Congress Report

I have come back from The Salvation Army territorial congress held in Harrogate, Yorkshire. It was really good to be among old friends and fellow Salvationists. I was touched (or affected) by two things. They were 1. The testimony of the man who is reaching out to the people of Harrogate. He goes out every Friday evening reaching out to the clubbers, speaking to them and being Jesus to them. I am always saddened by reports of another Corps closing, and this man is restarting the work here, so my prayers are with him as he does this difficult work. The second thing was the buzz of fellowship before the meetings started.

The Territorial Commanders were their usual passionate selfs. It is really good that we have such passionate people in charge of our territory, and every time I hear them they inspire me. It is just what this territory needs, a bit of fire in their belly! As the song says "give us faith O Lord we pray, faith for greater things" Bring it on Lord!

I Thought I did But I Don't.

I have discovered recently that it isn't until you actually start seriously studying a subject that you find out how much you don't know!

There's a Time and a Place.

Last Saturday we had the welcome meeting for the best session ever. They are called God's Fellow Workers. I sat on front row on the platform, and was very aware that I was highly visible. This was ok, until it came to the appeal time, where they have a quiet time to give people opportunity to commit themselves to God in prayer. It was all very solemn, but I had a fit of giggles at this time. This was because we were singing a song called They Need Christ. I had been singing this song at home a few weeks earlier, and Bramwell revealed to me that a line in the third verse that says "there's a Skid row fella who won't look at you", he thought it was "there's a Skid Row fella who has lost their shoe". I had found this extremely funny when Bram had told me. And so, here I was remembering this. I was also trying not to look at Bram because he was giggling as well.

What's New.

I have been at the Training College for 2 weeks now, and just wanted to let you know 3 new things about me.

1. I have joined the Gym. I have realised that College is all about sitting around a lot, so have decided to get myself fit again! I hope to go there twice a week, and so will let you know my progress there.

2. I now know where the College library is. I have decided to try to read 1 book a week, and to save money, I will try to get them all out of the library.

3. I am not very good at following maps. I drive into College every day. One day, full of confidence I decided to try out a new route that had a few shortcuts in. Well, it took me twice as long as it would have done if I had gone the usual way.

4. The early bird always misses the traffic. I leave home at the same time every morning, and arrive at College within half an hour. If I leave home 10 minutes later it takes me 1 hour to get there.

5. I can't count. I said that I would only write about 3 things!

My Part In History

I have been really into Salvation Army history this past few days. I think that this started because I am the historical site of the Training College. As I mentioned in my last post I touched the wall of my room at the college and thought about the Cadets who had been in there before me. Today, as I walked up the stairs to my room I allowed my hand to touch the railings of the stairs as I walked up them, and thought again of my predecessors. For some reason I have just started using my touch to help me to think about such things.

Yesterday I went to William Booth's grave in Abney Park cemetery. The picture here is of the grave. I got it from www.salvationarmy.org.uk. As I stood looking at this grave, I kind of had a strange feeling inside of me. Here was the grave of an ordinary man, but it was because of him and his obedience to God's leading that I have found myself in the Training College. I know that William Booth was not perfect, but then neither am I. We are just ordinary people. I wonder where my obedience will lead me.

Quick update.

I wanted to give everyone an update of what has been happening for me this week so here goes. I started college yesterday and two days into the course I am still a Cadet, so that's a good sign! (I think) Today I had to ask Bram what day it was because I was just so confused, and thought it was Wednesday. I guess I'll be able to work out what day it is when the timetable settles into a routine.

I stayed over at the college yesterday and woke up this morning, touched the wall of my room and thought about the other 100 or so Cadets that had used my room before me, and wondered what had become of them. I also thanked God that I have been given the great privilege of following in their footsteps into Officership. It is a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. I pray that I will be faithful in bringing God's word to the hurting, oppressed, and indeed all of mankind.

Ok, the picture is of the old Training Garrison, not the present William Booth College, but I haven't seen any I like of William Booth College.

Last Day Of Freedom.

Today has been my last day of freedom. Tomorrow I move some of my things into the William Booth College. My life will never be the same again. I'm excited and just want to get things moving! I think the worst thing at the minute is not knowing what is going to be happening for the rest of the week. I like to know in advance where I am and what I'm supposed to be doing. The studying will be pretty difficult as well.

So my last day of freedom has been spent washing and ironing and collecting money for The Salvation Army Annual Appeal. I can't think of a more boring day!

I'm back!

I haven't posted for a while because I have been on holiday with my parents. We went to Butlins in Bognor Regis. The Salvation Army provided entertainment every day for a week. I had an excellent time and had lots of confirmations that I am in the right place at the right time doing the right thing.

One of the things I loved about my holiday was playing in the New Horizons band. This band consisted of people from all over the UK who belong to the Salvation Army and can play brass instruments. I just love being a part of the worldwide Salvation army and doing crazy, weird Salvation Army things! Fire a volley!!!!!!

2 days left.

As I write this I am really excited! I have 2 days left of employment. I really can't believe that the time has finally arrived for me to finish work. I start College 2 weeks today! The time has really gone quick, and although I do love my job, I can't wait to go to College and be a part of the best session ever!

I feel that my recent posts have had a touch of negativity about them, because I have been going on about being nervous a lot, but this last few weeks have been good really.

Yesterday

Well, that’s it, I’m officially………. Well actually I don’t know what I am. I’m either a Candidate or a Cadet. I tried to work it out during the meeting yesterday but couldn’t because I was referred to as both Candidate and Cadet! So if anyone knows what I am, please let me know.

So back to the meeting. I started off by marching in behind the Poplar Corps flag which I have never done before. When I entered the hall, I heard lot’s of cheers going up which kind of put me at ease. It made me realise that lot’s of people were there to support me, and also made me smile because I was slightly embarrassed. So I marched up onto the platform at Regent Hall Salvation Army and sat down. At this point I looked around and saw what must have been about 200 people. Now I really got nervous. I was just getting used to preaching to 50 people and I was going to have to give my testimony to all of these people. I was so nervous I kept forgetting the words to well known songs.

Just before it was time for my testimony the kids sang and basically stole the show! Now the pressure was on for me to live up to what the kids had done. Anyway, the Territorial Commander stood up afterwards and said that it was now my turn to speak. I was really nervous, but once I started talking it was like I was talking to myself. It might have been because of the size of Regent Hall, but I really wasn’t aware of anyone reactions to my testimony. I sat down when I had finished and was relieved because my bit was over and I could now relax.

The whole meeting just felt so surreal, like I wasn’t really there, or I was living someone else’s life. I have waited 6 years for this moment. I think I’m still in a state of shock that The Salvation Army have put their trust in me as an Officer. I really want to thank Kate and Gordon for all the help and support they have given me over the past 2 and a half years and the advise and encouragement they have given me over this time for my preperation towards officership. I also want to thank my previous Officer Major Cynthia Clay for her support and encouragement for the 4 years that she was my support Officer at Coalville Corps. Most of all, I want to thank God for His help, strength and promises to me. I hope that I can be a worthy officer and do my part well in the salvation of the world.

Keep on Believng.

I have been thinking about my not liking leading meetings this week, and this song from the Salvation Army song book came to my mind. it's song number 773.

1.
When you feel weakest, dangers surround,
Subtle temptations, troubles abound,
Nothing seems hopeful, nothing seems glad,
All is despairing, everything sad:

Chorus

Keep on believing, Jesus is near;
Keep on believing, there's nothing to fear;
Keep on believing, this is the way;
Faith in the night as well as the day.

2.
If all were easy, if all were bright,
Where would the cross be, and where the fight?
But in the hardness, God gives to you
Chances of proving that you are true.

3.
God is your wisdom, God is your might,
God's ever near you, guiding aright;
He understands you, knows all you need;
Trusting in him you'll surely succeed.

4.
Let us press on then, never despair,
Live above feeling, victory's there;
Jesus can keep us so near to him
That nevermore our faith shall grow dim.

Lucy Milward Booth-Hellberg (1868-1953)

I have claimed those words for myself recently. If everything was easy, I might not rely on God so much. I think that these words will be especially relevant to me for the next couple of years whilst I am in college. I know that I will struggle academically, but I always have done. I am more a practical hands on kind of person. My brother gor all the brains in my family. He's an accountant, but he is him, and I am me.

An invitation for a coffee

I was just about to close the gate at the hall last week when I met one of our 'regulars' recipents of food parcels. I was saying earlier that day that I hadn't seen this man for ages. In fact, this man hadn't been in for quite a few months and I wondered whether he had been put off from coming in because he had been refused a food parcel after complaining to us that he had only recieved a few tins of food from one of the local churches.

I discovered the real reason why we hadn't seen him for so long and that was because he had been seriously ill with a brain tumour. He was very eager to introduce me to his nephew, and introduced me as "Rhonda, my friend"! He then quickly invited me round to his flat for a coffee. I wonder whether this man is desperate for friendship, and so anyone who is nice to him at anytime becomes his friend. I wonder if Bram would go round to his flat to see him, he's used to alcoholics.

Update

God is good! I led the meeting this morning nerve free, and people responded well when invited to. Although on the walk back from Greig House after the meeting I realised that I had to preached a sermon for myself!

Answer to my Problem

I have been thinking today about what I said yesterday on here about not liking to lead meetings here. I think this is because for the last 2 years we have had some really good meetings, and I don't think that I can match these high standards set by Gordon, Kate, and the other meeting leaders that we have had here. All that I can do is remember that I am not Gordon, or Kate, or any of the others. I am Rhonda Hayes. I am the person required for tomorrow. Please think of me. Oh, and thanks Roz for the image that will definitely stick in my mind about a naked congregation! AAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!

How Far Can I See part 2

it's official, I only have 2 weeks left of employment. after that, I will never be employed again. It seems strange thinking about that. In 3 weeks, I will enter the Salvation Army Training College as a Cadet of the God's Fellow Workers session. At the minute, this is only as far into the future that I can see. It makes a change for me to know what I'm doing in 3 weeks time!

For today and tomorrow, my attention is on Sunday. I am leading the meeting here at Poplar Corps, and luckily for me it is a Bank Holiday weekend so there won't be that many people at the meeting. I'm not too keen on leading meetings here, I don't know why, I just prefer leading them at my home corps. I think at my home corps, I don't feel like people listen to me as much as they do here.

The reason that I gave this entry the title that I have done, is because I am working the title through in my thoughts in relation to my testimony that I have to give a week on Sunday at my divisional farewell.

How Far Can I See?

I have just been away on holiday to my Mum In Law's in Cornwall. We had a great time, and walked loads as we always do when we go on holiday. It was good to get away from it all, although it seemed that the whole of the UK was in Cornwall because it was so crowded. I liked to stand by the sea and look out to the horizon. My favourite question on holiday was "how far can we see?" When we stood by the sea the answer was about 13 miles. This didn't really impress me because I knew that if I was able to drive my car across the sea (which I know I obviously can't!) I would be able to reach the 13 miles in about half an hour. Whenever I came to a spot where I could see for miles and miles I would ask the same question, and usually get about the same answer.

As I looked towards the horizon, I realised exactly how insignificant I really am. I remembered the Psalm from the Bible that says "What is man that you are mindful of him?" It's funny how I felt so insignificant among the countryside. I pass by lots and lots of people every day here in London, and the thought has never crossed my mind, but suddenly, when faced with a vast expanse of countryside I realise how insignificant I really am. I really felt humble and thanked God every day for loving me even though I am only one person in this vast creation of His.

Significance of today.

Today has been rather significant for me for 2 reasons. The first is that today was the last day that I will be working with 5 - 9 year olds in the Paradise Zone context. The second is that today my marching orders for College arrived today, so it is all official, I have a room and eppaulettes!

So a big thank you to Roz, Emma, Keeley, Thomas, Sarah, Craig, Josh, and any others that I have forgotten to mention for making me feel welcome and needed in club, and for all your patience with me over the past 2 years!

Who? What? Where? When?

My head is spinning tonight. I arrived back to the hall from a trip with Kids club to a place called Discover in stratford, and was greeted with lots of noise. I had lots of people from the luncheon club wanting to talk to me. Oh the joys of being popular! Patrick was walking around banging the bottom of a bin like it was drum, and one of the luncheon club members "playing" the piano practicing for Christmas Day. (This lady always plays a tune on the piano as part of the after dinner entertainments.)

There are times at Poplar where it is quiet, and there are also times like today when it can get very noisy. It's good that we have a mixture of both. I also love the fact that there is a place for everyone at Poplar Salvation Army whether they are quiet, or noisy.

Amongst all this chaos my head is spinning. I have 1 month and a week left working here. I have lots of uncertainties going around my head. I wonder whether I will cope at college. I hope that I will never forget lessons that I have learned whilst working for the Corps. I am sure that I will never forget the people. Deep down I don't want to leave, but I know that it is the right time to go to college.

I hope that this post is not too confusing for you. Maybe it would have been better if I had posted it after my mind had settled down.

My Week.

I know a lot of people start their blog entries that occur more than a week after the previous entry with "I've had a busy week". This is why I put that long sentence in to start mine today! "It has been a busy week for me". I have been helping with junior club holiday club. It has been really good, and the time spent took me back to when I was a Childcare worker and also to when I ran JAM Club. Saying this I have really missed my usual daily chats with people who come into the Coffee Shop and Luncheon Club. In some ways this has helped me to realise what kind of work I feel that I most enjoy within the Corps. I enjoy working with Kids, but I also enjoy working with adults.

Panic's Over.

What a nightmare Mid week Worship turned out to be. Bram was supposed to be leading it, but rang me at the hall to say that he wouldn't be able to make it over to the Hall. I then went into panic mode, wondering whether I would be able to find something in my head that I could do. Then I had a great idea! I rang my CO who said that he would be over straight away to lead it. I knew that Gordon would be able to save the day!