We travelled down to Hawick on the Saturday, via Braehead Shopping Centre in Glasgow. We stopped in Newcastleton at Esther’s house (The SU worker responsible for our trip) for dinner and then on to Hawick to our hosts. Myself and Becca stayed with Stephen and Liz, Salvation Army officers. On Sunday we were at Burnfoot Parish Church in the morning, spent the afternoon at Andy/Joy/Jack/Ben’s hosts in Denholm and then were at the launch service at Hawick Baptist in the evening. It was a united service which Joy spoke at and we spent time praying for the upcoming week.
The week at Hawick was different to a ‘normal’ schools week we would do. It was called Peace Week and we were going in to take RE, Music and PSE Lessons for S1. Other outside organisations and youthworkers were taking other lessons – people from Whitaugh Park took PE and Business Studies Lessons. Also the newly appointed Chaplaincy Team were around all week helping out. We didn’t have a totally full timetable so had 2 or 3 lessons free a day which was in some ways helpful to do bits and pieces but also a shame that we didn’t get to spend as much time getting to know the students. We set up in the hall on their stage (I was very excited that we had proper wings so we didn’t have to invent changing rooms with black material!) and took assemblies, lessons and lunchtime activities all week. The week was a challenge as La Roche was off ill on Monday, and then Keel was off ill on Thursday (with the gig planned Thursday night). Thursday was the day it poured with rain, roads to surrounding villages were cut off so students were being sent home; the river swelled almost to bursting point and the decision was made to cancel the gig. We were all very disappointed but were given the opportunity to perform a sort of gig on the Friday morning to S1 which was good. I guess we may not have had many on the Thursday night anyway so it was good to be able to perform to all of them and Andy shared a gospel message with them. The headteacher of the school, although not a Christian, had come to the service on the Sunday night and was very encouraging of all that we were doing which was fantastic.
We packed down and left the school at lunchtime, heading to Beanscene to organise Secret Santa and to relax for the afternoon! Me and Keel went for an explore of the town and ended up at the top of the hill, overlooking Hawick, it was really beautiful. In the evening we went to Whitaugh Park and the rest of the team went Wall Climbing and Abseiling while I watched and shivered!
From the very first meeting in Hawick back in March there was the sense of a real spiritual battle and the week was tough. However there were so many positive comments from teachers and Esther was really pleased with how it went. A Check It Out group was started off the back of the week and we pray that amazing things happen!!
Tags: Abseiling, Beanscene, Braehead Shopping Centre, Burnfoot, Cancelled Gig, Denholm, Hawick, Peace Week, Wall Climbing, Whitaugh Park