The Mustard Tree Trust: Extemporaneous Extroidanaire

extemporaneous: Carried out or performed with little or no preparation; impromptu

extraordinaire: French, from Old French, from Latin extrardinrius. See extraordinary

extraordinary: Highly exceptional; remarkable: an extraordinary achievement.

(can you tell what website I went to over my lunch today?)

Last night we held our youth alpha meal. It did not go at all the way it was originally planned, in fact it was a potential disaster but it was turned around miraculously and maybe even for the better. When I got into work this morning Lisa was telling me how she'd opened her bible last night andread "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21 How very fitting for what occurred last night!

The meal started at 6:30 and was being held at The Premier Chinese Restaurant in Morpeth. Lisa and I headed down to the church to print off some more forms for the youth to fill out regarding the alpha course and then made our way to the restaurant. We were running a bit late because we'd been having some technical difficulties with the printer. (GRRRRRR to technology! It's one of those things that goes down sweet but is bitter in the stomach, but I'll get on that soap box and rant on aIother pIst perhaps) We arrived at the restaurant about 10 minutes late to find a massive crowd of youth, speckled with some adults and youth leaders, standing on the street outside waiting. I quickly moved to find Mike and ask where exactly we were meant to be going and he said "nowhere! It's cancelled!" I'm pretty sure that is the exact moment a massive dose of adrenaline was released that continued flowing freely throughout the rest of the evening. In short there had been a miscommunication with booking the restaurant. They thought we meant the 2nd Sunday in October and we had said Sunday, October 2nd, therefore they were not prepared to feed us!

In a flash the youth were directed to New Life and crowded the sanctuary as we took our plan of action from there. I am so grateful for all the help we had. We would not have been able to work everything out had it not been for the amazing youth leaders and adults we had show up to support the meal. We ended up taking orders for fish and chips and ordered in a truck load of pizzas and the youth were as happy as could be. There were a few odd complaints but the majority of them were in great spirits and had great attitudes and managed to have a great time. The evening went as planned with Mike, Lisa and I sharing our testimonies about how Christianity has impacted our lives and Jesus has made a different and we had a good number say that they would be returning to attend the course on Tuesday evenings.

It went really well. It was one of those situations where God says "I'm just going to remind you who's actually in control of things here" not in a rude way, but just in the Sovereign way that God works.

Anyway that's my tale for today. That, and the fact that my pens keep disappearing! It's very frustrating! I think that there must be a pen gobbler that works in cahoots with washing machines that steel socks!