Boxes - Nearly Time to move

It has been interesting over the last while to be slowly packing my room up here in college into cardboard boxes ready for the move from Dublin and Banbridge to East Belfast. The big move comes next week as the van comes to pick all the stuff up and deliver it to the curatage.

In week 2 of college (2006) I wrote on the blog
I am writing this in the second week of college.

"Over the last week and a bit a group of individuals left home and came down to a strange place in the heart of Dublin. This blog hopefully chart my way through the rigours, ups and down of college life as well as simply trying to reflect on what is happening down here

Now that we've got wireless Internet in the study rooms in college, updates might be more regular than previous experience has shown!

Okey Dokey - so last week...
It all started on Saturday with the packing of the car - squashing mum into the back seat and bringing all the essentials and much more besides and navigating our way through the dublin streets eventually arriving at our destination of CITC in Braemor Park.

After unpacking and generally moving in- it was up for lunch and the icebreakers which caused a bit of amusement for all, a chat with the other students.

Mum and dad stayed overnight as in the morning we were off for Sunday worship in RTE Studios with CMSI where I was reading various parts of the service and Simon was being interviewed.

Monday saw the whole class sitting down around a table for the first few sessions, running around trying to open banks without much success to be honest and an "interesting" table quiz which our team won - i think!

Tuesday Alan came down to lead sessions entitled "Spirituality for ministry" which was extremely thought provoking which included - Struggle with call, spirituality, ministry and mission - all of which I really need to sit down and look again at the handouts.

Wedensday was another quite amazing day when I think most of us would say we were challenged by actually taking time out just to be with God and to think about our own thoughts and how we could keep close to God - again a lot of stuff to take in!

Thursday looked at various ways ministry was played out in real life - the challenges and reality in parishes looking particularly at a team ministry situation

The first week proved to be very challenging, it definitely had its ups and downs! but it was a time when we saw prayers answered soooo quickly and effectively. For me it has really confirmed the call and the idea that I am where I feel called to!"

Now in one weeks time I am going to be unpacking boxes again - ready for a new challenge, a new set of people, a new area but what is constant is God and his love, his call, his faithfulness and generally everything the Bible says about him.

Please do continue to pray for all of us in CITI at the moment 2 more exams to go Wed and Thurs, farewell HC on Thursday night, BBQ and then a breakfast on Friday morn and then it is tearful goodbyes but it is great that we all know that we are going to where God has called us to be - so it is fantastic that as a year group we are going the length and breadth of Ireland with the Gospel - the good news of Christ - It is such an amazing privilege - what could be better?


(photo courtesy of Karen & May)