Flight leaves in T minus 18 hours!!!

Flight leaves in 18 hours ... not that I'm counting and totally excited!!! Me ... excitable ... never!!!

Was up until the early hours this morning finishing off some prep atuff, and have just printed out the last session outline. It's finally here and finally happening. Was talking with Bob the other day and forgot to get his address ... been sent it by millions of folks now, so will definately get into the country.

Been thinking today about the different culture I'm going to. Sure, in some ways it's the same, but in others it's totally different. Really felt that last night as I was preparing stuff on purity. So glad God's Word is timeless and therefore the different culture is irrelevant. At the same time though, will be good to experience trying to teach like this in a whole other way than what I'm more used to.

Suit-case just about packed. Have been putting stuff in and taking it out all week. But the stuff that has stayed in is my schools work clothes. Yahey, they're letting me into schools!!! I have no problem not being able to talk about Jesus in the explicit way I would here, if I can just get in and form some links. I'll gladly tell them about Scotland, and hopefully even in that Jesus will be reflected in me. Who knows, Bob was thinking that some of the kids I meet may even come to some of the stuff going on in the week. That would be brilliant! Not for large numbers, but just because it'll enable relationships to be build and kids to get closer to Jesus ... maybe (please Lord) make a decision for Him!!! Ohhh, it's so cool. What an exciting possibility and such an awesome priviledge.

Really prayed into what I should be doing, and loads of it I really feel is the right stuff God's laid on my heart. I really want God to speak through me and use me, challenging and changing me as much as the young people, so I just pray that the stuff thats of me dyes away, so only He remains. The young folk are great, and I really pray that they encounter God in an even deeper way in what goes on. Man, I always just think, look at what they are now, all the stuff that they're into now and the way that they're drawing close to God ... and then I think, what will they be like in 5 years time.

The really disapppointing thing is that some of them may not be walking with God. I've seen it happen in my friends, in youth groups ... and though I pray against it, that may still be the case here. But at the same time, why can't they be different. Imagine what could happen?! Look at their potential, and then add in God who does things that are immersurably more than we can ask or imagine ... and wow, what a picture ......

And that's why I do what I do. Because I want God to use me, not to get a big head, but to help change people's lives. Not because I can do it, but because I know beyond a shadow of doubt He can!

So, off I go to pack, hopefully relax and sleep if I'm not climbing the walls ... and we'll see what happens ...