This time last year...

A year ago today was my first day in Musoma. So much has happened this year, I can't really believe it!

I've met some truly incredible people who have really challenged and inspired me. I feel so lucky to have had these opportunities and I really want to thank everyone who made that possible - everyone who supported me financially and in prayer, everyone at GoMad, Tearfund and Latin Link who organised the projects, my two wonderful teams and my family. And I am incredibly grateful to God for allowing me to partake in a tiny part of bringing his kingdom closer. It has been a real privilege. And the best thing is, it's just the start of a bigger adventure!

I have learnt a lot about God's love for me, and about my identity in him. It's been really freeing to realise my identity does not rest on my own performance, but who I am in Christ. If you want to hear more about what I've learnt this year, especially in Colombia, you can listen to the talk I gave at my church here: http://www.stjohnsmuxton.org.uk/awe-sermons/21st-september-2014-3/
In reflecting on my year, I was trying to pick my top 5 moments. Not easy! This is what I came up with (no specific order...that's just impossible!):

• Day 4 of Hadrian's wall - the awesome scenery combined with raucous singing, visiting the Roman Army Musuem, jumping over the wall to look round Housesteads and meeting two cool Canadians visitng the entire UK in 4 days, before ending up at the lovely Grindon hostel where the owner snored loudly on the sofa while we watched telly!
• Cooking for over 70 people out of our modest church kitchen (and the caravan parked outside for an extra stove!), with a fab team of waiters and co-chefs. It was a great challenge and I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially all the testing of altered recipes beforehand - I think the family had eaten enough pesto variations to last them a lifetime, but somehow they never complained about the brownies...!
• Spiritual Reflection Day in Tanzania - This was SUCH a special day, and one I don't think I will ever forget. It was great to have a whole day set aside to spend with God. It started with an utterly incredible sunrise up eagle rock and we listened to a sermon which has really impacted my faith and my understanding of how I'm called to live my life. It was also nice to have some quality time together as a team, in the midst of the hectic life of Eagle Lodge.
• Street Party at Colegio Filadelfia para los Sordos - The street party we organised to say goodbye to the kids has to be on this list. Whilst it was really emotional having to say goodbye to the kids we had made really good friends with, it was also an immensely special time, reflecting over everything we'd done together through a photo slideshow, sharing the fruit of that week's cooking classes together and then presenting certificates to each pupil to congratulate them on something they had done particularly well during our 8 weeks there. Then to our surprise, the students had their own presentation for us, and really blessed us with their comments and beautiful gifts!
• Beach Trip with Santa Marta Vineyard - The beaches around Santa Marta are stunning. So where better to go for a church day out? The opportunity to spend a day off with the whole community was really precious, playing in the sea together (the concept of hot sea is still weird, a far cry from the beaches of Northumberland where you want your wellies!), brushing up my footie skills, then some great Spanish practice when I was asked to preach at the meeting straight after lunch! Crazy! Another day full of treasured memories.

There are so many more highlights from this year, if you want to hear about them then you're very welcome to take me out for a coffee or even a meal (I love anything Italian...) and I'll tell you more!!! This year has had its tough moments - as in, seriously tough moments, times when you want nothing more than to go home and you just feel like you can't cope with it anymore - but there have been so many more laughs and jokes, I couldn't even begin to tell you (especially as most of them are in-jokes I can't even remember why they're funny anymore...anyone for a game of duck-duck-llama, or would you prefer some carrot cake...?). And in many ways I think it's some of the tough moments that have developed my faith and my character, and brought me a lot closer to the people around me.

But now, the gap year is very definitely over. The car is packed and I head off down the A14 at 8am tomorrow morning, reading for the next adventure. People keep telling me anything will be easy after this year, but I'm not sure. This law degree seems a lot scarier right now...! Once again, thank you so much for sharing this journey with me, it's been such a joy writing this blog! (One day I might complete my Blipfoto...perhaps!)

If any of you are considering a gap-year or gap-week or anything of the sort, whether you're 16 or 60, I'd really encourage you to go for it! Please get in touch if there's any way you think I could help you with this, I'm so excited to see more people have experiences like I've had this year and have the chance to grow in a similar way!