Rachel's Scribings

2007-03-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-02-19T07:06:00.000-08:00

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!

2006-12-31T08:15:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-10T10:59:00.000-08:00

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!

2006-11-28T01:21:00.000-08:00

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)

2006-11-19T06:40:00.000-08:00

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....

2006-11-14T06:42:00.000-08:00

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.

2006-11-08T08:22:00.000-08:00

Wednesday already, crazy! We had a beautiful weekend up in Warwick/Stratford for my mum's birthday. I actually love surprising people! We prepared this lush birthday picnic in the middle of this random park....autumn leaves, great views and lots of yummy food. She was totally surprised and just reminded me how much fun it is to do stuff like that!
This week has been good so far. Have felt a bit under-the-weather but generally ok. Just feels like it's time for a holiday! It would be sooooo good to have some time off and jet off and lie in the sun for a while. Jonny and I were talking the other day just about relationship with God. About investing time just being and not even doing or talking....Cell was great coz we just had some time sitting with Jesus and letting Him refresh. That's the most precious place to be, not busying myself or thinking of what else needs to be done. Clare had a word about 'you haven't always been a Martha' and it was spot on. I often find myself in the middle of doing something (even if it is for someone else and with the best intentions) and Holy Spirit will just gently tap me and remind me that the beauty is in the sitting. I want to be a Mary. It's going to have to be God changing me with that because I am so far from it at the moment!

Oh, also....this is quite a momentous blog! Yesterday, I was provided with a free laptop! Hurray! Funny, coz the day before we were praying about wanting God#'s fullness in every part of our lives....and that definitely includes my course. This will make life sooooo much easier!

2006-11-03T06:01:00.000-08:00

Breathe on me, breath of God,

Fill me with life anew,

That I may love what Thou dost love,

And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, breath of God,

Until my heart is pure,

Until with Thee I will one will,

To do and to endure.

_________________

Breathe on me, breath of God,

Blend all my soul with Thine,

Until this earthly part of me

Glows with Thy fire divine.

___________________

Breathe on me, breath of God,

So shall I never die,

But live with Thee the perfect life Of Thine eternity.

___________________

Words by Edwin Hatch (1878)

My very favourite words of a hymn, ever.

2006-10-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

What on earth is this about???? 4.30 on a Saturday afternoon and I'm stuck here in the library attempting to write (whilst still scanning through the mountain of research articles) a dissertation on 'The role of 'talk' in Primary classroom to enhance the learning of literacy'!!!!! URRGGGHHHH!!!! Saturdays are most certainly not made for this and I am most certainly not made for working on Saturdays!

This is what Saturdays ARE made for....

Lie ins until at least 12pm

DVDs on the couch, wrapped up in the duvet

pots of Ben & Jerries ice-cream

windy walks in wellies

strolling round old villages with lush little tea shops

cinema trips

visits to London

pizza, curry, any form of take-away

That's it!

2006-10-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

Just been planning a day of art that we have to do in a local primary school next week! We have an entire day to create a mural about Highfield and the local community with a bunch of Year 4's...a whole day sounds very long!

Last night was mad! Jonny, Claire and I joined the International church (based in St.Mary's at the new Lighthouse building) and helped out with their flyering around all the houses in Newtown! It was great...although pretty scary. Claire and I were sent out totally awone in the pitch black night, with nothing but a funky clipboard, some flyers and Holy Spirit! It was brilliant to get to know some of the guys at the church and we had some good chats with people as we went round. The church is awesome. It established by just 4 Asian families and now they have about 120 regulars...most of whom have converted to Christianity and most of whom are Asian or Polish! It's amazing to worship with people from so many different countries.
It was brilliant as well to plug into what's going on in the area. I really feel that living here and having my school placement right in the centre of this multicultural area is pivotal in what God is calling us to. Don't know quite how but just realising that all these puzzle pieces may well be piecing together....

Link below if you want to check it out: http://www.saco.org.uk/

Jonny's parents are down tonight, so we're seeing them for dinner which will be lush.

2006-10-23T02:16:00.000-07:00

Monday morning....

just to fill those of you who have been looking at the blog so far....it's been for my PGCE ICT project, hence my comments on 'using blogging in the classroom!' From now on, my entries may well be of more interest....we'll see!

2006-10-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

After having Monday and Tuesday in school, we've all felt pretty drained and lethargic back in lectures. It's been a good few days though...my friends Si and Becs got engaged at the weekend, so much of our lecture discussions have been wedding based! Have been realising again easy it is for things to take priority in my life above Jesus. It's a daily decision to put Him first and live my life out from that place, rather than PGCE, marriage or anything else based. Sure, these things are important... but everything comes from my relationship with Jesus.

2006-10-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

Today was my very first day at my placement school..it was really great! It's a small infant school with only 4 out of 260 kids with english as their first language! How crazy is that! It's brilliant because I love learning about other cultures so much and i think it's going to be so interesting to learn how to effectively teach children with basic english skills. Lots of visuals I think! My class mentor is lovely as well and I think she's going to be really supportive and someone who I can learn loads from.
I spent break time at doing bangra dancing in the hall because they have a bangra club on Mondays and Fridays! By the end of my placement I may well be an expert! The thing that is going to be really hard (if not impossible) is going to be learning all of the children's names. I don't know how I'm going to tackle that one!

Reflections on blogging this week....
I 've actually enjoyed blogging a lot more than I thought I would. It's been fun to have somewhere to vent, to mull and to post pictures and photos. I find that I always ponder more when I am writing things down and so it has been a really useful tool to express myself. I like the fact that you can make the blog as individual as you like it (to some extent) and put your own mark on it. I think blogs could well work in the classroom situation for many different things. Obviously, they require children who are generally quite good at writing, although if a less able child worked with a more capable one, it could possibly be just as effective.

May well continue with this old blogging thing...not quite as religiously though! It's not so easy getting to a computer everyday. See you when I see you!

2006-10-15T05:21:00.000-07:00

Just been to church. Cycled up there this morning, so by the time I entered I was a sweaty wreck! Looking really attractive! I think it muSt be the horrible hill right and the end of the ride. Anyways, it was a great morning. Prayed a lot for Jamie and Jeena, because neither of them are very well and Jeena's brother has just gone into hospital this week.
Dan (one of the leaders) spoke about the bit in John where the people are trying to catch Jesus out by asking him who he is. It was focussing on the fact that Jesus was a great teacher; that he will come again, and He is alive today for us to know personally. No other faith can boast of a personal God that crosses cultures and is applicable to every people group across history. It was a good talk! Off home now and our friend Joe is coming over for lunch. He's a bit of a computer whiz and is hopefully going to fix our computer! Next blog may well be from the comfort of our home...

2006-10-15T05:19:00.001-07:00

Wasn't able to get to a computer yesterday...but here's what happened! Yesterday was good. Had a lazy morning and then went and took advantage of some guest passes that we'd been given for a leisure centre in Bournemouth. Spent the afternoon lounging about in the pool and enjoying the sauna and steam rooms. We both decided that an afternoon of it was quite enough! It seems to be such a wierd concept to spend so much money to go and lounge about somewhere, with artificial environments, just to relax. Last Saturday we headed out to the New Forest and to be honest, walking in the woods is so much more refreshing and relaxing than sitting in a steam room....and it's free!!
Oh yeah....popped to the cinema last night to see 'Departed'. A new film with Jack Nicholson, Leonardo di Caprio and Matt Damon . Bizarre film. Potential for a really great storyline but it dragged and dragged. After 2.5 hours we left, wondering slightly what had been going on during the film!

2006-10-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

Afternoon! The intention was to head into uni this morning and get most of my work done (the mound just keeps increasing!) However, after dropping Jonny up at the hospital I returned home and fell asleep. Oops! So, here I am, at 1.50pm and realising I have a few hours to cram in a lot of work!

Just bumped into a lady who was promoting fairtrade food. It's so wierd to think that even a couple of years ago people had no idea of what fairtrade goods were and why we should buy them. There was this stigma surrounding it that people (including me) thought people who bought fairtrade were bangle wearing hippies with headscarves, living in sackcloth! Years later it seems to have become the 'fashionable' thing to do. Every superstore seems to have it's own fairtrade range now, which is great and an increasing number of people are catching on to why it's so important. In the age that we're living in, why should it be that people are not receiving a decent price for the things that they are growing. Why should it be that people are still being exploited? I think it's so important that we do what we can to make those things change.

I used to be on the committee for PURE, which is the university justice and fairtrade society. Check out the link: http://soton.pureuk.org/uk One of my favourite verses in the Bible is Micah 6:8 'And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God'. Just learning to walk this out!

2006-10-12T08:31:00.000-07:00

Today's been pretty long. English this morning and then maths this afternoon. It's that 'end of the week' feeling!

Last night was pretty good. Headed to the Guildhall and there turned out to be loads of people there that I didn't realise were going, which was great. It's the first time I've seen Delirious? play live and I really enjoyed it. The gig was sold out and there was such a good atmosphere.

Just been thinking over plans with Jonny lately. Life is so manic at the moment, with him working 8-8ish and me doing the course. By the time we both get back home, we are tired and unsociable! It's ok for me coz I can put a time-scale on it but for him it's his job and this is how crazy it's going to be for ages. All we really want to do is to get out to a place where people need our skills and where we can make a difference. He wants to be a general surgeon, which means many, many more years training! I think it's just understanding our long-term vision and trusting that God has a purpose for us here in Southampton at the moment! We're both needing a bit of perspective on it all!

Golly, sorry...ranting on! Long weekend ahead, which will be lush. Off now. Blog soon.

2006-10-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

How frustrating. Had just written an entire blog entry and then the computer ate it up! Save, save, save as Monty always says! I'm beginning to realise he could be onto something! My update since yesterday? Last night we had our friends Jamie & Jeena over for dinner. I attempted to cook roast pork (for the 1st time) and it actually turned out ok. Jonny turned up suitably late (the perks of being married to a dr!) Then we had our cell group (small group from our church) come over. We meet every Tuesday evening to look at the Bible, pray for each other and generally have some fun. Last night was great. We had some really interesting chats about difficult issues and there was much laughter! I also found myself looking round and realising just what a random bunch of people we are....some from France, some from New Zealand, some from South Africa and everyone with such different personalities.

Power in diversity.

Tonight we're off to a Delirious? concert at the Guildhall. Should be pretty good I think. I've never seen them before, but everyone I've spoken to has raved about their new album. Check out the website for more info. http://www.delirious.co.uk/index_splash.html

Got to dash now. Too tired to continue. Will blog again tomorrow.

2006-10-10T02:19:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning my blogging journal today. This is going to follow my life over the next bit of time. I arrived at uni quite damp this morning after a wet cycle through the woods. It continues to baffle me as to why pedestrians can't walk on the right side and seem to need to walk 4 abreast so there is literally no way of getting past! It reminds me of that game we used to play at school - I think it was called British Bulldog or something???

2006-10-06T04:11:00.000-07:00

This is my very first blog, so we’ll see where it goes!