The retreat was a great time away, although I was not too sure about one of the people doing some of the input, but others were impressed so I guess that was a personal thing.

Just being in the place is a pleasure. It’s hard to explain but it is such a calm and Godly place. I think it is impossible to leave in any other way than relaxed and feeling re-connected to God. The sisters were, as always, lovely to us and have such a great serving heart. One even called me ‘a lovely youngster’ after I helped her sort out her mobile phone!

A particular memory I am taking away from the weekend is ‘a word’ I was given while being prayed for. The gist of this was that I have a ‘natural cheeky child sense of humour’ ( I think that means immature!) and that during my training people were going to expect and suggest that I will need to ‘grow up’. My friend felt God was saying it was important that I do not conform in this way and that I kept that child-like humour as God is going to use this in my mission. This really hit home with me as recently I hve been questionning who I am and how I, as I am, naturally fit into all this which resulted in me thinking can it be really right to continue with this and try and be different to who I really am. Now I think all this makes sense.

I was quite excited by that – not sure my family are though!