It’s hard to believe that it’s 2011, and that January is almost half way over as well. I had a really amazing Christmas, and feel quite blessed. I spent Christmas day with my host family, and their extended family. They all made me feel really welcome and I was extremely grateful that they let me spend Christmas day with them. New years, was spent at Jonny and Laura’s house, with a host of other people, all in all a good wee night. The break was much needed, as now the long haul begins until Easter arrives.
I started back at work last Monday, soon joined by Nadz on Tuesday and then Jonny on Wednesday. There were numerous jokes about how great our Christmas celebration service was. When in reality the one day the school closed because of the snow, was the day of the Christmas celebration service. All of us were a bit disappointed, because it was a great opportunity, and a lot of prep had gone into it. However, we know that God is in control in, and who knows what might have happened if we had gone in that day. Along with that after Christmas break our first assembly in a nearby primary school was cancelled after we arrived, and the same thing happened in a different school a couple days later with our first SU since Christmas. All of us have found it a bit frustrating but also amusing. Hopefully in February the schools will be better organized.
This Monday was our first official drop-in back after the break, and it was good to see the youth again. Both Monday and Tuesday were long days for me, as we had our YFCNI staff meeting in Belfast on Tuesday and drop-in both nights. Tuesday night all the girls that regularly participate in drop in were there, which was encouraging for me to see. We are hoping to start a Girl’s group the first week in February, Lord willing if we can get the girls on board. It is looking like it will be on a Thursday night now.
Wednesday after school drop-in is probably my favourite part of the week. I had a good conversation with one of our young guys, who accepted Christ last summer at Summer Camp. He pretty much told me his life story, and in return I was able to share the majority of my testimony. Please be praying for him though, as he is going through a really rough patch. Wednesday are great because it’s a really relaxed drop-in, the younger kids are generally quite hyper which makes for many entertaining moments. I would love to see more girls come though, Nadz and I are trying to encourage the girls from breakfast club to come, but so far none of them have showed up.
Our Arts and Crafts program is to start up next Thursday and go through until Easter for two hours every Thursday. The program is specifically for the girls of one of the estates in town. The first hour will be juniors Ages 5-8 probably and then seniors 8-11ish for the second hour. Nadine and I have developed a 7 week program to start off with, but are fast running out of craft ideas. If any of you have any, feel free to send them my way J were also hoping to apply for some money for the program, so pray that goes through!
The next big thing is our three week SU program that I have been working on, this will be starting soon, so prayer for that is appreciated. If it goes well at the first school we will try and take it in to the 6 other primary schools were involved in.
Prayer for my YF at church would also be appreciated. Before Christmas our two main leaders stepped down, and leaving it in the hopes that the young leaders they have been training up, will take charge. We had a meeting last Sunday night, and I think they are feeling a bit more relaxed and less apprehensive. I really think it will be good for them, challenging them in their faith and ministry. Most of them are about 18, with the oldest two being near my age in the early twenties. We are suppose to have another meeting this Sunday as well, and then start on the following Sunday. Some changes will be made, as like most of the YF’s in churches are finding it hard to keep the young people coming. I’m really enjoying YF and rather excited about the opportunity to be involved in all these decisions. Apart of my job will be coming up with a two week program, involving workshops, that Jonny and I can take around to the different YF churches, to help encourage them. Pray that God would really work, direct, and encourage the leaders in all of the churches.
This Sunday our whole team will be speaking at one of our board members church, prayer for that would also be appreciated. This New Year provides for many new opportunities which has me really quite excited. It will be a busy, long haul up until Easter, and then only busier after Easter, with the likes of all our summer programs, such as summer camp, and project 32. I’m excited to see all of what the Lord has in store and the ways he will provide and direct. He has really been encouraging me as, I have been preparing lessons and talks, forcing me to dig deeper into His word.
I’m including a few prayer points for our recent January prayer letter for GBYFC. Thanks so much for all your prayers and encouragement!
Here are a few things that we would really value your prayers for as we
enter into another big year at the centre!
Please pray for:
- A good start to the year ahead, that the kids will readily come along to drop-in
and breakfast club again after the break.
- An interest in girls group, that the girls will come and that Mandy and Nadine
would build good relationships with them through this.
- Guys group as we start to work with a new group of boys, and as we explore
issues relevant to them.
- That the young people would be interested in the two big summer trips we are
planning, that they will be able to go, and for fundraising ideas and opportunities
to help subsidise the costs of these.
- Volunteers that are willing to help out with Friday night drop-in and that this new
venture would benefit the kids also.
- The new 4 week Primary SU outreach programme that we are developing.
- More opportunities to run RE lessons in both primary and secondary schools.
- Thanks for all the opportunities we have had to be in schools to date.
- Thanks for the relationships that have been built with young people already, for
their individual personalities and journeys.
- Thanks for each of the boys involved in midnight street soccer and the
encouragement it was for them to receive the fair play trophy.
- Thanks for all the new opportunities that we have to start new programmes.
Once again thank you, on behalf of everyone involved, for your prayerful support of
the work of GBYFC!
