Sunday 15th March
Woke up rather grumpy this morning! At about 6.45, so got 6.5 hours sleep which was pretty impressive. Aching though! Got ready and had breakfast and we packed up everything and set out the church ready for their morning service. We then drove over to Telford, had another wander round the exhibitions, had a hot chocolate and then went in to the final session. Dweeb did a good set, haven’t heard them before but enjoyed it, quite rocky. Then was a gospel group called Blueprint, then The Gathering band did a bit of worship. The speaker was a guy called Phil Collins (CEO of Saltmine Ministries) spoke on Luke 9:57-62, looking at the cost of Jesus. He spoke passionately, but my tiredness made it difficult for me to concentrate. I do remember the story about the students getting out of the car in the lion bit of the Midlands Safari park…and running when the lions moved! The session finished with a couple of songs and then we were ushered out pretty quick! Said goodbye to Dave and Elliott and then we began the journey home. Attempted to go to ASDA petrol station but failed, so drove straight to Corley services where everyone met for lunch. Mmm Burger King! Left there about 3.30 and continued back. Stopped at Cambridge for a leg stretch. Sat Nav later died and we missed the exit off the M11 so came off later and went the scenic route via Ongar! After dropping everyone off we got back about 7, did a bit of cleaning, had well deserved lovely hot showers and some toast! Chatted to Lewis about The Gathering and our opinions etc which was good! Been catching up on emails and Facebook and now going to bed because its 10.35 and I’m tired!!
Saturday 14th March
(The Gathering. This is Elim’s national youth conference that happens every year, previously in West Brom, this year in Telford. About 3000 young people and leaders attend)
The alarms started going off at 5am apparently. I was woken up at 6, asked Wendy what time it was, gave her a foul look and went beck to sleep! I forgot what it was like to care what boy’s think of you and have to look perfect before they come in. I was just about dressed by 7.45am when the door between us was opened for breakfast. Left to drive over to Telford at 8.30am, Lewis, Matt, Christian, Stephen and I in Lewis’s car. Took about 45mins to get there and park up. Got there and had a wander round the exhibition area and then sat at a table with everyone until doors opened. The venue is huge, main auditorium with the exhibition hall/dining area off it and a food hall off that. Lots of other rooms on two levels for the seminars later on. The main event started at 10am with a gig from rapper Sammy G. He was very good, although not my kind of thing! Recognised some of his stuff from La Roche’s soundchecks! What I did notice though was that the main screen was slightly off centre…how much did that annoy me?! The Gathering Band did a worship set which was great and then Pete Greig spoke on prayer and shared his story which was good. Was distracted for the first 5mins trying to work out who he sounds like…Jack Dee! Then from 12.30-2pm was a break for lunch – burger and chips! Met up with Dave Sharpe (from Lewis’s home church) and him and Lewis were talking geeky stuff and recording podcasts…sigh. 2-3pm was first seminar session; Lewis, Dave and I went to one by Keith Warrington on the Holy Spirit which was interesting. Then a 45min break where I had a hot chocolate and a chocolate doughnut with chocolate in the middle…mmm yum and listened to Dave and Lewis talking! Second seminar session we went to one by John Glass on youth group leadership which was quite good, although not really applicable to me right now. Also a 15min talk about how to practically set up a prayer room, the initiative The Gathering are putting forward for October. Dinner break was 5-7pm, we went out to the shopping centre nearby and bought a Boots Meal Deal, stood chatting to Phil Hannam and Dave for a while, then went back to the venue to sit and chat before the evening event. It started with a gig from Four Kornerz, by this point I was quite sleepy and had to go out for a bit so I didn’t fall asleep! Then the Gathering Band did a set. Mark and Nita Pugh were speaking on prayer, using the Lord’s prayer as a model. Ended with worship and praying for each other. Finished just before 10pm, got back to our luxury accommodation about 11pm, chatted for a bit and was in bed by 12…although not asleep because the girls decided they wanted to straighten their hair. At midnight. Hmmm…
Haha – we also attempted to go to Asda petrol station. Elliott was following me – we ended up going the wrong way down a bus lane, and going round in circles a few times… if there had been any police around we’d have been done! We made it eventually though