Summertime Fun!!

So after (what feels like) many days of rain, the sun seems to be up for more sunshine! (although it is amazing how fast the weather can change here! I rarely go out without a light jacket or my umbrella!) This past week was the half term break, so the young people were off of school (some of them went away on holiday with their families) and the uni students have all but reached the end of the year. So I had a lot of time on my hands to say the least. Which was kind of nice, really.

Just over two weeks ago I was out with some friends who are attending the university of Chichester, and it was their last real night before heading off for the summer. So we decied to make a day and a night of it, which was packed with silly fun (mini golf, a few games of pool, dinner and a bit of cranium, one of the craziest board games). It was a late night and about midnight we got the crazy idea to go over to the skate park near the seafront. I had the wonderful idea to run around on the half pipe. What seemed like a silly idea didn't end up so well as I twisted my knee and damaged the ligament that runs along side my left knee cap. Ouch.
My friends were real troopers. They prayed for me right there at my request (I thought I had dislocated the knee again, and I was not thrilled at the thought of going through that again). After resting a bit my friends got me up and helped carry me to a taxi and back to my flat. At this point my friends could have just left me at the comfort of sleeping on my couch, but they insisted on staying with me the night. I was sad that such a fun time was topped off with an injury (a very silly one at that!) but I am still very thankful for friends who carried me and took care of me under the frustrating and painful circumstances.

The next day I went to the ER (A&E as it's called here, for Accident and Emergency) and as I thought, they took x-rays, said I had done some streching or maybe tearing of the ligament and that I would need crutches.

Two weeks later I am walking without the crutches and I am due to see the specialist again tomorrow to find out if there is any serious damage (I don't think there is at this point, but we'll see what the doc has to offically say).

So that kind of slowed me down a bit. I am still playing drums and I've been asked to play drums for cousins of one of my friends here (It's nice because it's a bit of a different atmosphere to play in).

Last Thursday I went bowling with some friends from church and while the leg was a bit of a handicap the first game (I think I managed a 55 the first game!) the second game I scored a 144. One of my best games in a looooong time. I was out done by my friend Pat by two pins. My glory was stolen! :-)

The youth alpha course has continued to go well (thanks for your prayers!!). We are six weeks in and have about 4 more to go. The young people are bringing very good questions and this next Sunday we have a real opportunity to pray for them there and give them an experience that could change their lives. Please pray for the Holy Spirit day to be a success and that God would be speaking directly into their lives.

Overall church life is exciting as we head into summer. I am finding more and more personal challenges, but at the same time I am thankful for the friendships and the trust that is being built. It's a surreal experience at times of being so far from home and the "usual" life that I was used to. Living in England can be close to life back home at times, but it can also feel very different. All in all though, I am enjoying it and am looking forward to more adventures.

Till next time!
Paul