it right!
if you believe in prayer and the power of it - please pray for the gift of tongues (especially Italian one).

Update

Last Monday Chris, Loes and Dom went on the outreach to the sauna's and lap dance club and here is a quick insight into what happened.
At the first club, with the intention of fixing an appointment to meet the girls, Chris and Loes were invited to go down to the lounge and chat to the girls directly which they did, explaining who they were and 2 years of planning and prayer were answered.
At the the 2nd sauna - on only our second visit, Chris and Loes were welcomed in by the man on the reception desk who was high on drugs, and he told the girls that we were there to tell them about Jesus and after a few moments before leaving he spoke about his own need for support and Chris seized the moment and prayed with him.
At the lap dance club - the bouncer chatted to Dom, Loes and Chris about wanting to learn more about Jesus and could they get him some material. Chris offered to buy him a simple daily reading book and he said yes that sounds good.
It seems really slow to us but it is Gods patience that is getting us into these places.
it's a bulletin report but it's news. keep believing and praying with us.

Hallelujah and keep praying.

Easter thoughts

So, this Easter weekend has passed and I have had a really busy but amazing weekend.
Friday - an ecumenical procession thru Kings Cross and the churches remembering the events of the day. Then a drive to Barry. Played Yahtzee with lovely framily!
Saturday - the whole day was geared for the surprise meal for Andrea. I got nervous as we approached the restaurant and the it was over. Family, friends old and new and lovely grub. Then I left the Reynolds/Stock family to begin my drive home with a tinge of sadness and jealousy.
On the way home tho - I had a revelation about Easter. I was missing my parents and seeing Andrea surrounded by hers made it a little sad but I decided not to have a "moment" cos it was about Andrea and not me. But, as I was in the car - I was listening to the Dawn french Autobiography "dear fatty". it's great and she spoke about missing her dad but the closeness she felt to him at times and I could relate to so much that she said.
I was then reminded that tomorrow was about to be the best day of the year - not because Lent was over, not because I could eat chocolate but because I was celebrating Easter and the risen Christ. All of a sudden I got really excited because I realised that my parents were living the realities of Jesus conquering death and eternal life and even tho I missed them - I felt a tinge of jealousy that they were getting to celebrate in heaven!
So, I made a decision that I too would celebrate and so I did. it was so much fun to be excited and have a new revelation about the Easter story. Yes, I feel sad that my parents aren't here; yes, I get weird around family gatherings; yes, it is great to eat chocolate but I have a hope and an assurance and a reason to celebrate. Death and the grief and the feelings it brings cannot hold me down because I have an assurance that i too will be living in heaven and benefiting from the death and resurrection of Jesus!
HALLELUJAH!

Love of the Common People

Someone did this on Facebook and I loved the idea - some of the answers make sense and some make no sense, but hey it's all a silliness.

1. Put your iPod on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN!

1 IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Only the good die young – billy joel

2 WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
the stops - elbow

3 WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY?
when all is said and done – abba (mamma mia soundtrack)

4. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GIRL?
this was their finest hour – winston churchill speech

5 WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
say I – christina milan

6 WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
what’ll I do – chris botti

7 WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Happy Face – destiny’s child

8 WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
till I see ya – beverley knight

9 WHAT IS 2+2?
we didn’t start the fire – billy joel

10 WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
friends – bette midler (honest I didn’t fix it)

11 WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Saviour – beverley knight

12 WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Dignity – deacon blue

13 WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Jacob’c ladder – bruce springsteen

14 WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Happy feet – Randy spendlove (shall we dance soundtrack)

15 WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Gospel Medley – Destiny’s child

16 WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
first time – beverley night

17 WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
an awakening thought - Vana

18 Mystery question?
grounds for divorce - elbow

19 WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Honey, Honey – abba (mamma mia soundtrack)

20 WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
she’s got a way – billy joel

21 WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
rearview – anastacia (funny one for me, lol)

22 HOW WILL YOU DIE?
ain’t that a lotta love – beverley knight

23 WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
where do I belong - anastacia

24 WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
living on the ceiling - blancmange

25 WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
grace under pressure - elbow

26 WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
get up – beverley knight

27 WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
lets get blown freestyle – duo live

28 DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
angels –beverley knight

29 IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
there can be no whitewash in the white house – Richard Nixon speech

30 WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
real gone kid – deacon blue

31 WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
love of the common people – bruce springsteen