Hiya! Happy May everyone. I'm afraid I wrote this blog post in April and didn't realize I hadn't published it. So sorry! So it is in the context of the 24th of April....

I write this blog particularly excited because the next round of YAGM 2015-2016 volunteers have just been chosen this past weekend. I am just so happy for the amazing journeys these 79 volunteers are about to embark on in a short few months! I find myself being so stoked for them, as I was myself, on the weekend of my DIP. I have seen pictures and have read a few blogs from the volunteers who have just been chosen and have seen their thoughts and feelings about what they are about to get themselves into. It has just been a blessing to hear and see just how many people are willing to give a year of their life to God and whatever he has in store for them. It's so comforting when I hear their words, that there are so many people out there that think and feel like I do. It gives me hope and makes me realize I am forever a part of an amazing community that is ever growing with people who have been changed and are making changes in our world for God. It is definitely an instant love relationship with anyone who says they've been, are, or will be a YAGM. I already love the new 79 YAGM and I haven't even met them yet!

Hearing all these stories has helped me pause and do some reflecting of my own YAGM year and what it has meant for me. It is amazing to me how there are certain aspects of my faith that are so obvious to me now but weren't eight months ago. I know things about myself today, that I was clueless about at the start of this year. As I reflect, I still find it hard sometimes to put my feelings into words, as others seem to be able to do so naturally and wonderfully. But one thing I have found very helpful this year, something that has helped me connect to my feelings and really reveal to me just how powerful this year has been for me, is music. Throughout my YAGM year there have been certain songs that have guided me, awoken me, and have just provided the perfect words for the emotions I have been feeling this year. I realized instead of keeping them to myself, sharing them with you would be a good way to convey better the impact this year has had on me. Below is a list of songs that mean something to me and my YAGM year and what I have learned throughout. Please enjoy them. I hope you will find a connection with them as I have in my faith development.  

Mumford & Sons-Below My Feet

Carrie Underwood-Changed

Matt Redman-10,000 Reasons/Bless the Lord oh my Soul

Hillsong-Amazing Grace

Christina Perry-I Believe

Happy belated Easter! I hope it was a time of good fellowship and remembrance. Things have been pretty busy for me since returning for Israel, which already seems years ago. I still recall bits of my trip every time I hear the gospels. It truly has left a lasting impression on my life. I also find myself feeling a twinge to go back and do my part in the future. My host Dad says he believes without a doubt I will be back someday. I hope he is right. 

Anyway, since returning home I went back to work then was off again to my second week at Cliff College with my fellow YAGM (pictures below). After that, we got started on our Easter holiday club with the theme of Narnia. It was a really fun week. We did three days from 10 to 12pm and the kids loved it. We talked about how Aslan was like Jesus in the way he sacrificed himself for Edmond. There were crafts, games, stories, dancing, bible verses and video clips from the movie complete with a guest appearance from the Professor! I was even chosen to be made into a lion....complete with shaving cream. 

Easter was a growing time for me also. Apart from being my first Easter after visiting the Holy Land, one of the highlights for me during the week was attending my first Passover meal on Maunday Thursday. For the meal, we went through a traditional Jewish Passover and learned more about what the last supper would have actually been like and the significance of this in Jesus' ministry. I really enjoyed it and would be interested in trying to do it again next year. On Good Friday I attended a service in the afternoon rather than the evening and a second reflective service the same afternoon on shadows of the cross in the old testament. Easter Sunday I got up bright and early to attend a small sunrise service on the local green then a 10:30 family service later. I was also able to skype with family and enjoy the sunny day along with a little bit of chocolate :). 

If all this wasn't enough, two days later I welcomed my Dad and step mom Karen here to the UK for ten days of sightseeing and much needed quality time. For now, things will be winding down for a bit as I finish my last course assignment for Cliff College towards the end of April and a regular work routine until the end of May for half term. I hope all of you are doing well and looking forward to the upcoming summer holiday. I know for me, these next few months will go by fast. I've had so many blessings the last eight months and know I still have many more to come in the final four. God Bless and Happy Spring!!!!

Climbing up the hills at Cliff College with my YAGM

a beautiful setting for some time in nature

Sitting in class learning about Mission

The egg toss team up in the hills on hiking day

Getting the decorations ready for Holiday Club

Decorating the Sanctuary with "snow" and trees

Narnia lamp post. Brilliant work by Carol Burt

Transforming the church into a Narnian winter

Snowflakes

Also preparing for Spring. Afterall, when Aslan comes to Narnia everything becomes new

Tada!! Narnia

The center area where the kids wait to go through the wardrobe 

The Wardrobe!

Walking through the coats to Narnia

Spring has come to Narnia

and a little cameo from the Easter bunny...(made my mwa)

Our lion themed craft one day

Torben and I after being made into "lions." The kids really enjoyed throwing cheese curls at our faces lol

The Maunday Thursday Passover meal

getting ready to have some traditional lamb with the "father" of the house/table cutting the meat. Friends Torben and David

the "mother" of the house/table was offered a head cover. Friends Paula and Natalie 

visiting Paris for a few days with Dad and Karen

So excited to have visitors!

Hi all. As promised, here are some highlight pics from Israel....

Our view of the old city from the Hotel on the first night

Selfie in front of the Temple Mount (had to cover my head)

The Western/Wailing Wall

Praying at the Western Wall

The first station of the cross

Crown of thorns on the ceiling 

View of Jerusalem

In the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Sep-la-kr) where Jesus died and was buried

Having dinner my first night with the Jerusalem/West Bank YAGM!!

Dance party in the hotel one night

Overlooking Jerusalem from the Church of Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over the city

In the Garden of Gethsemane 

Many languages, one message

Possibly the tomb of King David

Visiting the Israel museum and seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls (a bucket list item)

Also getting to see the giant model of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus

Walking in the market

The potential birth site of Jesus in Bethlehem

The Church at the Shepherds Fields in Bethlehem

Beautiful paintings of the shepherds story

Visiting one of several peace organizations in the Holy Land educating people on the will of God and to love one another

Baptism in the Jordan River

Video of me renewing my baptismal vows

Extremely cold, but I did it!

I got to ride a camel! (another big bucket list item)

experiencing the conflict

checkpoint in and out of Bethlehem

Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem at night

The Bahai Gardens in Haifa

Communion at the Sea of Galilee 

The Church on the Mount Beatitudes where Jesus taught the sermon on the mount and the Lords Prayer

Me on a boat on the Sea of Galilee

Our group photo on Mount Precipice