So....after a HUGE amount of confusion, frustration, CONFUSION etc......we have decided that YES we shall head to Ethiopia! God has been doing sooooo much and this really is a trip of Faith. I am petrified but at the same time so excited about what God is doing in us both.

It is all a bit surreal that we are going and we have no idea what these next few weeks hold in store...other than it being our adventure...Jonny, me and Jesus!

Bye for now.

Things to pack!

Have got a bad touch of the flu, so am justifiably feeling ever-so sorry for myself, wrapped in my pjs and lounging in bed all day!!

NEWS: We're off to Ethiopia in about a month! I know....who ever pops to Ethiopia for a holiday??? Well...this has an awesome story to it and God is all over it! About 3 years ago, Jonny met this surgeon called Andrew Browning. They started chatting and he found out that Andrew worked at this amazing hospital in Ethiopia for Fistula patients (women who have had horrible problems giving birth and end up being cut off from their families and society because they are incontinent and are really quite poorly.) We've mentioned this guy a few times over the last few years, but only really in passing conversation.

Anyways, for some reason God started stirring something us in us and we met this guy who told us about a book that had been written 'The Hospital by the River' by the woman who started the hospital - Catherine Hamlin (and her husband Reg, who has now died). We got hold of the book and read it and we were just amazed at the work of these people and the stories they have about these women.

Then, one evening at the General Hospital, Jonny was just working and turned on the computer on the ward and it opened up to a website about 'fistula conditions'. That was ridiculous because no one normally talks about it and you would only come across this condition in developing countries...definitely not in Southampton - so why should anyone be looking this up???

We realised that maybe God wanted us to head out there, but we literally had no money so we laid it down and just said 'God, if you want us to go, you'll make it possible. It's going to have to be You!'

Last weekend, I headed back to London to see my parents. Over dinner, I was just telling them about all these 'coinsidences' about Ethiopia. Then suddenly, my dad pipes up 'Oh, well you know your granny has connections in Addis Ababa' (the capital where the hospital is). I find out, NOT JUST ANY OLD CONNECTIONS! She grew up with the emporer's grandchildren and knows of a church etc there! AMAZING!

SO, we booked out tickets. But, we still didn't have enough money to make it through the month. Prayed again. Went to the bank on Friday and paid in a cheque for my mum. Just thought I'd ask the banking lady to check an account that we haven't been using (last attempt really). We knew there was nothing in it. Then she says 'There's £218 in the account!' WOW! How faithful is our Heavenly Father!

He has plans. Plans that go back to when my grandmother was a child. Plans that involve us! And He knows what we need!

Praise God for His hand on our lives!

These past few days God has gently been revealing a new way of living to me. It begins with sitting with Jesus. Just sitting at His feet and hearing from the One who refreshes and refines. It really has been a revelation to me. Basically, I'd been asking God about how my life is going to look over the next few months, with being on placement and with everything getting very hectic and overwhelming. To be honest, I've been peeing my pants about it all! I just didn't see how I was going to get everything done and not get run down and not start whithering. Found this amazing book called 'Sitting at the feet of Jesus' and have begun to realise how it is going to work!
See, if I do try and do all this stuff without first coming and sitting at Jesus' feet....it simply won't work. God says, 'Come and sit. Make me your priority and from that place everything else will come'. And if God says it, then I know it will work! I want to be the tree that has deep roots by the side of the river. With lush fruit and green leaves. I know that if I come to Him to be filled, this will be.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is in the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

We have officially entered the Christmas season! Yesterday we headed out in the crisp cold air to choose a beautiful 'potted' Norwegian Christmas tree! We also stumbled across these lush cake decorations, which we have since varnished and are now proudly hanging from various branches in our lounge. Lush!

Last weekend was wonderful. We got back home to face a pretty desperate situation with my grandma, but God has just been AMAZING and within 3 days he transformed it all!! It's really felt like He's parted the seas for us! What a faithful and awesome God we serve!

Had some great time time with my lovelies back home: Genie, the ever-so cool London chic and then in the evening we had dinner with my very gorgeous, very loved one Abi and her boyfriend Richard. Twas so good to be back and have a bit of catch up time.

So, basically one week left and we are fully charging on until the bitter end...no Christmas wind-down for the PGCE lot! I suggested a Christmas party in our Maths lesson, but it didn't for down so well! Ah well. Then off next weekend to see the Rusts (seniors) and have a few days in sunny Cornwall!

THE ASSIGNMENT IS OFFICIALLY FINISHED (and handed in!) Such a relief! It reached the point of meltdown with it on Saturday!! Jonny treated me to a lush french meal last night in this quirky little underground restaurant called Bouzy Rouge, then I headed out for some celebratory drinks with some of the girls from the course. It was so nice to just come up for air for a bit...this term has been so intense and after today it all heats up again before Christmas!

Today though, is a day off! We are heading to Brighton to chill and see Jonny's sister Becky. Then off to London on Friday to see my beautiful ones back home - parents on Friday and then Genie and Abi on Saturday! Ah, can't wait...it's been FAR to long!

(Jonny looking very professional a l'hospital)

Jonny is working nights at the mo which is pretty rubbish on one hand. On the other hand it has meant I've had some lush time with some lovelies! Time with beautiful Katie on Friday, wonderfully chilled evening with Jeena last night, with a bottle of wine and X-factor! She has all these extra channels so it literally means you can watch it all evening! Crazy. Pub lunch with Clare today, catching up on all that's going on...haha! I love her!
So....creeping round the house now trying not to wake Jonny up! My essay is due in next scarily soon so (in the words of Laura), it's going to be a bit of a geek week. I just can't wait to have some holiday time! As you can tell, I'm doing anything to put off having to get on with this work! Why is it that suddenly cleaning the house or taking a quick power nap seems like a really good (and more importantly productive) thing to do?? ok, I'm off....

Came out of lectures today only to face a dark, grumpy looking sky and lots of rain. After the initial moment of grouchiness I jumped onto the old bike and headed for home. It's funny the moments that Holy Spirit decides to whisper....just as I pedalled away He gently (and very melodiously) whispered "Who could love you, the way I do?" And there it is. Undone.