Skip to main content

My bags are finally packed…

I am sat her in my (still) white rocking chair (haven’t gotten round to painting it yet) looking at a packed bag and almost packed suitcase. I am most certainly getting ready for a new little adventure, which is good, because tomorrow I set off back to Fortaleza for a 2 week visit. As the weeks have gone by I have been so excited about this opportunity to go back and visit the people I love and carry in my heart! I am so blessed. Blessed to be able to go back of course, but even more blessed to have so many people in my life that I love and who love me.

Time has gone so very quickly and I really don’t know where it went, but go it did. Trying to get prepared for travelling has been surprisingly peaceful, yet busy. I feel peace. And I am packed, and it’s only 1 am!

So tomorrow I set off…I wonder what God has in store for me. How is He going to challenge me and stretch me? What more of Him am I going to see? I feel so alive in Him. These days I’ve been reading the book of John in the Bible, and this one bit says: “Because I am alive, you also will live.” It’s so amazing. Because of Jesus I have life. He gives life! And I set off on this journey alive…in Him. Watch this space for updates…which I might even write to you from Brazil.

Popular posts from this blog

Taking in the familiar and a heart connected.

Amsterdam. It still has that muggy feeling in Summer, and a constant flow of people which if you stop to think about it, it's quite amazing that there would even be space to accommodate them all. But then I guess they are not all staying. Just passing through on their way to or from somewhere. It's always good for the heart to visit somewhere that was once home. The familiarity of streets and customs makes it easier to embrace what might be new as well as the joy of being reacquainted with old friends. Friends. So many of them to be found in this city, ready with hugs and good words that are uttered when seeing someone who was away again. Friendship. A treasure that cannot be bought. Cobblestones trodden by many, including myself. Sitting on a bench. Praying. Remembering the first time I stumbled upon this area lined with windows with red lights and curtains. An area which has come to represent no longer windows, but people to me. Some still behind a window. Others who have ...

Small moments that mean a lot

Walking home on the crunchy snow that lights up a December evening,  I felt so thankful. The revelation that fellowship and being together is the best gift you can give someone, and realising that although it might seem small, it can turn into something big when a person feels seen and valued.  Yesterday I helped out with a crafts workshop for a group of lovely women volunteering for Crux where I worked before (well, in all honesty: they were making angels while I ate Christmas cookies, Quality Street chocolate, and chatted). I love walking alongside people in conversation, and realise sharing life for 2 hours can last so much longer in value and experience.  This evening we had our Christmas dinner for volunteers and people who are part of my current job. It was a delightful evening with many nations gathered around the same table…. eating the same food… and for a few hours creating a small fellowship moment that will become a good memory for the future. Often in my job ...

Getting to know the local culture.

Life is a strange thing. Last week went…not much happened, and then it was over. The weekend was quite calm without too many wild and exciting things happening. Except, of course, a wee outing to watch the National Championship for Veteran Ploughing. Now, like me, you might be sadly lacking an understanding of what this actually means. So I am delighted to be able to enlighten you in this respect. It’s basically (for the “farm-language-illiterate” like myself) a competition where you use old (hence the name “veteran”) tractors and ploughs, and plough up a stretch of field which is then evaluated and the one scoring the highest sum (accuracy, depth, how well the soil is turned is all given points) wins. I must admit that this information I got by eavesdropping on a conversation next to me where a man was explaining to some of my friends how it all works. So that was a fun adventure….although we only stayed for a bit. What is sort of occupying my mind at present is my upcoming travel abr...