What to say of London?

The difficult thing in writing about London is everyone has their own story to tell.

Most people can say, ‘I didn’t find that about London’, or ‘London is the best place ever” or ‘maybe they didn’t live in the right area’, or ‘my mothers, brothers, convict friend who made tea for the Queen loved it in London’.

Every person has a different story to tell. This is my story, written here on my blog. So, my preface to the beginning of my blogging about my adventures here in London, is to ask that you keep an open mind as you follow me through my times here. I’ve never been here, so it might be a bit up and down at times, but that’s the adventure!

1 - The number one thing
I think the number one thing that has surfaced for me here in London, has been my relationship with God. Everyone says it - travel stretches you. It exposes your need for him, and reminds you that he truly is your everything. Its like Psalm 23, its in the valley times that you become very aware that he is ‘with you’. It can be dark around you, you feel lost and your not sure what’s coming next, but you feel and know in a deeper way than ever … God, is right here next to me. He is ‘comforting me’.

Being away for the past 3.5 weeks, has brought all of these things up for me. But I have been very aware that he is good, faithful and sovereign. I have so much to be thankful for and so much hope for life here and now. So being a new year, my focus for 07 is to remind myself that “great is thy faithfulness’ (oldie but a goodie!). The song itself is so true for us as his kids.

I have been really blessed by a resource that my very interesting and clever brother in law matthew introduced to me. They are like 15 min reflective teachings that I have found very very encouraging, challenging and life brining! I love that the truth, like the real truth of Christ (not religious teachings or rules) is so inspiring and life bringing that you can actually feel freedom, peace and joy when you partake of it! If you are interested in checking some of these out please go to www.nooma.com. The teaching called "dust" is very good!

2 - My house & area
So my house, is a two bedroom 2 bathroom flat in a block of 4 in Roehampton. The other 2 are occupied by dish, leonie, al, bron, rory & dave and the third is free at the mo. It is newly renovated, so its all new which is nice. But it was done a little on the cheap (it’s the thing to get Ukraine people in, pay them a pittence and get them to build houses, but maybe not the best idea since skills and standards differ). Anyhoo it will do for now. Me and Susannah are currently tyring to set up house a bit, though going very basic. We have nice big windows that look over the street and a red couch!

Right at our door step is a 24hr bus that takes us to Putney tube station, there are 24 hour shops 100 metres from our house, library, internet café etc and then in Putney everything else we need is there.

I have found it difficult to do any walking or physical activity here, as everything is right near! In Japan, we did lots of walking and riding around, but here everything is right at the door! (good and bad!). I will be looking at the rec centre for some physical guidance soon and I’d like to get a bike to maybe ride to the station instead of getting the bus. It really really really is true that there is a Heathrow injection! I feel like I have put on weight already (not joking!) and its only been a week (I am scared matt!).

3 - The first 7 days
Has consisted of getting my head around the neighbourhood and getting used to this place. It really was a shock from Japan. Here, my experience of people so far is that they are rude and aggressive. The trick seems to be to keep ones head down and not make eye contact. Not really my cup of tea. Things are a lot more disorganised than home or Japan, and it is definitely dirtier. People don’t seem to have the same respect for their country, public services etc. However, I did go out into Shepperton and things were different there, so I suppose it is like any city verses suburb culture. My first experience of the tube, left a lot to be desired after the wonderful, clean, kind and fast services in Japan. It was dingy, old, dirty and the lights flickered on and off like an eerire horror movie. It broke down 3 times during the very slow journey and the announcer said they would let us know what the problem was, and never did. I did get to my destination though, so that’s something I suppose. Weather, hasn’t been as cold as Japan, but it rains, not much though yet. Since being here I have been able to get my bank account open, get an NI meeting organised, applied for a job, attended church and sleep in!

4 - My job hunting
I have been a bit up in the air about what I actually want to do here. Originally I wanted to do youth work, but I have been kinda scared off this in terms of 1:1 casework. So God will have to speak to me quite clearly if this is exactly what he wants me to do. I am also having thoughts again about coming back and studying more in Australia. But something you can pray for me about, is a job with Tearfund that have applied for. I think I would really like it, and it brings together my love for youth, justice, and my skills in administration and networking. Also it is a Christian agency and coming from Fusion I would really love that! So, God willing I will get a job pretty soon and can get working! I think then I will see a different side of London, meet some people etc!

I will be applying at a temp agency this week to, in order to do something on the side if this doesn’t come through.

5 - My friends and community
It’s a pretty big blessing to arrived at this new place and to have people around me that can be of help and support. Bron and Rory invited me to Shepperton Community Church on Sunday and that was really lovely. Totally like Forrestfield a few years ago, it felt like home and that was so nice. They have some good friends there who were very welcoming and we had a lunch together after church. I hope to attend the cell group with Dave on Thursday. Those in the other flats have been very helpful to me and sus, offering us things that we don’t yet have and inviting us over for dinner. The band guys have a van too, and kindly took us to Ikea for an arvo so we could get the stuff we needed. So much to be thankful for in regards to genuine people, with listen, offer support and give us a helping hand.

Thanks for prayers for my family; dad is home now but still got a long road of recovery. He will continue to need your prayers and love.

Please keep me updated in your worlds.

Miss you all lots

Melissa x