Coming back to Clarens

I spent Christmas in a very snowy England. It was so lovely to be home, to see my family, to spend time with precious friends, to eat my mum's home-cooked food, to have all the conveniences that you take for granted in the Western world like decent supermarkets and central heating.

Then nearly a week ago it was time to pack my bags and leave again. No matter how settled I was when I left Clarens, it's always so hard to say goodbye. It's at those moments that I really feel I'm counting the cost of following God's will for my life. When I realised that I hadn't actually said goodbye in person to my Nan or my nephew and niece it was heartbreaking. I'm holding back the tears now as I write. Next time I see Mary, one of my best friends, she'll no longer be a Sloman but a Hairs as she's marrying Dan in May and I can't be there. I missed Tally's wedding last year, I can't believe that now I have to miss another really special day. But that's the sacrifice that I have to make to live here.

I'd like to say that as soon as I was back in Clarens those feelings faded, but actually this time they haven't. Yet. So far I still feel caught between the two worlds that make up my life and not sure which one I prefer to live in. But it's only been a few days and the fact that it's rained incessantly since I got back doesn't help. I know that I'll get back into the swing of things and before I know it time will be flying past as usual.

I have been enjoying seeing all the Mapheo kids again - they were soooooo excited to see us all this week. It's been the long school holidays here, so they haven't had Mapheo for 6 weeks which is a very long time when you're 8. Youth was fantastic on Saturday evening - there was an outreach during the day to encourage people to come as it was the first meeting of 2010. Over 85 young people came, and 30 were saved! We're starting a new Christians course with them next week and will then put them into home cells. Church this week was also great, after the usual vibrant praise and worship the kids church team took over the sermon section with a drama. All the kids stayed in and sat captivated at the front as the drama unfolded. It was a brilliant ploy to show what they do in kids church and ask for more helpers.

Hopefully the rain will let up in the next couple of days so that I can actually do some washing :-)