Home sweet home…

After a crazy summer running around the British Isles, Phil and I are finally back in Prague..! It is great to be back “home”… (we’re not entirely sure where “home” is at the moment… but seeing as we only lived as a married couple for 1 year in Edinburgh, Prague might be the closest thing..!)

After finishing work for Embassy CES, the summer school that we were working at in Woking for 5 weeks, Phil and I had a much deserved holiday in Spain for a week. We had a really nice apartment at a resort in between Malaga and Marbella. We didn’t do anything more than eat, sleep and… we also managed to fit in some sun bathing, swimming and one football tournament which we won! Oh yeah, we love beating little kids at sport! We also met up with Carolyn and Neil Costley in Marbella and had an excellent Mediterranean-type al fresco dinner with them. It was so good to catch up and hear more about their on-going church-search, jobs, life in Edinburgh etc. It made us feel a little homesick for Edinburgh, although maybe Phil moreso than me… I was enjoying the sunshine too much to be thinking about Edinburgh and perpetual rain.

After our week in the sun we went up to Madrid to meet up with a friend who studied at IBTS last year. Ellie and her fiance David, both live in Madrid and we had the pleasure of being their guests for the weekend. They were excellent tour guides, and we much of Madrid despite stopping about every hour for sangria, ice-cream, beer… and generally stuffing ourselves…! We had such a great time! I will hopefully have some photos soon-ish..! On Saturday evening we went to Ellie’s parents apartment and had proper home-cooked paella, which was delicious, followed by amazingly tasty fish dish. Considering how much we had all eaten during the day, we did well on polishing-off everything that was in front of us! We said sad farewells on Monday, so Phil and I flew back to Prague. Madrid was a lovely city, and we’re looking forward to going back in April 2008 for Ellie and David’s wedding.

That’s about everything for now… the summer is over, sadly, but it was a goodie… so we can celebrate that and look forward to a busy year in Prague!

Love to all. xxx

4 days left!

I have a stinking cold, a huge headache and I need to sleep… but… only 4 days to go!! Hurrah!

Windsor Castle

Today the trip was to Windsor Castle… which was really beautiful. I think that it is the most picturesque castle that I have visited. Unfortunately there were 37 children with us, so we didn’t exactly get to find out about what we were looking at, but it was still gorgeous.

My brother Matt and his wife Bethan are nearly on their way back from 7 months in China. Unfortunately we won’t get to see them when they get back because we will already be back in Prague, but I will see them in October when I’m on my placement at Horley Baptist Church. I really looking forward to seeing them, it really feels like they’ve been away for a long time. I miss my little brother! That’s the big downside of us being able to go all over the world… that we don’t see as much of each other as I would like. Phil and I have a year left in Prague and then we’ll be back in the UK for a wee while I think (!!)… so it’ll be great to be nearer family from then. However, adventures in far away places will always be enticing for both Matt and Bethan, as well us Phil and I. Anyway, we can cross those bridges when we come to them… I’m trying to enjoy each part of life as it comes, one day at a time, instead of always thinking/worrying about the future. I really need God’s help to do this, as I find it much easier to think/dream about what places I want to visit/live in. Although this is fine to a certain extent, it can take me away from enjoying to beautiful things in my life at the moment! So, I’m trying to remember to see every day as a gift from God, filled with good things. Each day is a day that I can spend in God’s presence, seeking his face in the people around me, striving to be his disciple in my everyday life. Its a challenge that doesn’t get any easier, for sure!

Anyway, good night. Peace and blessings to you tonight.

xxxx

Two weeks to go..!

 

As of today, Phil and I have 2 weeks left of work at the summer school! Oh yeah! Not that we’re not enjoying it, there are good bits… its just that its knackering, and we’re looking forward to our holiday in sunny Spain, as well as seeing our friends Ellie (from IBTS) and her fiance David, in Madrid.

Tomorrow we’re going to Oxford with the children… should be good if its not raining. Phil, me and one other member of staff are taking our 44 children on a walking tour of Oxford. Obviously, we are all entirely confident in our general knowledge of Oxford! Hmmmm. Should be interesting.

Exciting stuff relating to my training for baptist ministry is developing. In her feedback to me after my interview, the chairlady of the committee said that it would be valuable for me to have some experience of church ministry in a baptist church in the UK, because all of my experience of the ministry-side of things has been in our church in Prague, which is a pretty special, but a-typical baptist church..! So in October, I will be heading back to the UK for 3 weeks at Horley Baptist Church. I’m really looking forward to working with and learning from the pastors and people of the church. Should be a great experience!

Right, its bed time now. The buses leave tomorrow at 9am for Oxford. Argh. Night one and all.

xxxxx