YWAM Leeds Blogtastic

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YWAM Leeds

this is the story of our lives...

15 NovNovember 13, 2009 YES, I recognize the picture is blurry. It was late, Not good lighting I did my best. However, it is here to show you the wonderful meal Beth and I had last night. I made char siu a marinated pork and Xiaolongbao which is soup filled pork dumplings. It was a fun meal and a great accomplishment. Well the internet came into our house about three weeks ago. I'm sorry I haven't update the blog for those who have be looking forward to this. Its amazing how hard it is to get back into the rythmn of things when you haven't been blogging in weeks. Well we have the net and are once again connected to the world so I hope to start blogging again. I was planning on doing a reflection on moving a planting YWAM Leeds but this computer is going dreadfully slow and Beth is using her computer. I will try and steal her computer tomorrow and give you all my wise contemplations. lol! For those of you out there who love us and are supporting us in your prayers we hope you are doing well and that your lives are filled with great blessing upon which you spread to those around you. This is the story of our lives...douggie freshleedsSeptember 25, 2009Week and a half and still counting Well it was my goal to have a blog for every day. However, as I have now learned you can't have everything you want. The the first week has been un packing. Then arranging our house in a way that feels like home but still kinda feels not fully there. We have had to sort bills and minor problems (from no gas, to water gushing into the cellar, to water leaking out a pipe above our front door to having to fix loose windows, etc) on the house. As is normal not everything is up and running. We have no internet and hence no blogs. We use the library but the computers there can't handle the program I use to make the website. Well this will have to do for now. I don't know when I will get around to blogging again. Our internet isn't due to come in for another week due to us being gone to the base leaders training and not being availabe for Tiscalli to come in and do their thing. The other great news is we had our car broken into today. they broke a lock of our a little mirror, tried to hot wire the car, we think they were drinking cause they tried to cut wires that clearly were not connected to the ignition and then smashed our roof light. Lovely. On the better side of things Beth and I are feeling better. I thing the stress of everything took a toil on us and we were bed ridden for about a week with the flu. Well life is an adventure, and our is definietly just beginning!!!This is the story of our lives...douggie freshs12September 14, 2009WE HAVE A HOUSE AND ARE MOVING!!! Wow, what a day!!! First of we signed for the house. We have keys to our new house in Leeds. The first thouse that is Doug and Beth's house. The first step towards YWAM Leeds. The first day as a Leeds resident. Hmm any other first I can think of... We cleaned and I made a lot of phone calls. OUr letting adgent now knows the sound of my voice when I call. But the house is getting sorted. New lock. Some new carpet. And overall it got a scrup down via the YWAM York Moving Co Inc. We had our first kebab as residents. ha found another one. Tonight was pretty exhausting though I don't feel like I did all that much today. I have had some time to think today, probably not the most helpful. These are my conclusions: 1. I'm starting to mourn and let go of York. I'm sad to leave. There are a lot of good memories and York has been a place where I have grown up. Grown into leadership. Grown in character. Grown in maturity. I have so much to be thankful for, for the time I spent here. Its hard to leave that which is comfortable and familiar. Its tough to leave a community like York. I feel like I need to cry but there are no tears. YWAM York has been so good for me. NOw it is time to move on, it's right but hard. 2. I am excited to go and ready for the new season in my life. I look forward to the adventure ahead. 3. I am sick to my stomach and I feel nauseas. I feel like I'm about to fly (I tend to feel sick before I fly). Except that this time it feels more like I'm on the plane an being told its going to crash. Okay so I'm being a little dramatic. lol. Yuh I got a lot of nervous energy. I should be sleeping, but i think i woun't sleep unless I spend sometime and just write and verbally process to my computer. Tomorrow we move house. Litteraly. We throw all our junk in a van and take it to Leeds and then we stay in Leeds. Please pray for us. I think this weekend requires a DVD and a nice meal. And a good sleep in!!! This is the story of our lives...douggie freshs13September 13, 20090 days and counting... Sleep ins are so wonderful. They are so lovely when you are stinking tired. Today I was suppose to finish packing. I did not. Even though Beth is making a big deal of it I have ver little to pack and mostly its just faffy stuff I will throw in a box and sort later. Though please don't tell Beth this or she might be mad. I ran errands today. Not sure what but I ran them. I think my head is in the clouds because I don't want to think about what tommorow brings. I should be going to bed because I will need energy tommorow but I can't i'm full of energy. Kind of like the night before christmas but with a sick feeling. Well I should gho try to sleep now. TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY!!! On a side note we won a retro Kitchenette on Ebay. Its really cute, beth's words not mine. We have also pretty much packed up our lives and have invaded the downstairs of Jute house. Sorry housemates. Its only till tuesday.This is the story of our lives...douggie freshs14September 12, 20091 days and counting... Saturday was a manic day. Got up and chilled. Then helped Carl cater a wedding. I am the spanish tortilla king! Babysay Rhys, Got home and crashed! Simple enough for yuh. Not time to thinka bout anytning. Who even is aware of what is about to happen- not me. This is the story of our lives...douggie freshPage 25September 11, 20092 days and counting... Well the sun was shinning. The weather has been really amazing of late. Its nice to have sun before the move and to be able to enjoy life and not be depressed beacuse of the weather. Definitely a good time to move. Hopefully its sunny next week and then everything will be perfect in terms of moving. Well thought through, its definitely good to listen to wisdom. So today I biked. I wanted to grab a few things and well i biked, a lot. For those not in York this might be lost on you but I biked from Acomb to the Designer Outlet to get a kife case, then biked from the Designer Outlet to Monks Cross Shopping area to get another knife for my set and then biked home. Roughly 20 miles total. Beat that. The sun was out so it was a nice journey. Though my bottom is a little sore. But I did what I set out to do so job accomplished. I got a paring knife and I am two pieces away from having a complete Chefs knife set, well the basics that you really need. I just need a bread knife and a steel sharpener. Getting there. Though I know have the new goal of not chopping of my fingers. This might be a difficult one accomplish as I already have a few knicks from accidentaly grazing my new kitchen knifes. Beth made a wonderful meal. It was nice to come home and to not have to cook. Especially cause I was tired. Well only the weekend stands in the way of getting our house. I'm busy tomorrow which means Sunday will be the final pack up day. Beth has been ace and has done so much already. Good job Bethany!!! Worked on sorting out the building and am hoping to hear back either tonight or tomorrow, though its midnight so well I proabably won't hear back tonight. Once thats sorted we will announce the change of date and hope that doesn't mess with schedules and still gives enough time for everyone to get it in their diaries. Exciting almost a month to the Official YWAM Leeds Launch. Well its bed time I got a big day a head of me. This is the story of our lives...douggie freshrSeptember 10, 20093 days and counting... Today I should have packed more than I did. I got some done but really I wanted to have most of the packing done by the weekend so it would be chill before the storm. Unfortunately I was unable to get motivated. I wrote a few emails. Watch some shows. And did some other stuff I can't remember so it probably wasn't important. Before you know it I was in Leeds with Paul watching the Yorkshire cricket game. These are my thoughts:I should have worn shorts(its unbelievable, but true).I asked a lot of questions.I think I was an annoyance to the seemingly introvert in front of me and behind me. Cricket isn't as boring as I expected.They have a used book sale for the older wifes who are dragged to the game by their husbands (But I was able to get three good books from for £1,50.I enjoyed actually getting to see a live game, especially cause it was hot out. The glare sucked. I wear glasses which makes it worse.Gloucester didn't play so well.KFC is the best half-time break. It was good to move my legs.The first partnership played a solid game. I think I would like to play cricket.Paul was very patient.You can stop gasping in disbelief but I asked if Paul would take me to another game. We won 5 blue Le Creuset saucepans on Ebay. Aren't you all jealous now. I'm very excited and have been thinking about it all night. I can't wait to pay for them and have them shipped. Its nice having some money (wedding gifts) set aside to buy house supplies for our new house. YEAH!!! I wonder what we will get next. I hope we win the kitchen cupboards for Beth cause that would make her really happy. I hope we can get the wok I want at a low price they keep going for a really expensive price. Well after tomorrow only the weekend stay in between us and the new house. We are going to have a lot of money leaving the pocket. Ah but thats life. This is the story of our lives...douggie freshtuesSeptember 9, 20094 days and counting... Today I spent my day floating from one task to the next and then back again. Thats how I work or else I get bored. I did a lot of packing and have realized I got more stuff then I would like to admit. I got most of my cloths packed away. Suitcases are down from the attic and getting full. Books are in boxes. Slowly getting there. It was weird as I was folding cloths and putting them into the suitcase a pain of sadness hit me. I'm use to moving and packing. But this is a much more serious pack. I'm starting to realize that I'm moving and I ain't going to be in York much longer. I'm realizing how much I'm actually leaving behind. I really wonder how much I want to actually leave right now. Its hard starting out own you own from scratch. Well at least its me and Beth and not just me. We were invited to this household of people living in community in Harehills. Being church by in their homes. They were very lovely people. It's nice to know that there are other people out there who are on a similar wave length. Beth is excited cause she has met two people who share her love for movies. I think moving to Leeds is alright for her now. She's good to go. Leeds blows me away. Its amazing how much God is up to in the Chapeltown/Harehills area. It amazes me how mcuh God is blessing us by bringing us to this part of Leeds. It may be tough but it looks like it will come with his blessing. This is the story of our lives...douggie freshqSeptember 8, 20095 days and counting... Well our crew from York has finally left on the road to Argentina. Like all good YWAM stories they are stuck in a traffic jam wondering if they are going to make it in time. Reminds me of last year a bit. Well today has been a day of throwing up little prayers through out the day. The power of little prayers, don't underestimate them. 4 left and 4 remain. Then 2 move and 2 remain. Isn't that a beautiful pattern. Meet with Carl, Jen and Beth we talked about all that needed to get done. I love when I start to plan stuff and do it in advance and try to look organized and then everything changes and have to work to get organized again send out new info only to reinforce that I'm not an organized person by default. How the heck do super organized people do it. Either there is no flexibility when new options come up or they are dang good at thinking through all the options and preparing for what they want. Some one whose highly details is more than welcome to try and explain. Doesn't mean I'll understand though. Well looks like a got quite a few phone calls to make. This is the story of our lives...douggie freshthurSeptember 7, 20096 days and counting... Today was a chill day. Basically I made myself available for others to meet up with me. I had two meeting to help two of the guys to process outreach and different aspects of it. Did more of the home furnishings hunt. Still nothing. But i got a few days on ebay till some of the stuff I really want comes up. I wish the other bidders knew how much we could do with some of this stuff and jsut not fit for our sake, mind you they are probably saying the same thing about us. This is the story of our lives...douggie freshPage 17September 6, 20097 days and counting... Church went really well today with the presentation. We led a prayer time for Afghan refugees. We also shared about YWAM Leeds and the church prayed a prayer of blessing on us as we make the move into Leeds. Tonight we had our YWAM leaving do. It was sweet as. We were in the YWAM York building (well soon to be YWAM York as we don't have the keys yet). It was a good night of curry and friends. It was a really blessing be encouraged before we step out into this net step in our lives. The word of the night is nothing will ever be the same again. Its sad but right. in a few weeks YWAM York will be very different and YWAM Leeds will exist. Life changes and therefore we must change. Sometimes its hard to fully surrender to change but this is what comes with growth. I am also proud to have had the time I have had in York. I have been greatly blessed here. Carl your life has impacted mine in so many ways. I look forward to the day when I can introduce you to a young person that I'm raising up to start something new and to show you the fruit your life has produced in me. I am honoured and privileged to continue serving under your leadership as you become national leader. We also got two kick ass knives as a going away present. So be careful I am armed and dangerous. And I can cook a mean hot tamale. Actually, I just said that to sound cool and I didn't even know what a tamale was until I just googled it. LIfe is very surreal these days. After so long of knowing this season would come its truly hard to believe I'm actually in the days leading up to moving. So crazy to think that my task this week is to pack. This is the story of our lives...douggie freshPage 20September 5, 20098 days and counting... Today was a simple day. It comprised of not doing much. Well I had some stuff to do for tomorrow as I'm presenting at church some of what we did in Paris and sharing about YWAM Leeds. The big score of today was going to the car boot sale and picking up some champagne glasses that Beth has been looking all over the place for and finally found. I also got some pub pint glasses and was ver excited. All for £5. This is the story of our lives...douggie freshsept 4Never confuse movement with action. Ernest Hemingway September 4, 20099 days and counting... Well today was a interesting one. Another team day in the rain. It's tradition you can't fight it, you accept because thats the lot we have been given. Rainy team days. At least the hot chocolate was good. Well I feel a little sheepish saying this but we had a mix up with the rent. Some mis-communication and poor math and well we had the monthly rent price worked out wrong. So that through a bug into things. However, we decided to just deal with it so we still have a house just a little more than desired. Really all the houses are around this range so its not bad. Ebay is our friend, We are currently watching about 86 items and hopefully will win on some of them. This is tactic 4 for getting cheap house stuff, tactic 1 is freecycle, tactic 2 is when people give you stuff for a numerous of reasons, tactic 3 is going to charity/car boot sales. This is the story of our lives...douggie freshpic

This is my reaction that sums up my

day. Tired from briefing the York team.

Overwhelmed due to paying an admin

fee and thus commiting to renting a

house in Leeds. Shocked by the reality

that I move to Leeds in 10 days.

Amazed by God's provision. Shaking in

my boots cause I'm in over my head.

sept 3September 3, 200910 days and counting... What a day this has been. I'm going to sleep well tonight. I think I'm in shock. I'm a little shakey with the adrenaline that is cruising my veins. What a monumentous day even if it is just for me. First off finished briefing the the York team. It went quite well and it seem that they went from a place of seeing their trip to Argentina as an overwhelming mountain to some that is do-able. Then we got a word that the Anglican Diocease had no vicarages to rent. This meant we needed go for the house in harehills Beth and I decided on. Word of advice, don't have your car getting its MOT. Don't have all your team busy with leaving, and don't have other of your friends on holidays, or other random places. Paul is my hero and will be rewarded accordingly for the drive into Leeds to pay the admin for our very first house.YWAM LEEDS IS OFFICIALLY IN LEEDS. Boo-yuh we have a house in Leeds. I'm in awe and i don't think the signifigance of today is going to hit until the Sept. 14 when we are being handed key to our new house. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sorry about that, I'm composed again. Wow pioneering is such a high. God is so Good!!! This is the story of our lives...douggie freshPage 12September 2, 200911 days and counting... Today we did part one of briefing the team for Argentina. Tommorow is part two and the final day of briefing. My goal inspire the team about their marvelous opportunity of being in Argentina. Today I have created a blog for the YWAM Leeds website. Fooled you. And you thought the first two days were written on those day. Sorry for the mis-direction. I thought it would be sweet having the blog starting from two weeks before we start YWAM Leeds. Plus its not like you will have noticed. In fact I'm still hoping to get this up today, and if you end up reading this then please email me at info_ywamyork.com and if the date of the email is today I will get you a prize- a box of heroes (only counts for the first person in the realty that more than one happens to check the website today). If you are the lucky winner you are my hero!!! Other than that its been a boring day but a least it ends on a good note- movie tonight. Unless I have to bike in the rain to get to the theater.Hopefully I have the stamina to keep blogging. To the most certain growing fanbase- Keep it real my peeps! lol.This is the story of our lives...douggie freshsept1September 1, 200912 days and counting... Hey, well it's back to the work week. It seems that after two weeks everyone is struggling to get back into the swing of things. This weeks goal is not so much Leeds focused as we have a team getting ready to go to Argentina. My job this week is to brief the team and make sure they are ready to go. It ended up that the best foot forward was to give time time to everyone to adjust and get prepared for a briefing meeting tommorow. Instead I hung out with Dave and listened to his time at Greenbelt. The networking man. I have also got a polarising filter for my camera, and then challenged that I might be entering the photographers need to buy just one more piece. I don't think that's me I only need just a wide angled lense and I'll be fine... ...well maybe a zoom lens too!!! hee hee:)This is the story of our lives...douggie freshslide 8

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