Not long left :(

This could be the last blog! I just wanted to write a quick note because we're leaving for our youth week in a few minutes.

It's been a little busy this week doing last jobs for the church, eg replacing photos in the foyer or stamping hundreds of bibles for Sunday services, as well as thinking about sifting through my stuff for leaving the country and preparing for youth week. I'm quite pleased though because my room is looking quite bare already and I have sorted through a lot of junk. This will make it much easier and quicker to pack!
It's Nash's birthday the day I get back so allowing time to celebrate that and spend some time together I think (hope!) packing won't take an age. Still waiting to hear about the visa, please keep praying for that!

Please pray for me as I wrap up life here. It's a strange feeling and I have started not sleeping too well at nigh, lying awake and thinking about my life! Pray for me with the transition. I have already said goodbye to a lot of people which has been ok because it hasn't really hit me that I won't see them for a long time. I spent a lovely evening with my friend Steffi this week and saying goodbye I realised how valuable she is to me as a real friend.

We're flying on the 26th in the evening from Hanover- so as long as the visa comes before then everything is good :)

Loads of love, maybe for the last time from the German end x

And the farewells start :(

These are some of my select favourites of pictures which filled a homemade bag from every child at kids group(It should be pointed out that in the bottom right picture is a cat with a cup and a heart on his back... open to interpretation!!). They hung on my every word (rare!) as I said a few last words about us how big God is and how he helps us, his children. Last week with the kiddies we did a sleepover. Was so exhausting but it was very special for them. Keep praying for all those we have been and are in contact with.

It's very very weird that people are starting to say goodbye to me and the 'last' times of everything are happening. I had my official farewell in church not long ago. It was moving for me, though I am not sad yet about going because it hasn't really hit me yet. That happened on the same day as our church summer celebration which was a fun service and I had my last round of sharing with the church from the front.

I went on a camp with our youth 2 weeks ago- that was good fun even if it did rain everyday. The summer is slowly creeping back again after a long time now!

Rome was beautiful!! I was so exhausted before I went so it was a great time for me to relax and enjoy. The sunshine and sights and smells did me so good. I loved it! Such an atmosphere of joy, laughter, music and life. We saw lots of sights and enjoyed amazing food. My favourite thing though was just wandering around the idyllic streets just taking in my surroundings. I found out how little I know about Roman history:


And I took in many amazing views:


Lately I've been spending a lot of time with Nash which has been so wonderful.


We have really enjoyed this special time together, laughed a lot, talked a lot, sung a lot, had fun... We're approaching my leaving Kassel full of trust and excitement for the future rather than fear or sadness or something like that. Pray for us :) We're waiting to hear at the moment if he will receive his visa to fly back with me to visit me in England for a short time. It's a horrible system which has been quite stressful but we're thankful to God for being amazing and trusting it will work out. We had to go to Düsseldorf to sort it out on Monday. It was a horrible city, don't go there! We could only laugh at the end.

In the next week I'm busy preparing for our youth camp and gradually sifting through my stuff. Today I've been exerting myself the most I have in a while painting a fence so I'm exhausted now and my back is killing. Hopefully will have a good night's sleep before getting on and hopefully finishing it tomorrow!

Please pray for me in this transition process. Love to you all.