Peter's House - Update

Hopefully now most of the readers of this newsletter have had a chance to meet the three Peter’s House volunteers who are with us for the next several months. All three of them have begun to settle in to British life – the occasional difficulty remembering what side of the road we drive on notwithstanding!

For each of them there have been great opportunities to get to know people– including folk of their own age. They even experienced a meeting of the Yorkshire Synod, a perhaps surprisingly positive experience partly because the event had been organised by the young people of the Synod, so it was more interactive and – dare I say it – ‘interesting’ than usual.

As well as turning up and helping out at the churches on a regular basis the volunteers have all found community volunteering placements, working with a couple of different organisations that serve the needs of the local community. The advantages of this are many – as well as getting a chance to serve community members they are also learning about how other places work, giving them a chance to strengthen the way we do things too.

They also meet with me for regular Bible studies and discussions, it is really interesting to hear their different perspectives on well known passages, as well as stories that are newer to them. It reminds me of the value of having an open and enquiring mind.

Each of the volunteers is also asked to embark on a study project of some sort – this is not something to be rushed – it can take a while to find ‘the right thing’ – but for Clara at least the decision was easy, not content to be living in a foreign country she’s taken on the challenge of learning Greek. If indeed she does go on to study for Christian ministry then a good working knowledge of Biblical Greek will serve her well.

Its impossible not to be impressed by these young people – their energy, their enthusiasm and the way that they are, collectively and individually, adapting to life in a foreign country and its strange food, people, and ways of doing things.

Simon