Greetings from the Wilds of Wales (...aka Cardiff!)

(written Wednesday 14th September 2011)

Hello all!

This is my first post from sunny(?!) Cardiff!

No, Clive, I have not yet been to the Millenium Stadium to watch the rugby. The Welsh team just happen to be in New Zealand at the moment for a little tournament you may have heard of...

Day three, here in Cardiff, and I've been quite busy this week already! We've been through the compulsory team building games and get-to-know-you on Monday, and gotten soaked yesterday morning hunting around Cardiff city centre for the most random things in the world (the most hideous pair of shoes you could find and model, the world's smallest lovespoon, our favourite thing in the Lego shop... on and on the list went!) But its been brilliant so far - lush, to use a phrase common here in Wales! I'd like to think that our scavenger hunt in the city means I know Cardiff better than I did before, but I'm not all that sure...! My sense of direction is not wonderful, but I haven't gotten lost just yet!

Of course, pride comes before a fall...


We, the interns (there's eight of us in total), had the wonderful privilege of meeting some absolute legends yesterday afternoon. On Tuesdays, there is a service held for the over fifties, by the over fifties - though most of them are over 80! They all wanted to meet us, as they do with the new interns every year, and they were all lovely. They share lunch together beforehand, and then Windsor (he's 83) leads them in worship and teaches for a short while. They are all still so active and close to God - it was incredible to be able to share that time with them, and to know that they are actively praying for us and behind us in everything that we do.

Afterwards, they had tea and biscuits, and we got to chat with some of them for a while. I met a lovely lady called Alice, who is still going strong at the age of 97 ("My secret is I don't drink and I don't smoke."), and two cracking ladies called Eileen and Iris who are hilariously funny - they remind me of how my Grandad was with some of the ladies at his church; they were wonderfully cheeky!

Today, we've taken care of some of the necessary admin tasks, and I had the privilege to meet some of the people we will be working with at one of the partner churches. In that church, I will be helping out with some of their clubs (N:Gage and N:Counta) aimed at their local school kids - it sounds absolutely crazy and insanely good fun. I can't wait to start next week!

Tomorrow marks the first training day... does that sound ominous to you? Cue ominous-sounding music.


Just chilling this evening - Rhi and Jo are cooking bangers and mash for dinner - and possibly playing Bananagrams...

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

(Psalm 23:5-6)

I'm seeing my Father's goodness and love in my life right now. I am blessed to be here at Going Public with the other interns, and I am honoured to be learning alongside and from the people here.

Cheesy as it sounds... God bless.

Debs
xxx

goingpublic.org.uk