Dear All
Well, there is a big piece of exciting news before I fill you in on the rest of what’s been happening!
I now have a girlfriend! I hope that for those of you who know me really well this will equally exciting for you as it is for me! Her name is Miriam but everyone refers to her as Mim. She is 20 years old and about to embark on her third and final year at Aberystwyth University in Information & Librarian Studies. After this, she hopes to stick around Aber for a while as she has a great church and good network of support.
Mim first came to community as a summer worker in 2004 about 3 weeks after I did. She also came back last year as a summer worker and again this year (so unfortunately she’s leaving Lee Abbey on Monday!). I’ve probably asked her out at least once every year...but the important thing is...we’ve known each other for over two years and have a great friendship to base our relationship on.
We actually fell in love (well I did at least) during being on Host Team this year. I was leading it and although Mim wasn’t my co-leader, she really did hold the week together as far as I was concerned. It was my third “Roger Jones week” and this year it was Jail BREAK, but more about that in a mo.
It wasn’t a decision we rushed into and actually, it took 10 days for us to make that all-important decision as we both wanted to absolutely sure it was God’s will for us. We also wanted to be “by-the-book” as far as our developing relationship was conducted in publics and so we both “tired” (Mim more successfully than I) to not tell anyone about what “might” happen until we knew for sure and as soon as we did know, we booked an appointment to see the Warden (standard procedure for community relations at lee Abbey).
Anyway, so that’s the biggie. My family seem to be rather happy for me if a little shocked at first, but we’re not rushing into anything and we’re going to take it one day at a time especially given the fact that she lives 8 hours drive/train-drive away from Lee Abbey.
Anyways…The Roger Jones Houseparty went as well as can be expected but I did find the whole leading of it rather stressful. It was a relentless 8-day marathon and all in all most days worked out as an 8.00am start with a 12.00am finish! Despite my vowing not to audition for any solo parts this year (given the fact I had other things I needed to concentrate on) I ended up singing in at least 3 songs. Even though I had an increasingly soar throat throughout the week, I’m assured it went rather well and Roger and the CMM team were MORE than encouraging about my “performance” for want of a better word.
It was also great to catch up with Sally (Roger’s daughter who used to live on community and be a part of our Youth & Children’s Team) as well as other friends I have made from being on previous Roger Jones weeks. All in all an affirming if not challenging experience which I sure God will use in the future.
I should probably end it there before I waffle on any more.
Love to you all - Davio
Well, there is a big piece of exciting news before I fill you in on the rest of what’s been happening!
I now have a girlfriend! I hope that for those of you who know me really well this will equally exciting for you as it is for me! Her name is Miriam but everyone refers to her as Mim. She is 20 years old and about to embark on her third and final year at Aberystwyth University in Information & Librarian Studies. After this, she hopes to stick around Aber for a while as she has a great church and good network of support.
Mim first came to community as a summer worker in 2004 about 3 weeks after I did. She also came back last year as a summer worker and again this year (so unfortunately she’s leaving Lee Abbey on Monday!). I’ve probably asked her out at least once every year...but the important thing is...we’ve known each other for over two years and have a great friendship to base our relationship on.
We actually fell in love (well I did at least) during being on Host Team this year. I was leading it and although Mim wasn’t my co-leader, she really did hold the week together as far as I was concerned. It was my third “Roger Jones week” and this year it was Jail BREAK, but more about that in a mo.
It wasn’t a decision we rushed into and actually, it took 10 days for us to make that all-important decision as we both wanted to absolutely sure it was God’s will for us. We also wanted to be “by-the-book” as far as our developing relationship was conducted in publics and so we both “tired” (Mim more successfully than I) to not tell anyone about what “might” happen until we knew for sure and as soon as we did know, we booked an appointment to see the Warden (standard procedure for community relations at lee Abbey).
Anyway, so that’s the biggie. My family seem to be rather happy for me if a little shocked at first, but we’re not rushing into anything and we’re going to take it one day at a time especially given the fact that she lives 8 hours drive/train-drive away from Lee Abbey.
Anyways…The Roger Jones Houseparty went as well as can be expected but I did find the whole leading of it rather stressful. It was a relentless 8-day marathon and all in all most days worked out as an 8.00am start with a 12.00am finish! Despite my vowing not to audition for any solo parts this year (given the fact I had other things I needed to concentrate on) I ended up singing in at least 3 songs. Even though I had an increasingly soar throat throughout the week, I’m assured it went rather well and Roger and the CMM team were MORE than encouraging about my “performance” for want of a better word.
It was also great to catch up with Sally (Roger’s daughter who used to live on community and be a part of our Youth & Children’s Team) as well as other friends I have made from being on previous Roger Jones weeks. All in all an affirming if not challenging experience which I sure God will use in the future.
I should probably end it there before I waffle on any more.
Love to you all - Davio
