Reflections on the month and.... what now???

It's taken us a week to formulate our thoughts on this last post and even now I (Annmarie) am not sure if I'll capture it properly!

I've really enjoyed the month. There have been so many opportunities to learn from others and a couple to teach others too.

My high point was definitely the Ladies Summer Meal. I enjoyed it so much. (I recorded the talk. Welsh people can go to Ed Swires-Hennessy for a copy, Irish people can come to me.) That type of stuff seems to be meat and drink to me and I felt really comfortable doing it.

Another thing that I learned is that Rich and I work together really well. The only time we work together in church is when we are doing music and I am usually complaining that he is playing too slow or too fast. But leading meetings together was wonderful. It might surprise you that a quiet gentle man and a loud bolshi woman actually feel quite strongly about the leadership/submission roles in our marriage. And it has been great to learn how to work together and a great joy that Rich is so encouraging that I do what I do best. I'm totally free to be the best that I can be and I'm excited to see what happens in me over the years.

I've also learned that I've a lot to learn. I've made a lot of mistakes this month. Some have been practical and just basic lack of preparation and timekeeping. At other times I've overestimated my confidence and then ended up 'on the back foot' in a situation.

But I think the main thing I have learned is that I don't know God or Jesus NEARLY enough to do this. Everything, EVERYTHING has to be about Him. I need to spend more time with him. And I'm not having one of my usual 'I need to do more quiet time' moments. This is about digging in to God and His word and being covered by Him at all times. And LIVING what I am learning.

Any of you who know me more that 20 minutes know the fickle emotional roller-coaster I live my life on! I need to suck it up, stand up, shut up and grow up. I'm smiling typing this rather than beating myself up cos I know God is going to help me do all these things on the journey.

Thanks for following friends. Our story will continue on www.ajourneyof2miles.wordpress.com

Rich here.......

Yes, it has been a great month. There have been so many encouragements. It has been really brilliant to be back in Malpas Road, involved in ministry there. We have had such a warm welcome and have appreciated all the fellowship that we have had.

It has been so encouraging to see the way that God has been at work in Malpas Road - the coffee morning has been a particular joy. It's great to see the way that the church is reaching out through that means, and that there are more people asking important questions and some coming to faith in Christ.

It has also been fantastic to see the way that God has been at work in the young people of the church. To see them so serious about spiritual things and to see many of them involved in ministries in the church has been brilliant.

So for me personally, it has been an immense privilege to have the opportunity to share God's Word in a number of settings. God has been so good in giving me what I have needed to do that. I have to say that to be in the pulpit of Malpas Road preaching was both a great joy and a tremendous responsibility. Once again, God was at work and spoke through his Word.

As to the future, as Annmarie has indicated, we are looking to God who we can trust for all things. We are praying that he will lead and guide us. The placement has in many ways confirmed in us that we have been called to serve him. We look to him for his leading.

Please read our new BLOG. We will try to update a couple of times every month, with some reflections on what God is doing in our lives. That will start soon. Just a reminder that the address is:

www.ajourneyof2miles.wordpress.com.

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Many thanks for reading this over the last few weeks and for your ongoing prayers.

Every blessing,

Rich and Annmarie

The Last Weekend of the Placement

It's hard to believe that the placement has gone so quickly - it officially finishes on Tuesday, so after this there will be just one more Blog comment, in which we will both offer some reflections on the month. However, after that it is our intention to continue with a new Blog together to comment on life as it happens to us. Watch this space.....

God has been good to us over the weekend in that he has given us the enabling that we have needed. On Saturday afternoon it was our privilege to be at the Senior Fellowship to enjoy a lovely tea, and to share with them. We took as our theme the blessings of God. Annmarie shared testimony as to how God has blessed our lives even in the times when it didn't look like it, when things weren't going well for us. I then spoke from the first chapter of 1 Peter about how God has blessed us, despite the fact that we have to go through trials. Altogether an encouraging afternoon, a few people came to us and said that they had been helped. God was so good!

Yesterday morning, I preached from Luke 24 v 13 - 35, which is the account of the journey on the road to Emmaus. The two disciples had an encounter with Jesus that changed their lives. He is still able to meet with people and transform them today. Again, God was very good, and spoke through his word.

That was followed by Adult S Club, in which we looked together at what it means to find Christ in all Scriptures, from verse 27 of Luke 24. It's something that is always necessary when looking at the Old Testament, and is not to be forced artificially from the text. So in groups we discussed some Old Testament passages, and made the connection from them to Christ.

We then enjoyed lunch together as a family with one of the ladies of the church.

S Club was the last formal thing of the placement, we have a couple of days of meetings with a few people, and time to reflect upon the month. God has been SO good!

What a week! And it's not over yet...

It's been a crazy busy week, so far, but as it is the last full week of the placement we've put our all into it.

On Monday we had a great time in MREC'S Luncheon Club and Friendship hour. This is a monthly meeting where people from inside and outside the church meet together for a scrumptious meal and then a guest speaker usually gives a short message.

Rich and I did a musical spot. Rich played a Beatles song that was quoted in a sermon he heard when he was converted. He then played some Mendelssohn music that has a few hymns set to it.

I sang a song I wrote called Rocky Road and then sang You Raise Me Up. Then we talked about the importance of music in our life, and Christian music in our faith. We really enjoyed it.

For the rest of the day Rich was preparing and that evening we went to an old friend of Rich for another lovely meal.

We have been fed within an inch of our lives :)

On Tuesday I met Libby who is working part time in the church for a year. We have met each Tuesday and I've loved it. Then it was off to a meeting with the Pastor and his wife. We talked about the highs and lows of ministry and how we define 'effective' ministry.

Then I went to a music practise for the wedding we're going to on 10 July. The Bride has asked me to play the violin at their wedding. SO EXCITED. Will be playing the Canon in D and some hymns with the music group. YEAY!

We had tea with our landlords and then went for evening coffee with Richard's mum and some of her friends; in the Celtic Manor... if you don't mind....

Wednesday was the usual trip to Coffee Morning, then Christianity Explored. I had two meetings in the afternoon. It was SO fantastic to share God's Word, talk about our fears, failures and encouragements. . Then we had tea with my mum in law. then off to prayer meeting. Rich led it and if I may say so.... he was great. Led by God and encouraging and inspiring to us all I think.

Yesterday was my big gig. It was the Ladies Summer Outreach Meal. In the morning we did some prep for a meeting we re speaking at on Sat. We took a packed lunch and went for a drive. We talked and prayed about my what I was going to say We spent a few hours in in a lovely park in the sun and I prayed and prayed that God would not let me go up there in my own confidence.

My talk was called 'Do You Have the X Factor.?' Basically I talked about how scary it would be to stand before Simon Cowell . When the day comes that we stand before the ultimate Judge we won't be able to rely on our own performance. It won't matter whether we have the X Factor of not. It will be whether we have the Cross Factor.

It's hard to know but I think it went well :)

And so to today.... It was our day off and it was great. We did lots of visiting friends and chatting, catching up etc. And then off to the Young People's meeting to talk to them about the 'eternal perspective'.

I don't have the energy to type any more. And you probably can't read much more either.

Can't believe it's nearly over. I'm so so tired. But it's a good tired :)

End of Week 3, beginning Week 4

Friday last was our day off. We went to Porthcawl for the day, leaving Peter on the seafront whle we visited friends, then meeting up for coffee and an ice cream. We had tea with Mum later. Apart from that, fairly uneventful.

Yesterday morning, I went up to New Inn to speak at their Men's Breakfast. We had a slight problem in that the cafe that we were to use was closed, and it wasn't possible to contact the owner. So we had a short drive up to Tesco for breakfast, and back to the church hall for the talk. It was essentially what I had said in Malpas Road the week before. It was great to be able to share it again with another appreciative group.

We spent the rest of the day in preparation for today, and had dinner with some more friends in the evening.

Today has been busy. It started off with a visit to Blaenypant house. I spoke to the ladies there on the Parable of the sower and how important it is to listen and respond to the message of Jesus.

Today's ministry in church has been very encouraging and challenging. Jonny Raine preached from the prophecy of Haggai both morning and evening. There was a real sense that God was speaking through his Word.

We were able to share in the S Club about the Christian scene in the Republic of Ireland. It was good to be reminded of the challenges and opportunities that there are.

This evening, we visited the young people's after church group. Annmarie sang, I read a Psalm and we answered some questions about the call of God on our lives. That group is such an encouragement, it is really great to see God at work in their lives.

So a fairly busy time, with more to come this week. Thank you again for your interest and prayers.

A Quieter Couple of Days

Monday was not as busy. (Phew says Annmarie!). During the day, the car was taken to a repair man, because of a small incident in which the front of the bonnet met with a gate! It will have to be repaired next week.

We did some preparation work, Annmarie met with a couple of ladies from the church.

In the evening, I gave a short Word at the Elders and Deacons Prayer meeting. Taking the first 5 verses of Philippians 1, we considered the partnership that there is in gospel work. Certainly it is true that Annmarie and I have felt that very clearly as we have been here for the month, it's so great to realise that the same God is doing his work in Wales as he is in Ireland.

On Tuesday, I spent the day preparing for a couple of meetings, Annmarie met with two more ladies from church, then we visited some friends in the evening, and had dinner with them.

Yesterday morning was the coffee morning, again, a great opportunity to engage in conversations with people over coffee and cakes. (Annmarie says: After last week's event, I played it safe and didn't get into any complicated conversations!). That was followed by Christianity Explored - the subject being that of "what is a Christian?". Together we discussed where we stand before God, and what it costs to be a Christian.

At the church prayer meeting in the evening, it was encouraging to hear of the work of London City Mission from two of their representatives.

Please continue to pray - we have a few events coming up over the next few days; we are visiting the young people's work tomorrow evening, On Saturday morning I am speaking at a men's breakfast at a church in New Inn (which is about 7 miles from Newport).

Sunday will also be busy - I am speaking at Blaenypant residential home in the morning, both of us are sharing something of the work of God in Ireland at an adult class after the morning service. We are also sharing at an after church youth meeting in the evening.

It is really great to be involved in ministry in this way, and we trust that God will continue to teach us through it. Thanks for your prayers.

R (&A)

Half way there...

Today marks the half way point of the placement. It has been great! There have been some very busy days and a couple of sleepless nights. I (Annmarie) have kicked myself a couple of times annoyed at silly mistakes I have made. But I've also had to pinch myself... how blessed I am to have a fab husband. Our brill sister and brother in law and the provision of their house. And such a great church to do a placement in. Full of supportive friends and family. God has been so good to us :)

So let's catch up.

Richard here... Friday was our day off :) And it was a leisurely one too.
As part of the day we went for a drive up to Rudry. Where my Dad's family was from. The scenery up there is beautiful. We sat at the bottom of Rudry Mountain with our picnic enjoying the view.

On our way we went to The (excellent) Rock café in Bedwas (Also known as its welsh name Y Craig). We had a cup of coffee and a Welsh cake :)

In the evening we celebrated my brother in law's birthday with a very nice chinese. Great day!

Saturday morning saw MREC's monthly Men's Breakfast, at which I was speaking. There was a good number there for an excellent breakfast (as always). With the World Cup having just started I spoke to them about Priorities and where real treasure is. The message was not saying that being interested in football is wrong. it's just it should not be our ultimate priority.
Annmarie returned to her former role in dishwasher operations.

Saturday night, great fellowship at a bbq with some family and friends.

Yesterday (Sunday) was a great day for me.
In the morning we had a very inspiring message on the Resurrection of Jesus. God was clearly with Meirion as he brought the Word.

After nice lunch with one of the lovely ladies from the church it was home for some final preparation for Sunday evening's sermon.

God was really with me in that too! I was able to preach on Belshazzar from Daniel chp 5. And the way that he did not humble himself before God. The challenge to everybody was, Have you humbled yourself before God?'

As Annmarie has said above. It is so great so have the support of the church here at MREC. And after I had preached I was really encouraged by the response of many of our friends and family. As I am well known in the church. I know that people will be supportive and that is great.
But last night I was confident that God was at work through me and it blessed me to know that others saw it too.





SO... it's Monday morning, we're half way there and there is plenty more where that came from :) Thank you for your emails and msg's and comments etc. It's great to know that we're not typing into an abyss :)

We'll be back soon, A and R

Learning from mistakes...?

We're really enjoying our ministry placement!

But it hasn't all been 'beer and skittles' as our dear Uncle Ray used to say :)

Rich mentioned on Monday that I hadn't been well. It was so weird!

I felt sick to my stomach and freezing cold. I thought I was coming down with something 'orrible. So I went to bed and slept solidly for 12 hours.

Tuesday was a fairly relaxed day, just missed one meeting -- Tots & Co. and I really felt the benefit of the rest.

Nott sure if I was pushing myself too hard (which would be a first, cos I'm such a slacker) or if "ministry" is actually a lot tougher on the body than I thought.

Yesterday (Wednesday) didn't go quite as planned either... At the Coffee Morning... the weekly open to all, free coffee'n'cake event at the church, I ended up in a conversation that I didn't really want to be in and didn't know how to get out of. I was really discouraged at how I handled it and it affected me and upset me for the rest of the day.

Later I went to the weekly prayer meeting in the church and the Pastor spoke a message that was straight from God to encourage and reassure me. I was so relieved as this morning I was leading the Women's Bible study and my confidence had been knocked by my weakness on Tuesday and my naivety on Wednesday.

But it's all a learning curve I suppose.

Next Wednesday I'll be more prepared; and hopefully I won't let the enemy rob me of so much after my next mistake.

The next mistake I can guarantee is just around the corner, my reaction...? I'll let you know :)

Thanks again for all the prayers and messages.

Special thanks to those who've been praying for me in my prep for the study this morning. Considering the week I had! it went well and I got some good feedback from some of the ladies.

Please pray for Rich as he speaks at the Men's Breakfast on Sat morning and preaches in Malpas Road FOR THE FIRST TIME on Sunday evening .

A x