Residing..

So it seems that the more I try to get out of St Annes the longer I end up staying! Unfortunately none of the job applications I have made have been successful, and some of the 'rejection letters' were very disappointing. The past month hasn't been a very encouraging one.

I have now decided to look for work here in St Annes for now, for the moment I am applying for anything of financial value, but obviously there are jobs that I prefer to do to others.

I am still looking at some post grad courses, but the expense is an obvious brick wall at the moment. This is something I am looking at as a way of preparing myself practically for eventually going back to South America.

This month has seen another kind of addition to my life in the form of a man. My boyfriend Colin lives in Chesterfield, which means that a lot of my weekends are occupied with visiting him or him coming here.

Please keep me in your prayers as I look for a job for this next season of my life, and for God to guide me in my decisions about whether to do further study or not as I look at the best way to prepare myself for the future.

Thanks!

UPDATE!!

So I did hear from The Message Trust, about 2 months after my interview, letting me know that I hadn't got the job. (I'd kinda guessed by then!!) I've been applying for jobs in the Manchester area, and after getting just two interviews for telesales jobs, I've actually decided not to go for them!

I'm now pursuing another job, and have applied for two other jobs as a support worker and as a fire safety advocate in a drugs and alcohol community.

I'm still at home in St.Annes but I'm getting itchy feet to move on, especially as my days are filled with application forms and writing cover letters..

I've also had a look at a few post graduate courses, just to see what's out there.

I'll let you know as new things come up!

Back Home

So I'm back! This is just a quick update, but I got home safe and sound on Wednesday night, had a little delay in Sao Paulo with a lightning storm, but just an hour.

Still not heard from The Message despite emailing them about letting me know. Very disappointing, and so I'm back to square one, looking for temporary work until I can find something more permanent as I don't have money at the moment! So let me know if you know of anything (especially in St.Annes as I have no car right now)

Tomorrow I am off to Sheffield for the wedding of two good friends from Mattersey Hall (where I did my degree). Very excited not only to see them get married, but also to be altogether with everyone from MH again. It will be so good to see them all!

I will be back Saturday night and at church on Sunday for all who want to see me :D

Prayer Requests

1. For someone to speak Spanish with, I am really missing spanish, so much.
2. That I feel like I can be of use here despite being unemployed.

Coming home!

Update first.. in regards to the interview, I have heard nothing so far, and since they said they would let me know by last Friday, I'm a little disappointed but still trying to hope that there is a possibility that they're just undecided still. We will see.

On Saturday I preached and it went well, the theme was communion and I preached what Paul says in 1 Corinthians about the need to examine ourselves before we take communion. After the preach the pastor got up and talked, I was disappointed as I felt he undermined some of my points, however yesterday just an hour before the church service started I was asked if I could share the same message I had shared with the youth the night before. It was a surprise as I really thought that the pastor hadn't agreed with what I had said.. Having said this I freaked out that I then had to preach and although it was the same message I had double the time to fill (20 minutes > 40 minutes). So I edited and added, and came up with a revised but similar preach and last night it too went really well. 

Yesterday afternoon I realised I was missing 100 pesos from my purse (about £17) and since I had been in the house nearly all weekend I'm pretty sure someone from the house took it. So I was pretty annoyed, and disappointed that someone would take it. (Also because this isn't the first time.) I'm telling you this not because I want you to feel sorry for me, but because there is an end to the story! I haven't got the money back, and honestly, I don't think I will. But within the hour I had been given 6 times the amount I lost, for no other reason than "for things that you need". It was such a blessing, not just in that I now have the money.. but also to know that God is really looking out for me, and although the situation hasn't been sorted out completely, I am content that God has control over ever penny.

Otherwise it is just 5 days until I am leaving Salta, my city, and I have started my leaving parties! It seems that every group of friends has to have their own one, though I tried to organise something with everyone, it just wasn't going to work. On Saturday I had a little leaving tea party with the youth, Sunday morning I had a pizza party with my cell group, and last night I had lots of goodbye's to say at church as although nearly all of the youth have promised to come to the bus terminal to wave me off, it was the last time I would see most of the main congregation. 

This week I am at the rehab centre tomorrow and wednesday, on which I have my leaving party there. I am really not looking forward to saying goodbye to the kids from the rehab, as I have really felt that my greatest impact as been with them. Thursday night I have a Leaving meal with misc. friends and Friday I have left free because I am sure there will be lots of last minute shopping and goodbye's to be saying, Amongst this I also have two more spanish classes left in order to finish my course before I leave, and random coffee and ice-cream dates to see people for a last time. 

Its all very sad that this time next week I will not be in Salta, but also very exciting that I will be seeing everyone at home soon!

As a reminder here is my travel schedule:

9th April    Leave Salta by coach 12:00 noon

10th April   Arrive in Buenos Aires 08:00

2 days in BA saying goodbyes and having a meeting or two.

12th April    Leave BA by plane 15:45 (ARG TIME)

12th April    Arrive in Sao Paulo     18:30 (BRA TIME)

12th April    Leave Sao Paulo      23:45 (BRA TIME)

13th April    Arrive in London Heathrow   15:00 (UK TIME) 

13th April    Leave London         16:30 (UK TIME)

13th April    Arrive in St.Annes       22:00 (UK TIME) -- Depending on traffic and the driving of me folks!

Last week I had my debrief here, which consisted of an evaluation and an explanation of reverse culture shock. Now although many people don't suffer from 'reverse culture shock' I already know that from my 3 week trips to Bulgaria I do. Every time I came back from Bulgaria I spent my first few weeks frustrated, confused and in some cases angry with God. Because I couldn't do enough, because many times what I saw in Bulgaria seems/ed irrelevant to England of because a lot of the time there is an 'out of sight, out of mind' approach to mission, and needs. I don't know how I will cope coming back to the UK now, but I know I am really not going to find it easy, not just missing people, but it really is another world here, and I have adjusted to a completely different way of living. One that doesn't lend itself to England, and so I ask you to pray for me in this way, and to encourage me when I get home, that out of sight is not out of mind. 

Prayer Points

1. The Message Job, I will hear soon, and that whatever the answer I'd know God is in control.
2. Money, praise God for his providence, and also for the "brothers and sisters" I have in the house.
3. That I would enjoy my last week saying goodbyes and be able to think positively about the future.
4. For safe travels!
5. For 'reverse culture shock'.

Thank you for all your support!

See you soon!

Interview

So today I had my interview for The Message Trust for a place as a Reflex Intern in Manchester. The position includes working with another young woman about my age in a female prison with 18-25 year olds, and also occasionally working in a team in the young offenders male prison, helping in alpha groups. The female prison is in Styal prison. The average week would look like this:

Monday- Discipleship with older women (21yrs up)

Tuesday- Discipleship with young offenders (18-21yrs)

Wednesday- Office day to prepare sessions, resettlement work also done on wednesdays

Thursday- Workshop 'Life Skills' sessions. Working on the young offenders wing, doing arty creative workshops helping them to look at a variety of life skills.

Friday- one to one sessions with vulnerable women

Sundays once a month- Reflex run the service.

I am very excited about this opportunity, and really would like the position. The job appeals to me in many different areas, working with broken women using both my creativity and my theology teaching. Working in a pair day to day but also having the support system of The Message Trust as there are daily prayer meetings with everyone together. Having the flexibility of having taster days in other sections of The Message Trust, for example the social action work they do in Manchester council housing estates. I really want this opportunity, it is much more than I though it was when I first applied, and I am now excited about it. However I know I was not the only application for this job, so please pray that God will guide Hannah and Simon (the bosses of reflex) to make the right decision.

If this is where God wants me, this 'job' is after all an internship, and so it is not 'paid' rather they give you an allowance of £100 per week. Most of you know that this is not sufficient to cover my living costs, especially in a city like Manchester. So I am expected to raise monthly support to help 'keep' me. I would really appreciate your prayers over this too. I know that God will provide if this is where he wants me.

I will find out next week if I have the job!
Thank you!

Coming to the end....

So it is just 3 weeks left until I leave Salta.. Or should I say 2 weeks and 5 days.. and just 3 weeks and 2 days until I arrive in the UK (I have a couple of days in Buenos Aires and a couple of days travelling!) And I'm starting to become very volatile in my emotions, one minute I am longing to get on the plane and come home at this very minute and the next minute I'm almost crying at the thought of leaving this all behind!

Despite this I am ok, and I'm making the most of my last few weeks here in Salta. I leave here at noon on the 9th of April, taking a 16 (ish) hour coach to Buenos Aires. So my last Sunday in church will be the 3rd of April. I have organised to talk to the youth on the 2nd of April, my last youth service with them, I have been given the theme of Communion, so it will be interesting what I will do, in order to make it interesting (the youth really cant concentrate for very long).

My time in the rehab centre is really great, I've really built up some great relationships with the youth there and have been able to challenge and encourage a few of them in life situations and with God. The school in the centre is still getting going, and is having some problems in that the kids are finding it really hard to sit down to listen and learn, the school is running creatively and to the kid's different levels with classroom assistants etc. but it is still hard to keep their attention.

The carpentry workshop which runs in the rehab centre has really gone down well with the kids, and they all love making something with their hands, carving, chopping, sawing etc.. They all have their own projects that  they enjoy, ranging from carved coat hangers to benches, from treasure chests to bread bins! They are beautiful works of art which many of the kids have dedicated to their mothers, carving 'para mami' in their projects. Its one thing that can keep their attention for hours.

My Spanish work is going well, and I am now studying the subjunctive. I am really hoping I get to finish it before I come home, and so far it looks like I will be able to.

My mentor got back from Europe this week, it has been 3 months since I saw her, and it has been so good spending time together again. I've missed having her around in Salta, though we have been in contact throughout her travelling.

I still haven't heard from my applications in the UK, but I am hoping to in the coming week(s).

Prayer Points:

1. To make the most of my last 3 weeks in ARG, and for opportunities to share more of my faith.
2. For clarity and wisdom for my preach to the you in 2 weeks.
3. For the youth in the rehab centre to settle down more in classes and be able to learn.
4. Give thanks for the creativity of the youth in the rehab centre.
5. That I will be able to learn and retain the last few classes of the intermediate course.
6. Give thanks for the safe return of my mentor and for the next weeks we have together.
7. Pray that I would be able to find work that I enjoy soon after I get home.

Thank you so much for all your prayers, very much appreciated!