February and March Thus Far.

At last! A lull in the tempest that has been February and March thus far has come to pass. At college the last few weeks have witnessed a flurry of essay writing and lectures. I have also received my semester one module results which thankfully will not result in any re-sits. And I finally concluded that life is simply too short for biblical Hebrew.

At church, highlights of the last few weeks have included a visit to Senior YPF from my college friend Laszlo from Transylvania. I am preaching this evening in Wem (not necessarily a highlight!) and next week at the Mereside Church in Shrewsbury. Your prayers would be much appreciated.

At home, we are very much looking forward to our holiday in Brittany in a few weeks’ time. However, we were able to take time out yesterday to have a walk around ‘The Quarry’, Shrewsbury’s municipal park, and to have picnic on the train home.

Finally, the Wolves have experienced a brilliant few weeks. They take on the Baggies today and, as usual these days, a Sunday kick-off has prevented me from experiencing victory (or, on the basis of the other two Black Country derbies this season, likely defeat). And for those of you to whom this is most relevant (and you know who you are), the Wolves are currently above Preston in the table.

Snow and more snow

After global warming dominating the news for the last fortnight, it was almost inevitable that snow would arrive at Bryntirion and in Wem. So here is my colleague Lambert from Cameroon enjoying his FIRST EVER experience of snow, along with Tim from N. Ireland and Nathan from Yorkshire. I even managed to get home in time to have a snow ball fight with the kids before bedtime.

Back to College

On Monday 5 February I returned to college to recommence my Bible studies. It was strange to be deserting Lou and the kids after being at home for the best part of two months. Nevertheless, the prospect of further study and seeing my brothers and sisters in Christ again helped alleviate the potential homesickness somewhat. After some deliberation, I have decided to carry on studying Biblical Hebrew along with modules on Redemption, the book of Romans and the Eighteenth Century Evangelical Revival. It is with some relish that I will be approaching these three modules. Please continue to pray for us as a family, especially for Lou and the kids in my absence, and for my studies, that I would grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so endeth the third week...

And so my three-week 'work experience' placement at Wem Baptist Church has drawn to a close. The Lord has sustained me and now I'm ready to return to college for a rest. Pastor Phil and Assistant Pastor Rob have been a joy to shadow (so they told me to say, anyway). Many thanks to them and to those who've prayed for me during my placement. I am looking forward to a week at home writing up my experiences and spending some time with my better half and the kids. Just don't mention the Wolves...

Naomi's Big Week

The last couple of weeks have also witnessed a momentous occasion in the Jones household: Naomi’s first days of full-time education. How cute does she look? She gets it from her Dad.

A Busy Week!

Finally, I have a chance to do some updating with Lou’s assistance. Over this past eight days or so I have commenced my college course placement, or ‘work experience’, at my home church in Wem. I have had the pleasure of ‘shadowing’ Pastor Phil and (soon-to-be) Assistant Pastor Rob. Highlights of the week include a star appearance on Radio Shropshire (watch out, John Humphries), attendance at a school assembly in Ruyton XI Towns and speaking to the Christian Union at Thomas Adams School. The week has been a real encouragement and blessing to me and I hope that I have been able to give at least a bit back to the Church and to Pastor Phil and Rob. Please continue to pray for me and for Phil and Rob; I’m not sure who needs most prayer…

New Year's Eve

Having hoped for a quiet start to 2007, the Jones household was invaded by a right motley bunch of individuals. You'd never guess which of these characters is charged with our spiritual oversight as our Pastor. Clue: he appears to be having a charismatic moment. Notice also the distinguished looking, more mature lady who seems to be phoning for assistance.