Australia

2005-07-11T20:48:00.000+01:00

Debs-thanks for your mess. i emailed you but dont know if you changed your address-we are all fine although little sis was in london and one of my friends was on the tube behind.

Have been in bulgaria with the girls (8 of us) was a lot of fun. really challenged by some of the conversations we had and trying to explain myself without using christian jargon or relying on basic understanding of christianity. realised that i need to make sure i dont get myself into a chrsitian getto-dont think that will happen but im determined to maintain my friendships with the girls as i think they are wonderful. X

2005-06-08T12:05:00.000+01:00

Ah now peace is gone and am stressed and cant sleep oh help!

2005-06-04T15:10:00.000+01:00

I feel like I have God's peace, its so lovely! It is guarding my heart and mind. wow

2005-05-29T23:09:00.000+01:00

This poem is in the book I read last night...................

I arise today through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, CHrist on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I arise.
CHrist in the hearts of everyone who thinks of me,
CHrrist in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
CHrist in the eye of everyone who sees me,
CHrist in the ear of everyone that hears me.
I arise today
THrough a mighty strength, the invovation of the Trinity.

An aside:

When I thought i was about to be killed on a hijacked bus in mexico, I was so so sure that I would find myself in heaven. As I sat there, trying to keep my head down a bit as they shot bullets through the bus, I thought of things I wanted to do for God before I died and also of my family. However, not once did I consider the possibility of me not waking up in heaven-I just wanted it to be quick and for it to involve the gun as opposed to one of the machetties they had. SO why now am I getting myself into such a state over some exams when Im so sure GOd is here.

2005-05-23T14:43:00.000+01:00

hung out with sophie on fri night in Shot in dark lots of fun! really interesting conversations with G about differences between men and women ! He had some fairly radical ideas will discuss them when more time to write.

2005-05-06T17:27:00.000+01:00

cant wait till i finish this degree! am sleeping so much better now thank you if you have prayer pour moi! XXXXXXXX

2005-04-22T13:51:00.000+01:00

On survival mode at moment. Cant wait for this to end (talking bout revision as opposed to life!!!) Feeling pretty disillusioned about the whole thing including job! not good. Need change adn excitement X

2005-03-22T20:41:00.000Z

HOME:
got home 2 days ago, thought it would be peaceful but my parents had 18 people for dinner-these guys in a blues band that were on tour from US, fun but shattered after my night of no sleep. amazing to see my sisters and mum and dad. man i miss them. been putting the hours in trying to start learning stuff but so hard. wonder why im doing this to myself! went wedding dress shopping for my sister I might add! she looked beautiful. i suggested she carried puppies instead of a bouquet but she wasnt loving that idea-will have to leave that till my wedding! X

2005-03-07T09:51:00.000Z

Feeling like there arnt enough hours in the say to do everything I need to do (and want to do) well. Need to get my peace together as last week had some nights of stress and I know that stress could run away with me if I let it and render me useless. Time to change. Spending time with the Prince of Peace can but rub off on you I guess (and Hope!) Busy week coming up..got 300 questinnaires to deliver, see friends, prepare for house group etc. XXX

Got amazing new CD-James Blunt-return to Bedlam. gonna try and see him in Bristol in AprilX
Coffee and work are calling (and maybe a magazine for 5 mins!)
Love.

2005-02-15T16:00:00.001Z

HI, am back in the land on the blog! nothing much to report but will write something in next few days. X

2005-02-15T16:00:00.000Z

HI, am back in the land on the blog! nothing much to report but will write something in next few days. X

2004-12-17T17:54:00.000Z

End of the Year
THought was about time I blogged. The last 6 months have probably been some of the hardest times for me situationally ever! (apart from my elective!) ALi (one of the closest closest people to me who I lived with for 3 years) moved away as did Alison (another very close friend) and Ayla got engaged! (wonderful news am so happy for her but dont get to see her so much now!) These are soul mate types who I dont get to see so much now. All that along with the emotional pain of getting over a 3 year relp doesn't make for me being the most happy person on the country. I know God gives and takes away but I would love less of the taking away!!!! On the Positive side I have become much closer to Jo and Nia two of my house mates and they have been my strength when it has been going dark side on me. I couldnt have coped without Sarah-lou who is also a true soul mate. We have been doing this spiritual journey together since the first year and Thank you Thank you Thank you GOd that I went on that CU weekend away in the 1st year and met her!
As a close friend said; THe next 6 months cant be harder emotionally than the last, granted finals might boost the stress levels but anyway! Happy CHristmas Love HEls

2004-10-25T10:19:00.000+01:00

well been back a week and feels like i never left! the wedding was amazing beautiful and Dan said some really moving things about 'doing this journey thay call life together...' etc etc. was lovely to see my friends there. ali and chris also came down which was great fun-ali has been such an amazing listener and support, im really missing her. cant wait so see char and woogle at the weekend. has been unsettling being back and im finding life weird. am thiking about what it is to be a good listener as i have really valued some of my friends really properly listening to me and really trying to understand what im saying (even though its over the phone which makes it even harder!). so many of us are too busy and caught up to really listen. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

2004-10-16T10:16:00.000+01:00

just a quick note to say.....am home!!! back in the corner of the world that is home for me. will blog the rest of my travels soon-right now am about to go to Judes wedding-very exciting to see her get married and catch up with close yummy friends. i had a lovely birthday, was amazing being hot-went for a ride along the beach was beautiful. have noticed how dark it is here, its horrible and such a shock having been living outside and in the sunshine all the time for the last 10 wks. looking forwards to getting back into a routine as bit unsettling at the mo. dying to see my sisters and leruso and cardiff friends!

2004-10-03T11:43:00.000+01:00

Sydney- well was pretty much a disaster as was ill! so so annoying i got sick for a week. was very fustrating but nothing i could do! i managed to see the main sights though.

just remembered-had one great day there when i met up with al's cousin and went riding! we went deep into the bush on an amazing 'trail' ride. (the horse was a 15 hands-hollys build, nice and forward going)made me realise how much i adore riding when its on a decent horse (oh so spoilt!!)

am feeling well again now-fully got my appetite back (when i was ill i totally lost it! and the only good thing was ive lost weight!!!). we have hired camper vans and are travelling around in them-'camper van' is actually a bit too glamerous a word to describe them- basically they are jumped up white vans spray painted crazy colours. a lot of fun though.

this weekend we went to fraiser island-you are given a 4by 4 and tents. you drive on the sand round the island and camp there. it was hard core camping and i feel i have redeemed myself for sacing off D of E after the first night of camping in college. there are dingos and spiders and snakes but none of them are half as scarey as a darn mouse! the stars were amazing and the moon was red, we sat listening to music just looking at the sky!

have 2 days of travelling north now then we are going sailing for 2 nights around the whitsunday islands-those family sailing holidays really paid off -will feel quite a pro knowing my main sheet from me jib (kind of!). cant wait!
am really loving the weather and not being in 'darkness' at 5pm of what ever time it gets dark at home. looking forwards to seeing everyone soon. Love Hels

ps-krista-am still carrying around that pencil that Matt gave me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2004-09-23T08:14:00.000+01:00

Melbourne

well arrived in Oz last friday from Samoa-bit of a change to say the least. suddenly we were in the bustle of a city. the first thing we did was to get our hair cut, still half asleep but my hair was so long i couldnt cope anymore! there are loads of independant cafes and funky shops everywhere you turn, there is also loads of live music too. on the sunday we went to church -yarra valley vineyard. we met a great girl -steph who took us out for the day. was fun being with someone who knows the place as opposed to bumbling around fairly clueless. over the n4ext few days also met up with friends of friends which was great. i can see why people like Oz so much and im going to begin a search for a melbourne equivalent when im home! X

2004-09-07T03:07:00.000+01:00

well, been a fairly interesting weekend. started badly-i was watching a fire dancing competition when my hand bag got stollen, lost my wallet that Jules had given me. then spent ages in the police station them asking me questions such as my marital status!-relevant!was getting so mad and fustrated. the crime rate is very low here and everyone says how safe it is so the police are having an investigation and are letting me know their findings before i go. (tried to explain that i dont give a . about the invest. all i want is a letter for my insurance company as i had got cash out to pay for a weeks hotel stay and am going to claim but they wont give me one until its fully investigated)

on sat went to the beach with 7 other people who we have met. we ended up getting very very lost trying to find the beach falles where we were to stay (turned out that we had walked right past them) we found ourselves out in the sticks in some village and asked a family where we were- they then gave us a lift with us all bundled into the back of their truck. sat on the beach for the rest of the day then decided to get some beers which involed wondering through villages to find little shacks which are their shops. there were some surfers staying at the same place, and they taught us card games and we just hung out for the evening. hope everyone is well. love HelsX

2004-09-01T04:34:00.000+01:00

Hi! ive been having a pretty relaxing time recently, reading a lot which has been great-life of Pi and God catchers. both fantastic. we went to the beach again to stay in huts over the weekend, some other friends from uni came which was fun. we took the bus which was an experience - people packed in ontop of one another -and the people arnt small! Abba music cranked up really loud-never want to hear one of their songs again. We went snorkling (sp?) which was amazing-some retro black and white fish.

have been trying to sort out my project, saw a C section this morning, the baby was healthy. amazing how one min they are in then the next they are out!

Debby- it honestly isnt as hot as it was that fateful day when we drove to S.D! you were a complete star!

love hearing your news love HelsX

2004-08-25T03:59:00.000+01:00

HI
had a freaking mouse in our room last night which was very traumatic for me! i really really dont like them. i know im bigger etc but i dont believe that it was more scared of me than i of it! had gekcos but they dont scare me. there are also killer dogs here and you have to carry stones just in case they start on you (dont panic mum!).

anyway, scarey animals aside... been in the hosp this week, there are even dogs wondering around it, not actually in the wards but everywhere else. its pretty basic, more so than i had invisaged, there isnt much equiptment and it looks very difft to home. been in clinics and ward rounds etc which has been interesting,

its weird being away from shops etc, you feel pretty remote, its beautiful and tropical and very peaceful but i will be needing a good dose of 'big smoke' by the end of my time here.

we are going to stay in beach falles (little huts) this wk ed right on the beach (suprise suprise!) which will be great. doing lots of reading and trying to process stuff with andy and i but im not very good at that. well guys take care love HelsX

2004-08-19T03:04:00.000+01:00

thought id do a quick blog so i dont repeat myself i mails! arrived in somoa last night (3am) to a trio of somoan men wearing sarongs and playing guitars! (it must have slipped that i was coming-terrible joke i know but its hot!)as we went through customs i 'declared'my 3 dollars worth of reaces peanut butter cups that i was bringing into the country (now theres honesty then stupidity and i think i fell inot the second camp-but they did say food of any kind!)

its a massive change from huntington beach where i was yesterday-i could happily live there, krista is 3 blocks from the beach ie a 2 min walk. its amazing, lots going on, bustling&lively.

anyway last night we stayed in a little hut thingy without any doors! i coud hear dogs howling outside which was slightly scarey. we are going to grace the hosp with our presence tommorrow and next wk are planning to go to a little island near here to do a wk or rural medicine, apparently there are so few drs that we get to run stuff ourselves. mmm interesting. the 2 wks after that we will be at the main hosp in somoa. everyone is so friendly here-we even got a police escort to a shop we were looking for as we were slightly lost! (unusual phenomenon for me i know!) i dont think you can leave comments unless you are a blog user but keep the emails coming im enjoying them. love HelsXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

2004-08-17T23:49:00.000+01:00

sorry kids for the lack of blogging-its business sense you see-wait for the demand then come up with goods! well, miss you all! been visiting friends in california, some of the people i met last yr, went to san francisco which was beautiful. am in santa monica now and just think i saw tom cruise honestly i did! spent some time with matt and krista in huntington beach pretty much non stop talking and coffee etc. want to get them to england. spent time with friends in san dimas which was great -wonderful to catch up and find out whats been happening, cant believe it has only been a year since i was here last. this is becoming a habit!!!! (they are supposed to take 20times to make though!) also went to a house church in san diego were the presence of God was so tangable. met jason and brookes new baby who is beautiful. will write more soon, loads of love Hels XXXX

2004-07-26T15:56:00.000+01:00

Howzit?had a beautiful weekend in Devon. could say surfing but went in once (minus the wetsuit!) so would be a blantant lie! discovered the majic formulae (well andy told me!) for finding a good bottle of red wine and that = Oak + vanilla. somewhere on the label. didnt let us down whole wk end.
Will use this site while im away which starts in a week! love HelsXXXXXX