Monday 16th April - posted by Nita

Our first day is complete - and it couldn't have gone any better. The Rabbuni Centre is excellent and the food very good. So far (!!!!) 62 people from all over the Diocese have signed in, and the interest and energy levels are high. As we might have expected, singing is a very popular acticity and we have taught them at least two new songs already.

The first session was 'Getting to know you', and having introduced ourselves we split up into 5 groups with one of us as leaders. Chris and Nita are not leading groups, but keeping watch over them all. There was a lot of laughter coming from some groups and later reports of rather more difficult starts for some. But in the end each group seems to have worked out OK.

After supper Chenda led a session on 'Why work with children' and Nita rounded the evening off with evening prayers - tonight it was the Prayer of 7 Directions, based on the celtic idea of North, South, East, West, Down, Up and In. The team have now all returned to their hosts for the night, before a very early start again tomorrow - we are back at the Centre for a 7.30am Eucharist.

I tried to use the dongle today, but failed dismally, so am using the computer at my hosts. I'll collect more notes from the others tomorrow, but thought you would like to know how the first day went. I'll also try to collect some photos to post - but today has just been too busy!

Thanks for your comments which I copy to show to everyone else - we are greatly encouraged by them. Do please keep praying and upholding us. Tuesday is a fun day - with crafts and games sessions, but Wednesday morning I begin the day with a session entitled 'The Cross and Me', which will be hard to deliver well and which will be challenging to everyone. Please pray especially for that.