tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76829136127347371032024-03-05T14:57:05.702-08:00Tom's BlogIt used to be updates from Malawi, currently I'm pondering the possibility of a blogUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-21942283601853903402019-08-09T10:04:00.000-07:002019-08-09T10:04:56.321-07:00My London 100 story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
<b>It’s hard to describe the emotions of an endurance event</b>. </h2>
Not just the actual thing, but the build up and the training and the support. - The journey. Add to that a personal story that’s a mix of heartbreak, fear, and triumph and you have a Molotov cocktail.<br />
<br />
I’ve had a go at describing these emotions before. Was the London 100 the toughest thing I’ve put my myself through? Not really. I think the Kentish Killer in February was tougher, and while I didn’t put myself through it, the serious bout of Psoriatic Arthritis in 2014 was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever taken on.<br />
<h4>
Yet it is because of this disease that this was one of the most emotional.</h4>
I think if you asked Joe, a friend who I did some preparation with, both training and bike maintenance, cycled with to the Olympic park at 4am, and also for the first 85 miles of the ride, he would be surprised that I found it so emotional. We were all smiles, fist bumps and laughs throughout.<br />
<br />
I think if you asked Jo she would knowingly tell you I was struggling emotionally, but not necessarily because I had told her I was. I let her know I was struggling physically. I let her know I needed her support, but I didn’t really let her in to the doubt I was experiencing. The emotional rollercoaster. Or the sadness, fear and uncertainty that having to carry this disease causes me. But she knows me, and she understands my behaviour.<br />
<br />
I think if you asked the kids they may have said I was fine. But they would know I was edgy, at least the day before, despite taking them mountain biking and trying my best to have a great day with them. I just couldn’t cope with any extra pressure, which meant I wasn’t coping well with them at all.<br />
<br />
As I trained with various friends, some of whom did the London 100, I smiled and joked. But inside and outside I’m not the rider I was 12 months ago. My knees are worse, and in June, and to a lesser extent 2 weeks ago, the Arthritis flared leaving me off my target condition. I was worried by the decline. Desperate for some form. For some improvement in speed and endurance.<br />
<br />
One of my biggest concerns, as I look back, is I’m not sure I spoke to Jesus about it enough. I wanted to be strong. I wanted to conquer. So much of who I am is wrapped up in being solution focused. I hate discussing things when there is no answer, no solution. I hide from those topics. Choosing to appear strong. To bury my feelings. Scared that if light touches them then they will be there for everyone to see. Ignore and maybe they’ll go away. Focus on what I can do, not what I can’t. There is a strength here, but it is also a weakness. It’s counter the values I hold in high esteem. To be humble. To be open. To be honest.<br />
<br />
As we cycled through the last hours of the night, and took the beautiful greenway route just as the sun rose over London’s iconic sky line, I started to leg go of my hang ups. This was a truly beautiful moment. Spinning along in the fresh morning air, heading towards an event we had been preparing so thoroughly for. Beautiful beams of light bouncing off giant pillars of hazy glass. And the quiet. Just the whirring of our glistening chains, spurring us on gently, yet swiftly towards the imposing Olympic stadium. In some ways I’m glad there are no photos from this time, leaving it personal and tucked away.<br />
<br />
So what if I wasn’t strong enough to beat 5 hours? I knew I was ready and able to complete the ride regardless of time. This is about so much more than that. This is about being with literally 1000’s of people celebrating achievement, celebrating the remarkable work of so many organisations who fight for the broken, the sick, the voiceless, the marginalised. Personally, for me it was about celebrating all those that live with Arthritis and all those who want change.<br />
<br />
Amongst all this “serious stuff” it was also about enjoying my ability to ride, to compete, to suffer (those deep moments of suffering bring to me a stark contrast to the worst days of the disease, where I had pain all over my body and thought I may be passing on to the next life - seriously) - to ride alongside, and work together with a great cyclist like Joe, a guy who just 2 years ago I thought I would never be able to cycle alongside for any length of time. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDe9nnaeYiee8pcIAy58TTAxas9J6OmJq58ysKhBfFnmsaB1srZ8g-oWzprtmEADI-NTavC_ff1rVIpVmUDrMRLRqUmZsa4-O_06jW4vSALkNMyrwOJfPvGIoeeqBAPNShyphenhyphenzZFWfY7zkL/s1600/CB7C03BE-CBE9-475E-ACCA-D103DE38B382.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDe9nnaeYiee8pcIAy58TTAxas9J6OmJq58ysKhBfFnmsaB1srZ8g-oWzprtmEADI-NTavC_ff1rVIpVmUDrMRLRqUmZsa4-O_06jW4vSALkNMyrwOJfPvGIoeeqBAPNShyphenhyphenzZFWfY7zkL/s400/CB7C03BE-CBE9-475E-ACCA-D103DE38B382.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting in my “wave”</td></tr>
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Then I was in Blue wave D. Having been efficiently funnelled into a pen with 500 other cyclists, all who expected to get this done in under 5 hours. I had surrendered my bag and some of my gear, and had quickly had a pee, said goodbye to Joe, planned on waiting on the left for me as he was a wave ahead, and here I was in my wave. We discussed cycling, the event and much more. This was a special time, someone had forgot to turn off the sprinklers and as we got sprayed we all tried not to fall over, but still avoid getting wet! The 45mins of waiting went by in an instant. A DJ, apparently famous, decided to play us out to AC DC and we were off.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2B2LhbBD-h_2WU5JfG8UW_5eO3GjjMhA2DO-Wj2i9k05t_cgwLVonhQdmKyZEWVgyO7PcQvN6oqRti_iD32LtVw8MMG_67duVa-eNAjhYq8cbN0wdz_x_Syou8wFbuV0_NAmRrQ0tTFr/s1600/9DDF0088-456E-4D4A-A885-56FC249B67E2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2B2LhbBD-h_2WU5JfG8UW_5eO3GjjMhA2DO-Wj2i9k05t_cgwLVonhQdmKyZEWVgyO7PcQvN6oqRti_iD32LtVw8MMG_67duVa-eNAjhYq8cbN0wdz_x_Syou8wFbuV0_NAmRrQ0tTFr/s400/9DDF0088-456E-4D4A-A885-56FC249B67E2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting off</td></tr>
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I really enjoyed the buzz. The atmosphere. The support. The crowds. The bands. The iconic sites. The speed. We were at almost 40k/hour for the first 90 minutes. We flew. The Limehouse link tunnel was taken at speed. East London was behind us, the lumbering river Thames on our left now. People ringing cow bells, clapping, banging, lining the streets despite it being just past 6am. Clubs of cyclists pushing past on my right in huge pelotons (a large group of cyclists, who stick extremely close together to minimise drag).<br />
<br />
West London approaching. A Haze across the beautiful leafy Richmond park as we took it on at speed. Deer feeding, cyclists taking the foot off for a sec just to take it in. The sun shining.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzSzITcXdkoIljkdmLBrRNSKzbk7Jeuvk356aWVvmbPByMu-SrISiPNysrIRb0iBtLRTVZlXe3bUMx-Id_y7UifmksshPxY3motFr0BwjrDcK_-HYySJPoZGxudAtuoIl7rUL9esv7tD8/s1600/783CDC5F-6F06-4EE2-939F-6259D5082ADC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1052" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzSzITcXdkoIljkdmLBrRNSKzbk7Jeuvk356aWVvmbPByMu-SrISiPNysrIRb0iBtLRTVZlXe3bUMx-Id_y7UifmksshPxY3motFr0BwjrDcK_-HYySJPoZGxudAtuoIl7rUL9esv7tD8/s400/783CDC5F-6F06-4EE2-939F-6259D5082ADC.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richmond Park </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpjjhHfYg3nQzEHTAAu-qp373a1k5nEzi768jljq7RW5GlwXtkIdJ9BFZQePf4Gem6gtRAoD01tgFe12D-yh1Y_cNLQsiiH6zLaURt6se7blqGIF52gViSgA29jCgD-9D6oomu6DYxvjw/s1600/ADBDF3B2-E5A4-4497-85E2-91076AC0473F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpjjhHfYg3nQzEHTAAu-qp373a1k5nEzi768jljq7RW5GlwXtkIdJ9BFZQePf4Gem6gtRAoD01tgFe12D-yh1Y_cNLQsiiH6zLaURt6se7blqGIF52gViSgA29jCgD-9D6oomu6DYxvjw/s400/ADBDF3B2-E5A4-4497-85E2-91076AC0473F.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Richmond Park </td></tr>
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As the ride went on, my fears, my hang ups, my reasons, my past, disappeared. At least for a while. Freedom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2pD7ot3xd4dtL0-ugRnZlwu3u5s3apHXoq-HgcWLsQrAtjuSTdC9xgvrvpjzGkCtn6ZrxwCRVtrXv_Uwph3I0IHJfqRaYOpUcA9ymKcnLlItDAF1Hgs31tNIwEYtAWqpKyLt59i1evxP/s1600/8B64AED0-A0FD-4C7C-B802-B6FCFF49A83F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2pD7ot3xd4dtL0-ugRnZlwu3u5s3apHXoq-HgcWLsQrAtjuSTdC9xgvrvpjzGkCtn6ZrxwCRVtrXv_Uwph3I0IHJfqRaYOpUcA9ymKcnLlItDAF1Hgs31tNIwEYtAWqpKyLt59i1evxP/s400/8B64AED0-A0FD-4C7C-B802-B6FCFF49A83F.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still going well </td></tr>
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I regained some of the form from a year ago. We could still beat 5 hours. We pressed on, me and Joe, encouraging each other that the goal was still in reach. Taking on the 3 big hills, Newlands, then Leith, then the famous (but probably easiest) Box Hill. Each time I pressed ahead and let Joe catch me up over the next mile or 2. I’m a fairly good climber, especially on the longer lower gradient climbs, so I was not surprised when Joe couldn’t follow me up the hills.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVt_DgGlm5aEKILvnWYPW8Vt-YbyIqZo-126obhdI1Qr2MuAFjXprQAZyh02Fp6b9DcG8slEpK13K8_XgdYWMJrR-kvr4jhgWu-nzivXy7Tq0qEOZLLLJohluZFZyDunRQADK7lw1hvr70/s1600/C8DD4207-F0D5-432D-9A08-CA8522D1BC06.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVt_DgGlm5aEKILvnWYPW8Vt-YbyIqZo-126obhdI1Qr2MuAFjXprQAZyh02Fp6b9DcG8slEpK13K8_XgdYWMJrR-kvr4jhgWu-nzivXy7Tq0qEOZLLLJohluZFZyDunRQADK7lw1hvr70/s400/C8DD4207-F0D5-432D-9A08-CA8522D1BC06.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling away up Box Hill </td></tr>
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These were more iconic moments. Yet gorgeous scenery fades back from focus as your heart rate soars. All you can hear is the blood pumping. All you can feel is the sweat stinging your eyes and the deep aches in your muscles. But if I’m really honest I love it. I love to discover just how deep I can go. I think that’s why I often push on, especially when the gradient is not too severe.<br />
<br />
After Box Hill Joe was really struggling, I kept trying to pull him along, but he couldn’t hold my wheel. The 5 hour target was slipping away, and Joe encouraged me to go on ahead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2592ZTy8ZFgwjVJzuw_Vt4yxqIT4ocKVYTSU7F9t2ZIld9ERlI2I9PdRmfK5pQC7bFgDXs7jMvZVxHXnsW14I73wZ3CGRZnr7xF9IGZSphrRC9XeTSbapknuFBkA6dL-wHXNya-Eg7OPS/s1600/66D2167A-49E8-473A-B80C-48318D4B6713.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2592ZTy8ZFgwjVJzuw_Vt4yxqIT4ocKVYTSU7F9t2ZIld9ERlI2I9PdRmfK5pQC7bFgDXs7jMvZVxHXnsW14I73wZ3CGRZnr7xF9IGZSphrRC9XeTSbapknuFBkA6dL-wHXNya-Eg7OPS/s400/66D2167A-49E8-473A-B80C-48318D4B6713.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The struggle and the pain </td></tr>
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I decided to take his advice and press on. It wasn’t an easy decision, and one I still feel uneasy about. I worked with other cyclists and it was looking like 5 hours was still possible. Then, about 10 miles from the finish, like a thunderbolt, cramp, in my thigh! The worst I have ever felt, and the only time I have really got cramp like that, ever. Every time I tried to peddle it came back, threatening to throw me off my bike. I was dawdling along now. Wondering how on earth I was going to climb up the “kicker” (short and sharp) Wimbledon Hill. Then a cyclist I had worked with earlier came by and asked me if I had been drinking or taking electrolytes. I had actually run out of water a while before, and I hadn’t been taking any electrolytes or eating since the half way mark. She shared her wealth, and just like that I could push on the leg again! Not quite like before. It was threatening to cramp, but it never went like that again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYaeOCscTrR4Dvtzmiuf2J1zHWFltLqP_Pvb_PPWjcrp5WaRjOQyTscD3bMAFWJEMnVxFsi83e_mJXFCd2eNeVmqkSB8doCfbxMxzpzbuAeSUgBM6qE3C5AC5s2QapzDXl2OF_Q9qGiBN/s1600/B6177D70-8DDF-4636-9024-D48ED8569475.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYaeOCscTrR4Dvtzmiuf2J1zHWFltLqP_Pvb_PPWjcrp5WaRjOQyTscD3bMAFWJEMnVxFsi83e_mJXFCd2eNeVmqkSB8doCfbxMxzpzbuAeSUgBM6qE3C5AC5s2QapzDXl2OF_Q9qGiBN/s400/B6177D70-8DDF-4636-9024-D48ED8569475.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some riders using me for a tow, pain really setting in </td></tr>
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So the 5 hours was gone, not possible any longer.<br />
<br />
Ahead I saw another Versus Arthritis rider, I caught him and we cycled past our team support area in Wimbledon together and he pulled me up the Wimbledon hill. (Being pulled up means cycling right behind another cyclist while they set the pace. Going up hill I’ve decided it must be a psychological thing, but on the flats or down hill it means you use less energy than the person in front as they take the wind).<br />
<br />
He pushed on and tried to help me, but just like Joe couldn’t hold (stick behind!) my wheel, I couldn’t hold his and he pressed on.<br />
<br />
And then, suddenly, I got emotional. I was drained. I was wondering whether I should have left Joe. I was desperate to see my Jo. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I was scared in June with the flare up and hadn’t told anyone. I was so angry at this dirty disease. How it silently takes from people, wiping out their hopes. I felt solidarity with the other riders, especially the Versus Arthritis ones. I knew this was going to be over, I knew the finish was around the corner. But it couldn’t come quick enough. My butt was burning. My back aching. I’ve felt worse physically, but not many times. I’ve felt emotionally similar, but not in public. A few tears rolled.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4IQSmbfuNI0U1mBRLAuRuzS5muYwmKdlys1iHL0cZqa8iJ2aHYN2SMYIDZ2wLZsRpjNXp2c7idXaFbi40BOmTsUFC3Tmj9hKjlb356Gj4VaTotu7dmSqeGYNLY9eHEFamGHK5Rebd339/s1600/316F0087-06A8-413C-981C-A2A2DB796E38.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM4IQSmbfuNI0U1mBRLAuRuzS5muYwmKdlys1iHL0cZqa8iJ2aHYN2SMYIDZ2wLZsRpjNXp2c7idXaFbi40BOmTsUFC3Tmj9hKjlb356Gj4VaTotu7dmSqeGYNLY9eHEFamGHK5Rebd339/s400/316F0087-06A8-413C-981C-A2A2DB796E38.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The final bend </td></tr>
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And there it was. The Mall. The Palace. The red, famous brick of the road. Right in front of me. I pushed on, no longer aware of anything other than speed and where on earth was Jo. This was another iconic moment, but I just wanted to see her. I could see nothing else, just a Sea of faces. There she was, cheering me on. My best friend and the only person on this planet I wanted to cuddle and kiss and share in that moment with.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjM-ZlvgL2hNHeVHR4lGJq7XMeMH2aKFesepeDhwaMOX3bvTOTDvfRkMFWS_BKAwoxCB_2l0a7_YtaNSqNxRChJjN1nJutoQoAVV3lhCuq4DdY7rhZ2PyKNrrP2sY0E5z1M3L1jz5QGp_K/s1600/A2EF8EED-649B-49F0-A2DE-69A6E7D8054A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjM-ZlvgL2hNHeVHR4lGJq7XMeMH2aKFesepeDhwaMOX3bvTOTDvfRkMFWS_BKAwoxCB_2l0a7_YtaNSqNxRChJjN1nJutoQoAVV3lhCuq4DdY7rhZ2PyKNrrP2sY0E5z1M3L1jz5QGp_K/s400/A2EF8EED-649B-49F0-A2DE-69A6E7D8054A.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mall, the Palace and the finish line </td></tr>
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I offered up a prayer of thanks as I crossed the finish line. It was done. I prayed for all those with Arthritis, that they would really live. That they would know freedom. I prayed for my 3 fellow riders, Joe and John Arundel riding for Pancreatic Cancer UK, and Bish riding for Macmillan.<br />
<br />
And then I went to look for Jo again. If nothing else, these journeys are ones of self discovery. You learn your limits. You find out who really matters to you. You draw close to those you rely on...<br />
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
You find out what and who you’ve really put your trust in.</h4>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Isaiah 12:2</span></b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboRA-F0xpX1B11k4MFc3NfrrDQmh7d_7p5NJkzjtOJzLksdFTwyUYtuzGHJJYus1Q0VD58aAm-Ghv7Ex-gc0CpNQ6z4MyLqD-zYCkMFaaTmg8dvvM9K8vkuADpi1xYrB1uG_rvHD4YknS/s1600/BAFA8FA5-407C-46D8-A2EF-48B3D6277900.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhboRA-F0xpX1B11k4MFc3NfrrDQmh7d_7p5NJkzjtOJzLksdFTwyUYtuzGHJJYus1Q0VD58aAm-Ghv7Ex-gc0CpNQ6z4MyLqD-zYCkMFaaTmg8dvvM9K8vkuADpi1xYrB1uG_rvHD4YknS/s400/BAFA8FA5-407C-46D8-A2EF-48B3D6277900.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Joe </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vqrKr9VZUe4sRl0DIImDETb6-ECYAv2Dnz39bTIRfKZnnHJ1P5qJTcG1e2SYxNJ09gxSFrD-VPIyYcJGytdvsLsSghZjfwfaTwr87UslHuaJjjoRAqIhITgBaEZrJLXX4pQLScwY6Xp6/s1600/9CDDAAB8-E7E7-44FE-8DE8-3F21C0A0BEEC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vqrKr9VZUe4sRl0DIImDETb6-ECYAv2Dnz39bTIRfKZnnHJ1P5qJTcG1e2SYxNJ09gxSFrD-VPIyYcJGytdvsLsSghZjfwfaTwr87UslHuaJjjoRAqIhITgBaEZrJLXX4pQLScwY6Xp6/s640/9CDDAAB8-E7E7-44FE-8DE8-3F21C0A0BEEC.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No words can do justice to this beautiful woman and partner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-73672364182774257412017-05-03T13:56:00.002-07:002017-05-03T14:15:46.738-07:00From London to Bath, resilience and mental heath<br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">From London to Bath, resilience
and mental health </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
On Saturday I, along with 2 very beautiful people, cycled from London to
Bath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Including breaks, the 200 kilometres
took us just over 12 hours.<br />
<br />
I've been asked why quite a few times. The answer is not simple, and
I'm not convinced I know I know why. But I’ll pose a few of the reasons.<br />
<br />
The Daily Mail tweeted the headline today: “£55,000-a week England
footballer Aaron Lennon is detained under mental health act after stand-off police.”<br />
<br />
While I’m grateful there was a strong public outcry at this statement, I’m
also aware that papers like the Mail both influence people, and are influenced
by what people think. This leads me to my first reason for riding to Bath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Resilience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
For too long we’ve been happy to link mental health issues with
weakness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m fed up with it. I think we
can do so much better than blame and fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If someone’s leg snaps under pressure, we wouldn’t dream of saying they
were weak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or if their leg breaks due to
a weak bone, we wouldn’t dream of saying they should tough it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
The evidence points to people suffering with mental ill heath as the victim.
The illness likely formed during traumatic events beyond our control, usually
something that someone else did to us, when we were a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
The ride to Bath, for me, was for my own health and to help support Off the
Record.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Off the Record provides therapy
for young people experiencing problems with their mental health, and I like
their approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I write we’ve raised
just over £800 (£900 with gift aid) and are just £100 short of our target. I
would love to meet it and help as many youngsters as possible.<br />
<br />
This ride was also for my own health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Achievement and shared experiences all help build resilience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boy, do I need it.<br />
<br />
As someone who manages a long-term health condition while at the same time
running a mental health charity and business I recognise that my mental health
is not always great. 3 years ago, I went through a particularly low period after
being diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. Fear marked out a period of my life
and I was experiencing more than just physical pain.<br />
<br />
This was a ride for health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
I completed the ride with 2 very resilient people. Both are men that I’ve
known through the years, adventured with in the past. Both have come through
various and significant trials. This ride only added to that list of trials! A
trial that we came through side by side, supported each other in and completed
together.<br />
<br />
I pray that Aaron Lennon’s team mates pull together to support him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been around football my whole life, from
Saturday church teams to National teams and I know the potential for support is
there. But I also know the potential for isolation in that environment too. The
shared experience, the camaraderie, the physical challenge and the leadership,
it should lead to a good outcome for Aaron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br />
<br />
But for now, I’m grateful to those around me, to my body for holding up, and
to Ash and John for completing the ride with me.<br />
<br />
If you'd like to sponsor our ride you have about one more day to do it! Please go to:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://localgiving.org/fundraising/londontobath">https://localgiving.org/fundraising/londontobath</a>/ <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUg6HO54B3jYKBYzXcakKxguGbT29EaMVAYJlCaaKCM1xGFxyngb-Dwk0_LYQ2Pyfa0zCAgaU4qogp6rw8nXJ9lvPsqoSKNLQdKVP5EvnKlRYw9odDc0YJTzUcufQPhLpJD9djD1bGex4j/s1600/18268530_10158616708395471_3111023586085627117_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUg6HO54B3jYKBYzXcakKxguGbT29EaMVAYJlCaaKCM1xGFxyngb-Dwk0_LYQ2Pyfa0zCAgaU4qogp6rw8nXJ9lvPsqoSKNLQdKVP5EvnKlRYw9odDc0YJTzUcufQPhLpJD9djD1bGex4j/s640/18268530_10158616708395471_3111023586085627117_n.jpg" width="608" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting off at Wimbledon</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3HkwMs_JxEbCbTGYu3FktZZNBaVlcshD14jD3t6loX7zWELWLnxeuli2Z-0SCGGGBlCag38-oVqO6-N6KGdC3whJEiPYb0GYW_a83JCpeQyMeO-XTIi22PGQv6B1-DC3EM7vfzuIvkMh/s1600/18222361_10158616708410471_5502685772967635735_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3HkwMs_JxEbCbTGYu3FktZZNBaVlcshD14jD3t6loX7zWELWLnxeuli2Z-0SCGGGBlCag38-oVqO6-N6KGdC3whJEiPYb0GYW_a83JCpeQyMeO-XTIi22PGQv6B1-DC3EM7vfzuIvkMh/s640/18222361_10158616708410471_5502685772967635735_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First stop, first stretch!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyjmZ6AKhFNQIDKPk7ECOfi6ZgGsLx9FS4dg474Yt7eUKFMBsK0gtrzcHy1g6kHmx2gH1O5MJurtlAHh6APZWflVrtpRd9XRp6UBVU9FuiKDzAz3gkDsQLjC-MVT1UOnRnP6VuqFoyBLE/s1600/18222639_10158616716750471_3461658283496351351_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyjmZ6AKhFNQIDKPk7ECOfi6ZgGsLx9FS4dg474Yt7eUKFMBsK0gtrzcHy1g6kHmx2gH1O5MJurtlAHh6APZWflVrtpRd9XRp6UBVU9FuiKDzAz3gkDsQLjC-MVT1UOnRnP6VuqFoyBLE/s640/18222639_10158616716750471_3461658283496351351_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pub lunch and keeping warm by the fire</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing the really big climb in the Cotswalds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG02O7R0GFlT4Ms9NUzhOsgMB0blnJYpyWHCgHMNNFNkxvmcoQQUgsWd90_TrwFV06ykunzXzvLKZwbA8YwjNFY8zZ3EWAcXGXOu1a9oYwPrdK6BRg1zwQVTpmz24_XzKCLa0T83fIuSS/s1600/18301565_10158616841045471_7769391600698261697_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWG02O7R0GFlT4Ms9NUzhOsgMB0blnJYpyWHCgHMNNFNkxvmcoQQUgsWd90_TrwFV06ykunzXzvLKZwbA8YwjNFY8zZ3EWAcXGXOu1a9oYwPrdK6BRg1zwQVTpmz24_XzKCLa0T83fIuSS/s640/18301565_10158616841045471_7769391600698261697_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made it!</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-4788267677816738532017-03-27T05:05:00.002-07:002017-03-27T05:11:10.279-07:00Living through pain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSichjjBUS0QT9h3Zptk2cmpThr_7QWJINjZv1BE6DivR6P9pCG6GvrCUT75TgEqoj0KMnkddKhNYEb42s-lq1pgbe6vGJOzukU-GUhZD295OXHMEIgOMcGEo637DjeKH2YSWmw4PS0a2/s1600/Windy+and+scary+at+the+top+of+Bunda+with+Daddy+and+Hunphreys%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSichjjBUS0QT9h3Zptk2cmpThr_7QWJINjZv1BE6DivR6P9pCG6GvrCUT75TgEqoj0KMnkddKhNYEb42s-lq1pgbe6vGJOzukU-GUhZD295OXHMEIgOMcGEo637DjeKH2YSWmw4PS0a2/s400/Windy+and+scary+at+the+top+of+Bunda+with+Daddy+and+Hunphreys%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a> <b></b><br />
<h2>
<b>Living through pain.</b></h2>
2 and a half years ago I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. It is an evil disease that is debilitating and life-shortening. This made sense. As I lied in a bed, unable to walk and in excruciating pain, I thought back over the past 10 years and thought “this is it”. The disease was the reason I had not been able to play sport. It was the reason my toe twisted 6 years prior to the diagnosis, the reason my knees were always swollen and sore. This disease had caused the increasing fatigue I had been experiencing. Now, not only did I feel this pain and distress, I was permanently put on Methotrexate, a Chemotherapy that is pretty rough. I spent a few nights unable to sleep, a mixture of pain and fear keeping me awake. The consultant hadn’t given me much hope for recovery. I went over, and over, dying. How would my kids cope? What about Jo, would she re-marry? I want her to remarry. No I don’t. Yes, I do. As my joints loosened, and the pain went, I saw my knee caps for the first time in many years. I repeatedly visited the consultant, went for constant blood tests, regular steroid injections and regular joint aspirations. I also repeatedly heard the words “great progress” and a sense of hope sparked. And then, after countless “faith” prayers and countless “be healed” moments, someone, in amongst a rambling prayer, uttered the words “Thank you Jesus for interceding for Tom”. Something in me broke. Peace filled my heart. I’ve been in remission for 2 years now. I still take Methotrexate once a week, a toxic drug. My kidneys are stable, yet not functioning fully. It’s not always a nice experience. But according to the Consultant, I am on the minimum dose and it’s working almost miraculously.<br />
<h4>
<b> </b></h4>
<h4>
<b>Recovery</b></h4>
I thank God, for the healing process of course, but also for the opportunity. I’ve never felt so in love with Jesus. I still carry physical pain with me on a daily basis. My knees hurt, my jaw clicks and aches, my knuckles are tender and my toes sometimes swell. But I’ve found a sense of joy in life that was missing for a long time. Cycling was a huge step forward for me. 3 months post diagnosis I got an e-bike, followed by a road bike. I now enjoy riding with my kids, and also took part in my first “big ride” yesterday. A 65k timed ride with 4 monstrous hills. Another milestone achievement was climbing Bunda in Malawi a few weeks ago (with my children). I enjoy hill climbing, it runs in the family. But the last hill I had climbed was mount Sinai in Egypt on our honeymoon, 2005. It was agony, even back then. While these physical achievements have been big moments in my life, the biggest joy has been found in relationship. Firstly, my relationship with Father God is more intimate and real than ever. On the 65k bike ride, when my muscles felt like they would pop while going up a 300 feet incline at a 13% gradient, he was there cheering me on, and when we got to the top I felt him closer than ever. While climbing up Bunda I saw his creation and marvelled. I am in awe of him, his majesty, and I kneel before him as King. Yet we laughed and cried together through the pain and the achievement. This mixture of awe and intimacy is both majestic and comforting. There’s also the people who, maybe unbeknown to them, went through these tests with me. Uncle Humphreys bounded up Bunda with me and the children, and I’ll forever cherish sitting at the top, on the beacon, eating a pack of mini cheddars together. Then there’s Steve Gregson and Lee Andrew who took part in the 65k with me. Well, really we took part with Lee who finished 30 minutes ahead of us! Steve is a man I so admire, a man of integrity and grit. Cycling such a distance together will be forever something I treasure. In all of this, my family has come to mean so much more. My parents and my sister have shown deep concern and looked to support me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I feel closer to them than before. Just like I know Father God cheers for me, I know they do too. Some of the cycle rides I’ve completed, I’ve completed with my children. The climb up Bunda was also with my children. To be able to support them, encouraging them on, to stand at the top together, and to share the stories of our adventures with others is something I couldn’t have dreamed of 2 and half years ago. Then there’s my wife Jo. While the cycling, and the Bunda climb, were not tasks we completed together, we have approached this as a team. 2 and half years ago she had a husband who needed looking after (I still do!). Someone who’s ability to provide was in doubt. She was unwavering in her support for me. When I suggested cycling, she was my number 1 supporter, convinced I could do it. When I mentioned, rather casually, I want to ride to Bath (something I hope to do in one day on the 29th April) she, as ever, believes I can do it and sets out to support me. She is a rock, and as I came home on Sunday, after completing the 65k ride, it dawned on me how excited I was to see her and share the completion of this ride together. Unlike me, she doesn’t boast. Unless you’ve asked her, you won’t know she got a first for her first year of Midwifery. You won’t know she achieved this while being a mother of 2, supporting a husband who you’ve just been reading about and holding down bank shifts as a screening technician. This illness, and the subsequent physical challenges has brought me closer to Jo. They have revealed to me how great, how deep, how dedicated and how loyal she is.<br />
<h4>
<b> </b></h4>
<h4>
<b>Blessing</b></h4>
All this has led me to consider blessing. And I’ve really been considering it a lot.<br />
Too often we hear that blessing is material. “Thank you God for blessing me with this car” etc. Too often we believe the lie that material blessing equates to Gods favour. This is a Western, cultural value and one that I believe is separate from the heart and values of God. Too often we hear that healing is somehow linked to our own actions, or possibly the actions of those who pray for us. The rhetoric in our churches is often in danger of dismissing the work of medical professionals. This, in turn, could mean dismissing the work of God himself. Jesus said blessed are those who mourn. BLESSED! Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the pure of heart. Blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are those who are persecuted. But the thing that fascinates me most about Jesus’ take on blessing is not who he states as blessed, but WHY or WHAT they are blessed with. This is what real blessings are made of. Other “stuff” are just tools for life, or worse, they are curses. We have an arrogant cultural view of ourselves in the West and it’s one of superiority because we have “easier lives” than other cultures, and we even conclude that God blessed us as such. I’ve been reconsidering this view recently. I’ve been challenging myself to see things from other viewpoints.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>So what’s real blessing?</b> </h3>
Jesus starts with receiving the Kingdom of heaven. Something you can’t receive until you realise you are spiritually bankrupt. Completely corrupted. So many times I’ve heard the phrase “we just need a good person, or a Godly person in office”. I’ve come to believe that we are all corruptible, that our hearts desires are not to be trusted. When we realise this, and instead of trusting ourselves or fellow humans for blessings or for saving, we begin to trust the work of Jesus on the cross – then we are blessed. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”<br />
<br />
We are blessed when we are comforted. But to truly know comfort, you must experience loss, death. This is a hard lesson. But what a wonderful promise, in the middle of our grief, when all is lost, Jesus promises that we will be comforted. “Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”<br />
<br />
Next, Jesus talks about inheriting the earth as a blessing. I’m not claiming to understand this completely, but I do believe he was talking about people who bring their strength under control (meek), and therefore the earth will bless them. As a farmer I can relate to this one. You are blessed when your harvest produces great yields. This is perhaps the most material type blessing Jesus talks about, yet it relates to our work. Blessed with yields at work. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”<br />
<br />
You know that emptiness we sometimes feel? Or how about extreme anxiety? Or how about those physical lusts? Well you are blessed when you are satisfied, when you are filled up. When those fires that rage inside are quenched. “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”<br />
<br />
Mercy, seeing God, being called a child of God, and again receiving the Kingdom of Heaven. These are blessings. Fortunately for us, Jesus tells us about attitudes and circumstances that will lead us into these blessings. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10<br />
<br />
For me, this has been one of the biggest questions I’ve faced. I’ve been wrestling with it constantly. It seems almost every Christian preacher and teacher I’ve come across uses the common denominator of materials or physical healing as how God will bless us. It’s a dynamic and life changing shift to see blessing as Jesus does. To see blessing as being part of the Kingdom of heaven, as receiving comfort over loss, as seeing God, being called his children, when our work bears fruit, receiving mercy, and having our internal thirsts satisfied.<br />
<br />
I have been blessed by God, and I pray I never forget itUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-23851865322548401932011-06-16T01:23:00.000-07:002011-07-14T04:37:45.918-07:00Joshua got his question wrong!Sometimes we often ask ourselves the question: "Who's side is God on?" Or we make the statement: "God's on my/our side!"<br /><br />I was struck yesterday, while reading Joshua 5 that his question to the Angel of the lord was wrong. He asked who's side was the angel on. Of course the answer was neither! Joshua needed to ask himself who's side he was on. We find Joshua falling on his face as the Angel gives his response, which includes telling him he's on holy, set apart, ground.<br /><br />Joshua realized that even though he was the leader of a great army, he in fact needed to get in line. God is the boss and we need to make sure we are on his side, it's not about God joining our team, or backing us, or gaining his support. We join his team, we support what he's doing, WE BACK HIM! Even though God was not for either army, he delivered Jericho into the hands of Joshua's army.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-61757092538483350192011-03-26T13:59:00.001-07:002011-03-26T14:33:23.424-07:00all the fun of the fairI'm feeling kinda chuffed. I've managed to update our website which I run off our laptop. It only took me a few months and countless hours! And even though I've updated it it's still not perfect! But it looks totally new. It reminded me of the work God is doing in my life. It takes a long time. Every now and then you think you've got it, for another glitch to rear it's ugly head. But it's a labor of love, one which leaves you looking brand spanking new! Check it out, you can also find our delayed winter newsletter in the news section: <a href="www.tomandjo.org">www.tomandjo.org</a><a href="http://www.tomandjo.org"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-55085293721177903652010-12-08T06:34:00.000-08:002010-12-08T06:46:11.978-08:00It is not good to be alone!When God said this, I've always taken it as his plan for marriage. However we find the apostle Paul living as a passionate single, but also very aware that it is not good for man to be alone. I wonder if that's why he shared his life with so many men, living together and working together.<br /><br />Jo's been gone for a week and a half now, and John left a few days later leaving me on my own. At 1st I enjoyed it to some extent. I could walk around in the buff (something I've done with various room mates in the past!), eat when I wanted to eat, sleep when I wanted to sleep and generally do whatever I wanted to do. Recently I've found it harder to keep a rain on my thoughts, on my discipline, on what I watch on T.V or being intentional with my time. It's not good to be alone. I would encourage those of you that are single to share life with others by having good room mates, ones who have similar beliefs and values to you. And those of us who are married I encourage you to actually live with your spouse! It's incredible how we can end up living alone even when we share a house with someone.<br /><br />I'm so grateful for my family, and looking back I'm so grateful for my various room mates. They are God given, they help breath life and purpose into my existence, they give me the intimacy we all long for and they remind me that life is about more than just me.<br /><br />To check out our latest newsletter go to: <a href="www.tomandjo.org">www.tomandjo.org</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-70811841325563753712010-09-04T12:51:00.000-07:002010-09-04T12:57:38.778-07:00Moving on up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_6nZG8NdQfUXA4M6CIAYj5v_Qz2vQ9a-_W7zamlHUxu9TBCQYwFu5L3pZtk13IeMitaEWWw8AkR66xCKJcZ_EcTx1LKuj50ttPCEZH0TVIsOpv9cQQMXiNTMJUixBAY15BQd0Rvf8OiF/s1600/DSC_5989.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_6nZG8NdQfUXA4M6CIAYj5v_Qz2vQ9a-_W7zamlHUxu9TBCQYwFu5L3pZtk13IeMitaEWWw8AkR66xCKJcZ_EcTx1LKuj50ttPCEZH0TVIsOpv9cQQMXiNTMJUixBAY15BQd0Rvf8OiF/s320/DSC_5989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513149660897816754" border="0" /></a>
<br /> <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/TomG/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:documentproperties> <o:template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:revision>0</o:Revision> <o:totaltime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:pages>1</o:Pages> <o:words>423</o:Words> <o:characters>2412</o:Characters> <o:company>New Generation Church</o:Company> <o:lines>20</o:Lines> <o:paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs> <o:characterswithspaces>2962</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:595.0pt 842.0pt; margin:72.0pt 89.85pt 72.0pt 89.85pt; mso-header-margin:35.45pt; mso-footer-margin:0cm; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Hi!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">What a few weeks! Wow!<span style=""> </span>I hardly know where to start, and I’m sure I’m gonna miss something out.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The church is going places.<span style=""> </span>Really going places.<span style=""> </span>A few weeks back we spent a while as a leadership team working on our vision and values.<span style=""> </span>Flood San Diego had some really helpful workshops for us to go through.<span style=""> </span>Anyway we came up with :</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Vision: To connect up & coming generations<span style=""> </span>to the life-changing person of Jesus</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Values: Compassionate Service, Multiplication, Raising Leaders, Lives of Worship, Authenticity, Creative Relevance, And Inclusive Community.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">We still operate under the 3 environments: Encountering God, Growing in community & Impacting the world.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Tomorrow we have our regular vision night and it will be really exciting to share this with the church and look at how we can implement it.<span style=""> </span>We are also launching Growth Group leaders training and I’ve been working hard along with Mafunase to come up with some really good material.<span style=""> </span>We’ve written, re-written and adapted material and can’t wait to kick of the training.<span style=""> </span>We regularly get 200 people worship with us on Sundays and have 70 people in Growth Groups as we speak.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Our home is as busy as ever, with 12 people at its peak all living under one roof!<span style=""> </span>For us it really is the way to live and we feel it stretches and motivates us like nothing else!<span style=""> </span>I thoroughly enjoy getting together with everyone we share life with to chat, pray and read the bible.<span style=""> </span>I’m also so impressed with Jo how she copes.<span style=""> </span>She stretches the budget in a way that no one else could, we always eat well and enjoy her food, and she organizes the cleaning and looks after everyone so well.<span style=""> </span>At the same time she raises our little daughter magnificently!<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Things in the village have been really fun recently.<span style=""> </span>We were invited to stay with the chief a couple of weeks back, and it was a real privilege to sleep in his house/hut with his family and share a little in their life.<span style=""> </span>Having said that it always makes me grateful for my bed as sleeping on a bamboo mat is not very comfortable!<span style=""> </span>We are also going able to give Mosquito nets out to all the families in the village thanks to an artist who raised the money from San Diego, and have started educating on Malaria before we do so. On top of that we are able to give all the women bibles thanks to a Christian missionary who was passing through and got inspired by what we are doing.<span style=""> </span>On top of even that we sent the women’s guild (40 of them) on a 4-day conference and helped them show a film outside the church building using our churches generator and projector.<span style=""> </span>So you can see we’ve been really busy there!<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">So, things are really moving on and I’m so thankful to be a part of it.<span style=""> </span>It feels like a dream sometimes.<span style=""> </span>To be a part of something that is growing so organically – it’s not due to finance or strategy or anything except Jesus. It’s all about him and seeing him change lives is a humbling experience.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US">Tom<span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-88320093572189078452010-08-02T08:22:00.000-07:002010-08-02T08:24:18.611-07:00Summer NewsletterHi guys<br /><br />Our latest newsletter is available:<a href="http://www.tomandjo.org/Tom_%26_Jo_%26_Flood_Church/News/Entries/2010/7/15_Summer_Newsletter.html"><br /><br />newsletter</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-89578354157539538412010-07-05T16:40:00.000-07:002010-07-05T16:43:58.372-07:00Not sure how much this is followed these days!I've been using our website more and more recently and have realised I've neglected our blog.<br /><br />Check out the latest news on<a href="www.tomandjo.org"> </a><a href="www.tomandjo.org">www.tomandjo.org</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-83426680023645105162010-04-20T03:21:00.000-07:002010-04-20T03:40:34.568-07:00Kudoko Childrens CentreWe had such a wonderful day at our children's centre this saturday. Go to our website: <a href="http://www.tomandjo.org">www.tomandjo.org</a> to see pictures and read some more.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-83992607266421104182010-03-18T03:58:00.001-07:002010-03-18T04:44:24.127-07:00Spring NewsletterOur latest newsletter is available, follow this link to download: <a href="http://www.tomandjo.org/Tom_%26_Jo_%26_Flood_Church/News/Entries/2010/3/18_Spring_newsletter.html">tomandjo.org/news</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-17496010288312046292010-03-12T01:30:00.000-08:002010-03-12T01:34:37.513-08:00Please Pray!<a href="http://www.tomandjo.org/Tom_%26_Jos_Gallagher/News/News.html">http://www.tomandjo.org/Tom_%26_Jos_Gallagher/News/News.html</a><br /><br />Loads going on our lives and the lives of our church.<br /><br />I particularly want ask for prayer for the health of people with in our church. I have abscesses again, we have 2 people in South Africa having ops, but on a much larger scale our friend has been diagnosed with breast cancer. They were working here in the clinic we attend and James was our doctor, he was also a very committed member of our church. They've rushed back to the states with their 3 kids who are all under 10.<br /><br />We could really do with some prayers for this xUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-4264272878586312872010-03-02T09:49:00.000-08:002010-03-02T10:06:05.326-08:00Church, church & more church!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GTmRod4x65FzXD19UN7AtK8JoV9REW96M5rqogbhoeNhjMJSrQMxFxj0rmNciSBv3VbDxnb3n_znm-aoy_5N4L4Bs-dVRswhm8Ods7wgLp_kEi1dkxOUmxXwvMy_3vcFb5oOcEWevk8K/s1600-h/DSC_0051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GTmRod4x65FzXD19UN7AtK8JoV9REW96M5rqogbhoeNhjMJSrQMxFxj0rmNciSBv3VbDxnb3n_znm-aoy_5N4L4Bs-dVRswhm8Ods7wgLp_kEi1dkxOUmxXwvMy_3vcFb5oOcEWevk8K/s320/DSC_0051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444098599207282546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I really can't get enough of God's great rescue plan right now. So many people respond to that by saying surely you mean Jesus?! And while I do mean Jesus, I mean more than that, I mean Jesus' beautiful partner - the church. And no, the church is not YOU or ME it's 100% US!<br /><br />I feel more and more that God is bringing the spiritual gifts he's given us back into the body of Jesus (the church) and that excites me. I feel sorry that God worked around the church and we had these gifts removed, but so excited that that season has ended and what a shift we are seeing! Of course Jesus never fell out of love with his church and God disciplines those he loves, so all of this is a good thing!<br /><br />Our village team has grown in such a great way over the last 6 or so weeks. We now have Edith, a wonderful leader on our church, Megan, a teacher at ABC academy, Rachael, an ABC student, Myself, George, our church administrator and Guise, our church worship leader all spending an afternoon each week out there. It's been great fun with the rains we are having. 4 wheel drive has become really important and it's a real adventure getting there and back. We haven't avoided going because of the weather yet. I've been so blessed with how the team has developed recently. The only issue is, more and more women are showing up in the village for council and advice that we don't really no what to do about it!<br /><br />Well like I said, the rains have really got going and we've gone from asking God for the rain to asking him for it to stop before it ruins the crops! It's rained every day for 16 days straight and here in Malawi that equals a lot of rain!<br /><br />lots and lots of love xUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-14683348536538438962010-02-02T06:24:00.000-08:002010-02-02T06:40:42.904-08:002 weeks on from the last postWow, so much can change in 2 weeks!<br /><br />I wrote that blog 2 weeks ago, but only just managed to upload it, and wanted to add to what was said.<br /><br />I'm feeling much healthier. That's the 1st thing that's changed. But I've really been challenged on 2 things recently.<br /><br />1: When we are spinning (I was literally spinning at times) what is our rock? Our marriage? Or Job? something even more trivial like football or food? Or is it truly Jesus and his love? I want my life to be based on his love. I'm thankful for my Wife, she's incredible and truly was a rock during my last few weeks, but I want my ultimate rock to be Jesus.<br /><br />Something a little broader has come out of me reading 1John 1 v 7. "but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, <span style="font-weight: bold;">we have fellowship with one another, </span>and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sin"<br /><br />It can be pretty dark when you are feeling like you cannot operate at full capacity, something which I have been struggling with for a while now. But to live in freedom means to have deep relationships, open and honest (fellowship). Only then are we free from all other influences that Jesus and his Holy spirit. Friendships are not an option! You have to invest in them or you are not walking in the light.<br /><br />These last 2 weeks we have really got our small groups going, called growth groups. I'm so excited to watch people find out the freedom that comes with being open and honest with each other. We held a vision meeting on Sunday evening, and a big part of it was given over to this. What a privilege it is to be a part of this, I can't wait to watch our church become more and more beautiful. <br /><br />Along with that, we had one of those "ureaka!" moments on Friday. We met to try and find some sort of way forward for the rural work in Kudoko village, and suddenly it dawned on us - why not implement these growth groups there too! This Friday see's the 1st meeting in the village with this focus, and we already have a load of small group leaders chomping at the bit ready and waiting for us to get them going.<br /><br />Thanks for your prayers, please continue to pray for us here.<br /><br />Love you lots xUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-24748234816473686862010-02-02T06:18:00.000-08:002010-02-02T06:20:52.905-08:00Wrote this 2 weeks back!We haven’t been able to get Internet for a while, so apologies for how quiet it’s been.<br />On the personal side of things we are doing OK. Sally-Jayne can now crawl very fast, climb up things, stand up using whatever she can get her hands on, give high ‘s (thanks to my sister Jess on her visit), wave and say a few words like hi or Dad-dad. (I have to say the speaking thing seems a little dubious, she pulls of waves and high 5’s on demand, but never speaks on demand!) She turned 7 months this week and is growing up so fast! We are so pleased with her though. She’s incredibly versatile and just gets on with life whatever we through at her. After 5 weeks of living back in our room (while we had visitors) she went straight back into her own room without any problems. Please keep up your prayers for her health and safety, we trust God to look after her.<br />Jo’s doing well and continues to read baby books and recipe books every day as she tries to be creative with what she can get her hands on. You can’t go anywhere in the house without finding one open with a notebook next to it. We had these incredible raps the other day, all she had was rough grade mincemeat, some spices and a lettuce, and she used the lettuce leaves very creatively! She also continues to do so well to cook for and love a house full. She still has her weekly distraction where she spends Tuesday evening with “the girls”, a night when I’m left wondering what cook and often just eat some bread! Please pray for her that she keeps on finding deep friendships, that her health stays good and that she’ll continue to develop and grow in her motherhood.<br />I’m doing OK. I’m still enjoying all my friendships, watching football and the lovely weather here. My health hasn’t been great though, and for a few months I’ve been suffering with cold like symptoms and nasty infections. A doctor told me this week that I have MRSA, so us as a household have to go for treatments to rid us of the nasty bug. Ironically you can’t find this type of bacteria in Malawi and I must have picked it up while in the UK! Please pray for this. Pray that I get over this infection and that our whole household will be rid of it.<br />We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year though. It was so nice to have my sister Jess with us, and we celebrated in laid back Malawian style with Sean, Tapiwa, Gabriel and Edith, along with Guise and Humphreys who live with us. The girls did a great job with the food, and the boys did a great job with the fireworks! A highlight for me was the personal crackers Jess brought with her that she had made. Her improvisation to make 3 more when she realised we’d be having guests was even more incredible! <br />Since then stuff has seemed a little slow to get going, I think that’s partly down to me being a bit sick. However the teams are still developing and growing and there’s an excitement around Flood that can almost be felt! We’ve a made a few inroads towards working in the prison and already have a team. We’ve also been getting the small groups within the church sorted and well led. We are still struggling to plan ahead for Kudoko village and continue to run one-off events. We really want to get a plan of action for the village and church there for 2010. Please pray that over the next few weeks God would inspire us as a team and lead us in the right direction.<br />Lastly finances are looking pretty shaky at the moment. It’s always been such an adventure living here, and we have faith that we will, and we have always been, be looked after. Please pray for this, and if you are interested in helping email me at tomandjo@me.com<br />Lots of loveUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-1127373980636123362009-12-20T10:13:00.001-08:002009-12-23T11:55:56.770-08:00The Christmas Blog!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqfVqIfngKTzso6_F_sbdjCaaI6B7qvF19eXAIZ3L19x1xlvRTtNKatjrY-KfEtfRS94WSTJZv_cDPdHIOHLsQibCp2Ww4in4vSP0ErzErX2rYe8a0AgNXJQe21rAn6cZNdmQTSfmSKBh/s1600-h/DSCF1938.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqfVqIfngKTzso6_F_sbdjCaaI6B7qvF19eXAIZ3L19x1xlvRTtNKatjrY-KfEtfRS94WSTJZv_cDPdHIOHLsQibCp2Ww4in4vSP0ErzErX2rYe8a0AgNXJQe21rAn6cZNdmQTSfmSKBh/s320/DSCF1938.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417384682307616194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxl7PVvQKMm0WUodyIAxpwfk0HtP-Ih2aHSgkl7pG3jvk7cm9q5G9SKW5HxXbFOjUYBoeL7-vxo4wcKNzgdhw5uFpCmkcOmEbNwlXm6hg5wLTyqytdX1-BVsj-r3GynCVKgTpobEbBEcSW/s1600-h/DSC_0281.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxl7PVvQKMm0WUodyIAxpwfk0HtP-Ih2aHSgkl7pG3jvk7cm9q5G9SKW5HxXbFOjUYBoeL7-vxo4wcKNzgdhw5uFpCmkcOmEbNwlXm6hg5wLTyqytdX1-BVsj-r3GynCVKgTpobEbBEcSW/s320/DSC_0281.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417384126996365554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvExPxHVwHntJIpGgPQh-2aDoDjlA1yjMTb32QNl22RrJoO_6CEyAcrJSIi5kNtBR4AL2EoaCcq85DKTEwLytpDuJ9bTfJQtaFjKl9nr9BLyD149GL0GW-AXeHMGV33JXm_WuVz3PJaVx/s1600-h/DSC_0059.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvExPxHVwHntJIpGgPQh-2aDoDjlA1yjMTb32QNl22RrJoO_6CEyAcrJSIi5kNtBR4AL2EoaCcq85DKTEwLytpDuJ9bTfJQtaFjKl9nr9BLyD149GL0GW-AXeHMGV33JXm_WuVz3PJaVx/s320/DSC_0059.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417384123141284642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv847huYSdiwFTn5dqkCsafdkFgEFZ-xVzr51w-N9hLavf271ZxXGhyQRCX6nOCg4omtNsE6KGiUyGUepk7t8Y9peY8G6TSt71XcqzJqnRGfR4D872UxddLX8I0b1VtE1wNUTUxqUXWtZ/s1600-h/DSC_0011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv847huYSdiwFTn5dqkCsafdkFgEFZ-xVzr51w-N9hLavf271ZxXGhyQRCX6nOCg4omtNsE6KGiUyGUepk7t8Y9peY8G6TSt71XcqzJqnRGfR4D872UxddLX8I0b1VtE1wNUTUxqUXWtZ/s320/DSC_0011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417383550088504450" border="0" /></a><br />Well it's about time that I blogged, and it's taken Christmas to remind me! So much has gone on in our lives and of those that we are involved in it's hard to know where to start!<br /><br />Yes the country has it's problems as always. There's no Fuel, and this has been the case for nearly 2 months now! It's really hot, which is weird considering it's Christmas and people here still struggle to find food. But having said all that we feel so settled and so a part of things here.<br /><br />We have started visiting the prison now. It's tough. I can't imagine how people survive in those conditions. But 2 young men in the church have a passion for it, and we want to see people realeased and developed into what they are good at.<br /><br />On the football side of life it continues to go well. A few notable goings on was an invition to take some of the kids we train to view the world cup, it was fantastic! And Lusekero and his team making the Cup Final. It was really heart breaking as they lost on penalties we were so proud of the way they all played and how Lusekero conducted himself.<br /><br />It was wonderful to have my parents out with us for a couple of weeks. They did a great job with everything, and I was really pleased to see my Dad share a message of acceptance with the prisoners. While we were sad to see them go, the blow was softened by the arrival of my sister Jess yesterday. She is settling in fast and even though I'm complaining of the cold here she assures me it's very hot compared to snowy England!<br /><br />Sally-Jayne continues to be a real blessing to us. She's a healthy, bouncy, smiley baby and is a complete joy to have in our lives. She has become well known amongst the community here and welcomes anyone who wants to give her attention.<br /><br />Well I could go on, but I don't want to become a bore. Our newsletter is now available to download from our website:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tomandjo.org/">http://www.tomandjo.org/Tom_%26_Jos_Gallagher/News/News.html</a><br /><br />Have a fantastic Christmas<br /><br />Lots of loveUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-49736026641342648582009-11-05T05:36:00.000-08:002009-11-05T05:55:09.204-08:00Theatre of Dreams<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqP99GabJ3TiBfpzBwZkDMWm6bYZDIs6uMx-WkSLP7fdGVKAz40zHrZUwmWitwtAy3np47cgpGZLzSlbCBxWXQg1qIYEfNpuTFp-PKm9fBHljqkySpSv0J92gz73ZiEs93c9iAN-Zx7HhK/s1600-h/nice+control.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqP99GabJ3TiBfpzBwZkDMWm6bYZDIs6uMx-WkSLP7fdGVKAz40zHrZUwmWitwtAy3np47cgpGZLzSlbCBxWXQg1qIYEfNpuTFp-PKm9fBHljqkySpSv0J92gz73ZiEs93c9iAN-Zx7HhK/s320/nice+control.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400617213191956642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa5r3UGGoJVzmshD58-mNjsd0QfT5-yZIh1RapS0g1twFoz6RnG2qcgRSC5spvW71cRCqriYZhzsgZh3qzFvkO4op6dVecABYidAh7Jj8k_Wr_u03jXTE9WNI7icM74Kkg7fOHdqrK4bz/s1600-h/kids+with+SJ.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXa5r3UGGoJVzmshD58-mNjsd0QfT5-yZIh1RapS0g1twFoz6RnG2qcgRSC5spvW71cRCqriYZhzsgZh3qzFvkO4op6dVecABYidAh7Jj8k_Wr_u03jXTE9WNI7icM74Kkg7fOHdqrK4bz/s320/kids+with+SJ.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400617212832010674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOqG6o43YQAJDHsdA01w0jwCdOUBLaFGrN81AkKXBMQCdbleCS-LwtuUpLGzC0R2x07v14SiJmHpOdEzoyJMZ78SbCmcrZepRcKv4Zv7_ga2Wo85wVYENEsuFSYJ2RIlGeMOFfJ6lDVMW/s1600-h/brian+and+val.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOqG6o43YQAJDHsdA01w0jwCdOUBLaFGrN81AkKXBMQCdbleCS-LwtuUpLGzC0R2x07v14SiJmHpOdEzoyJMZ78SbCmcrZepRcKv4Zv7_ga2Wo85wVYENEsuFSYJ2RIlGeMOFfJ6lDVMW/s320/brian+and+val.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400617205351340050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XtKxLYo7f-RhOoX_Lb3BNIKjFgG_SHWxUi1dbAJjlHqlFnCoe_4m_ZSx6nBZIkbS4DkY4Dtf65ZARSL_PoOg9q9DVAulzJk3gtiwr6hrrwp8gxlkzwYkgyQkrucM2esc0epIjqX7TeqT/s1600-h/Chisapo+win.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XtKxLYo7f-RhOoX_Lb3BNIKjFgG_SHWxUi1dbAJjlHqlFnCoe_4m_ZSx6nBZIkbS4DkY4Dtf65ZARSL_PoOg9q9DVAulzJk3gtiwr6hrrwp8gxlkzwYkgyQkrucM2esc0epIjqX7TeqT/s320/Chisapo+win.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400617202618436674" /></a><br /><br />So we waved goodbye to Debbie (one of the leaders of New Gen) on Monday. It was actually a timely reminder that this is our home now, and we have no deadline or return date. Her time here was really great. We love sharing our lives with people, and to share it with someone that we have so much love and respect for is a real pleasure. She leaves her mark as the first female preacher at Flood Church, but along with that she leaves her mark as a faithful servant, a strong leader and simply a great person.<br /><br />Brian and Val, also from New Gen, traveled out with Debbie, and are still here until Sunday. They are staying with Tom and Ali Husbands off the Dalitso Trust, but spent the day with us on Tuesday. They have a real gift for teaching on marriage, and they had a big impact on Flood’s adopted village: Kudoko. It was also nice for them to get a picture of the weekly life of Flood church and they got involved with a prayer meeting, and had dinner with Sean. We hope we’ll get to see them before they return on Sunday, and we’ll miss them once they’ve gone.<br />Along with all that fun we ran a football tournament for the various clinics we are involved with. We had 6 teams participate over a 2-day period, and it was a joy to see a lot of hard work put into action. In the end Falls Sports Academy won. Brian helped ref the tournament and really helped raise the level of respect amongst the players.<br /><br />Things are moving along nicely, but we are constantly up against it with transport! We really feel it’s about time we got a decent vehicle that won’t cost an arm and a leg to keep running. Right now our truck is with a mechanic having it’s clutch replaced, but that’s actually just one of many problems with it. We would love for you to pray for us as we seek funding for a new 4x4. <br />All our love xUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-63113632697750227432009-10-22T08:52:00.000-07:002009-10-22T09:06:43.541-07:00DIYOver the last few weeks I have found myself DIY'ing like I have never done before. I have cut a door to size, installed it including the locks, sorted out a some of the electrics and 2 light fixings, changed about a zillion plugs, re-wired quite a few appliances and finished up by installing 2 smoke alarms! I have thoroughly enjoyed it!<br /><br />Life is great here, I love the different challenges it brings. Our truck has had it's problems, and this week I have spent a full 3 days trying to sort them! Right now someone is leaving for South Africa to try and find us a part, that's how crazy it's been! However it's going, and someone's done a patch up job for us, so it's nice to be driving again. It's a weird thing, but I kinda enjoy the challenge. It's not like in the UK where everything is done by the mechanic and has a price. Here you have to go around the whole of town trying to find the right bit and even if you find it you've got a fight on your hands to get it at the right price!<br /><br />Last week I did manage to get along to a football clinic, and out to Kudoko village, and tomorrow I'm visiting the local prison and out in Kudoko again, so things are up and running again and I can't wait to get completely into the swing of things. <br /><br />It rained today, about a month early. I don't know the implications of early rain for farms, but it's really cooled things down temperature wise - which is lovely!<br /><br />Sally-Jayne is now sitting up and eating solids, it's absolutely crazy how fast she's growing up, and tomorrow Brian, Val and Debbie arrive from Sidcup and are staying for a few weeks, it's really exciting to share what life's like here with them.<br /><br />Lots and lots of love xUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-73373507071171733132009-10-09T13:18:00.000-07:002009-10-09T13:29:33.679-07:001st trip to the airport<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcJxqrrHE2p8u3OaXu-xy1Z1e3TP9tTByxMA6nsHlEZ2rKwtwamvnQo_nY6hyphenhyphenunKsvrZk_WA3KaQJcetvtRAEmTXFB6y1JLHvnR9vl6PAGa6tKKQ_8LFJGxs9X51YyMmEXftSSClUCiSO/s1600-h/DSC_0149.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcJxqrrHE2p8u3OaXu-xy1Z1e3TP9tTByxMA6nsHlEZ2rKwtwamvnQo_nY6hyphenhyphenunKsvrZk_WA3KaQJcetvtRAEmTXFB6y1JLHvnR9vl6PAGa6tKKQ_8LFJGxs9X51YyMmEXftSSClUCiSO/s200/DSC_0149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390699306452119138" border="0" /></a>
<br />Sally-Jayne and her beloved Oscar!
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7bOxBCL6SY_dOIdzWKN9IH295wxPxxVyp17gYwFMW_7HXK9pmJYJ85mk9JOzQeacJPKYZHh05bhJn_G69ytQ_zTwYLMFXS7mvDkgeO9tiwaVTHLYFqB8mozQ2jozdQf_pwLIKiQ7djsA/s1600-h/DSC_0144.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7bOxBCL6SY_dOIdzWKN9IH295wxPxxVyp17gYwFMW_7HXK9pmJYJ85mk9JOzQeacJPKYZHh05bhJn_G69ytQ_zTwYLMFXS7mvDkgeO9tiwaVTHLYFqB8mozQ2jozdQf_pwLIKiQ7djsA/s200/DSC_0144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390699298593457266" border="0" /></a>
<br />Nahlia (Our neighbor) and her Beloved Sally-Jayne
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mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Sally-Jayne’s first trip to the airport<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">We made it!<span style=""> </span>We are settling in to life in Malawi.<span style=""> </span>But the last few days in the UK seemed to fly by, and were a little bit hairy at times!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">We were really counting the cost of leaving.<span style=""> </span>It hit home that it’s not just a cost that we pay, but one that our family, friends and church pays too.<span style=""> </span>I have to say that it felt like I was being ripped in two.<span style=""> </span>Then, on Sunday night, I got a call from my Dad.<span style=""> </span>My mum, while walking in the Lake District tripped and fell of a ledge.<span style=""> </span>She had to be air lifted of the mountain to hospital.<span style=""> </span>At that point we weren’t too sure how serious it was.<span style=""> </span>After a bad night, I managed to speak to my Dad and my sister, and the really serious damage was to her knee.<span style=""> </span>It’s actually incredible nothing worse happened.<span style=""> </span>It was so great to get the church praying for her, and then I got to talk to her and then we decided we should still fly out to Malawi. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Thank you Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Debbie gave us a lift in the church mini bus.<span style=""> </span>The logistics of 9 cases and bags, and a pram were absolutely mind blowing!<span style=""> </span>We got to terminal 4 at the right time, and then realised it was the wrong terminal!<span style=""> </span>There was traffic all the way round to terminal 3.<span style=""> </span>We were now pushed for time.<span style=""> </span>Debbie was helping us at the drop of point, when literally behind her back she got a parking ticket!!<span style=""> </span>I couldn’t believe it.<span style=""> </span>God bless the traffic warden, and I pray she does well in her job.<span style=""> </span>It’s the kind of thing you know you should complain about, but that just puts the fine up, and makes things worse for you.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Inside the terminal was carnage.<span style=""> </span>There was arguing everywhere about luggage weight, people we pushing and I dropped the cases numerous times.<span style=""> </span>But once we were on the plane, we had a great journey.<span style=""> </span>Sally-Jayne didn’t cry once, she was so content, and seemed to find the whole thing fascinating and funny.<span style=""> </span>She’s the only person on the plane that squealed with delight as we landed each time (a total of 3 times!). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Well now we are back.<span style=""> </span>The Husbands had got our car running and filled the fridge with supplies, Guise, who lives in our house with us, had cleaned and got our bed ready, and our friends were round for dinner!<span style=""> </span>We felt we were home, and had a great nights sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-19899385563594035712009-09-21T15:59:00.001-07:002009-09-21T16:07:29.904-07:00News, Shows and Feeding of the 250<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKSoSRurC_0dbOn8ZjFm-TPY3zP8ffhjAo3TDAU3y-F-R1R8QOcsFt6-8NWcHvy_Xm6w3rFs_pEqyTYdlLODsOKq6Qz0iREIrtIEoriP0eQjite5dDzL_K2fEiNaqhppY2Pv_WsWb8PKf/s1600-h/dsc_0554.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKSoSRurC_0dbOn8ZjFm-TPY3zP8ffhjAo3TDAU3y-F-R1R8QOcsFt6-8NWcHvy_Xm6w3rFs_pEqyTYdlLODsOKq6Qz0iREIrtIEoriP0eQjite5dDzL_K2fEiNaqhppY2Pv_WsWb8PKf/s400/dsc_0554.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384059568562071586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctLKg6D7j00s_BnsIS1NU_bugUFgWlrdzYQK26ag43jmIT0n-8ONwb7UtqbR1OvhdSfK4f2kWZ0CB_q-iQa-F-v_rIxe9ppRdoCUlZ591VTQL-dPcXl6A0Or9wUlFz6DS-kmkGowl4x5h/s1600-h/dsc_0481.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctLKg6D7j00s_BnsIS1NU_bugUFgWlrdzYQK26ag43jmIT0n-8ONwb7UtqbR1OvhdSfK4f2kWZ0CB_q-iQa-F-v_rIxe9ppRdoCUlZ591VTQL-dPcXl6A0Or9wUlFz6DS-kmkGowl4x5h/s400/dsc_0481.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384059554171659090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rUZRK3hxTJUXMDUfCxZQt1TSHP5-HwvpbK_r6vg33dDh11GFUQ1Vjzmc7npv3zrqtCsshcIP4iFxdU3gKkdkyo1_KvpDcv5gVcs2wQDI3pcmueidQIR45WeTo_I0rNBwU3ufnj4-0-3R/s1600-h/dsc_0645.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rUZRK3hxTJUXMDUfCxZQt1TSHP5-HwvpbK_r6vg33dDh11GFUQ1Vjzmc7npv3zrqtCsshcIP4iFxdU3gKkdkyo1_KvpDcv5gVcs2wQDI3pcmueidQIR45WeTo_I0rNBwU3ufnj4-0-3R/s400/dsc_0645.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384059545038019090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXghB1R-blQFhBVS6hECWDXhhIfhzM6rYE8lgNS4hX8vWngfVoh2KaftmZeOrQ1LSMPO6ZIOPBNutH5rw920swGopooq5urWOtlTV-v1-XmEkXI7k7CpMKEcruuRlIdzWEtv_yDFe5Eu_l/s1600-h/dsc_0428.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXghB1R-blQFhBVS6hECWDXhhIfhzM6rYE8lgNS4hX8vWngfVoh2KaftmZeOrQ1LSMPO6ZIOPBNutH5rw920swGopooq5urWOtlTV-v1-XmEkXI7k7CpMKEcruuRlIdzWEtv_yDFe5Eu_l/s400/dsc_0428.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384059532351610770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGRaEyZwkvYqDaAe9p035b5VyOK3hf8nfE7M3ASbUzjGTTgAYG38KXTEFKtpbtAvFKlRNlEkFJn1QKL-L4uHnR9GrN2h2J3lVhpl0Ej-G8lmcWyWccdhdbFj2JwLtr9zw9gF7eHYHtKtO/s1600-h/dsc_0371.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGRaEyZwkvYqDaAe9p035b5VyOK3hf8nfE7M3ASbUzjGTTgAYG38KXTEFKtpbtAvFKlRNlEkFJn1QKL-L4uHnR9GrN2h2J3lVhpl0Ej-G8lmcWyWccdhdbFj2JwLtr9zw9gF7eHYHtKtO/s400/dsc_0371.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384059512500516418" border="0" /></a>We just got back from running the youth camp for the city farms annual show, and we loved it as ever! A big thanks to Jo's parents for helping with pretty much everything, and even lending us their caravan! I was asked to be a judge for the animal show (See pictures above) which meant I got the VIP lunch while Jo made lunch for all 250 of the kids! (Sorry!!). <br /><br />A big well done to Vauxhall City Farm, who won shield for the show! I must admit to torn loyalties after being heavily involved with 4 of the farms over the years, and a growing love for the rest of them!<br /><br />On other news, our latest newsletter is available, <a href="http://www.tomandjo.org/Tom_%26_Jos_Gallagher/News/Entries/2009/9/21_Autumn_Newsletter_09.html">click here</a><br /><br />Lots of love x<br /><br /><br />Our latest Newsletter is availableUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-2295087105810550042009-09-15T09:33:00.000-07:002009-09-15T09:52:08.515-07:00Sunsets and goodbyes<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMx1d5LHEtTGOTSKu0uoaVryEuCPb0Qp44heMN1Pb485TB49EPPRhqRgnBdrtxwVWoCBxX9MI5lQM1PgprvQF4o1PvvOuUsozYb37LIyfK6_P1sUD1MmPxnYI0BzoM3JRvsE-23S6EV6h/s1600-h/18641894.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMx1d5LHEtTGOTSKu0uoaVryEuCPb0Qp44heMN1Pb485TB49EPPRhqRgnBdrtxwVWoCBxX9MI5lQM1PgprvQF4o1PvvOuUsozYb37LIyfK6_P1sUD1MmPxnYI0BzoM3JRvsE-23S6EV6h/s400/18641894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381734137462206706" border="0" /></a><br />Jo and her mum Julie<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipbgx5H24_sFiHDdPpGvh24wsPW8Tf36DnuBBPNCvZ83Im1_5KtNIv8fuamkRbpXt7bdHRBXdada0PDA0PevBcPlX88QdUagooVy36swFMMrHk1nxbsbkjesBtNG0qP6akva6P9kRD3W5/s1600-h/29943006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipbgx5H24_sFiHDdPpGvh24wsPW8Tf36DnuBBPNCvZ83Im1_5KtNIv8fuamkRbpXt7bdHRBXdada0PDA0PevBcPlX88QdUagooVy36swFMMrHk1nxbsbkjesBtNG0qP6akva6P9kRD3W5/s400/29943006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381734134979652242" border="0" /></a><br />My Mum and Sally-Jayne<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSjXUvlgUMeyplynofnp9NlDfTW7b92HgQIF0JH33ZqsQYe0qZqsRkeMOPVfVj2NSe8_-FuvRyUpUbwChtv5Y2Tq8NRKu1lYnROXChZhftV4wx6sa3eUX6HaE5afK7M_bO9PpIre0i8nJ/s1600-h/29433009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSjXUvlgUMeyplynofnp9NlDfTW7b92HgQIF0JH33ZqsQYe0qZqsRkeMOPVfVj2NSe8_-FuvRyUpUbwChtv5Y2Tq8NRKu1lYnROXChZhftV4wx6sa3eUX6HaE5afK7M_bO9PpIre0i8nJ/s400/29433009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381734126391281042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Returning to Malawi is becoming a serious reality now!<br /><br />Our flight leaves on the 5th of October, and for the first time we don't have a date to come back to the UK. However, we've agreed with our church here to come back for a short period of time soon after 12 months. It will be a good "health" check for us, and something we are very keen to keep up. We don't want to become a "closed book" or an "island", which is always a possibility when you are away from the people who really know you.<br /><br />Going back can sometimes be a bit of a pressure. There's lots to get done, the uncertainties of what leaving people you love does to you and more importantly; to them, financial uncertainties, health issues etc. I have to say though that leaving is also extremely exciting. I had the privilege of working a 9 - 5 in London for a few months over the summer and was reminded of all the very different pressures that come with it. I have such respect for commuters who have commuted into work every day for 40 years. Wow. It also makes me so thankful for the incredibly varied life I lead, that no day is the same and that I'm often excited about getting up to go to "work".<br /><br />We are just putting the finishing touches to our latest newsletter, and I'll post a link here as soon as it's ready. We've also put together some partnership opportunities, and I'll post them here too.<br /><br />Quite a few people are coming to visit us this year, and we are especially excited about our parents coming out. We would really value your prayers for them. My parents are due out in November and Jo's April. Pray for their health, for enjoyment and that they'll be safe traveling. <br /><br />Loads is going on in our lives right now, this weekend we are running the youth camp for the City Harvest Festival. Thanks to Jo's parents we have a caravan for the weekend though! Next weekend we are off to Northumberland to spend the weekend with a church, and then the following weekend is our last one in the UK!<br /><br />Love and every blessing<br /><br />Tom & JoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-68990027312039134662009-09-01T07:59:00.000-07:002009-09-08T04:55:39.317-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREGcD7Fqb0JXQXQnpcSr4Z9UBGNV2JDpYLOGEsDwXxKnErKpWRW7Q_qn6hVltHqoNHORoWAzVWry7vjSt1Uqxr4YqaxgaoaHrckUcY4sS9jgpZ0us0fJ9YCxAH-YMFdITW-lOGWZwFVZ9/s1600-h/DSC_0256.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREGcD7Fqb0JXQXQnpcSr4Z9UBGNV2JDpYLOGEsDwXxKnErKpWRW7Q_qn6hVltHqoNHORoWAzVWry7vjSt1Uqxr4YqaxgaoaHrckUcY4sS9jgpZ0us0fJ9YCxAH-YMFdITW-lOGWZwFVZ9/s400/DSC_0256.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376520020757027474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2cRMCh4kQVxHgj53MNxK2uCB08lFkT6RpVbuja7b9W985fP4x8IuyVZayDgUZTdm9lqA-YljmLuvZsySrX-hKxpqglKGUIg3H3oXkfO0oAcP5aIlM0U6ZD6y6a81Jy2v3AkZ_JPEgCsq/s1600-h/DSC_6827.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2cRMCh4kQVxHgj53MNxK2uCB08lFkT6RpVbuja7b9W985fP4x8IuyVZayDgUZTdm9lqA-YljmLuvZsySrX-hKxpqglKGUIg3H3oXkfO0oAcP5aIlM0U6ZD6y6a81Jy2v3AkZ_JPEgCsq/s400/DSC_6827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376520014220817282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyTNS4AngzGNquT-csgdpdb2pQMBaKbRFuxfhJMwchyphenhypheno7ZUMLWXwcW_nggRwuXPIUx2ofo_nFNkc1KVwofLDdg35GSZja4Sy-mdobdahdCH2LikwsXK3slZ3r7czSsT0D2H7lvgEBr1VL/s1600-h/DSC_0033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 361px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyTNS4AngzGNquT-csgdpdb2pQMBaKbRFuxfhJMwchyphenhypheno7ZUMLWXwcW_nggRwuXPIUx2ofo_nFNkc1KVwofLDdg35GSZja4Sy-mdobdahdCH2LikwsXK3slZ3r7czSsT0D2H7lvgEBr1VL/s400/DSC_0033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376520006638055714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhyBUtud1XXGl_2tswvXEz-gRVfyZANRbmzEDR1bXyYlwJnocxfafk_u9cAlWaUvYD2W3ObjZt2ee9O1Nox39S8QX1vsxrK7v10AGGeLD3E7eTI2gk-r_4ssu9Lu25KFnbTiI1fve0Hq5/s1600-h/DSC_0130.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhyBUtud1XXGl_2tswvXEz-gRVfyZANRbmzEDR1bXyYlwJnocxfafk_u9cAlWaUvYD2W3ObjZt2ee9O1Nox39S8QX1vsxrK7v10AGGeLD3E7eTI2gk-r_4ssu9Lu25KFnbTiI1fve0Hq5/s400/DSC_0130.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376520001049665538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zpoWNwu7fUL5ZmUcDkkUs8Tpsq48eXG0GWE2-mHSmQx9md8DzxyCCFiOqIFRvVMvV4EsQCi9OIvX6JwlOd2DCpB99EYJhpglE1hkm6UJ5pk7RZQM8TNuK7h5_PPPxHmrRZGhqEFPFTia/s1600-h/DSC_0003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zpoWNwu7fUL5ZmUcDkkUs8Tpsq48eXG0GWE2-mHSmQx9md8DzxyCCFiOqIFRvVMvV4EsQCi9OIvX6JwlOd2DCpB99EYJhpglE1hkm6UJ5pk7RZQM8TNuK7h5_PPPxHmrRZGhqEFPFTia/s400/DSC_0003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376519986755040610" border="0" /></a><br />Wow, I can't believe I missed doing a blog in August - the month flew by!<br /><br />It was a whiz of Lark In The Park, holidays, weddings, working at Vauxhall City Farm, Sally-Jayne growing, Sean Visiting and problems with my knee and foot. So much went on that I don't really know where to start.<br /><br />Good news from Malawi first. Last week Humphrey's started his degree at African Bible College, so he moved into his accommodation there and is getting used to life as a freshman! We are so pleased for him! We'll miss him, he lived in our home and worked very closely with me in Kudoko, but I'll continue to mentor him and he will continue to be a vital part of our church.<br /><br />Lusekero got good news from the doctors about his broken arm - it's healing well and he can start playing football again in a few weeks.<br /><br />This months highlights have to include Sean's visit to help at Lark In The Park and speak at the Dedication of Sally-Jayne, our beautiful little girl. It was all very last minute due to VISA issues, but he made it and was thrown in the deep end. He did so well, his time here spoke directly into the hearts of many people and we just can't wait to get back to Malawi to help him run our church there.<br /><br />Lark In The Park came and went in a blur. Jo did a cracking job as the stewarding team leader, the whole time having Sally-Jayne either strapped to her front or one of the many helping hands keeping her entertained. A big thank you goes to my Sister Jess for all her help! We also had my brother in law Mike staying with us, and Jo managed to cook and look after him too! Add to that the fact for one whole week of Lark In The Park I was on crutches and not much help, Jo becomes supper Mum/Wife/Sister in my eyes. I was involved in the evening events as I was working full time at the farm during the event, but it was great as ever, although I did miss being a part of the daytime team.<br /><br />We then went on holiday with Jo's parents. Center Parks is a lovely place, we find it so nice to amongst the trees and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, the week went by very quickly, but are grateful for the time we got.<br /><br />I finished as the education coordinator last week, and now I'm just doing the odd day here and there for Vauxhall City Farm. What a blessing it's been to have work during this time.<br /><br />We visited our group of friends in Romford who support us so well and shared whats been going on and what we plan for the future. It was lovely to introduce them all to Sally-Jayne.<br /><br />We've also been to lots of weddings and parties recently, most notably my cousin James and Tiffanie's wedding in the New Forest, which was a cracker!<br /><br />We are now planning to return to Malawi in about 4 or 5 weeks, please pray for us as we tie up all our loose ends, raise funds and get ourselves focused.<br /><br />Lastly, my left leg has been giving me lots of problems over the past month. I'm having an MRI scan on Friday. Please pray we get to the bottom of what causing me the problems.<br /><br />Loads of loveUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-60986739631700409422009-07-23T09:05:00.000-07:002009-07-23T09:17:27.097-07:00Have a Lark In The Park!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DgZrHJbuxtrFqqy1ItKoyZ-BT3c1j4VbvLGSiWRwty5krjf7bpWAewq3ukxuyJy89u4usUiAbeonhLC5cE_cexWwzxOCO9WYkXkk2tX5o15Ov97LrZWjtwb-XH3XyWuF5SlQYOvDpky_/s1600-h/lark+in+the+park.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361687881878434178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DgZrHJbuxtrFqqy1ItKoyZ-BT3c1j4VbvLGSiWRwty5krjf7bpWAewq3ukxuyJy89u4usUiAbeonhLC5cE_cexWwzxOCO9WYkXkk2tX5o15Ov97LrZWjtwb-XH3XyWuF5SlQYOvDpky_/s400/lark+in+the+park.jpg" /></a><br /><div>New Generation Churches big event: Lark In The Park (<a href="http://www.larkinthepark.com/">www.larkinthepark.com</a>) gets underway on Saturday - and set up is already going strong.</div><div> </div><div>Lark In The Park has been a big part of our lives over the years, and I've been involved with it since 1999! This year is the first time I won't be involved in the daytime programme (due to the need to work) and it's a really weird feeling. Jo however, always willing to help, has decided to run the stewarding even with our little baby needing her every couple of hours for feeding! The event is wonderfull sight, with the church coming out of it's comfort zone to really give a brilliant free gift to the community. What an example of Jesus' love for us, the length he's willing to go and the value he places on our lives. It's such a pleasure to be around again, and our babies arrival has meant we are back here just when the event takes place- Fantastic!</div><div> </div><div>Things are great for us at the moment. We go on holiday with Jo's parents in a couple of weeks as it's her Mum's birthday (I won't say how old) and I can't wait. After that I finish working full time and we'll be focusing on fundraising and our return, as well as being involved in the London Farm and Gardens flagship event: The City Harvest Festival. We had a planning meeting with these guys a couple of weeks back, and again feel so privileged to be involved with a brilliant group of people.</div><div> </div><div>I'll blog again soon, lots and lots of love x</div><div> </div><div> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-90692064915212804992009-07-06T05:06:00.000-07:002009-07-06T11:15:04.962-07:002 weeks of growing nicely!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYqBnTA3R4S9c6nXTL8I-PJF2-YEVvJbmFyCuJWpbBsoRZaZYI7lLXXfMRG9KHWnOUpOi4U7RLxXqJbcKpveOb1FgfOgNYTqSC1Y4mEH8ozeadq745bS_VyEue38eBRSF89QOkSkGyD1X/s1600-h/DSC_0051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYqBnTA3R4S9c6nXTL8I-PJF2-YEVvJbmFyCuJWpbBsoRZaZYI7lLXXfMRG9KHWnOUpOi4U7RLxXqJbcKpveOb1FgfOgNYTqSC1Y4mEH8ozeadq745bS_VyEue38eBRSF89QOkSkGyD1X/s400/DSC_0051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355412094756505138" border="0" /></a><br />As a farmer it's nice to know that my little daughter: Sally-Jayne is putting on weight nicely! She's put on a 4 or 5 ounces a week a now weighs 8 Lbs 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">oz's</span>! At 2 weeks old now she's starting to develop her character already, and it's scary how fast they change at this age. It's so nice that things have been smooth and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">positive</span> so far, and I know Jo is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">thoroughly</span> enjoying being a Mum.<br /><br />Things are going well on other fronts. I've mentioned on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">our</span> website: www.tomandjo.org that the leaders in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kudoko</span> village have all graduated from the 1st stage and it's going so well there. Flood church sounds like it's still going from strength to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">strength</span> and Sean <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kampondeni</span> (Floods Pastor) should be here in the UK during the 1st 2 weeks of August to be involved with Lark In The Park (www.larkinthepark.com). It's really exciting for us and we can't wait to get him over here.<br /><br />Some bad news was had last week when <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Lusekero</span> informed me that he's broken his arm! It's a shame for our football academies as he can't drive out there at the moment to take them, but also for him personally. He was the top scorer in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">pre</span>-season and then he broke his arm just days before the 1st game of the season in training ground accident. Obviously our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">thoughts</span> and prayers are with him for a speady recovery!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPourLS-qLNHWRu_f3nIQhQ8YE7Rwou5tszWidF8zF_MszuNnbwo6LmYNiP_iTTcg2_b8vf_L2joixSIR-hORmEAE7W614Nw_7dXYOg8Y7kmqJAy73qfi26BONVA58I3EhyAXxaPj-RDX8/s1600-h/CSC_0514.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPourLS-qLNHWRu_f3nIQhQ8YE7Rwou5tszWidF8zF_MszuNnbwo6LmYNiP_iTTcg2_b8vf_L2joixSIR-hORmEAE7W614Nw_7dXYOg8Y7kmqJAy73qfi26BONVA58I3EhyAXxaPj-RDX8/s400/CSC_0514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355412101348173426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've been back working at Vauxhall City Farm for just over a week now, it's really great fun! At the weekend we attended the Streatham Festival with ducks and activities from the farm. It was a great day in the Sun with loads of people, fun, water and festivities.<br /><br />We are already turning our attentions back to Malawi, and can't wait to get back there however. It's looking like we'll return late September after Sally-Jayne has had her vaccinations.<br /><br />Lots of love xUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7682913612734737103.post-58788128332199778022009-06-22T07:30:00.000-07:002009-06-22T07:38:29.328-07:00Sally-Jayne Gallagher arrives!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUkzhpg4ITDqYG7bpqu82ASN8bMQfe_UZPOaZQjNytsQWU4ciWLmbCLQXTlMhVyx2uR-2elr_WQfhEQ39pNpoPMVtBJDUfo4dQ28PBjM1p_ue2s94JW0bSs0g-YuMduDUkzSIYwk2xRGZ/s1600-h/DSC_0382.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUkzhpg4ITDqYG7bpqu82ASN8bMQfe_UZPOaZQjNytsQWU4ciWLmbCLQXTlMhVyx2uR-2elr_WQfhEQ39pNpoPMVtBJDUfo4dQ28PBjM1p_ue2s94JW0bSs0g-YuMduDUkzSIYwk2xRGZ/s400/DSC_0382.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350160995968635138" border="0" /></a><br />It was 4.15am on the 20th June 09 when Sally-Jayne let out her first shreik, was put on Jo's chest, opened her eyes to stare in Jo's for just a moment before she was promptly whisked away to be examined!<br /><br />Everything was fine, so equally as promptly she was given back to Jo for some mother-daughter bonding. Jo did really well, delivering in under 6 hours with no pain relief!<br /><br />Sally-Jayne is now settling in well and the center of everyones attention. She's already playing and she already knows what she wants! She's had nearly 30 visitors, and absolutely adores being held.<br /><br />Thanks for all your support and prayer, we know Jesus was with us in the delivery ward.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0