concert crazy

I know, I really need a blog update. No time.

This summer has been incredible, fun fun fun times. This week has been hectic.. gLo Lurgan. And this next week will be amazing. Bring on Damien Rice, KT Tunstall, Foy Vance and Snow Patrol. Not to forget Flash Harry too. I think I've gone gig mad. What would we actually do without music?


I'll blog properly very soon.

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Life is just too busy at the moment and in the words of my mum, you're heading for a knock-down (or something like that).

With the Junior High week, Holiday in Tenerife and our very last intern retreat all out of the way it can only mean one thing. It's time for Summer Madness. 9 nights camping in a tent, the excitement overwhelms me. Being serious I am actually excited about it and being on the Media Team but having had no time at all to prepare or even think about it it's probably the last thing I want to do in the height of all that's happening.

Tenerife was amazing. Actually too good. It was just brilliant to chill, have no worries and hang out with my girls for a full week. We met some amazing people which leads to our road trip of England in August...

Our last Intern Retreat was brilliant too. I don't think it's hit me that it's all over. What a year. We had an emotional farewell with the international interns last night but it's not good bye for long. This can only mean one thing now, my contract is over.

Work is busy, busy, busy at the moment too. We're all running around trying to sort out this new music show we're doing to take over the Ujamz which has just ended after 6 years. This particular show will be broadcast in about 36 different countries and presented by yours truly :)

Life is very exciting at the minute, too busy, but, I'd be complaining otherwise if it wasn't. Wish me luck for Summer Madness, I'll need it.

Tirana review

Got back from Albania late on tuesday night. What a trip.

We arrived just before tea time on Friday evening and without any sleep we got stuck straight into evangelising. Our group separated and us 4 interns went to the university slumbs while the others went onto the streets. It was incredible. There are 12 buildings of flats at the uni with 10 of those taken over by the poor and 2 buildings used for students. The conditions they live in are awful. Maybe 5-7 people per room and a whole flat sharing one toilet and one shower. I was extremely blessed as to how they just welcomed us into their home to have a wee chat. We shared our stories and prayed with them. You have to see the conditions to believe it, it's horrible.

On Saturday we ventured to the beach. It was fun!! Got quite burnt! Valerie, Laura, Drew and I hired a wee pedal boat and floated out to sea. It was a nice relaxing day. That evening we had a ladies meeting in the house. Gerry spoke which was great.

Sunday we went to the museum to learn the history of Albania. It's quite the story. I had no idea about the stuff that went on and how up until 10 years ago they were locked in the country. After that we went to the church for the service at 3am. It was really good. Laura, Drew and I performed a wee song but it was hard to compete with the singers there, they are amazing.


Monday was probably the day that impacted me the most. We went to visit some homes and go to the Gypsy camp. One of the houses we went to was two rooms. One a kitchen which had no windows or lights so you couldn't see anything and the other a room you sleep in, this room slept 6 people, 4 cows and a few hens. We couldn't believe that people actually live in these conditions. We gave them food and clothes, most of which were from hope. I don't think you realise the benefit of giving to charity shops until you actually are there seeing the clothes being passed out. We went to the camp after that and watched them fight over the numerous boxes of clothes being passed out. A life like that isn't imaginable.

We don't know how lucky we are.

The team were fantastic. We had a great team spirit the whole time and all got on really well, we laughed, cried and served God together so we definately bonded. Akil, Lindita and church family were amazing hosts and really made us feel welcome. Gerry and Al were great. Not only did Valerie keep us all laughing but she kept us up alnight talking, i love her, and Libby and Paul were a comedy show themselves. I loved, loved, loved getting to know them and definately won't forget this trip. It was a priviledge to be a part of it.

Please pray for Albania and the church in Tirana.

Albania

It's just a few hours before we depart for our 5 day trip to Albania.. I'm excited!

The team on this trip is headed up by Daddy Al and Gerry. Us 4 interns, Valerie G and Paul and Libby B are the lucky 7 they're leading. We met Alain earlier and he give us a brief agenda and it sounds very good.

It's exciting that we're part of a team going out to build a stronger link with the church that we support out there. We've heard so much about it so it'll be class to see it for real...

Anyway, if you pray then pray that God will protect us, give us wisdom and give us energy to give the people and church out there our all.

..Blog soon :)

Question

Here's a thought provoking question...

Do you believe in Jesus because you believe in the Bible? OR Do you believe in the Bible because you believe in Jesus???



. . .

BBC Blast

Lights, Camera, Action!!



Ah, I had the best week ever last week, jobs wise! I've no time now but I will edit this post soon and tell you all about it!

...Basically 14 of us got picked out of 350 to become TV Presenters and o yes, I was one of them!!! I actually cried when the lady called me a few weeks ago to let me know. I spent all day Saturday in the BBC doing screen tests, reading autocue for the news and doing a Blue Peter/Art Attack creative thing in front of the cameras. It was amazing! We will hear the outcome of the day very soon! I am so excited.

The future is bright...

Friends, Bar-B-Q's and Texas Hold'em Poker

I had a most enjoyable evening last night at Mr Greys house... so much so that I'm writing a quick blog about it to boast about beating the two champions that are Dave and Ash at Poker. Crow did come first, Joy second with the beginners luck and I; third but a few flukey bluffs.

Don't you just love the hot summers evenings when you can sit outside with old friends, eat and have some fellowship together. This summer's going to be good!

19 years old

I remember last year being absolutely freaked out at the thought of turning 18 years old and becoming an adult so I was surprised when I woke up this morning turning 19 feeling as if I was ready to turn 21 or 22. This year has most definately been a maturing one.

Lindsay died on Sunday morning and so the funerals today. I am absolutely gutted for Alain and the family. We have lost someone so so beautiful and no words can express this situation.

Please keep the family in your prayers and lets hope this last year of teenage life is as good as the past ones...

Pray for Lins

Check out Alain's blog on the left hand side...

Blessed is she who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver her in time of trouble.
The Lord will preserve her and keep her alive. And she will be blessed on the earth; He will not deliver her to the will of her enemies.
The Lord will strengthen her on her bed of illness; She will sustain her on her sickbed. Psalm 41:1-3

Bassano Del Grappa

This has most definately been the busiest 5 days ever since getting back on thursday so I'm only getting round to writing up about my time in Italy now.

...It was incredible!! The place where we were, Bassano del Grappa, is one hour from Venice and right at the foot of the Italian Alps. Such beauty.

The couple we stayed with, Iain and Moni were amazing and not only did they welcome us into their home but they treated us as family. So much so that Moni was like another Mum and Iain was another Dad for Joey. They loved us.

The Church was great. It's really big and has the potential to hold alot more people than the average 40 who go to it. It's situated above two supermarkets, a bar, a beauty salon and right next to a strip club.

We spent time handing out flyers for the church service and easter eggs in the town centre on saturday. Had a worship event that evening and on the Sunday we took the church service. It was great. The language was a slight barrier but we soon picked up the basics and learned to speak slowly for those who hadn't much experience with English. We also had the priviledge of going out to dinner with the english learning students from the church, these guys aren't christians so it was cool to tell them about taking this year out to work for the Church. They were really interested in it.

We had a lot of time to do some sight seeing stuff, we went to the beautiful Lake Garda, went up to the top of the mini Alps (I forget the name of them). That was incredible, it was 26 degrees at the bottom and an hours journeys to the top there was 4 foot of snow. And on our last day we went into Venice. (The photo is St. Marks Square)

The trip was definately unforgetable. We laughed so much and God definately blessed us while we were out there. I just hope we got to bless others.