click here to make your own visited country map. Jonney, you in particular!

how are you all? Things here are going ok. I've got two weeks left before I hand my last piece of work in! Woohoo! This brings great feelings of tremendous joy to me.

Last weekend I went to see Gerrard, Ulreke and the family's house (friends of my family). It was one of the most refreshing weekends that I have had for a long time. I mentioned to a friend before I went that they are the kind of family that make you a better person just by being with them, and it is true. The love and grace that they showed really blessed me and drew me into a closer walk with the Lord. Oh, and the food was wow! (believe me!) When I got back home I was determined to put real effort into a meal for my housemates! :)

I've just finished reading a book which was lent to me. It is called 'the secret to the Christian life'. Gene clark explores what it means to live the Christian life and also to have fellowship with the Lord in a deeper way. Each month there is a different 'assignment' to practice daily. I have just started the first, which is concerning using passages of scripture as a structure for prayer. I think that it has some really valuable things to say and practical too.

By the way, in my last post I wrote about the trip to China. It seems that instead of going on a cruise down the Yangze river, we will be going to Guilin, an extremely beautiful area of china. Look at the pictures!!!

This has got to be one of my favourite artists. His drawings are extremely clever and look so lifelike! I recomend a look at his website here

Hello Everyone

It has been a while since I last posted something worthwhile. Apologies. I figured that the large majority of people who read my blog live in Stoke on Trent, where I was on placement, so anything I said would have been known already. I thought that I might as well write an email to Luke if I was going to do anything, since everyone else was up to date! Sorry I didn't get around to that, Luke :).

Anyway, here I am back at University. I tell ya, it is most triumphant to see all (almost)of my university friends again. Yesterday was small groups at my house. It was quite strange not having to prepare anything! It is good to know that the new CU comittee is doing well and that God is blessing their work.

Today we had a lunchbar in one of the university buildings, which is basically a time where people can have lunch whilst listening to a speaker. Roger Carswell spoke on 'do all religions lead to God?' and it went very well. There were some good conversations at the end, as far as I could tell. I was able to talk to two muslim guys and we discussed the gospel together. It was very refreshing to talk about the Lord and it was exactly what I needed and was praying for, as I had not done so for a while and was feeling a bit stale...Please do pray for them. We intend to keep in contact.

Yesterday, I payed the remaining amount on my flight to China. I decided not to mention it here until all the arangements were in place (obtaining a visa and booking the ticket). My good friend Cory invited myself and Alastair to go with him to China and stay with him in Hangzhou, just south of Shanghai. This summer may be the last opportunity to have a nice long holiday, as next summer I will, God willing, be qualified and starting a new job, so I thought that it would be an opportunity too good to miss! So far our plans are to use Hangzhou as our base point and maybe go on trips to other parts from there. We will probably spend some time in Shanghai, since it is quite nearby, and also go to Beijing and either Yunnan province (south east side of Himalayan mountains) or go on a cruise down the Yangtze River through the gorgeous gorges. We will probably be seeing the wall of China, "...a miracle of Chinese engineering, so big you can see it from anywhere in the world." (Father Ted)
Cool huh?! :D Yep, I'm pretty excited about it!
Well, I'll be off then. See you later