Monday 22-Friday 26 October 07

Hello! I trust this finds you well.

What a week, another busy one with some great things going on! we had an excellent meeting with Kat and Sophie from 'Collective' who will be doing a missions week with us, it is looking like such an exciting time ahead and it only gets more exciting the more we prepare for the week!

We also had our Annual Genral Meeting, thank you to Downslade baptist church for hosting us and thanks to all of you who came.

I trekked down to London on Tuesday for the Youth For Christ leadership Tour which provides an opportunity to catch up with what is going on in YFC and with other centres from this part of the country whilst also keeping up to date with the new initiatives and resources out there.

I came away from the day feeling really positive with what we are already achieving in Haverhill and Clare but also seeing so much potential.

I have seen many of the resources that YFC provide and if any of you want any advice or help finding resources appropriate for your church groups or any schools work you may offer please do contact me and I will be more than willing to help you where I can.

a key thing to me which came from Tuesday is the aspect of Extended schools work in Haverhill. This is an initiative set up by the government which is requiring schools to open there doors from 8am-6pm and during schools holidays. The government our encouraging faith groups to offer support to schools. This got me thinking about Haverhill and how we can offer support. I am hoping to speak to our Extended Schools Officer to ask how we can help. If anyone is particularly interested in the ideas of Extended schools and you have any gifts you feel you could offer, be in sports coaching, dance, arts or help in a general after schools club I would love to hear from you, I would love to offer more support to schools but we need help from volunteers to make this more viable!

Please pray as we see how we can offer support to schools in this area.

We have also made contact with Castle Hill Middle-praise God! And we will be meeting with them after half term to see what we can do to help them. This is a true answer to prayer and we are so excited that we are now in all of the Middle and Upper Schools!

This coming week is half term, so lots of planning and praying for the coming weeks. Please keep praying for the young people in Haverhill and district, please pray that during half term that God will stay close to them, for some being at home can be a lonely place.

Please also pray for staff that they will have time to rest, also pray for churches doing holiday clubs, pray for protection and for wisdom and that they will have great fun spreading the good news.

I hope you all have a great weekend, dare I say lets pray for our England Rugby team as they represent our nation on Saturday in the World Cup Final!!! Enjoy the match if you watch it!