The text below is taken directly from my journal, and is a record of my thoughts and feelings at the time I wrote them down. My apologies for the lack of pictures here, I wrote this on the plane and so have none that fit! There will definitely be a lot more pictures from now on though.
Initial Thoughts
During my 3rd year at university I went through a lot of soul searching, not sure where God was leading me in my life. I attended the Salvation Army's 'Design for Life' weekend to step back, and look at the skills, talents and passions that God had blessed me with. As a result of this weekend, held in June 2010, I was prompted to apply for a JOURNEY place for the following summer, to step out of the world I knew and into the unknown. This is what I am now doing (I was on the plane when I wrote this), and this journal will be a record of the activities that our JOURNEY team will undertake, together with my thoughts and what God is speaking to me through my time in Sri Lanka.
As I set out on this trip I had graduated from my Masters degree, but still felt I had yet to achieve anything of significance, either physically or spiritually. My prayer is that after the trip I will have a clearer sense of where God is calling me to serve in this world of injustice.
Just a month after completing this trip I will be starting my teacher training (something which fell into place so perfectly over the past 8 months that it is impossible not to see that teaching is the direction God wants me to take at this time), and the experience I gain from the Sri Lanka trip will better prepare me to be a better teacher. Jerimiah 29 v11 comes to mind at this time:
' “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” '
Day 1: 31st July 2011
It's the day after a spiritually (and musically) inspiring Territorial Music School. I've been overwhelmed by the love and support shown to me by both TMS students and staff, as well as those from my own corps (Reading Central). The hours spent alone travelling between TMS and meeting the JOURNEY team were full of apprehension, an unusual feeling for me, & I drew great strength from people's messages to me.
I arrived at the orientation venue in the early afternoon & was shortly joined by the rest of the team: Sam Godec, an employee of International Development and leader on the trip, Helen, a primary school teacher from Nelson, Michelle, a student from Sheffield, Sarah an IT trainer and former primary teacher from Swansea, and Doreen, a social worker from Bognor Regis. Sam led us through a presentation outlining the purpose of SAID – it's becoming increasingly obvious how much their mission statement of eradicating poverty and creating a world of justice resonates within me – some of the work that they do, and finally some information on the trip including an itinerary and background on the projects we would be visiting.
The reason behind our visit is primarily for our own education and understanding of world issues, although we will of course be getting hands on when we're out there. International Development's work focusses on empowering local communities to build better lives for themselves & then assisting them in doing what they decide is necessary, rather than, say, deciding a village needs a well (which may not be the best method to get water anyway), building it without involving the community and then leaving with the villagers not knowing how to maintain the facilities properly. JOURNEY is therefore an educational trip rather than a trip with a specific goal in mind. From my point of view, to be seeing these social & global issues first hand will expand my perception on life, and help shape my future. Our visit is mainly focussing on two issues: Trafficking & abuse, and the after effects of the Tsunami (following on from the devastating event on Boxing Day in 2004). The SA runs a home for vulnerable women in Colombo called 'The Haven', some of which have been victims of trafficking. They are referred to The Haven by the state whilst awaiting their case to come to court. We will be visiting the post-tsunami sites and projects ran along the South-Western coast of SL, seeing how the Salvation Army is rebuilding lives, communities and businesses.
Our team shared the reasons we each had in coming on the trip, along with our hopes and fears. My reasons and hopes are given above, and my fear was returning to an empty house after 3 weeks of being surrounded by many people both at TMS and in Sri Lanka. We prayed, and our group was already beginning to gel. We spent the rest of the hours before our flight getting to know each other better, before leaving England at 10.30pm BST.
Already the apprehension has melted away, as I know we are all being prayed for, and because the group is filled with lovely God-fearing people. I will use Psalm 32 v8 to conclude:
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Amen.
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