Jonny, Laurie and Sofia are off on hols this week (we’re all jealous), so Christina and I have been looking after their little dog called Tico. Christina thinks this will mean we’ll get a dog of our own soon; she’s wrong. Oh the intricacies of married life!

Anyways, I’ve never had a dog before, and even though its only been 2 days its been an experience. I was rudely woken this morning at 7am by him jumping on my head. Lovely. Yesterday, I was walking him and I felt like God was trying to say something to me, so I did my best to listen.

As we walked along, Tico pulled on the lead to the left, and to the right, sometimes he stopped to pee on a lamp-post, sometimes he tried to run ahead of me; but all the while I had the leash and decided the way to go. When other dogs came along I had to see him round the danger (he is a woose, but thinks he’s hard).

I felt like God was trying to show me this is how we can be with Him; we want to go in the right direction, but we chase all over the place following where we think is best to go, sometimes we run too fast, sometimes we go too slow; more often than not we don’t go in the right direction. But in the end, God has the leash - he directs our paths, he makes all things work for our good, he corrects us and encourages us.

Maybe its time for us to relax a little, and trust that God has it all covered, to really believe and live like He knows best, and will get us to where He wants us to be? Maybe we need to stop pulling at the leash and just go at the pace He wants us to go at?

It certainly seems that walking a dog is much easier when the dog lets you take control.

Noel has been putting us to shame with the resound blog.

I will do my utmost to fix that and make us look better.

I promise to starting posting more - maybe even weekly.

Hello

This July (2009), we’re running 4 Friday nights in the local park on Dover Street, to get to know families and people in the area a little better. The dates are the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st of July, featuring a VD/DJ, Family fun night, Karaoke and Outdoor cinema respectively.

Every night will also feature a kids bouncy castle, games, Wii, barbecue, football competitons, Best Dad competition and more…

We would love some help to make this happen - so please please get in touch with any of our Well and let us know you’d like to help.

Thanks,
Ryan, Christina, Charles, Ramy, Laurie, Sofia, Jonny, Ruth, Amalia

Next thursday night (18th) we’re putting together a Christmas dinner and each of us has invited the people we know from around the area. Its a chance for us to meet and connect with the people we’ve been hearing and praying for, and hopefully to help them get a bit closer to Jesus.

It would be great if you could be praying about it - we really need that. It could be an amazing night, or it could be a disaster, but prayer will make the difference.

Thanks,
Ryan

Ramy and I have been spending a couple of nights a week in one of the pubs recently, partly to try and connect with some people who we wouldn’t meet otherwise, and partly so I can beat him at pool and make him feel bad (I can write that here because he can’t get back at me).

Its been good fun and we’ve met a few characters, let me introduce a few.

A couple of weeks ago we walked in and 3 ladies were sitting at one end of the bar, they seemed in good form. After a couple of minutes they called us over, and asked us where we were from as we looked like visitors. Although slightly insulted (I live all of 2 minutes away), I said Bangor and Ramy said “Lebanon”. One of the ladies said “Where’s that?”, he said near Israel, she said “Where’s that?”. 

He changed tack.

“Have you ever heard of Beirut?”.

“Beirut - of course I’ve heard of Beirut. The Shankill is Beirut!”.

I don’t think either of us was expecting that answer. Anyway, we laughed, we talked some more and then Ramy beat me at pool (I know its hard to believe…).

We’ve seen these ladies a few more times since, and they’re always up for a chat. About a week later after the Beirut incident, then shouted at us from across the bar “Youse are Christians aren’t you?” - they really know how to offend me. We ended up having a chat about church and stuff, which was pretty cool. Hopefully we’ll get to have a few more chats like that with them.

I’m trying to not name them, or give away too much info, but there are 3 of them, and they would love it if you would pray them into Jesus’ kingdom (in a pre-destined, future would love it kind of way.)

Ryan