So the festive season is upon Gillingham. The air is getting cold, and the hope of snow is getting ever greater. As much as I don't enjoy winter, there is something truly AMAZING about the crisp air, kicking the leaves on the pavement as I walk everywhere, and being able to don the puffy coat that makes me look like a marshmallow. Or that I've eaten a million marshmallows. perfect.
I've been getting rather into the Christmas spirit this weekend. Laurie and Dave put up the Christmas tree, with my expert decorating assistance. Then this was quickly followed with an outing to a St. Nicholas Party. The Dutch celebrate St. Nicholas day as part of Christmas where basically an old Bishop with a beard, slightly resembling that of Santa, leaves sweets in your shoes if you leave them out for him to fill. After knocking on the door, taking my shoes off, labeling them with my name so St. Nick knew which were mine, 4 year old Sophie burst out with such joy, 'It's not really Saint Nicholas Day but he just MIGHT come.' She is truly gorgeous. I am very glad the families in my home group have such cute kids. And SO nice to have families to be with when mine are quite a way away. Blessing.
Then today, 6 year old Alfie, Martha and I undertook the huge feat of constructing a gingerbread house, complete with a snowman in the garden and a pretzel fence. It was a hugely anticipated occasion, with Alfie having drawn blue prints weeks in advance and having suggested possible sweets for each element of the house. SO CUTE. And such a success. With every added sweet he would go for a high five and holler different words of encouragement. A Sunday afternoon well spent.
The past few weeks have been a mix. The drop ins have been SO good. It seems like there are a couple of new groups of kids that have started coming into our evening ones. And it's so good to just be able to chat to them, make them cups of tea (the art of which I'm perfecting) and just be there. EVERYTIME I am chatting to one of the youth, there is NO doubt in my mind that this is where I am meant to be. There have been some conversations, and some really cool moments that have truly blown my mind at how God has totally just been there and been directing it the whole way. What I love with these kids is it's like a journey. We totally get to just be involved throughout the weeks and months. And for some reason they totally open up to us. Such a privilege and an honor to be such a tiny part of their lives and be able to do the little we can, love them and just live in a way that is so open to them seeing Jesus in us and through us. It blows my mind daily that I can do this and call it work. These youth and this town certainly have my heart.
HIGHLIGHTS. Walking home and seeing real live foxes running across the roads. so exciting. Sunday lunch at the Prankards. Plucking up the courage to introduce myself to people. Going to Crawley for a new YFC centre opening, hearing the dream and the vision of the place and seeing the hope for a future for those youth. Getting the opportunity to chat to one of our drop in boys who doesn't go to school but uses a lot of drugs, and him telling me he really wants to become a leader and use his influence for good and not for bad anymore. Taking the time to actually chat to people and get totally inspired and overwhelmed by their lives and what they have been through. Another goal in football. AMAZING. Too many highlights to list.
I am filled with this mix of missing home and people, but also am so aware that I'm living the dream here in Gillingham. I'm slowly learning to simply trust and be obedient. Such a simple lesson, but sometimes it has to be learnt over and over. Thank goodness Jesus is patient.
Bring on the snow.
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