What a year?!

This week has been one of laughter, memories, tears and plenty of food! We've been busy with lots of different goodbye parties, between trying to get everything ready to move back to the UK. On Monday we celebrated Clare's birthday early as the actual date is our last day in Uganda. We had just a couple of people  over and shared a lovely family evening with Clare's favourite African meal and some silly games.
Tuesday took us to Chosen Children's center to say goodbye to the teachers and the children there. It felt strange to be back as we haven't been there in a long time. It was good to see how much has changed and to see the kids again for the last time. In the evening we went to Pastor Davidson's house, he is the pastor of Blessed Word of Life Church where we've spent time this year running a children's club and also helping with the building. It was a really good evening and a great chance to spend some time with him and his family.
On Wednesday we visited the Smile Farm. The crops are doing well despite the lack of rain. We're mainly growing maize and beans and are in the process of digging a well. In the evening we went to our last Youth Fellowship at KBC which was a time of worship this week, but we also had a chance to share a few words.
The KBC choir welcomed us on Thursday for a BBQ. They've been such a family especially to Esther who has really gotten involved in choir and it was great to share the evening with them.
On Friday went to both of the children's clubs for the final time, we sang some songs, played some games and shared some biscuits. We were so blessed by the children at Blessed Word of Life church who presented  us with gifts and letters. In the evening us girls went out with the women from our women's fellowship for a meal which was really good.
Saturday was time for packing, and then in the evening the LT Warriors invited us to church for our chance to say goodbye to them. Just like choir have been a family to Esther, the LT lot have really been such a family to Finch, but to all of us they have become great friends and it was lovely to spend the evening with them.
So it's been a pretty intense week and an emotional one too. This afternoon we've invited pretty much everyone that we know for a party at the house which I'm sure will be good fun, but we're all anticipating a very emotional evening as we attempt to say goodbye to all of our friends and family here. I think I speak for all of us when I say that the past nine months have been the best of our lives and there's no doubt that we're going back to the UK as very different people form those who left back in October.
The people here are incredible, and we've built relationships that we pray will last for a lifetime. I know that I have family here, and they have and always will mean so much to me. Leaving Uganda will be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but I trust God that he will bring me back here on day soon, and for now I can only thank him for all the blessings.
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in the UK and especially to coming back to Christ Church. I've got a few ideas for the next few years and I'm so excited to see how God will use me. I know so much more about myself now and I'm so much more confident in the ways that God has gifted me so I know that I can let God use me in those areas and I'm excited to see how he will work.
For now, all I can do is attempt a big enough 'Thank You'. Firstly to all the people who have supported me in various ways from all over the world. The support I've had has been overwhelming and I really am so grateful to all of you. Of course I cant really express in words how grateful I am to everyone here. I hope each person knows how much they mean to me and how much they've changed my life. I'm going to miss you all so much I can't even begin to put it into words.
And above all I thank God. I knew from the start that he would bless me this year, because he does every single day - there's a reason I called this blog 'blessed indeed'! He's grown me in ways I didn't think were possible, healed me in ways I couldn't see that I was broken, taught me so much about myself, given me the blessing of being able to bless others, introduced me to family I didn't know I had and finally made me believe how loved I really am, not only by him but by people all over the world. Above all, he's helped me to learn more about him and about the ways that he can use me. He's shown me the ways that he's gifted me and taught me how to use them. He's done so many incredible things and taught me a lot about himself. He's blessed me - big time!

I know that people will be praying for a safe journey and for me to settle in easily in the UK, but my prayer requests this week aren't for myself...

- Please pray for all of our friends and family here. Pray that God will walk with them and help them to know that he is there with them. I know that a lot of people here might struggle with our departure just as much as we will, so please pray that God will comfort them and that we'll all be able to stay in contact and remain just as close as we are now.
- Please pray for our friends and family in the UK. Pray that God will help them as they welcome home 5 very different young people from those they dropped at the airport last October.
- Please pray that God will continue to use us and that he will give us strength, wisdom and the right ways to share our testimonies of this year to bring him the most glory.

This wont be my last blog... we have a week of debrief in the UK before we go back to our families, so I'll be writing about that and sharing lots of photos with you.
To anyone who's around, I'm planning a meal at Christ Church Chineham on Sunday 21st July and I'll tell you all about my time in Uganda if you can come. Please give us a heads up at the church office so we know how many people to cook for. (01256 474280 admin@christchurchchineham.org.uk)