Time

Time seems to be rushing away from me! I was meant to have written this on New Years day, so it's only 19 days late!
Christmas was spent working on the ward with patients who had had surgery a week before and some who were waiting for their life changing surgery. It was great to be able to share Christmas with them all!

The ward on Christmas day! 

One of the patients waiting for surgery.

New Years Eve

New Years Eve was a bit different this time from my usual, I spent it at the local church I go to every Sunday, and where I feel at home!

I have been going to the Assembly of God church here in Pointe Noire. This is the first time in Africa that I feel at home in a church, the worship is amazing and the presence of God fills the church, I might not understand every single word of the song (as it is in French) but that does not matter when God is in control and His presence fills you. The teaching is like what I get at home in my church in Swansea, and feel God speaks to me through it.
Then there is also the people who attend, they have made us feel like part of the family. I am so grateful for the church and really feel it is where I am meant to be .

Pastor Gary and Mama Janice with the 3 of us

Also which has been such a blessing and I do not think they know how much it has meant to me being part of their family for the last few months is getting to know Pastor Gary and Mama Janice. They are a missionary couple from America, they have been in Congo for 20 years and most of that has been building this church up. Unfortunately for me and for the church they have been called to go and work in Gabon. It has been amazing to see how well loved they are by the church and how much they are going to be missed.  They have made me and my friends feel really at home and they have welcomed us into their lives even when they were so busy packing things up to move. Going to miss them a lot but I am sure I will see them again someday!

The ladies group giving the Pastor and his wife a gift as a leaving present

An amazing worship group

On their last Sunday the church had a special service for them, it was such a special moment, so glad I was able to be part of it. A few days later I was back at the church to bring in the new year. As I was not going to be back in time for curfew on the ship, I signed out for the night and Mama Janice sorted a bed for me. This meant I could spend a bit more time with them before they left the next day, which was a bonus for me.

New Years Eve service was so good, worship and prayer before midnight, with an amazing presence of God, what a way to bring in the New Year! Then midnight came and everyone started hugging, singing, shouting and dancing, it was fantastic! The music kept going more worship songs and dancing, at 02:00 Mama Janice and I called it in and headed to bed. The service kept going till 5 or 6 in the morning. Once in a while I would wake up to them singing a worship song, ohh my heart kept rejoicing at hearing them.

Celebrating the New Year by dancing and singing

It is so hard to put in words how I feel, just thinking about it makes me smile and my heart filled with so much love for God. You see New Years to me has always been something you do, never really liking it much. But this has changed for me, and I am so grateful for the church family, for making me feel welcome but really all praise goes to Jesus and for what He is doing in my life.