Petesa

The legend himself that is Pete Thompson. He was loving the turkey and the stuffing. He loves getting stuffed by Man Utd! Its been great getting to know Pete and working with him, if you can call it work. The past few months I've seen a real transformation in Pete's life, in terms of revival or renewal. Pete has a hunger for prayer and a desire to hear God's voice, which is inspiring and motivating to me. This is something Pete had years ago at Soul Survivor and its just like the sleeping giant has awoken again. I don't know how Pete does it. He is married with 2 kids, one on the way and he gives his all to the people of Ballysillan as well. I struggle to manage my time and have no responsibilities. So big it up for Petesa. I also think he looks like Frank Lampard. Plays like Jamie Carragher (all heart). Fancy a game of Empires...big Joan...Rod Hull....Aaron Pierce!

The Bluehouses

So here is Mims getting stuck in. Emma, in pink and grey, got baptised on Sunday night. She is an amazing singer. DD in red, can't really see him, but he became a Christian last week. Please pray for these great young people, that they would rise up, realise their potential and take their place as influencial leaders in their community 

Our first turkey

So here is the big man squewing our turkey...i think that is the word...well it is with a squewer...sint it? anyway we took on this mamoth task and i just want to say to my mum and dad, thank u and big up respect cos i was so stressed yesterday! its all about timing. Charlie and myself are loving the whole cooking thing, and really men are the best in the kitchen! Charlie thinks he is Gordon Ramsey but I say he is better than that. He's the money! So can I publicly say, or write, for the minutes, that I wish to thank my best mate for all his knowledge and experience which he has passed onto me - thank you Mark 

Staff retreat

So here is the crew minus some of my home boys...ie/aka Pete"the legend"thompson and alan "abu" cowan. we were up in whitepark bay, and have been ever since i joined yfc. it aint a bad thing cos it is beautiful up there. our topic was "humility". enough said. taking our retreat was aaron pierce from 24, hence why i am wearing my 24 tshirt, to pay homage to the best damn bodyguard i have ever known. i mean if Jack can trust him then we shud. even tho we at ctu dta. anyway it was good to catch up and hang out and have a laugh. did i tell u the topic was humility.... 

Transformers

This is myself and Gav with our retro tshirts on. This year in Dungannon Mission week we took the theme of 'Transformers' based on Romans 12v2 - "Don't conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" It was a great week with us getting into 4 secondary schools and taking every year group. Needless to say we were and are wrecked but it gave me a taste of what schools work has the potential to be. If I'm honest Ive lacked motivation lately but I think just going in and doing assemblies or taking SU groups hasnt been challenging me. Gavin and myself have been on a real journey as well, but I have to say he is one of my closest friends now. We share so much, not just an office, so we talk alot, complain alot but also pray alot for each other. Gav has been so encouraging to me and I value his thoughts and advice - except if it is to do with women! 

Official opening of the Bluehouses

So here we see Bake, the treasurerer bloke, JD and Mims opening the new premises. Got greta news at the weekend that DD became a Christian. DD was in South Africa with us last year and is one of the older young people. He really engages in singing with us on Thursday nightas. Lately we have just been meeting with 5 or 6 older young people to have dinner and just sit and chat. We then pray with them. My desire is that they would all realise their potential and experience the power of God in their lives. Im also really joyful that this is a great encouragement to Mims, Pete and Mark 

Mr and Mrs

Just thought this was a class photo. Phil was interviewing people with the mic and we found out that this lovely couple have a jacuzzi or hot tub...enuf said. We are now their best friends. Oh and they are doctors. GP's actually... 

20p

Ah memories...eating Apple Tart at Hallowe'en and you find some money wrapped in grease proof paper otherwise it leaves the apple all brown and not very nice. I actually nearly swallowed that 20p and died...lucky there was loads of doctors there... 

The girlie whirlies

This is Tracie and Sarinda. Phil knows Tracie from years ago at Primary School and apparently there is a photo of them running about naked...as youngsters, as we all used to do...but not anymore...cos of child protection...althought there was this one time....Anyway Sarinda is a doctor and drives an A3 and she owns the house that we had the party in. Great girls and a great laugh 

Virgil Islands

OK so I'm a bit slow but I really didnt get the fact that the characters were all named after Carribean Islands. I guess Phil's name is a bit of a giveaway. Mine was Tobago!! Genius!! Phil was a rich American Banker...lookin good my friend 

Toby Aggo

So this is me looking rather dashing or not...Im not a farmer but actually ex-military, and I own the only hotel on Paradise Island. Oh by the way this was taken for a murder mystery night I went to on Hallowe'en night. As Charlie says, "offcourse we should celebrate Hallowe'en!" 

London baby!

So Phil and I decided to take a wee trip down to London. 200 miles. 3 hours. We forgot that we had to come back tho so needless to say we were pretty tired - well I was! I had to put the cold air on to keep me awake, which made it a tad cold but sure LONDON BABY! 

The pit

That aint no ladder! Thats where you fly down into to meet certain death - only I survived it! Oblivion baby! 

Oblivion

Ohhhhhh what a rush! You stop at the edge and just hang there for a while and then you shot straight down into this hole. Great. I went on it 3 times, cos Im mad! 

Donuts!

Just remembered that this could have something to do with the fact that Phil and myself ate 10 donuts before...ummmm donuts! Everyone loved the Nemesis, not me. My favourite rides were the Air one when you are like Superman, flying around and Oblivion, which Ill try and get a picture for you 

The Nemesis

I like fast rides but anything that goes round as in spinnin round i cant really handle 

Nice...not

Kate and Phil have nice smiles...I dont! But please vote 

Cheese...

Please vote for your cheesiest smile...from l to r: Text Claire, Text Alan, Text Andre... 

Alton Towers

This was taken on my recent visit to Alton Towers for Andre's 30th birthday. It was wet and cold, so we bought these macs, well I didnt cos I had brought a coat - my mother has taught me well! From l to r - Kate, Andre, Claire, Phil and Alan 

Youth Alpha

  Don't i look happy! Im beside Laura who was with YFCNI for 3 years and now woerks for the local church in Killyleagh. Jamie is in the United jersey. Rebecca and Natasha are in the middle holding hands. 

Killyleagh Youth Apha 2006

  So here is the crew. They were really not to happy about getting their picture taken - well some of them weren't. It is an interesting dynamic and completely different from Dromore. You have to be really adaptable to how the young people feel and what is going on that day. I think one of the best things about this tho is that we eat together before the talk. Now I know why Jesus spent time in peoples homes, around the dinner table, chatting and enjoying company. Nowadays its not really the norm for anyone to sit round a table and talk without the TV on, never mind young people diuscussing their week. Great stuff! 

Toby - the German

  So I've had this guy Tobias from Germany stay with me for 2 months. He is over on work placement, helping out YFC with business and finance stuff.
It's interesting living with people. I've lived with quite a few people and it reveals a lot about myself - mainly that I am selfish and stubborn! 

Slieve Donard

  Here I am with my wee sis and her 2 dogs. Mac (Black) and Maddy (the other one). People are scared of them but they are great. They are so strong and fast and it is amazing the differnce to when they are inside and when they get out. Mac is so timid and good. Maddy is mad (heece the name!) So this is like the 3rd time Ive climbed Donard and I forgot how hard it was. Im getting old! It was such a clear day so we were able to see Scrabo and the Isle of Man and even whales! (not the country) well it was 2 black things in the water that some guy said were whales but they could have been submarines....anyway now I know why people belive God dwelt in the mountains and that in the Old Testament people attributed the presence of God to a mountain. There is something sacred and amazing about mountains. It makes me feel small in one way but overwhelmed in another that Creator God knows and loves me. Amazing! 

Small group

This was my small group for the week. We met every morning after breakfast to talk, read and pray thru some Bible notes. I tried to go deeper with these guys, rather than just read thru the notes. We had a great look at Matthew 23, and the guys were shocked at how Jesus spoke to the Pharisees. Its important to read the Bible, but if it aint impacting the way we live then whats the point? Simon shared how Jewish boys of his age would have been able to recite the whole Old Testament, and yet we struggled to find Ezekiel!

Back row: Paul and me/I
Front row: Sammy, Simon and Stevie

Whats interesting is that I used to teach Paul when I was at Slemish College in Ballymena. He was in my first football team. Really skillful player but was small in Year 10 but now has sprouted up. Paul got constantly slagged because of his accent. We needed subtitles when interviewing him in our 'Soccer PM' show ever night. This was loosely based on the Saturday morning TV show 'Soccer AM' - we even had soccerettes! Instead of having a 'talk' each night we watched video clips and each coach got interviewed about their life. We wanted to share how living as a follower of Jesus was in all areas of our lives.

Sammy reminded me a lot of myself when I was younger - fast, an eye for goal and ginger...

Simon woul ask questions and had a lot of offer the group in terms of his thoughts and what he had heard before. He is a great player but it was class to see him pass to younger players and include those who werent as good as him. Hopefully he will become a leader on the camp in the future

Stevie was a real pro. He always was well groomed and enjoyed golf. He also was interested in Ruth-Anne Morgan and old friend from school, who was on the Adventure Camp and staying in the same place as us. 

Baptist Youth Soccer Coaches 06

Don't we look like footballers?! Well I had so much fun on this camp. I went with the intention of finding out how to run a football camp but ended up really enjoying myself. I suppose at the start I was like a spy...but I ended up joining the enemy...if you can call Baptist Youth the enemy! It was good to get back involved in Baptist Youth circles again. The last Baptist Youth camp I done/did was over 10 year ago. I felt old and noone really new me so that was good. I have preconceptions that people from Baptist Youth maybe just remember me being a young, immature, badtempered cheeky slabber. And what has changed I hear you say?? Newtownbreda always had a bad name as being too competitive at Baptist Youth Sports, and the fact that we always won didnt help either!

It was cool cos I met Dave Ramsey, who is now head of Baptist Youth, and we both used to compete against eachother in football, to put it nicely. He is from Carrick Baptist, which were largerly represented at the Soccer Camp.

So the picture from l to r: (top row) Ashley "Stato" from Armagh, Sammy "Midfield General" Chambers from Carrick, Charlie "The Ref" Pollock from Carrick, Matt "Techie" from Loughall. (Sitting) Josh "about to turn pro" from Ballycraigy (?), Steve "the gaffer" Couiller from Monkstown, me and Paul "the foreigner" from Glenarm (?)