Cross Project Week One 

It is a week after my last update whilst being at Cross and it is going really well! It has been a fantastic experience to be part of a team and to interact with so many different people. Spending time in many different high schools around Wakefield has been an eye opener to the interaction between Christian schools workers and students and teachers. It is really good to see such passionate Christians persevering for the kingdom of God in high schools. I have spent time with different members of the team doing mentoring, Easter lessons, lunch clubs, assemblies, and preparation in the office. 

So far I have learnt so much from those around me and from God. I have seen the importance of accessibility in the way we share Christ. (Not letting jargon interfere.) I have been extremely challenged to take steps of faith in many aspects of my life and to trust that God has an over-arching plan that involves us all in different ways. It really helped to think that no matter what I do it isn't about me and that I don't have to worry about decisions or problems because my life is not my own but His. To see the faith lives of others has been really inspiring and motivated me in my own journey with God. 

I will post lots more at the end of my time here but wanted to ask for your prayers as I continue to learn from God. 

The link below is The Cross Project prayer newsletter if you would like to see a bit more of what they do and the most recent news from them. 

https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/?ui=2&ik=f883cbc6fc&view=att&th=13d7ca36aac50882&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_he9y7lej0&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P9DsYdMoOZEFPnvnHRsvjfl&sadet=1363603497881&sads=6i2Fs9RpGmdCX3MPE3XXTgHnkvU

Kirsty x

The Cross Project

I am currently on work experience with The Cross Project and am spending two weeks in Wakefield, Yorkshire doing Christian schools work. Today is my first day and it is going really well so far! The team that I am working with are fantastic and my first lesson with them today was a sex education lesson on STI's and contraception. The year nine children were really mature about receiving the advice and were happy to take part in the activities planned.
Throughout the next two weeks I will be getting the opportunity to learn what it is like to interact with secondary school children from a Christian angle and how they respond to what we will be teaching them. I am so excited to see what God is going to teach me and I'm praying that I will be open to receive all that I can from Him. I would really appreciate your prayers as I've never been away from all of my family for this long and I think it will be a shock not to have them around all the time. I will keep you all updated through the next two weeks as to what I am doing and what I am learning. Thanks again for your support!

If you want to know more about what The Cross Project do then visit the link below:
http://crossproject.co.uk//

Kirsty x

Last FRESH Weekend

On the 15th-17th of February this year I had the last weekend of my FRESH journey. It was a fantastic finish to a life-changing journey that will continue to teach me things in the years to come. We had so many amazing talks and a lot of fun was had by all. It was really hard to say goodbye to everyone who I had got to know over the 6 months, but it is great to know that the leaders especially, will still be praying for us and supporting us. I would say to anyone who wants to move on in their walk with God and learn what it truly means to influence and lead in society in a Godly way to go and be a part of the course. You can apply via their website: http://sharejesusinternational.com/projects/fresh/

It was AMAZING! I'm so glad I went. Thank you to all who prayed for the success of weekend three. The prayers were most definitely answered.

Kirsty x

Beautiful Edinburgh

I know this is a bit overdue but just so you know, I had a fantastic time in Scotland with my big brother! We had some great chats and did LOADS of walking. I saw some beautiful areas and it was great to see what an amazing place Edinburgh is. I valued the one-on-one time with Harry so much, and it was great to meet his close friends as well! I would recommend to anyone to go and visit the beautiful city and see as many sights as you can.
One highlight of the weekend was being given two free boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts in the street (24 donuts in total!) and eating our way through them with Harry's flat-mates. Of course, the food would be what I remember........
A big thank you to my fantastic big brother as he made that weekend so much fun!

Kirsty x

To Bonnie Scotland!

Harry, my big brother lives in Edinburgh and for the first time EVER I am going to Scotland and will be visiting him! I am really excited to see the sights of the city and to spend some time with him.  This will be the longest I've travelled on my own before so prayers appreciated (not that trains bite or anything). Over this year there is going to be a lot of travel on my own and it provides time to think aimlessly about all sorts while trekking all over the place. If there are any requests from you for prayer then let me know as I will be trying to spend time praying for specific things while I am on the train and coaches etc.  

So excited for Scotland! 

Kirsty x

FRESH Leadership Course

 Since October 2012 I have been a part of FRESH North. FRESH is a leadership training course consisting of three weekends full of fantastic teaching, worship, mentoring sessions, and, of course, amazing people! It is run by Share Jesus International (SJI) and I got involved when Andy Frost came to speak at my Church. I spoke to him about my plans for this year and he suggested I get involved in FRESH by contacting Cath Lyden. I'm so glad he did! Ever since I started I have been blessed and challenged beyond measure. Each one of the FRESH leaders is so passionate about seeing young people enter into the calling God has given them and they have really helped me to see more clearly the importance of influencing others for the kingdom of God. I have attended two of the three weekends and the next one takes place at Cliff College on the 15th-17th of February. Please pray for me and all who are going to be a part of this third and final weekend, that God will speak strongly into all that we do there. 

If you want to know more about FRESH, Share Jesus International, or Andy Frost then visit these links.  

http://sharejesusinternational.com  

http://sharejesusinternational.com/projects/fresh/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fresh-Leadership/150959281640545?fref=ts

Kirsty x

The Big Picture

So, I'm sure some of you are wondering what it is that will be happening to me in the next year that deserves updates etc.

Well, I decided last year that once I had finished my home education I wasn't going to jump straight into mainstream A levels but to wait until the next September and have a gap in between to see what God wanted me to do. As time has gone on so many opportunities have come up that will enable me to do some great stuff. 

 Quite a lot of my time will be taken up visiting different people around the country who are involved in a form of Christian ministry that I could shadow and learn from. ( To shadow someone is basically to follow them around, see what they do, learn why, and how they go about living their life for God.....well that's what it means for me) 

 I am so excited to learn from more mature and experienced Christians! In Proverbs it talks about the desire of the older to give their knowledge to the younger and how the younger are often less enthusiastic to receive that wisdom and understanding from the older. I don't want to be like that. I want to learn from the experiences of others as well as my own. 

 I am also hoping to go to Latin America (or wherever God deems fit to send me) on mission work. I have felt a strong call on my life for a long time to live out mission everyday; but not just where I live. So, that means I will be trying desperately to put my trust in God to decide where to send me and then to give me the money to go..easier said than done.

If any of you great people know of other people or organizations( even yourselves if you feel that would be helpful) that you think I would benefit working with for a time please do let me know as I want to make the most of the next months by spending time with as many different people as possible! 

So this year is going to be interesting...and I am SO excited to find out what God has got planned for me! 

Kirsty x