Gandriz vesels menesis seit/Almost one month here

(english is below)

Atzistos esmu noslinkojusi ar blogu un vairaki cilveki ir prasijusi pec jauna ieraksta,tad nu luk beidzot esmu atradusi tam laiku :)

Sveiciens no Anglijas visiem,ko pazistu atpakal majas.Man Jus tiesam pietrukst un loti gribetu kaut uz vienu dienu pabut ar Jums!Bet Dievs man ir paversis jaunas iespejas iepazit briniskigus cilvekus seit,par ko esmu loti pateiciga Vinam!

Tad nu laiks ieskatities ieprieksejas divas nedelas.Tas ir bijusas loti aiznemtas un pilnas ar dejosanu,fizisko slodzi, trennininiem un sagatavosanas darbiem, ka arii laiku draudze un ar jauniesiem.

Pagajuso nedel pirmdien iesakas musu  6 nedelu garie, intensivie trennini dejosana lidz musu pirmajam lielajam prieksnesumam Commisioning YFC (27oktrobri) . Katru ritu sakam ar personigo laiku ar Dievu, Bibeles lasijumu, domu graudu un lugsanam. Sakot no sis nedelas ikvienai no mums vajadzes novadit rita lugsanas un padalities ar kadu domu no Bibeles. Ja varat aizludzat par to, lai Dievs dod istos vardus ko teikt, jo nedaudz esmu satraukusies, ka ari nelielas valodas barjeras. Jau so 1dien vadu pirmo un runasu par milestibu :)

Tapat katru ritu sakam ar paris stundu iesildisanos, lielo akcentu liekot uz fizisko slodzi un izturibu, lai varam pierast pie slodzes un uzlabot musu izturibu. Sis paris stundas katru ritu ir bijusas pasas grutakas, un pasa sakuma viss mans kermenis un muskuli ir bijusi lielas sapes. No ritiem izkapt no gultas man ir prasijusas 5 minutes vai pareizak sakot izvelties no gultas :D 

Otraja diena pamostoties vareja just, ka vakar ir stradats deju zale.Pagajusa trestdiena laikam bija visgrutaka diena lidz sim. No rita pamostoties, sajuta tada, ka man pari butu parbraucis autobuss :D Biezi ir japarkapj sev pari, lai spet izturet slodzi, bet pats galvenais ir pareiza domasana un attieksme, ko meginu saglabat :)
Katru dienu aktivi stradajam deju zale no rita lidz vakaram. Sestdien visu dienu bijam kopa ar Sofiju, musu horeografi. Vareja just, ka visas esam nogurusas, jo briziem skita, ka vairak smejamies neka stradajam. Gajam cauri jaunajiem soliem un horeografijai. Kustibas izskatas tiesam labi, ir daudz jastrada, bet tik loti nevaru sagaidit,kad bus musu pirmais lielais prieksnesums oktobra beigas :) Tas bus satriecosi!
Ticu,ka sajuta bus neaprakstama :) Un atskatoties atpakal bus prieks par paveikto!

Tapat sonedel esam stradajusas daudz pie workshop vadisanas, jo biezi dosimies uz skolam, dazadam iestadem, kur vadisim deju nodarbibas prieks berniem, jauniesiem un macisim deju rutinu. Gajam cauri punktiem, idejam, kas palidzes vadit, meginajam daudz reizes, nemot dazadus piemerus. Sakuma tas varbut skiet viegli novadit stundu nodarbibu, bet esmu sapratusi, cik patiesiba liels darbs ir jaiegulda, jo ticu, ka braucot apkart mes sastapsimies ar dazada rakstura berniem un jauniesiem, un ir svarigi zinat, ka rikoties dazadas situacijas, ko teikt un ka panakt, lai vini sanemtu to labako no mums un panemtu ko lidz :)
Nakosas nedelas stradasim tikpat citigi ar dejosanu, soliem, horeografiju, jo laiks isteniba skrien loti atri un jau pec 4 nedelam ir musu pirmais lielais prieksnesums!Tas nemaz nav daudz, jo jastrada un jaiemacas vel ir loti daudz, bet ticu, ka viss izdosies un gala rezultats bus lielisks :)

Tapat turpinam palidzet stradat ar jauniesiem draudze. Aizvien katru trestdienu palidzam ar Freedom in Christ kursiem. Esmu ieverojusi prieks sevis - katru reiz naku turp, lai kalpotu un dotu no sevis, bet tani pat laika es loti daudz sanemu un ir lietas, kuras Dievs man atgadina caur siem vakariem. Tapat redzot jauniesu sejas, interesi, dzirdot diskusijas - tas nelauj padoties un turpinat darit to darbu, ko esi iesacis :)
Piektdienas vakari Youth Cloub ir bijusi lieliski. Pagaspiektdien skiet bija sasniegts rekords,apmeram 170 jauniesi. Bija jauki izveidot sarunas ar viniem, kaut pavisam ikdieniskas un iepazit vinus tuvak, pavadit laiku ar viniem divu stundu garuma. Nevaru sagaidit sodien vakara doties turp. Sovakar bus Karokes vakars, tas izklausas loti labi  :)
Tapat mums ir bijusi sapulce par to, kaa visas tris varam vairak iesaistities draudzes aktivitates un es loti gribetu spelet slavesanas grupa, tapec redzes vai paversies kadas iespejas turpmak un vai bus iespejams to savienot ar laikiem, jo sobrid esam diezgan aiznemtas :)
Tapat pec musu pirmas uzstasanas mes vairak tiksim iesaistitas jauniesu darba un ar laiku musu abildiba augs, jo sobrid daudz laika panem dejosanas klases katru dienu.

Me and Emily at Mery Hill :) 

Vakardien pec ilgiem laikiem bija diena off, kad vareju izguleties nedaudz vairak. Atlikuso dienu pavadiju kopa ar Emily un aizbraucam uz Mery Hill, kas ir liels iepirksanas centrs un pavadijam tur parsteidzosi daudz laika. Ja nemaldos, tad sesas stundas. Bija loti jauki pamainit atmosferu un pavadit laiku arpus dejosanas telpam un draudzes. Tapat palutinajam sevi ar dazadiem gardumiem, karsto sokoladi un ilgu laiku norunajam sezot kafejnica. Esmu pateiciga, ka varu vinu pazit. Vina ir briniskigs cilveks un mes tik loti labi saprotamies :)  Kopuma izbaudiju savu brivdienu, iepirksanos, sarunas un smiesanos gandriz lidz asaram :) Vairak tadu dienu!

Aizvien esmu pateiciga, cik loti Dievs mani ir svetijis ar gimeni, kura esmu. Vini ir tik briniskigi cilveki un varu tiesam justies ka majas un esmu pavadijusi loti jaukus brizus ar viniem :) Tapat esmu izmeginajusi pirmo speli esot seit - Double Nine Dominoes. Laba spele un izsmejos ar :)

Sobrid sezu sava istaba, ara ir saulains un patikams laiks. Pec neilga laika dosos uz Birmingham, lai pavaditu laiku ar jauniesiem no draudzes, jo Simon (no gimenes,kura esmu) rit dodas prom uz universitati macities. Laiks pie mums ir loti divains. Ir bijusas dienas, kad list, list un list un taa vien negribas celties no gultas un iet ara no majas. Ir dienas, kad no rita ir saulains un skaists, un tad peksni nenokurienes sak lit. Laikam beidzot Anglija parada savu isto dabu.

Emocijas esot seit aizvien ir dazadas, ka ari nogurums briziem sakrajas liels. Ir dienas, kad jutos labi, prieks but seit un izbaudu, tapat ir dienas, kad cinos ar daudz ko, ir gruti but seit un ta vien gribas dazreiz but majas pie visiem maniem tuvajiem cilvekiem. Bet galu gala es esmu seit un ticu, ka Dievs mani seit ir ielicis del iemesla. Un censos palauties uz to, lai kadas domas naktu galva. Ja vari  un tev ir uz sirds vari drosi paturet lugsanas mani :)

Un drosi rakstiet man, es priecajos lasot ka jums iet atpakal majas :)

Paldies par Jusu ikvienu finansialo atbalstu.Loti noverteju katru Jusu devumu, jo bez Jums es netiktu tik talu. Jus esat superforsi!!! :) Prieks, ka esat man!

Lai Dievs Jus visus sveti un maca ikdienas staigat Vina vadiba! :)

Milestiba,

Laura

/Have been lazy with making new post here and several people have alread asked me to do it. So know  I finally found the time :)

Greetings from England to everyone who I know back home.I do miss you all a lot and I would love to spend even just one day with all of you guys!But God has given me chances to get to know some wonderful people here.I am grateful to Him for that!

Its time to look how my previous two weeks has been.They have been busy with dancing,work outs, fitness and preparation work. As well going to church,helping with youth events and spending time with youths from church.

Last Monday started our 6 weeks long intensive dances classes till our forst big perfomance at Commisioning YFC day (27th october). Every morning before we do any dance or fitness, we start with devotion time - reading some verses from Bible, sharing how God has spoken trough that and praying together. Starting from this week each one of us will have a chance to lead devotion time and share what God has put in our hearts. If You can please pray for me, so God could give me the right thing to share and also for language. I am doing my first on Monday and gonna talk about love. Thanks! :)

Also every morning we have been doing few hours work out,which has been challenging for all of us in different ways.These hours every morning has been the hardest ones so far and my body and muscules have been in a lot of pain. You dont have wanna know details! To get up from bed in the morning has took about 5minutes :D
Last thuesday when I woke up,I could feel that I have been working yesterday. Last wendsday I think was the hardest day.In the morning by waking up I had the feeling that bus has been driven over me :D Sometimes I have to over come myself, so I can be able to do al the exercise,but the most important thing is to have a right attitude and thoughts, which I am trying to keep :)
Every day we actively are working at dance studio from morning till evening.Saturday all day we were together with Sofia, our choreographer. You could tell that we were tired, because most of the time we spent there we were just laughing and being silly :D Went trough the new steps and choreograpghy . Movements are looking realy good, there is still a lot of work to do, but I cant wait for our first big perfomance at the end of October. Its going to be amazing! I belive those feelings will be indescridable! And a joy to look back on the work we have done :)

This week we have also been working a lot with leading workshops as we will go to schools where we will lead dances classes for children and youths by teaching routine. Went trough some points, ideas which helps leading, tried some examples, practised a lot. At first it may seem easy to teach a routine for childrens at school, but I have undesrtood how hard work that actually is. We gonna face so many different characters of childrens and youths. Thats why its important for us a team to know how to handle different situations, what to say and do so they can get the best out of our dance lesson and enjoy it :)
Next week we will be working as hard as every other week, because time is running realy fast and we only have 4 weeks left till we gonna perfom on the big stage.Its not much, we still have to learn and work a lot, but I believe that everything will work out and the end result will be more than great :)

In the same time we are still helping with youth work at church. Every wendsday we are helping with Freedom in Christ course. Very nice time together with all of the children. I am usually going there to give,but every time I recieve something also for myself and God reminds me something. As well as seeing the faces of the children, listening in discussions - it helps me to keep doing it :)
Friday evenings with Youth Cloub has been amazing. Last week if I am right there was a record - about 170 young people coming in. Its nice to spend time with them for two hours, chat with them and get to know them closer. Yesterday was Karaoke night. So much fun and some nice conversations with young people :)
Also we had a meeting about how all of us three can get more involved at church activities and I would dearly love to play guitar at worship band, so will see if I will have this oppurtunity and how it works with our time schedule , because at the moment we have been quite busy :)
Also after our first perfomance we will be more involved with youth work and by time our responsibility will grow,  because at the moment a lot of our time is taking dance classes.

Thursday finally we had our day off when I could sleep longer. The rest of the day I spent together with Emily and we went to shopping centre Mery Hill (pictures above). We spent a lot of time there suprisingly. If I am not mistaken, then six hours. I know crazy! :D It was very nice to change atmosphere and spent some time outside dance studio and church. We also treated ourselfs with cakes and hot chocolate. I am so thankful that I can know her, she is an amazing friend and person. We are getting on so well :) Overall I did enjoy my day off - shopping, long chatting and laughing almost till tears :)

I am still so grateful for how God has blessed me with a family where I am now. They are such a wonderful people and do feel like at home here and I have spent nice time together with them :) Have even tried the first game here - Double nine Dominoes. Good game. Liked it :) I am sure I will try other ones too.

Now sitting in my bed and a bit later going out to Birmingham with youths from church to say goodbye to Simon who is leaving tomorrow to go to University :) The weather here is strange. It can badly rain all day and then it can be sunny in the morning and one moment it just starts raining and then it stops. I think finally England have shown its true nature :) But today is quite nice weather!

My emotions here are still changing all the time. They are days when I fell good, its nice to be here and I am enjoying every moment of this, but they are also days and moments when I am struggling and its hard to be here and all I wanna do is go back home. But in the end I am here and I believe that God has put me here with reason. Even if I cant figure out things, He can and He knows! I try to rely on this all the time, every day being here.If You can and its on your heart, you can keep me in our prayers :)

And feel free to write me.I wanna know how everything is back home :)

And BIG THANKS for your financial support. I appreciate it a lot! Without you all I wouldnt be here, you have been so amazing and every encouragement means a lot to me :)

May God bless you all and teach you how to daily walk with Him!

With lots of love,

Laura

Mana otra nedela/My second week

(english is below)

Sveiki visiem maniem draugiem Latvija.

Man Jusu loti pietrukst un gribetu Jus visus sobrid satikt :)

Ir pagajusas divas nedelas kops esmu prom no majam. Kad es iedomajos - vel prieksa ir 10 gari menesi, man laikam nav tas sajutas,ka es busu seit tik ilgi.Laikam ejot,gan es pieradisu pie taa.

Padalisos ar Jums kada ir bijusi mana otra nedela seit.Piedzivots ir loti daudz un skiet,ka loti daudz jaunu iemacisos un panemsu no sii gada prom.Jau tagad to varu teikt.

Nedela sakas ar 10h garu iepirksanos Birmingham,kur nopirkam visu nepieciesamo Foto sesijai un uzstasanai prieks dejosanas.Garas stundas.Pastaigas.Toties cilveku bija uz pusi mazak kaa brivdiena. Bet laiks kopa bija jauks un izbaudiju.Dienas beigas gan neko citu ka gultu negribeju redzet :D Ceru,ka izdosies kadu dienu aizbraukt uz Birmingham un apskatit pasu pilsetu :)

No kreisas puses Hannah (YFC) , Grace (Stance team ledar) , Rebecca (Stance) un Emily (Stance)

The Bullring Shopping centre (Birmingham)

Otrdien no rita mums bija neliela ievadlekcija un ekskursija pa draudzes (ZION Christian centre) eku.Es nekad nebutu iedomajusies, cik liela patiesiba ir si draudze. Tur pavisam noteikti var apmaldities pat pasi darbinieki :D Velak devamies paest pusdienas draudzes kafejnica, kur svetdienas parasti notiek sadraudziba. Tad pirmo reizi ar komandu devamies uz deju studiju, kur pavadisim daudz laika nakoso 10 menesus.Pavadijam pecpusdienu domajot par apgerbiem prieks foto sesijas. Jautraka dala bija apgerbties vienalga kadas drebes un iziet ara, lai nopirktu paris aksesuarus :) Sanemam pat  komplimentus - You all together look like some cool street dance crew! :) Yes,we are! Bet tada paskata Latvija drosi vien neietu ara :D

Pa nakti palikam pie Grace un trestdienas rita bija jacelas jau piecos no rita, lai friziere mums ieveidotu matus, uzliktu make up, lai apgerbtos un pirms astoniem  jau devamies uz Birmingham gatavas foto sesijai. Laiks gan bija loti auksts, vejains, bet tas mums netrauceja izbaudit dienas pirmo pusi uznemot lieliskas bildes kopa ar Stance komandu. Fotografs paveica loti labu darbu :) Noteikti izbaudiju so iespeju. Ta bija laba pieredze. Fotografijas bus redzamas nakosnedel un ieliksu dazas ar seit. Vakara ar Emily un Rebecu devos uz draudzi, kur vaditajiem palidzesim katru nedelu ar Freedom in Christ  jauniesu (11-16 gadi) vakariem, kuri tikai tagad sakas un norisinasies paris menesus. Ta ir laba iespeja jauniesiem izprast vairak Dievu, sanemt dazadas atbildes, iesaistities diskusijas.

Ceturtdien Grace mums iedeva dienu,lai varam izguleties,atpusties un atgut spekus. Izgulejos pirmo reizi esot Anglija. Laba sajuta. Pirmo reizi devos uz supermarketu palidzet Sue iepirkt edamo. Tiku ar pie auglu tejas, kas man loti pietruka :) Pavadiju dienu majas, palidzeju gatavot pusdienas un vienkarsi atputos.

Piektdien pirmo reizi devos uz deju studiju viena pati, kas ir 20min gajiens no sejienes. Lieliska rita pastaiga.Cels ved leja no kalna. Briniskigs skats. Pirmo reizi gan apmaldijos pamatigi. Vienu bridi nebija ne jausmas, kur man ir jaiet talak un kur esmu. Labi,ka Emily atrada celu pie manis.Diemzel pirmais dejosanas trennins izkrita del manas nokavesanas. Tapec svetdien pec draudzes bija musu pirma  deju nodarbiba.Vakara palidzejam ar Youth Cloub draudze, kur pavisam kopa atnaca apmeram 140 jauniesi (gan kristiesi,gan nekristiesi). Tas ir labs veids ka jauniesiem pavadit piektdienas vakaru laba, veseliga vide, spelejot speles, dejojot, runajoties. Ka ari mums vaditajiem iespeja izveidot sarunas ar jauniesiem un pastastit vairak par Dievu vai vienkarsi but tur un pavadit laiku ar viniem. Pec Youth Cloub pirmo reizi devos uz krogu ar draudzes jauniesiem. Tas varbut neskan pec manis, bet Anglija prieks viniem taa ir pavisam normala satiksanas vieta. Pavadiju jauku vakara noslegumu.
Sestdiena bija mana otra briva diena. Taa sakrita ar Simon 20 dzimsanas dienu. Uz pusdienam ciemos atnaca paris cilveki, ar kuriem bija iespeja iepazities. Velak vakara devamies kupla skaita nobaudit vakarinas Stourbridge vieteja kroga. Nekad nebutu iedomajusies, ka uz krogu var aiziet, lai nobauditu gimenes vakarinas. Lot priecajos ar sevis izveleto edienu. Tas garsoja pec Latvijas - cepta vista citronu sula, kartupeli, sauteta paprika un darzeni. Pavisam noteikti izbaudiju.
Man tiesam ir liela pateiciba Dievam, ka varu but dala no sis gimenes :)
Tad nu pienaca nedelas pedeja diena - svetdiena. Devos uz dievkalpojumu plkst.11.00, uz kuru ari turpmak iesu. Soreiz runaja Leon Evans, kurs ir draudzes vecakais macitajs. Loti uzrunaja vina spredikis - Cik talu mes esam gatavi iet ar Dievu? Cik ekstremi mes esam gatavi but del Dieva? Bija jauki slavesanas laika dzirdet pazistamas dziesmas un dziedat lidz :) Pec dievkalpojuma bija musu pirmais dejosanas trennins. Par musu prieksnesuma horeografiju ir atbildiga Sofija (Anglijas cempiona street dance ar 18 gadu dejosanas pieredzi) Sakuma gan bija loti nobijusies, jo dzirdeju cik vina ir stingra un prasiga. Bet patiesiba vina ir loti jauks cilveks, nenoliek sevi augstak ka citus un labi mak sevi pasniegt un macit. Apmeram divas reizes nedela vina ienaks pie mums, apskatis, ko esam iemacijusies un paradis mums solus talak, lai varam atstradat. Vina mums pat macija pamatus, lai iemacitos dazadus breika elementus, salto utt. Biedejosi, bet musu pirmaja prieksnesuma vina velas redzet ko tadu jau. Ak vai! :D Bet man jau patik muzika, pirmie soli. Nevaru sagaidit. No ritdienas sakas musu intensivie trennini - ilgas, garas stundas pavaditas deju zale.

Sodien ir mana diena off.Pirmo reizi iztiriju savu istabu, lai pasai prieks :)
Ara spid saulite, ir skaidras debesis un burvigs laiks, tapec velak domaju iziet viena pastaiga un aiziet lidz kadam vietejam veikalam, bet ar karti kabata, lai neapmaldos :D
Sodien vakara pirksu biletes Ziemassvetkiem. Nevaru sagaidit, kad atbrauksu uz majam un satiksu visus :)

Grace mums ideva ari dazadus datumus, kas mums turpmak uz prieksu jazin. Musu pirma liela uztsanas ir 27 oktobri YFC Commisioning un musu pirma ture ir 16,17 novembri uz Londonu. Ceru,ka bus iespeja apskatit ar pilsetu :)

Jutos visadi seit.Dazadas emocijas.Zinu,ka nav manos spekos so gadu but seit, bet zinu, ka Dievs mana nespeka paradas sava speka :) Paldies par katru Jusu lugsanu, vestuli, iedrosinajumiem. Jus esat super!Un pietrukstat man :)
Drosi rakstiet man, es tikai priecasos sanemt no Jums vestules!

Laikam sai reizei tas bus viss. Izdzersu savu rita teju un dosos izlukot apkartni :)

Lai Jums visiem briniskiga sii nedela.
Ceru,ka Latvija laiks ir tikpat jauks ka pie mums.
Ar lielu lielu milestibu,
Laura

/ Hello to all my friends from Latvia.
I realy miss you all and I would love to meet you just for a second now :)

Two weeks has gone.When I think about all those 10 months which are just coming,I still dont have a feeling that I am gona actually be here for so long time. As a time goes, I will get used to it.

I wanna share with you what I have been doing for my second week here. I have experienced a lot and I am sure I will learn a lot and I will take so much from this year with me.

My week started with 10 hour long shopping at Birmingham shopping centre (see picture above), where we bought all the things for Photo session and peforming for dancing. Long hours. Walks. People were much less than previous time. But I did enjoy a time with my team. In the end of the day the only thing I was think about was how to get in my bed :D

Thuesday in the morning we had small introduction and excursion trough ZION Christion Centre building (the church where I am going). I would never imagined how massive and big the church actually is. I am sure even the staff members can get lost there :D Later we went for a lunch at Coffe Shop which is based at church where people usually at sundays go for a fellowship. Then for the first time together with my team we went to see our dance studio where we gona spend most of all time during our next 10 months. We spent al afternoon there thinking about outfits for out photo session. The funniest part was to dress as as street dancers and just go out for 20minutes to get some accessories from the shop. We got a compliment - You all together look like some cool street dance crew! :) That made my day! But in this kind of look I wouldnt probably go outside in Latvia :D As I am in the another country, its easier to dare to something different which is fun!

We stayed over night at Grace place and wendesday morning we needed to get up at 5 in the morning, so our hair could be done by a hairdresser, make up, also to wear our outfits and about 7.30 we left Grace home and went to Birmingham ready for photo session. The weather was cold and a bit freezing for one moment, but it didnt stop us to enjoy photo session together with Stance team. The photographer did a very good job :) I enjoyed this opportunity so much. Life experience.In the evening I went together with Emily and Rebecca to church where we wil be helping every wendesday with Freedom in Christ course which they only started this week for youth people to get to know them more about God, find some answers, to get  involved with discussions.
Thursday Grace gave us a day off, so we could get a propare sleep and rest which was realy good otherwise I was getting realy tired and needed some time off. I slept realy well  for the first time being in England. Good feeling. Later for the first time also went to Supermarket together with Sue helping her to buy a food. I also got fruit tea which I missed so much.The rest of the day I just spent at home, helped Sue to make a lunch and rest at my room.
Friday for the first time went to dance studio by myself,which is about 25min walk down the hill. Realy nice walk. But ge lost also,good that Emily was coming after me. As now she is living just 5minutes away from me since friday so I will have a chance to walk with her to church and dance studio :) Unfortunately our first dance practise didnt happen because of me getting lost. In the evening we helped with a Youth Cloub at church where all together came about 140 youth people (non christians and christians). Its a great chance for young people to spend friday night in nice and healthy atmosphere. Its also for us a chance to talk with them, telling about God or just being around and spending time with them. After Youth Cloub for the first time in my life I went to pub. It probably doesnt sound like me. For english people it is a normal meeting place. I spent a nice ending of the day :)
Saturday I had my second day off and its also was Simon 20 birthday. For a lunch some people came over and I had a chance to know them. Very nice people. They even invited me to their place in the middle of october for a few days but I think I will not be free that time which is sad, but who knows - maybe I will have another oppurtunity. In the evening we went to a pub for a family dinner to celabrate Simon birthday. I could never imagined that you can go to a pub for a nice dinner with family.I was realy pleased with my own choised food. It tasted like Latvia - fried chicken poured with lemon juice, potatoes, sauteed peppers and vegetables. I did enjoy it a lot :)
I am realy thankful to God that I can be a part of this family :)
Then come the last day of week - sunday. I went to a service at 11.00. This time Leon Evans was speaking, who is a senior pastor of the church. I was very touched by his sermon - How far are we willing to Go for God? How extreme we are ready to be because of God? It was nice also to hear known worship songs and sing along :) After service was our first dance practise. The choreography of our performances is responsible Sofia (British street dance champion with 18 years of dance experience). At the begining I was realy scared because I have heard that she is a strict and demanding teacher. But in fact she is a very nice person and a good teacher with such an experience. About twice a week she will come to our dance classes ad see what he have learned  and show us the steps below so we can work with that later. She even taught us basics how to break variety of elements, do flips and so on. Scary, but in our first perfomace she wants us to do some of that already.Oh! :D But I do like the music already, our first steps. I can not wait. I know its gona be a hard work, but its worth it. From tomorrow starts our intensive training. Long hours spent at dance studio almost every day.

Today is my day off. For the first time I cleaned my room.Good job, its looking much better now :) Outside the weather is absolutely fantastic - the sun is shining, clear sky, so later on I will go for a walk and go to some local shop with a map in my pocket otherwise I will get lost again :D Once I even needed to ask some lady for a help and she called a taxi for me, so I could get home from train station. But it was because my phone just freezed and I couldnt call for someone to pick me up :D
In the evening I am buying tickets for Christmass. I can not wait to come to Latvia and spent two weeks with family and friends already :)

Grace also gave us a different dates which we need to know. Our first big perfomance is 27th October YFC Commisioning and our first tour is 16-17th November around London. Hope I will be able too see city by itself :)

I am feeling different kind of emotions here. I know I cant do this year with own srenght, but I know in my weakness comes God with His strenght :) Thanks for every prayer, your support, encouragaments. Guys you are awsome! Feel free to write me anytime. I will try to answer as soon as I can :)

Wish to all of you a wonderful week!
Hope the weather in Latvia is as nice as here!
With lots lots of love,
Laura

Mana pirma nedela/My first week

(English is below)

Sveiki visiem!

Uzreiz bridinu,ka nemaku nomainit valodu uz sava jauna laptopa,tapec piedodiet,ka rakstu bez misktinajuma zimem :)

Ir pagujusi tikai viena nedela kops esmu seit,bet sajuta,ka daudz ilgak.Tik daudz,kas jau piedzivots,tik daudz jaunas informacijas,tik daudz jaunu seju,emociju,pardzivojumu.

Lidojums bija loti veiksmigs,un paldies visiem,kas atnaca uz lidostu pavadit mani.Prieks manis tas bija loti ipasi.Paldies par katru kartinu un vestuli,ko uzrakstijat.Bija tik jauki izlasit un tas mani loti iedrosinaja.Un lika novertet,ka man esat :)

Paldies ari visiem parejiem,kuri gribeja atnakt,bet dazadu apstaklu del nevareja,es noverteju Jusu atbalstu!

Pirmo nakti pavadiju pie savas komandas vaditajas (Grace - fotografija 3 no kreisas puses). Loti patikams un jauks cilveks, esmu parsteigta, cik vina daudz ir piedzivojusi un redzejusi savos 20 gados. Man ir liels prieks, ka vina vadis musu komandu un man bus iespeja vinu iepazit vairak :) 

Pirmaja vakara aizgajam uz restoranu un nobaudiju savu pirmo mielastu Anglija. Man garsoja, bet jaatzist, ka biju ko lidzigu jau nobaudijusi :) Pedejo nedelu esmu edusi tik daudz ediena :D Es nezinu kaa vispar tik daudz iespejams apest. Tapat ir nedaudz gruti pierast pie taa,ka lielais mielasts ir vakarinas, nevis pusdienas.

Pirmo nedelu esmu pavadijusi Pioneer Centra,Kiddderminster, kur notika ETC (Evengelistic training course) un man bija iespeja iepazit ari visus parejos 40 brivpratigos, kuri sogad bus ar YFC (Youth for Christ). Mes tikam sagatavoti darbam ar jauniesiem. Garas lekcijas no agra rita lidz vakaram katru dienu (Child Protection, Youth work, Mission and Evengelism, Communication skills utt.), no kuram esmu loti daudz iemacijusies. Tapat ir bijis briniskigs laiks lugsanas, slavesana, lasot Bibeli un sadraudziba.

Sobrid esmu uznemusi tik daudz informaciju, un ir japaiet laikam,lai spetu to visu atcereties un paturet atmina. Ta ka lidz sim neesmu stradajusi ar jauniesiem, ta bus jauna pieredze. Jaatzist,ka sobrid mani ir lielas bailes. Viena lieta ir but seit, gatavoties jauniesu darbam, bet pavisam kas cits doties uz skolam, festivaliem, uz ielam un tiesam redzet jauniesus, stradat ar viniem, klausities vinu dzivesstastos, runat ar viniem. Jutu lielu atbildibas sajutu, jo velos dot no sevis to labako, kas man ir un redzet izmainitas dzives. Sis laiks jau ir bijis izaicinoss prieks manis un skatoties talak, es redzu, ka nebus viegli, bus daudz grutibas, izaicinajumi, tapec man ir loti nepieciesamas Jusu lugsanas :)

Esmu iepazinusi ari daudz briniskigu cilveku. Lieta,kas mani parsteidza, ka esam tikai 4 cilveki arpus Anglijas kopa sagad ar YFC ( tris meitenes no Vacijas - Sulia, Estere, Julia un es). Biju domajusi, ka bus vairak.Tapec ir bijis patikami dzirdet,ka cilveki ir iedrosinati redzot mus seit :)

Esmu iepazinusi savu komandu. Vinas ir briniskigas meitenes.Musu komandas vaditaja ir Grace, ka ari divas meitenes no Anglijas - Emily, Rebecca un protams es. Visas ir vietejas, tapec man ir nedaudz japierod pie visa un jaiedzivojas. Bet nevaru sagaidit,kad saksim kopa stradat :)

5dien mes visi devamies katrs uz jaunajam majam un gimenem,kuras ir gatavas mus uznemt uz gadu. Biju loti satraukusies, bet Dievs mani ir loti svetijis.Vini ir briniskigi cilveki - vecaki (Sue un Christ), Simon (19 gadi) un ciemos biezi nak meita - Sarah ar viru Matt. Simon gan brauks prom septembra beigas studet universitate kimiju, tad nu paliksu ar Sue un Chris, bet vini ir loti jauki cilveki. Un jutos loti gaidita seit :) Es jau esmu vinus iemilejusi. Fotografija var redzet skatu no mana istabas loga. Visu nedelu ir bijis fantatisks,saulains un silts laiks. Neesmu vel piedzivojusi lietu, bet laikam nedrikstu pierast pie sadiem laikapstakliem :)

Vakar devamies apskatit Birmingham, kas atskiras no taa kaa esmu pieradusi redzet Angliju lidz sim. PILNS ar cilvekiem, tik aiznemts. Visi ieperkas, veikali parpilditi,uz ielam liela rosiba. Tik daudz notiek. Skiet,ka visa pilseta izgajusi ara sestdiena :D Pavadijam dienu kopa ar Grace un Emily un devamies uz lielako  iepirksanas centru Eiropa - iepirkam drebes (daudz daudz daudz), aksesuarus prieks uzstasanas un foto sesijas,kura bus jau so 3dien.Nevaru sagaidit. Pirmdien dosimies atpakal, jo vel daudz,kas ir nepieciesams. Ceru,ka bus iespeja redzet, ko vairak no Birmingham, jo lidz sim man ir iespaids, ka taa ir cilveku parpildita un visa rosiba notiek veikalos, kuros cilveki iztere DAUDZ naudas seit :)

Tapat vakar bija Barbeque vakars pie manas jaunas gimenes.Cilveki no draudzes ari bija atnakusi ciemos. Jauki pavadits laiks ar briniskigu edienu :)
Sodien bija mana pirma diena jaunaja draudze - ZION Christian Centre. Loti jauki pavadits laiks, tapat mes tikam iepazistinati dievkalpojuma sakuma. Pec draudzes bija iespeja uzrikot vel vienu barbecue tepat darza. Ciemos bija atnakusi Patricija no draudzes, kura reiz gaja uz Pestisanas Armiju, tapec bija interesanti iepazit vinu un parunaties. Loti jauki pavadits laiks :)

Nu es dosos pagulet,jo esmu loti nogurusi pec visas garas nedelas.Neesmu dabujusi kartigu miegu un nakosnedel jau viss sakas.
Vakara beidzot bus iespeja caur skype parunat ar masu un mammu.Nevaru sagaidit jau :)

Paldies visiem,kas mani atbalsta,iedrosina,raksta man.Piedodiet,ja nevaru visiem atbildet uzreiz.Centisos darit labako no manis :)

Man veljoprojam ir nepieciesama finansiala palidziba,lai varetu nosegt so gadu.Tapec,ja tev ir ko dot un  tu velies atbalstit,es loti priecasos :)

Man pietrukst Latvijas un pavisam noteikti runat latviski :D Rakstot tekstu, es jau galva domaju angliski un tulkoju latviski.Iedomajos,kas bus pec gada aizvadita Anglija.

Sai reizei viss.Meginasu ielikt jaunu blogu katru nedelu :)

Esiet svetiti,

Laura

/Hello to everyone!

Only one week has past since I'm here, but the feeling is that I'm here much longer. I have experienced so much, a lot of new information, many new faces, emotions, and experiences.

Flight was very smooth and thanks to everyone who came to the airport for farewell. It was very special to me. Thanks for every card and letter, that you wrote me. It was so nice to read and it encouraged me a lot. It made me appreciate that I have you all :) 
Thanks to everyone else, who wanted to come, bet due to different circumstances couldn't, I appreciate your support! 

My first night in UK I spend with my team leader Grace (3rd from left side in the picture above).She is a very nice person, I was so surprised how much she has experienced and seen already in her 20 years. I am very glad that she will lead our team and that I'll have opportunity to get  to know her even more. :) 

We went to the restaurant in the first night and I ate my first UK meal (in the picture above). It was good. I have ate something similar already. This last week I have had so much food.:D I have no idea how a person can eat so much. It is also hard to get used to that supper is bigger meal than lunch.

First week I have spent at the Pioneer Center, Kidderminster, where ETC (Evengelistic training course) took a place and I had an opportunity to meet other 40 volunteers, which will also take part in YFC ( Youth For Christ) this year.They were preparing us for youth work. Long lectures from early morning till the late evening every day (Child Protection, Youth work, Mission, Evangelism, Communicationskills etc.). I have learnt a lot from it. We had a wonderful time praying, praising, reading Bible and in fellowship. 

I have taken in so much information that I need to have time to remember it all.As I have not worked with youth, this will be a new experience for me. I have to admit that at this moment I am quite scared. One thing is to be here and prepare for youth work, but another is to go to schools, festivals, to streets and see and work with youth for real, listen to their life stories and speak to them. I feel great responsibility, cause I want to give the best from me and I want to see changed lives.

This time for me have already been challenging and I can see that it won't be easy, there will be many challenges and difficulties, so I need your prayers. :) 

I have got to know many wonderful people. It surprised me that there are only 4 people outside UK this year in YFC (3 girls from Germany - Sulia, Estere, Juliaand me). I thought there will be more. But it has been very pleasant to hear that people are encouraged to see us here. :) 

I have got to know my team. They are wonderful girls. Our team leader is Grace, and then in our team  there are 2 girls from UK  - Emily, Rebecca and me of course. They are local, so I have to get use to everything. I can't wait when we start working together. :)

On Friday we went to our new home and families, who are ready to host us for a year. I was rather nervous, but God has blessed me a lot. They are wonderful people - parents (Sue and Chris), Simon (19 years old) and her daughter Sarah with her husband Matt are visiting them often. Simon will go to University to studychemistry at the end of September and then I will stay with Sue and Chris. I love them already. Theyare wonderful people. I am feeling very welcomed here. In the photo above you can see view from my room. The weather has been fantastic all week, very sunny and warm. I haven't experienced rain yet, but I guess I can't get used to this weather :) 

I went to see Birmingham yesterday, which is quite opposite what I'm use to see in UK. MANY people, everything so busy. Everyone shopping, shops are full, busy streets. A lot of things happen. It seems that all city is out on Saturday. :D I spent my day with Emily and Grace and we went to the biggest shop in Europe - we bought clothes ( a lot of clothes), accessories for performances and photo session which we will have on Wednesday. I can't wait.  We will go back  tomorrow  cause we still need many things. I hope I will be able to see something more of Birmingham cause right now I think it's a crowded city and everything happens in the shops where people spend a lot of money. :) 

Today I had a Barbeque night with my new family. People from church also came to visit. It was a nice time with good food. :) 

Today was my first day in the new church - ZION Christian Centre. It was a nice time, we were introduced in the beginning of the meeting. After the church another barbeque was organized. Patricia came to visit,she use to go to the Salvation army, so it was nice to talk to her and get to know her a bit. Time well spent J

Now I wil try to get some good and propare sleep.Have been feeling realy tired after this one week and haven’t slept so much. Tommorow also starts my first week or training,photo sessions,still shopping etc.

Thanks to everyone who is supporting me and writting me. Sorry, that I can't answer you straight away.I will try to do my best J

I still need people financial help, so I could pay for this year. If you have something to give and you would love to support my year,I will be very happy about that!You can see a bank account details at the right side :) Thanks already!

I miss Latvia and I miss speaking Latvian :D  When I'm writing this text I'm starting to think in English and translating my self into Latvian. 

For today its enough.I will try to write a post every week :)

Have a blessed next week,

Laura

Ceļojums var sākties/The journey can start

Labrīt,lasītāj!

Šis ir pēdējais ieraksts,ko veicu vēl esot savās mājās..savā istabā..Latvijā..

Pēc stundas dodos uz lidostu.Visādas mazas lietiņas vēl jāizdara.Jāsagaida personīgais šoferis :D Pēdejo reiz jānobauda brokastis Latviešu gaumē.Atzīstos,ka manā somā var atrast ar kādus Latvijas labumus,ar ko angļus iepazīstināt un protams citus draugus :)

Šī rīta sajūtas īsti nemāku izskaidrot.Laikam nejūtos gatava atvadīties un atstāt visus mīļos cilvēkus un mājas.Būs prieks satikt pāris cilvēkus lidostā,kas atnāks mani pavadīt.Nevaru sagaidīt,kad ieraudzīšu viņu sejas :)

Iekšā liela kņudona un neziņa,kas kā būs tālāk un kas mani sagaida.Bet manī ir pārliecība,ka šis laiks būs fantatisks.

Nedaudz ieskats,kas ar mani notiks..

Lidoju uz Londonas lidostu,tad ar  mašīnu mani aizvedīs līdz vietai,kur būšu pirmo nakti-Stourbridge,West Midlands.Pie manas deju  pasniedzējas-Grace Tween.Cik skaists vārds,ne?! :) Tad nu šodien satikšu visu savu komandu,ar kuru būšu kopā visu mēnešu garumā.Ceru,ka viņi būs brīnišķīgi un jauki cilvēki un ātri ar viņiem sadraudzēšos :)

Iesākumā man iespējams nebūs pieeja pie datora,bet tiklīdz  tikšu,informēšu par manām gaitām!Centīšos Jūs neatstāt neziņā :)

Paldies,ka esat ar mani un sekojat manam ceļojumam līdz!Tas noteikti iedrošina :)

Tad nu laiks paēst labas brokastis..

Droši rakstat man,es priecāšos saņemt Jūsu emailus un ziņas :)

Lai Jums visiem brīnišķīga šī nedēļas nogale un svētīta svētdiena!

Lai Dievs Jūs apņem savā lielajā mīlestībā!

Laura