Answered prayer - Revival Group

On July 6th I wrote a Blog Post about what my week would look like and that included my Revival Group. This group is around 80 people and we meet once a week, the group is made up of all sorts of people and it is a place to be known and cared for.

My prayer requests were:

1. That God meets with us powerfully each week and we see the miraculous

2. That the group is a place of friendship and fun

3. That we strengthen, encourage and sharpen each other

4. That we are a group that is hungry for Gods presence and bold in stepping out in obedience

God has completely answered my prayers as it is the best Revival Group ever (obviously I'm biased). A chap called Iain runs the group along with 5 interns.  The first time we met together Iain introduced the team and explained their vision, which is to spur us on and help us to pursue Jesus and all that He has for us.  He talked about it being a privilege to partner with us and for them to watch as God transforms us.

The time with the group has been anything from lying quietly on the floor soaking in Gods presence, to a fire tunnel and the majority of the group wandering around 'drunk' with joy.

The main thing that I'm most thankful about is that I have a group of about 7 girl friends who are similar ages and together we have a lot of fun.  I'm so thankful that God has provided for me in a place where I am going to be regularly vulnerable.  Last night we went to one of 'the girls' homes and had fun cooking, eating and prophesying over each other.

The group dynamics are pretty cool, we are about 50% international and 50% American. There is a broad spectrum of ages with couples and lots of singles too.

Over the next couple of weeks the group will be divided in half and we will meet in smaller groups rather than the whole 80, and from that we will then be going even smaller into groups of 5 for accountability, I thoroughly love my group.

Whiskeytown Lake

Whiskeytown Lake is completely beautiful, it is about a 30 min drive out of Redding and well worth the trip.  Whiskeytown still exists but is at the bottom of the lake! I'm not completely sure why it is called Whiskey Town  - something to do with Whiskey barrels falling off a donkey and rolling into the lake - I do know it was part of the Gold Rush as was alot of this area. 

I've been there a couple of times now and will definately be going again. Both trips have taken me to Brandy Creek which has a large beach and BBQ facilities (there are signs about bears all over).  You can take a Kayak trip with a Ranger and in the summer you can do a night time one too.

On the last visit I swam in the lake the view was amazing, floating in the lake I was looking across at a huge expanse of water edged by hills with Osprey flying overhead



 

                     Brandy Creek

  

                                               My housemate Penny tanning her back

The grey squirrel and MY fircone

I went bear hunting the other day and found a GIANT fircone. The GIANT fircone part is very true but the bear hunting probably needs some explanation. The 10 min 'on the way home from Whiskey Lake' detour was lead and facilitated by 2 Bedford'ites who are 2nd and 3rd year students, as a 1st year I felt I should listen to them although I did have a few questions - mostly to do with safety if we did find a bear, who was surprised to see us.  It had been declared by the 3rd year that we would see a bear and the 2nd year wasn't going to miss up on the opportunity so we headed up Whiskey Creek where 2nd year had recently been told, by a Ranger on a Kayak trip, that you are more likely to see bears. We traveled up a side track and my concern didn't subside as 3rd year started talking about Mountain Lions and none of us were decided on what we should do if we did see a bear - I was pushing for a joint decision on our exit strategy but we weren't decided on either a) standing still and making lots of noise b) standing still, being quiet but making ourselves look as big as possible or c) running.  Apparently there are different factors to throw into the mix as you respond to different bears in a specific way - identifying bears is not one of my strong points at all. But all concern left when we arrived at our chosen destination and exited the car, stealth was clearly not part of the plan and the noise of flip-flops and general chatter could probably be heard for miles around. Needless to say we didn't see a bear BUT I didn't come home empty handed because I spied a GIANT fircone! (pictured below)
I'd been looking for one for a while but they are usually a bit smashed as they have fallen off a tree - this one was in good tac, suitably spiky and leaking pine sap.  I brought my prized possession home and sat it outside the front door, it sort of looks autumnal and I am decided to add to my collection throughout the year.
And now the Grey Squirrel saga starts:
* I return home to find said Fircone 3 meters from my door, why? - I replace it
* I wake up to find it not at my front door but in the bushes near by, huh? - I replace it
* I return from reading by the pool to find a large Grey Squirrel frantically tugging it into the bushes - he makes a get away but has left a good few teeth marks in it.
As I am the larger species and have apposable thumbs, I'm assuming (rightly) that I will win, but I just want to see how far he can take it, there is a small pipe outside the front door that I am considering tying it too and seeing how Grey Squirrel deals with that - I'll let you know.

                                      Its pretty much as big as my size 8 foot!

First week - abundance is the word

Wow, what a week. So much has happened, I've met loads of new people all with fascinating journeys to Bethel, have had lots of times in worship, really practical and down to earth teaching, moved into an apartment, met with my Revival Group, been to a church service, eaten loads of fruit and veg, discovered Wilco's (a MASSIVE supermarket with Ben and Jerry's ice cream for under $3s that £2!) and nearly read a whole book!

One of the main things that God has been teaching me this week is about His abundant love. Before I came to Bethel lots of people independently prayed for me and used the word ABUNDANCE: that I would know Gods abundance, that this would be a year of abundance, that He would give me abundantly more than I can ask or imagine.  The first few days in Redding where rather difficult, my housing situation didn't work out how I'd hoped it would and I found myself instantly needing to trust all the more in Gods provision. Every day brought answered prayer and then a new battle, Gods timing was perfect (of course it would be).
At the start of the week we needed to move out quickly and into a new home, by the end of the week I am living in an apartment that I literally couldn't have imagined - remember ABUNDANCE - so I have moved from a beautiful house with a swimming pool, my own room and walking distance to school.  I am now living in an apartment complex with my own room, walking distance to shops and school, close to friends, a pool, on site security and right next door to one of the most beautiful places in Redding - plus all of that for cheaper rent and utilities!!! ABUNDANCE.  I literally couldn't have thought, asked or imagined the home I now have - God has given me ABUNDANTLY more than I can ask or imagine.

I've arrived!!!

Hi everyone,
Now that I am safely here the purpose of this blog can come into play!
Thank you for your prayer about travel. Both flights were great, no delays and my vegetarian meal was delicious. I arrived at 10.30pm US time 6.30am UK time, having travelled for 15 hours and with only 3 hours sleep in nearly 24 hours - pretty pooped. My housemate Penny collected me, she is lovely a real blessing.
Redding is beautiful, Iwoke on the first day, looked out of my window onto a beautiful garden with hummig birds darting about and an eagle soaring overhead. Penny has helped me sort out a mobile phone, get some food shopping and today we are off to get a bank account.
All for now
x