Happy Birthday.............

Happy Birthday to my Dad! I did talk to him on the phone today twice (one was a birthday greeting, the other more of a conversation type call), but I wanted to say it on here as well. Love you lots my papa! Thanks for the prayers, support and advice especially over the last few days. Love J

Mish-Mash

This morning, my hair dryer blew up on me with smoke and sparks and all of that fun stuff. I don't think there is any recovery for it this time around. Considering that it lasted me for close to eight or so years I would have to say that it had a good life. Now the way I look at it, I have three options: To chop of my hair to wispy short like I am somewhat more used to having in recent years, to actually buy a hair dryer that i won't be able to use once i go back to Canada, or i can leave my hair the length it is and attempt to live with out a hair dryer. Choices, choices, choices. To some it may not be a very significant thing, but in some cases, I am a girl to the extreme, and this is one of those cases! Ok, on to other things.
Last night, Karen, Christine, and I went to see girls from our small group preform at a church in Luton. They are a part of a group called Activate which if i am correct is associated with YFC. Selena and Kerry did an amazing job. I had no idea those two could sing and dance like they can. It was good. Karen, Christine and i then ventured into a pub we had never been in before for a drink before we ventured back. I must say, the taxi service here (or at least the taxi service we used last night) was pretty good. I don't have a lot of experience with taxi's, but i do know that taking a taxi in Moose Jaw scares me half to death!
Christine and I walked back down the hill from Karen's together last night and we had a good talk. We both have a form of IBD and it's really nice to be able to talk with someone who knows how I feel health wise a lot of days. Thanks Chris, even though it isn't the most pleseant topic of conversation, it's nice to know that you know what I am going through!
This weekend, the new set of international exchange students arrive. I do know a girl who is coming from University of Manitoba and I think we may even have a module together second semester. I'm helping out at the chaplaincy this evening as part of the welcome team because I went through what they are going through in September....hard to believe that it has almost been 5 months! I'm also helping with various international student activities throughout next weeks as well which well keep me busy for intersemester break....still wish I could be looking for a job instead, but I've come to terms with that.
Thanks to everyone here and across the pond at home who have been praying for me this past week. You're prayers and encouragement are so appreciated. Love to all! J

Visa News

Here is an update on my Visa extension status. The international students office finally didn't have extra paper work for me to fill out yesterday and I was finally able to mail it away to the British High Commission. That was a great feeling. However, the international students office is still by far my least favourite component of this university. For a few weeks, several people within that office told me I could work with the passport stamp that i had. Yesterday, the lady in charge of the office had to give the final approval on my extension and notified me that I can't work until the passport comes back with my extension in it. I was definately upset and people in that office need to get on the same page. So, I'm stressed out right now because I don't get to look for a job now for at least 3-4 weeks. Actually, I was so frustrated with how things are ran in the university yesterday I was only a phone call away from phoning home and saying I was getting on a plane next week and coming back to Canada. However, I think God has other plans for me because I think he purposely kept me busy all afternoon so that I wouldn't have the opportunity to make the phone call.
Small group was good overall last night, although it was freezing in the church basement. We had a birthday cake for Christine (of course it was chocolate. need anybody ask what kind it was?) because today is her birthday! Happy Birthday :) my little group prayer time was also very much needed and helped calm my soul a lot.
Today, I get to have lunch with my sort of adopted Nan. I love Beryl so much and I think we will have a good time. Tonight is C.U. main service and that should also be good. I think we are continuing with small group type Bible studies.
God, thank you for still showing me you want me here even though i had a flight instead of fight mentality yesterday. You're simply amazing!

Semester One Finished

Semester One is officially over and for the most part I survived! Just need to say first of all "Thank you God for seeing me through!" It was an amazing semester, although that is debatable academic wise :) I'm looking forward to second semester, and even the modules I will be taking should be interesting.
Now it is time to relax for a day and then the part time job hunt begins full tilt. I'm looking forward to working and not just for the money factor either. I think the experience in an international setting will be good. So, hopefully something will turn up over the next few weeks.
Anyways, just thought i would share with you the fact that semester one has finished and i'm in one piece. Have a great day people. I'm having a nap.

Snow? Ha Ha!

I woke up early this morning for some strange reason, but it was a good thing so that i could get an early start on the whole studying thing. As I write this, It's snowing, or the closest thing to snowing that I have seen. Oh, it's stopping already. That was short lived. So much for the exam being cancelled this afternoon. I think its the one time I wouldn't mind my exam being cancelled due to snow. I just want to see the British panic just once because they can't cope with it. I'm writing my Sport Tourism final today and i think for the most part, I am ready to write it. However, I am still thankful for the next 4.5 hours of study time that I have left before i write it. Tomorrow is Sports Fans and then I am done for over 12 days before second semester starts. I see blue sky now. Does that mean it won't snow anymore?!

Not a Fan of Studying

I'm sure most people will agree with me that studying for exams of any kind is no fun whatsoever. This entry is my study break for the next little while because i have been studying since 12 noon today! I am a little surprised at my dedication to the books today and on a saturday of all days. Thankfully it has been very quiet in my university operated flat and for the most past my other flatmates are all studying or starting to pack up because a few of them are only here for the first semester.
Speaking of flatmates, i am going to admit and say that I wish that i could have gotten to know the ones leaving a little better. I am the only English as a first language person in my flat and it would have been a great opportunity to get to know a different culture and even some of their language. I hope next semester i can get to know my other flatmates a little better. To my knowledge none of them are Christians, but they know that I am and i have spoken to a few of them about it. A couple of them even come to the chaplaincy on occassion. When interaction is so limited, its hard to know what to say or share with them. I think i am resolved to the fact though that i need to make my interactions with them in our kitchen a little more personal and meaningful.
Went out with friends last night to Weatherspoons. I have a new favourite treat: Chocolate Chip Cheesecake. You have no idea how yummy it was! (sorry, i just had to share that) After we went back up to their house and played shrek version of uno which was interesting to say the least.
Well, i think my 5-10 minute break is about over and its time to get back to the books. i have to keep reminding myself that i do only have two more left and it will all be over by 11:00am on Tuesday morning. I just need to survive until then that is! Thankfully tomorrow is sunday and i get to go to church. i'm looking forward to that.
Everybody have a great rest of your weekend!

Yet Again

The theme of the week continues. Yes, that's right, the theme of blessings continued into last night's small group gathering. The evening also featured my song of the week "Blessed be Your Name". Now at this point I am asking God what He is trying to teach me with this reoccuring theme. Obviously if it's still everywhere there must be something I'm missing! If anyone has some light they can shed to this for me, I welcome the comments!
Small groups last night overall went really well again. There's still the feeling of transition, but that's normal I think. However, last night's discussion i think was hamppered just a bit by the fact that we weren't in a circle. I'm not a huge fan of the sitting in a line. You can't see anyone when they are talking. Oh well. I was still encouraged andI am still trying to learn what God is fully trying to teach me through the theme of the week!
After small groups, I walked home with Karen and we sat outside of her house for almost an hour and a half talking. It was a beautiful night and orion's belt was shining brightly above us. It was great!
Tonight in Christian Union we are going to be talking about cults. I don't know who is speaking, but I'm looking forward to it. I did take a cults class in Bible college, so it may be a bit of a refresher which is always nice.
Everybody, have a great day.

Everyday Blessings

Over the last week, the subject of Blessings and God blessing us has seemed to be at every corner i have turned. Even with church and talking about financial giving and other types of giving somehow i was able to relate it to being blessed by God. We are totally blessed by God every single day and some of these blessings are so obvious that we have taken them for granted. Lord, I don't want to take anything you have given me as for granted. Please keep me aware of your showers of blessings. Thank you that you still choose to bless us even when we don't act as we always should. Even when circumstances are bad Lord, help me to continually bless your name as well. For you are great in every circumstance in my life. Help me to know how to turn the things that you have given me into an act of worship so i can give back to you.
Mat Redman's song Blessed be Your Name has been with me constantly as well. Here are the words for those who may not be familiar with the song:
Blessed be your name in the land that is plentiful. Where your streams of abundance flow. Blessed be your name.
And blessed be your name when i'm found in the desert place. Though i walk through the wilderness. Blessed be your name.

Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise. And when the darkeness closes in, Lord still i will say: Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your glorious name. (chorus)

Blessed be your name when the sun's shining down on me. When the world's "all as it should be". Blessed be your name.
And blessed be your name on the road marked with suffering, though there is pain in the offering, blessed be your name

Chorus

You give and take away. You give and take away. My heart will choose to say: Lord, blessed be your name.


Lord, may these words be my daily prayer. May they also help and encourage someone else who may need the reminder of your goodness and that you are blessed in everything in our lives. Thank you just doesn't seem adequate though.

The Week in Review

I have had a terrific week! God has made his awesomeness so abundantly clear to me the last few days. He is truly in everything we do and attempt to undertake. I just have this overwhelming sense of being so blessed and it has kept a smile on my face for the best part of two days.
For those of you who don't know, the cell group transisition could not have gone any better. It was fully God's hand in the whole evening and even leading up to that evening. I am so thankful to God for those he has brought up as new leaders. They have such great potential and I'm excited to see how God will work in their lives. I am also so thankful for the friends i have in my cell and the opportunity to deepen those friendships and make new friendships with the people i don't know as well. I am really looking forward to seeing where God will take us as a cell in the next months.
C.U. last night was good. It has been great to see everybody back from the holidays and hearing how God worked in their lives and families over the Christmas season.
I just got internet hooked up in my room yesterday which is a nice gift because i no longer have to rely on the university's hours as to when i can communicate with people. They shut down at 6 on a friday afternoon and have not the best hours over the weekend.
I also got my first assignment back with a B grade and i'm more than satisfied with that mark.
To all of my friends and family: I'm sorry if i don't say i love and appreciate you more. You are all amazing and i thank each one of you for your uniqueness into the way you invest into my life. It means so much to mean. Love you all. Have a great weekend!

Back to Uni and other things

This last week of my Christmas break was great and went by surprisingly fast. I had a person from home visit me for a week: my sister Alissa's best friend. This practically makes Natasha family and it was great to have her around for the week. We watched a lot of movies in my flat and walked around the Arndale Mall a lot and just relaxed. It was great to be able to introduce her to most of my friends and it was nice to be able to take her to church with me on sunday. It was just a really good boost to my mood. It was also really great to see a ton of people last night at church that i hadn't really seen all break. I'm glad to be back to doing school things again because it means seeing people on a regular basis again! I did tell you i was a social creature :)
There's a change to the structure of my cell group here in Luton and i'm not sure how the new dynamic is going to be. I'm excited for the changes in leadership and the new leaders that are being brought up within cell. I'm just not sure of the new group dynamics and how things are going to play out with being able to feel like i can share thoughts and just group interaction in general. I'll let you know how things are going with that. Our first meeting as a new group takes place on wednesday i believe.
Hope you all have a great week. Blessings!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all. I trust that each of you have had a great Christmas season! I must apologise for my lack of communication over the last 2 weeks. The Uni IT suite was closed and the town library had irratic hours and the internet in my room is still not yet hooked up.
I had a great christmas despite the fact that i wasn't home for it. A lovely older couple in the church invited me into their home for the day and it was a great time. I went to my first wedding here in england on new years eve and it definately was not traditional, but it was beautiful and romantic and so completely God oriented...it was great!
I found out from home today that my cousin Trisha who is serving with YWAM was on the beach in Puhket, Thailand only 6 hours before the Tusnami hit there. I was a little stunned at first and the small personal connection to it made things hit home pretty closely. Praise God that they got to safety in time!
Sorry this is short, but time is running out for the day. I'll update more in the next few days. Blessings to you!