Days 44 & 45.. not quite the end of the Summer! Couple of hours to go! #45daysofsummer

Well I'm not quite finished as there is still one more evening left of the summer! And I've not yet posted about yesterday either! So here goes..
Yesterday will be summed up in more photos than words (but a picture paints a thousand words though, right?!) and today's events as well as an overall (short!) summary of my entire summer follows at the bottom..

Laura gave me a brief but detailed tour of Bilbao in around 2 hours! I decided that if I would live anywhere in Spain (although of course I haven't been to every place in Spain) I would live in Bilbao. I loved it there! The atmosphere, the buildings, the river. Everything. We started our tour at what I think is the Old Square.

And walked round to the New Square (which didn't look that new to be fair, but was wonderful and was lined with cafés and bars and later on there was live music here!)

The library was rather modest and hidden, I felt. But had a grand door that was worth a snap.

A tiny little stage for the City Orchestra.

Live music in the street! This was on one of the main streets in the city, and had lots of shops and gorgeous little pastelerías (cake shops).

We reached the Guggenheim Museum! Selfie necessary.

A giant puppy made from flowers. Why not?

The Spider in the distance... Can you see the bride and groom in the distance having their wedding photos with said spider? Weird.

And the exterior of the museum was enough to look at without having to go in! 

The spider...! Crazy. Weird. Bride and groom finished and moved on to some other unusual spot for the rest of their shoot.

View down the river.

Arty bridge.

We went for a quick bite to eat in a gorgeous little Tapas bar in the New Square.

 

There was sooo much to choose from!

 Really, so much!! But the kind Spanish waiters helped us decide what to have and poured my mosto (grape juice) for me in a wine glass with ice, an orange slice and an olive on a stick. Wonderful.

Basketball World Cup fever - this year it is held in Bilbao!

There were loads of people milling around and taking part in all the activities in the streets.

We got free balloons :) yay!

And then, after a spot of lunch, and really all to quickly, I caught the bus to the airport.. Where my case was 26kg instead of 23kg and I had to get rid of some stuff and move some things around in a fluster as the queue for the Vueling desk was huge and out the door of the airport! After misunderstandings about hand luggage and being sad that my last proper Spanish conversation was a total muddle, all was well in the end and I reminded myself of my competent and lengthy conversation with Juanma the previous day, and my entire time with Laura which was almost totally in Spanish!! I landed back in London last night where mom and dad met me to take me home! Phew! (We did get lost in the countryside looking for a pub to eat dinner in, but alas gave up and ended up having pizza in Oxford services.) Home and bed. Yes.

Today, on my last official day of my Summer, I had a well-needed lie in, before heading to church at Zion. It didn't occur to me at the time, but thinking about it now, it was very nice to be sat in an English service, to be able to understand everything without my brain working on over time to try and translate. And how good to worship, and let God revive and refresh me. And don't get me wrong, I'm still tired and I'll be hitting the ground running as I start back at work tomorrow but I am so excited about what He is doing in my life at the moment and how clearly I can hear Him speaking to me, challenging me, encouraging and inspiring me. I hope and pray that in the busyness of this new season, I will still be able to hear Him and make time do so. 

This afternoon, we celebrated with some close family friends of ours. Two birthdays and three wedding anniversaries in these past couple of weeks! How exciting to be able to celebrate 55, 52 and 25 years of marriage with those couples, in a world when so often marriages have broken down. What a blessing to share with them in their celebrations today :)

And finally tonight, a brief but detailed and very exciting meeting about the future plans at church and about where God is leading us as a community in terms of our building plans!! 

Sadly no time for Grey's Anatomy tonight (soon I hope!) because the last 1.5 hours of this summer, I intend to be sleeping in order to be up for an early start tomorrow!

But what an incredible Summer it has been. Of adventure and challenge. Of learning and growing. Of new places, new people and new opportunities.

And what an incredible God I serve, who takes away, but who also gives in abundance. Who mends and restores what is broken and lost (and is continuing to do so). Who I don't always understand but who I am learning to trust more and more. Who makes my paths straight. Who sings over me and whispers words of love and truth to me at the times when I most need to hear them. Who is faithful to His promises. Who has said 'yes' to much more than He has said 'no'. Who has given me so much more than a great Summer. He has given me hope. He has given me Jesus. He is all I need.

#45daysofsummer #blessed

Now, what's next?!

It's show time! Day 22 & 23 of my #45daysofsummer

I'm still totally buzzing after the concert last night! It was our first one, held in Toral (the small town / village that the camp is in), just a 2 minute walk away. It was incredible, and so much bigger than I expected. It was in a kind of town square courtyard thing and quite a lot of people came out for it (about 100?) But the whole set up was just generally bigger than I thought it would be and was really professional! The songs went really well for the most part (so many lyrics to remember but think I've sorted that ready for tonight!) and we've spent some more time practising today, to tighten it all up for later.

I honestly didn't know much about the camp before I got here, I was simply coming on recommendation, to volunteer and in order learn Spanish while doing so. I suppose I didn't really have any expectations to be able to underestimate it or what it would all be like - other than a hearing from people that everything would be relaxed and potentially disorganised and a that I'll have to learn to be flexible and not freak out she the schedule changes (or worse still when there is no schedule). But it's all been so well organised, with a fixed schedule (that is stuck up in various locations around the site!) and really well put together, well led and generally high quality! And it's all been relaxed at the same time so although I feel challenge linguistically, I feel very comfortable in other areas!

Here are some snaps of the camp to give an idea of what its like!

From the street, the is what the main building looks like - the one we sleep and eat in!

Outside there are grapes growing! (Not ready to eat yet..)

A volleyball court, and a house opposite with more rooms (for families though, rather than dormitories like in the other building). 

The kitchen and dining area.

This is the patio outside the other house (down the street - I always call it 'la otra casa' because I don't know if it has a particular name) which has yet more rooms in, a lounge, conference room, big hall with a stage area.. I took this yesterday during a flash storm we got caught in during our practice. Normally here you'd see the band and choir but when it started chucking it down we made a run for it.. You've never seen musos move so quick to get the equipment out of the rain!!

At the worship night on Thursday in the hall at la otra casa - in case you were wondering what the lyrics were in Spanish for 'Lord You Are Good and Your Mercy Endureth Forever'

Anyway, ahh, I can't wait for tonight! Its the second and final concert and it's at a bigger venue, about 8km away near a river. That's all I know. I'm going to take my nexus though so I can get some pictures, because it's all very impressiveand I wish I'd taken some last night. Someone was (last night) and will be (tonight) videoing / photographing as well as far as I know so hopefully that will end up on Facebook and you can watch some of it!! :)

On a more melancholy note, it's the last day of the Music camp today [sad face] so it's done after the concert this evening and most people are heading .home tomorrow.
It's kind of nice feeling this attached though, because the first two days here were quite tough to be honest; I cried (only a tiny bit) and just felt so overwhelmed by so many things - loneliness, fear, frustration, too much time to think, knowing no one and having little capacity to get to know people.. I wondered a few times whether I'd been a bit too optimistic in booking flights to stay here for four weeks. But actually, I'm loving it! I've made friends, I'm learning so much, I've tried new food and I've had experiences that I would never have had at home. And I've only been here 6 days - there's so much more to come!! I can't wait to see what else God has in store :) I am feeling a little nervous though, and sad.. Because many of the friends I've made here this week are leaving in the morning and new people are coming for the Football and English camp so it feels a bit like starting over again. But we'll see what happens!

Ahlai and Betsie. Ahlai is heading home tomorrow, but Betsie is staying as she is a director at the next camp. She speaks little English but we have a good laugh piecing together conversation and teaching each other our language.

Kathlyn and Eva. Kathlyn is from the States and is fluent in Spanish - its been great being here with her, and she is also in my dorm room so helps me with a lot of vocab etc. but we've also been able to rest our brains and talk in English (only for a short while, honest!). She is heading home tomorrow too, as is Eva who was here for a couple of the previous camps.

Julia is German and speaks a tiny bit more Spanish than me, she's leaving tomorrow to go to Barcelona for two weeks to study Spanish at a language school there! 

Right. Its merienda time (afternoon snack.. Normally a small baguette with chocolate spread.. Mmm..!) And then we've got a bit more chill time before an early dinner (early being 8:30pm haha!) and then it's the show tonight!!! 

Lost In Wonder

OK so I'm uber excited because I recently re-discovered my favourite ever worship album (and I'm blogging about it whilst it's uploading to my iPod).

I'm not sure where it came from, it's be AWOL for a few years now but somehow it ended up in my car's CD case, I think when driving up to Burnley a few weeks back.. which meant a couple of hours of good music! Hurray!

Martyn Layzell - Lost in Wonder

It feels really quite old school, but apparently was only released in 2006.. my concept of time is a bit off I think!

And you know those albums that start off amazing with the best and most famous songs, and then as the tracks progress, they get worse and worse?

Yeh, this isn't one of those albums. Every time I listen to it I actually have the thought, "Oh yeah, I forgot this doesn't get boring - every song on this album is amazing!"

And then I get sad when it reaches the end so I usually listen again (hence the 2 whole hours of joy on the way up to Burnley in Feb!)

ANYWAY:

-if you've never heard it

-if you're looking for some awesome songs to praise our awesome God with

-if you appreciate seeeriously good harmonies (not quite as epic as Casting Crowns harmonies, but just as great to sing along to!)

-if you're all or none of the above

you should totally listen to this album and just try it out!

This is just my opinion, of course.

But I hope you get a chance to listen, and enjoy it as much as I do, and worship our Saviour while you're at it :)

Psalm 147:1

Praise the LORD.

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

how pleasant and fitting to praise Him!

(Even at half past midnight - it's always fitting to praise Him!)

How do people make it through life without a sister? ~ Sara Corpening

I hung out with Lea today before she headed back to Solihull.
We drank tea and talked about life and played a bit of guitar. I showed her a couple of my new songs that she hadn't heard yet.

And then we did what only sisters in Christ can do.

We prayed together, and we worshipped God. We encouraged and uplifted one another, and held each other accountable. We were honest and open.

I came away feeling refreshed,

and so excited about what God is doing in both our lives,

and similarly excited that I get to hang out with her again in a couple of weeks and sleep at her pad and we'll play more tunes and teach her puppy new tricks and we'll pray some more and "as iron sharpens iron" so we shall sharpen each other as we do life together!!

I praise God that I have so many great and true friends, and even though I don't live close to them, distance doesn't matter.

:)

God is good!!

And sisters are awesome!!

Good News!

I feel like I've been such a big moaner lately, and I've been having a complete downer on Christians too. I'm really sorry about that.

This is my formal apology, and I'd like to tell you about my morning in hope it counteracts my recent negativity...

After time in the Word with God this morning I went for a shower, only to find that we had no hot water... after phoning to inform someone of this, I proceeded to boil the kettle, add it to cold water in the sink and wash my hair that way.. I then got a text from my friend that she'd overslept and might not be able to make it to church today...

It seemed like it was going to be one of those days.

Even so, I took joy and peace in knowing that I am blessed to own a Bible, God's living word, and be able to read it. I am one of a privileged minority, to have access to clean water, be it hot or cold. And I also have the freedom to actually go to a church and worship without fear of persecution.

This reflects my every day.

Lord help me to be thankful and grateful for all that I have, give me the strength to let go and not hold on to worthless things, and help me to give more generously where there is need, and to those who don't have.

So Tamsin made it on time for the pick up this morning, despite sleeping through her alarm, hurray! (Tamsin is a new and rather awesome friend of mine from the CU at Keele!)

And waiting in the SU Carpark for us was a lovely gentleman called Stuart, who had driven twenty minutes out of his way this morning, to take us to church. We got tea and toast when we arrived, and were given a tour of the building by a nice girl, Lauren.

We made our way outside, to the Town Square, for the Remembrance Service. We sang and prayed and read scripture, we stood in silence for 2 minutes, and reflected as the wreaths were laid and salutes were given, in honour of all those who died that we might live.

I sat next to a beautiful older couple, when we returned indoors for the rest of the service; Marjory and Peter, who's granddaughter is named Jemma and is in her 2nd year at Keele.

I stood side by side with Tamsin, young and passionate, on my right, and Marjory, experienced and full of wisdom, on my left. And we worshipped our God together.

This morning, people went over and above to make sure Tamsin and I got to and from church and felt comfortable and welcomed whilst we were there. They loved us the way Jesus loves them, in small and simple ways, but still..

We remembered those who fought and died in Wars long since past, the heroes of our country, the ones who secured the freedom of our nation. We remembered those who are still fighting, serving our brothers and sisters in other countries, sacrificing comfort and time with family, to try and secure the freedom of other nations.

People, old and young, believers and non-believers remembered today.

Remembered the sacrifice of a few, to save many.

People, old and young, believers and non-believers heard today.

They heard of the sacrifice of One, to save many.

The Good News was preached today. All around the world.

And some people will not only have heard, but will have responded.

Those in war-torn countries and in countries at peace, those with and without access to clean water, those facing persecution because of their faith, those worshipping in the open, those who can read, those who can't, the old, the young, men, women, children...

The Good News is for everyone.

May it never cease to be preached.

Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:2

"For I decide that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified."

I Survived

I returned yesterday, from a week away at a Christian festival / camp called Momentum.

http://www.soulsurvivor.com/uk/momentum/

It's the highlight of any young Christian's year, without a doubt. I haven't been for the past three years and oh! how I've missed it.

I missed the amazing worship, the foreshadowing of Heaven, singing God's praises side by side with just a fraction his church, giving Him all the glory. I missed Mike Pilavachi, his bad (but really funny) jokes and his banter with Crofty and Tim Hughes. I missed actively seeking God and expecting Him to move in big ways. I missed Soul Survivor Hot Chocolate.

I got to experience all this stuff in the past week!

One thing I haven't missed, however, is camping in torrential rain. By torrential, i mean TORRENTIAL. Severe weather warnings. Flooded tents (not mine, thank the LORD). Joggers so wet I could ring them out. The unfortunate realization that 'shower proof' is not waterproof.

But I survived.

And not only did I survive, I got to hang out with some completely awesome people.

Samantha Lola - the girl who made it happen, who wore her wellies all week, who stayed up late with me talking about boys, and who let me sleep in her tent so I could stay (remotely) dry.
Becky - the girl who lives in paris, who took a slight detour off the M5 to meet me in McDonald's and drive me to Shepton Mallet, who was using the burner when it exploded, who got just as fed up with the rain as I did, and who has a date tomorrow night that she's very excited about!!
Ben - the guy who I'd already heard about, who is wayyy over 6 feet tall, who pretended he had nothing nice to say when actually he really did, who I think only had one shower the whole week.
Jessie & Jeff - the couple who camped with us, who spent a lot of time cuddling, and who usually knew all the answers.
Rachael - the girls who's from the south, who came a few days later than the rest of us, who didn't bring much with her, who is also starting Uni this year, and who knew just what to say to make people laugh!
David - the guy with the beard who I met in Canada, who sat with us most evenings in the main meeting, who's mom is a LEGEND, and who I'm slightly jealous of as he's going back to Canada in two weeks.
Lea - the girl from home who has been camping for about 75% of this summer, who hadn't showered in a while and yet still looked hott, who I already miss since we, once again, live in different places, and who introduced me to the following people (thank you!).
Beckie - the girl who persuaded me to sing open mic by pretending that God was texting me (I don't regret one moment! thank you!), who has incredible hair, even after 5 days of camping, and who fell over three times in two days.
Immi & Ellie - the twins who I finally got to meet, who sang on the first night of Open Mic and set the bar high, who couldn't wait to hear me sing and therefore made me feel good, who have the most unusual fashion sense but who always look amazing.
Karl - the guy who I met at Xtreme, who had never been camping before this week (except that time when he was 11), who got in touch, and who graciously let me bore his head off with my incessant ramblings about Christians, theology, my dreams of being famous blah blah...

Proverbs 27:17
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another".

Thank you God, for meeting with me this week, in a quiet but real way. For surrounding me with encouraging people who love and look out for me. For providing me with friends and acquaintances whom I can both sharpen, and be sharpened by.

Two words: Parachute. Band.

I was at Champions Church in Netherton this evening (http://www.championschurch.org.uk/) at their Friday Night Live event, with the Parachute Band (http://www.parachutemusic.com/PARACHUTEBAND/).

Matty and I went. Brother and Sister. Probably the first time we've ever been anywhere together. At least that I can remember. And it couldn't have been a better evening. In hindsight (oh, hindsight, why are you so sensible?!) I should have taken a photograph to document.. But I didn't, and therefore this post shall have to do.

I have nicked a pic from google though so you know who I'm talking about. This is their latest album, 'Roadmaps and Revelations'. Get it off iTunes or buy the CD or something! It's awesome.

Omega and the rest of the band led us in worship to our Awesome God for the best part of two hours.

Amazing, heart-felt lyrics, incredible music and vocals, and an unforgettable time of singing praises and bringing glory to our LORD.

...Living Rain, fall again, over my life, over my land, Living rain, fill my life again. Open wide, Heaven's skies, over my street, O Spirit reside, Living rain, flood my heart again...

...Who am I that you would care for me? I glorify the one who died for me... Let your name be lifted up and glorified..

...Take over me, til I can't stand and sing to thee...

Thank you God, for giving me an awesome not-so-little-bro.

And for letting us worship you freely like we did tonight.

It's only by your grace.

Yeh and thank you for your grace too.