Christmas Disc

I have produced a CD of Christmas carols to raise money for Integr8, the youth program of Through The Roof. its priced at £7.50 and is going to be available from Through The Rooof's online shop (www.throughtheroof.org), or from me. 

there are 10 carols on the disc, including O Come O Come Emmanuel, Once in Royal, and The Angel Gabriel from heaven came, as well as less well-known carols such as It Was On a Starry Night, I heard the Bells, and There was No Room. 

I am hoping to put together some samples of the music so people can hear what they're in store for, I just hope it doesn't put anyone off! 

maidstone etc

Alan and I went to speak at DCF Maidstone on saturday last week. we explained our roles within Through The Roof, and our personal stories. we then showed the DVD of our mission trip to Guatemala in 2011.
we had a great time of friendly fellowship together with the group and felt that the meeting was a success. we pray God blessed it all.

I have submitted the pictures for my christmas CD, and have started the ball rolling by getting the license etc. it will be tight to get it done for 1st november, but i'm praying this will still happen.

my foot is now out of the support boot and i am allowed to gradually get back into normal shoes and walk as i feel able. i have not yet been able to dance for joy but it does feel nice to ware 2 matching shoes again!!!

please get in touch if you have a group you would like me to speak to, and as ever, thank you for your prayer and support.

last weeks

Since I last wrote this blog, i've finished the series of blogs i'd begun on the biblical basis of TTR for the Facebook group "Roofspeakers!" last weeks blog was on the struggles we face in our churches as disabled people, and I asked for everyone's experience on attending different churches. so far no conversation has sprung form this, but I am hoping and praying it will. it would be good to share experiences, and ideas on how we could change the attitudes of people and churches.

on Tuesday i went to Cheam road hall to speak to a lovely group of people. its the second time i've been to this group, and they were very welcoming and friendly! they hope i'll come again so that is hopefully a good sign. I updated them on the past year of TTR and on our future plans, God Willing. I also spoke on John 15:16 "you did not choose me, but i chose you...." about how God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called and equips us to do his work.

the next speaking booking is in Maidstone on Saturday 13th October with Alan from Integr8. we have 20 mins to speak to the DCF group there.

I am still hobbling round on my fractured foot and still waring my huge boot till 16th october when i go back to hospital and they have another look.

if you have a group you would like me to speak to please contact me on either
07841087806 or
philippa@throughtheroof.org

Fun at UCCF Forum

so i told you all I was preparing for the UCCF Forum. well it went really really well.
Me and Marie camped for 4 days and exhibited on the TTR stand for 18 hours. it was cold at nights, but it was well worth attending!!
the forum was a hive of activity, with approx. 1000 people attending. there was a lively friendly atmosphere and a very relaxed feeling.
during our four days on the stand, Marie and I were privileged to speak to a lot of people. all were focused on finding their next opportunity to serve God. we had an encouraging amount of genuine interest in our work, with people signing up to keep in touch and get involved. we didn't only speak to delegates, but were further encouraged by other exhibiters showing an interest in the work of Through The Roof.
the UCCF Forum was for students and comprised a great number of Christian Unions from a wide range of Universities from all round the UK. the Integr8 program appealed strongly, as did the various mission trips ran by both Integr8 and Wheels.
Marie and I both felt that Forum was "the place to be" and were so encouraged and are praying that God blesses the new contacts we have made and gives them opportunities to serve him within Through The Roof and in their daily lives.
it was so wonderful to see so many Christians gathered together in one place with the joint aim of looking to serve God, and praising his name. I hope and pray that Through The Roof can attend next years Forum, and be part of the great experience again. even though it was cold at nights (remember we were camping in september), the wonderful atmosphere of Christians united kept us warm during the day.
I can't wait to see how God will use the new contacts! a big thank you to Marie for accompanying me!

Next event on my TTR calendar is speaking at Maidstone DCF with Alan on 13th October.

as for me, I had some time off after Forum, and managed to fracture my foot while not concentrating as I walked along a path. so I am now sporting an attractive walking boot and am told i need to ware it for 4 weeks. fun times :-)

thank you for your prayers and support, please do contact me if you have a group i can speak too
philippa@throughtheroof.org

getting ready

I'm getting ready for the UCCF Forum in September. I've just sorted out my tent etc, and now I just need to gather all the last minute bits and pieces together next week. Me and Marie will be at the quinter Conference Centre from 3rd to 7th September, I am really praying for the opportunities that this Forum could offer. its a great chance to engage with youth workers and encourage them to  include everyone in their groups and to get involved with Through The Roof. 

I have a joint speaking booking with Alan coming up in October at the Maidstone DCF group. 

I have already begun to take bookings for next year, took my first which is 15 april speaking to a lunch club! 

the Roofspeakers group continues to grow and I pray that recent posts and comments have been helpful to everyone concerned. 

if you have a group you would like me to speak to please contact me at philippa@throughtheroof.org :-)

the Sunday Worship on radio 4 this week was on the paralympics. Alan said a prayer, and our chairman Mike Townsend gave the sermon. its very much worth a listen if you can catch it before it goes off iPlayer in 3 days time. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01m0f1y/Sunday_Worship_19_08_2012/

All Linked Up

My bible reflections article entitled "Church-a Blessing for All?" has been published and you can find it at 

 http://www.bible-reflections.net/articles/church-a-blessing-for-all/2485/

I am praying that it will be widely read and helpful to people. 

I have had encouraging feed back on the last blog post in Roofspeakers, which was "neither this man nor his parents sinned" and can be found at www.speakingsuggestions.blogspot.co.uk

I pray that these post continue to bless the readers. 

I am in the office today for our team meeting, and also to meet the new International Missions manager, Nigel. while i'm here i'm going to collect the things i need for the Forum in September. I would value your prayers for that as it is not far away now! 

you may remember that Tim and I were interviewed for Leaders TV, which is produced by Urban Saints. here is a link to the interview if you would like to hear us talk about being inclusive. http://www.throughtheroof.org/philippa-and-tim-on-leaders-tv

I know it feels like i'm just throwing links at you this time, but I am so encouraged by these and wanted to share them with everyone. I am praying that God will use these resources and that he will be glorified through them. 

future planning

I am busy planning now for a Forum in September. at this event there will be leaders of Christian Unions from many universities. it is an exciting opportunity and I am praying that our 4 days there will bring about many new connections, contacts, and generate interest in our work. I also pray that we will be useful to the people there and be able to help them integrate disabled people into their groups, and be inclusive for all. 

We are camping for the week, which is exciting too-I am a keen camper :-) 

I will be on the Through The Roof stand from 3rd to 7th September with Marie Crawford who was on the first and second Guatemala trips. it will be wonderful to catch up with Marie too! 

I am still seeking bookings to speak, and would appreciate your prayers and support for that. if you have a group who would like me to speak please contact me on either 07841087806 or philippa@throughtheroof.org

I am willing to speak over skype if it is not possible for me to attend a meeting in person, or if it would be easier for the group/church. just contact me for more information. 

I am still having lessons on how to put together a presentation on Keynote, and I have been badgering my mum to look through the old photos so I can put some pictures on the slides. 

if you receive the Vital Link you will see an advert for my CD to raise funds for Through The Roof. I hope and pray people are blessed by it. 

I am hoping to bring out a christmas disc, so keep an eye open. 

the Roofspeakers group on facebook continues to grow, and i was encouraged on Tuesday to be told that my blog posts had been very helpful to a friend of mine. 

thank you for you're prayers and support. I pray God blesses the months ahead. 

another week of experience

ok, so since the last time i blogged, I have been to speak at Hannova Social club coffee morning on 20th June. it was a gathering of about 20 people and was a lovely informal meeting. i received some good feedback and encouragement. sold some CDs too. 

I then went on amazing weeks holiday with the Torch Trust! it was an activity holiday and we did things like zip wire, going on rides at Thorpe Park, Gocarting and horse riding. in between all those things we attended The Point church for their sunday service which took place in their cafe. in the main service Mark (one of the other holiday makers) spoke about his baptism and how the last year had been for him since being baptized on the holiday. I spoke during the cafe part of the meeting about my testimony as a Christian and experiences of growing up blind. again we were well received and had a lot of good fellowship and conversations with everyone there. 

i have posted a few times in the Roofspeakers group on FB and am enjoying writing the posts and receiving the comments. 

this week i am actively seeking new speaking bookings, so if you have a group/school/church/commety that you would like me to speak to on the issues faced by disabled people and how to include them, please contact me on philippa@throughtheroof.org or 07841087806 

Tweet Tweet

This month I have tried to get to grips with Twitter. I have to say I was a bit sceptical when Tim-my boss suggested I look at it more closely. I have to say I’ve never really understood the point of Twitter, but it seems to be that you can share quick pithy phrases with the rest of the world, and random people can follow you to find out what you’re up to. Also there are the # items, which make reference to a particular subject/trend. E.g. #paralympics or #queensJubilee. Everyone who clicks on a hash tag, can see what the world is saying about it.

I set aside my scepticism, and started randomly tweeting. I got a few followers, and retweeted a few of the tweets of others-resharing their comments with the world, so they are doubly shared. I have to say, after a couple of days, I discovered that it’s quite as addictive as Facebook! I had a great time finding aps for my computer so I could keep up to date all the time, and exploring the twitter ap for iPhone. So now I’ve got the hang of Twitter, I plan to use it more and more. Its Twitteriffic! Come find me-my user name is @philippattr J hopefully I’ll tweet something of interest to you!

The other thing that has happened is that I’ve set up a support group for anyone who wants to speak for Through the Roof and for Christ. I have added a few people so far, but please feel free to get in contact if you would like adding to it, or know of someone who would. I plan to post on a new blog at www.speakingsuggestions.blogspot.com, and to generate discussions on the groups page on Facebook. The group is called Roofspeakers! Look us up J

The posts will be on Bible passages which I use in my talks-I’ll try and expand on them and put my thoughts across and explain what I normally say about it. I hope that people will comment and put suggestions of their own down. I also hope to give tips on what I find works well when I am speaking, and encourage group members to do the same-we can all learn from each other!

I have spoken about it on Twitter under #DisabledAmbassadorsForChrist and will be tweeting the link to the blog posts each time.

Another thing I have been preparing is an article which I’ve been asked to write for Bible Reflections the piece is on how churches do and should view disabilities. It’s not published yet so when it is I’ll post the link.

My last speaking engagement at Hitchin Baptist was cancelled due to a lot of people being away and is now scheduled for December 11^th. My next booking is to speak at Hannover Social Club’s coffee morning next Wednesday.

 

I’m always looking for new opportunities to share my story and the work of Through The Roof, so if you have a group you would like me to speak to please contact me on Philippa@throughtheroof.org on Twitter @philippattr

on Facebook Philippa Woodcraft TTR

or

on 07841087806

and don’t forget to check out our websites,

www.throughtheroof.org

and

www.youth.throughtheroof.org

 

Many thanks for your prayers and support. I can do nothing in my own strength; I can only do God’s work because he is helping me-what a privilege, what a blessing!  

 

 

Mad May :-)

there is such a lot to say in this post. but i'll try and keep it brief. first of all, the radio talk on Bigglesfm went well, and i hope to be able to post a link to my interview/thought for the day soon. i was asked about what TTR is doing now, and about my CD, before giving a thought on Noah's ark inspired by the constant rain!

the next day I went to CRE and had a great time on the stand for TTR, and was also interviewed by Marilyn Baker about my life and work. It was fun and I had some promising conversations. i was even invited on a holiday!

I was taken to Sidcup DCF group by a lady who had lived in Sidcup for 13 years. i had a nice time on the journeys and a lovely time with the group. they were very warm and friendly.

I delivered my first powerpoint presentation at Worthing DCF. although it was really really nerve racking, it went well and i'd do it again. its funny needing to keep to a set pattern of what to say so I can correspond to the slides, but it went down well and will get easier as i get used to it, and change some slides gradually. I showed the guatemala video and the group appreciated this. the only complaint i have is that the computer missed a slide out! o well :-)

I am continuing to make bookings, and this week its my appraisal so I am being extra well behaved! 

its been a busy few weeks and I have only been able to do it in God's strength. as ever thanks for all your prayers, and if you would like to book me to speak to a group please contact me on philippa@throughtheroof.org.

 

news flash

Since I’ve been out of hospital, quite a lot has happened.

I went to Reading DCF and had a lovely blessed meeting with the people there. And a yummy fish and chip dinner! Mmm! It was the first speaking engagement since hospital so it was a big thing for me. I spoke on my testimony and sang 2 hymns, one being “someday the silver chord will break” and the other “no one ever cared for me like Jesus.” I also spoke about Integr8 plans for the near future, the encounter groups etc. it was a wonderful time of fellowship.

I have also been to Whittlesea Baptist, and told them a little more about the work of TTR. They supported us last summer with a generous donation from their fundraising meetings. This too was a blessed meeting and a good time of fellowship. 

I am booked to speak next weekend at Sidcup in Kent, and also in Worthing on 14^th May. The lady who suggested I should be invited to Worthing DCF, Madge Aldridge, knew my gran very well, in fact they were baptised together. I had never met Madge, but we had written to each other, hence the invitation to speak. We were both looking forward to meeting on 14^th May, However, Madge passed away 2 weeks ago, and we will not meet after all. It’s disappointing but she is in a much better place.

I am speaking on Bigglesfm-my local radio station. I have no idea what I’m saying yet, so after I’ve written this post I’m off to write my Thought for the Day. This is at 8:15 on Wednesday 9^th May. It is possible to listen to the station online if anyone is interested.

Also Next week from 8^th May is the Christian Resources Exhibition. I’m going to be there on Thursday 10 May. I intend to be sporting my new Integr8 hoody, so look out for it if you are there!

I have been trying to get to grips with Apple’s version of PowerPoint-Keynote. I have had a couple of hours training on it and have managed to put together a presentation. It’s rough around the edges but I hope to soon add a visual element to my talks. The only hold up to this is that my MacBook has been taken in for repair and could be away for as much as 10 days.

The last bit of news is that I have produced a CD of 12 hymns to sell for TTR. Its priced at £6 and will soon hopefully be available from Through The Roof’s online shop. In the meantime if you are interested please contact me and I’ll be glad to send you CD.

Please contact me on Philippa@throughtheroof.org to get a CD or to book me to speak.

put it down to experience

in my last blog post, i mentioned that I would be off work for a while. well, I went into hospital to have an operation. owing to a set back i was in hospital much longer than I thought i'd be.
this was frustrating. although all the staff were very nice, caring, and helpful, there is nothing like your own home. But i'm not going to fill this blog with my tails of illness. I just wanted to share with you a few insights i gained into another disability.

i've met quite a few people in wheelchairs, and when I hurt my ankle back in middle school I was pushed in one for a few hours. but i'd forgotten how it felt. for the first few times i left the ward after all the drama of the set back, i was instructed to go in a wheelchair. i don't remember feeling quite so vunrable in my whole life. when you are being guided by someone, they can be a really good guide who you know won't bump you into anything, trip you up curbs, or forget to make sure they gave you enough time to get through a door before letting go. and you can get bad guides who zoom off so you have to run to keep up with them, forget to tell you when there is a step let alone if its up or down, or rush off to look at something without you, suddenly remember you're there and shout things like "o! come this way, towards me!" all those sort of things, while not making me feel safe or secure, i have at least almost got used to. going in a wheelchair is a whole different ball game.

the first people to take me out were my sisters Lizzie and Jenny. I was so over the moon to be allowed off the ward that I climbed into the wheelchair quite happily, trying not to fall in as i put one foot onto the plate at the bottom and the chair moved backwards! then my sisters discovered that if they pushed the chair forwards, it had a mind of its own and wondered all over the place. so they pulled it backwards out of the ward, and all the way to Costa Coffee. this was ok, once i got used to the fact that I was traveling backwards, i felt reasonably safe, if a bit disorientated. i was a bit disconcerted however by the fact that when my sisters stopped, the chair didn't, and wondered a few inches on its own. we went for a walk in the fresh air, which was lovely, and it was nice to sit outside for a while and catch up with my sisters. we then made our backwards way up to the ward again.
the next time i went in the wheelchair was with my parents. they could make it drive forwards, but as mum pushed, i couldn't help but notice i was meandering from one side of the corridor to the other. this was very disconcerting, as her attempts to straighten it made me feel like being on a gone wrong fair ground ride. we got downstairs, and it was my dad's turn to push. he said "does this drive like a golf?" it certainly didn't feel like riding in a Golf, for a start, there seemed to be no suspension at all! a bit later on, when we'd been going in a straight line for a few minutes, dad said, "its just like driving a combine. it steers from the back wheels." i could agree with this, i haven't personally been in a combine, but i've ridden in a tractor when my dad used to farm, and i could see how the ride in this chair compared.
it was a new experience as well paying for something when you're only at the level of the counter. i was slightly put off by the fact that when dad told me to give my order at the burger king, he was still moving the wheelchair. i seemed completely unable to open my mouth until he had pushed it forward, pulled it back, and finally stopped it! when i was stationary, i made my order, and then tried to pay for it. the card machine was just about within reach. after a couple of attempts, i put my pin number in and took my card. i was then wheeled to a table and automatically went to push my chair in closer. the only trouble was, the chair shot back, then forwards then back again. and when i inlsted mum's help, it couldn't go close to the table because of the arms. still, the Burger King was lovely!
we went outside, and after a few minutes of rattling over the paths, i asked to get out a walk for a bit. it felt so wonderful to be able to walk round after being in the chair for a while! i had to go back into it to get back into the ward, and experienced a moment of fright as the door swung past me, right at face level.
being in a wheelchair made me feel vunrable because I wasn't sure where i would be going next. and when we stopped, i wasn't sure when we were going to start again.

I have always said that being blind is hard, but i'm used to it, and have something to look forward to in seeing Jesus face to face. but as frustrating as my disability is, i know that I could be much much worse off. i've always thought it would be horrible not to be able to hear, and felt that i would hate to be in a wheelchair, and now i know from experience i wouldn't like it. it was frustrating that I couldn't be mobile in the hospital, and for the first week of being in there had to get someone to take me to the bathroom all the time. i even pointed out to the doctors who asked me "are you up and about?" that i couldn't walk around without someone to take me. that was frustrating, since until my mum or other visitors came in, i had little to do but sit around. however when i pointed this out to the doctor, they asked if one of the student nurses could walk me up and down the ward a few times a morning. I also learnt my way to the bathroom, and was able to be a bit more independent. I was also relieved not to have to use the wheelchair when I went off the ward. i was further encumbered by having to hold on to the drains which were trailing from my chest and taped together at the front. so i only had one hand to do anything with. i felt a bit like a phone that is constantly on charge with all my wires trailing everywhere.

i guess what i've confirmed in my mind through all this is that God only gives us what he knows we can cope with. he equips us to deal with the lot he has chosen for us. some of us to have full use of our limbs, and limited sight, some to be completely unable to move but have a sharp intellect. whatever he chooses, how ever frustrating and hard work it seems, its what he knows we can cope with, and for our good.

i am out of hospital now, and am thanking the Lord for this, and for the care I received which could not have been better. I also thank him for showing me, how blessed I am.

New Experience

I have had a new experience since I last posted. 

I went to speak at the Milton Keynes Torch Fellowship group on 10th March. I had a new challenge here as they had asked me to speak on the text Gen 3:11 11 "Who told you that you were naked?" the LORD God asked. "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?"

the key part of the text i was asked to speak on was "who told you that you were naked" I nearly chickened out of speaking on a text, its really not something I have ever done before. but I kind of thought that if I didn't do it now, i'd need to do it at some point, because that's the kind of work i'm in. so. i gave it my best shot. 

I wanted to try and link this text with the biblical bases of through the roof, and was thinking that it linked nicely with the passage in 1 Samuel 16:7

"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." in other words, it doesn't matter how we cover up our bodies, God can still see our hearts. 

my dad also pointed out to me that this would link with people having the disability of sin in their hearts, as this is the place where sin first enters the world. so that was another link with not only the biblical bases but the whole issue of disability. we can look great on the outside, look as if there is nothing wrong with us, but God knows our hearts. he knows the disability of sin. the only cure is to accept Jesus as your saviour. this also linked with a text we've been trying to teach the children in my youth group. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners". the full passage is 1 Tim 1:15 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

after this attempt at drawing something out of the passage, i spoke about Through The Roof. I also Met Lena at this meeting, Lena has been on the recent trip to Moldova and it was great to meet her and Texon her guidedog  after swapping emails on and off for about 2 years!! 

the following tuesday I was back in Southampton speaking at a quiz night for Abby Church. it was a really good evening and i felt the speaking went well and it was well received. 

I don't have any more engagements now till 14th April when I go to Reading DCF. I will be off work for a little while now, but I am sure that God has plenty more lined up for me when I come back again. :-)

please don't forget to check out our websites 

www.throughtheroof.org 

and 

www.youth.throughtheroof.org

if you would like me to come and speak at your church or group please contact me on 07841087806 or philippa@throughtheroof.org

3 weeks of grace

since the last time i wrote a proper post for this blog, so many things have happened. i'll try and get them down in order so it makes some kind of sense!

so first there was the Hand in Hand conference in Eastborne from 3-5 Feb. Integr8 had a stand there, and Alan, Alice and me were there all weekend. Alan and Alice ran a Parachute Bible story workshop on the saturday which was very well attended-65 people came,  and i'm told it was a lot of fun! while they were busy doing that, I was manning (I mean womaning) the stand. I was a bit apprehensive at first because i'm used to speaking to captive audiences, or just attending conferences, so to sit behind a table and wait for people to speak to me was a new thing. I wasn't quite sure how it would work, because it would be hard for me to tell if anyone had stopped at our stand, or the stands next door, or if they were waiting for my attention, and if they addressed me, how would I know they were speaking to me? well, Alice and I came up with a suggestion, we weren't sure if it would work, but it was worth a try. Alice wrote on a piece of paper "please say Hello Philippa as I cannot see". I was surprised how many people responded to this. people actually did come up and speak to me. i spoke to approx. a dozen people while I was on the stand, and they were genuinely interested and wanted to keep in touch or take information away. We also had a lot of interest in our new Integr8 Encounter groups. these are designed to get children of all abilities mixing, by taking say a church youth group to a school for disabled children and running activities from there. taking the church to them. if you want to know more, please see the next issue of Vital Link, and keep checking our website www.youth.throughtheroof.org

I really enjoyed the conference, and thought it was well worth going. my parents enjoyed their weekend away too :-)

the wednesday after the conference, Alan and I had  a catch up meeting, discussing the conference, writing our article for Vital Link, talking over the Encounter Groups etc. it was good to catch up, and we have some great ideas for the development of the Integr8 project, and we are praying that God will bless the work. 

last Monday I was in Southampton to speak at the DCF group. it was a very blessed time and i enjoyed the meeting. they already knew about Through The Roof, so I mainly told them about my life, my testimony, and also shared a little about Integr8. I met lots of lovely people there, and i had some lovely feedback. 

last saturday, i was back in the Southampton area as I went to speak at the Newmilton Torch fellowship group. i've been speaking there for the last 3 years, and it was great to catch up, and update them on what I had been doing and how the work is going. i sang to them, and got asked for another song, which meant some hunting in my massive folder for the right song, but I was glad to be able to sing an extra one for them. 

The last post on this blog, which not a proper post but just a little status update type thing, points to a video that I have just finished editing and voicing over. its from last years Guatemala trip, and its about 13 mins. it gives an overview of what we did and i try and explain who we're talking to and where we are, and why we are doing certain things. i hope you find it interesting. 

the link again is:

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v28417856sCpZHMqa

I never imagined that as a blind person, i could edit a DVD. but I have been having lessons on my new MacBook that I got in September, and because Apple has made its whole system accessible with their built in screen reader, Voice Over, it was possible. i used the sound in the movie to select which clips i wanted to keep and which to drop. it was a wonderful new experience and i'm so pleased I could do it! 

what else? well, we had a team meeting yesterday, which was good, and i am next speaking in ST Marks Hitchin on 4th March. I also have a booking to speak at a church in Southampton on 13 March, they are holding a quiz night and would like me to give my testimony etc there as there will be christians and nonchristians present. this came from the meeting with the Southampton DCF. 

so, what with one thing and another, i'm gonna get to know the M25 really well! i wonder if we are going to be friends? probably not if it holds me up!

the last few weeks have been a wonderful time of God's blessing. i thank him for the opportunities he's given me, and pray he will bless the words i've said to everyone who has heard them. All glory to his name!!!

new update on guatemala blog

please see my blog on Guatemala and follow the link to the 13 min video edited and voiced over by me. happy watching :-) this shows what we do on our integr8 trips.
www.to-guatemala.blogspot.com
or go directly to
http://www.veoh.com/watch/v28417856sCpZHMqa

Great Happenings

Who said that January was a quiet month? well, it certainly seems to be the month for booking things up. I have the great news that on 28th March, i have been invited to join Dunton school's easter service to give a 20 min presentation on my life and TTR, with all funds raised being given to TTR. this is such good news and i'm very pleased!

I was also asked at very short notice, to write a piece to go in the Grace Baptist handbook which is distributed among approx. 15 churches within a 30-35 mile radius of where i live. i was asked to write a summary of my work with TTR in 250 words. a challenge, but its done now, and i pray that God blesses it and gives me some more opportunities to glorify him.

getting ready

The first part of this year had been filled with arranging various speaking bookings in the next few months. I went to my old school to give a talk on my mission trips to Guatemala last week, and although it was very strange and slightly daunting to go back to my own school, the children listened very well and were asking lots of intelligent questions. they were very interested in the DVD i showed them, and in the things I had bought home from Guatemala. see more about it at www.to-guatemala.blogspot.com

I hope and pray that more contacts will come out of that meeting at Dunton school, and am waiting to see what the Lord will bring from it. I know that they want to stay in touch and to fundraise for TTR if they can. 

I have a quiet month this month, but February kicks off with me doing the thought for the day on Bigglesfm-my local radio station. then from 3-5 Feb TTR is at stand 32 at the Hand in Hand children's ministry conference in eastborne. i'm going to be there through out the weekend , and Alan  the Integr8 project manager will be there all weekend and will be hosting a parachute workshop on the Saturday. hope to see some of you there! 

on 13 and 18th i have speaking bookings, both quite near my brother. one is at the DCF group in Southampton, and the other is in New Milton at the Torch Trust fellowship group.  so a busy month of traveling ahead, but what a privilege to know that God is blessing his work so richly. 

please do contact me if you have a group for me to speak to, or any questions. philippa@throughtheroof.org

Facebook: Philippa Woodcraft TTR

Twitter: philippattr

and on Hisbook as well. 

please go to  http://www.familyministry.co.uk/Groups/170634/Family_Ministry_Web/Conferences/2012_conference/2012_conference.aspx for more details of the conference 

winding up

Happy 2012! 

I am looking back and thinking over the last year. what a year its been! To think that this time last year I was unemployed, and had only just made up my mind to apply for this job at Through The Roof. this time last year, I think i was waiting to hear if i had an interview. it took a lot of thinking and praying to apply, as in the previous September I'd had to give up my part time job at an auction centre in Bedford owing to transport funding issues. I honestly wondered if I would work again. I knew that I would get no more funding for my transport for the foreseeable future. I made myself busy at home, as I have my own bedsit i had housework to do, there was also babysitting to do and sisters to help (i have 4 sisters 2 brothers and 21 nieces and nephews plus 2 great nephews and a great niece).  I also began to help with the sunday school and started, with my family and friends help,  a youth group at my church to be held monthly. so that's where i was at last year when the job came up. I was in 2 minds about it, and really took some persuading to agree with my parents offer of transporting me to my speaking engagements should I get the job. I prayed about it and talked it over and over.  I felt it was God's will that i applied, but at the same time, the practical difficulties seemedso large.  my brother Simeon who is a pastor, gave me some valuable advice. "sometimes God shuts 1 door and gives several others we could go through. sometimes we have to try pushing them to see if they open. if they do open by his will then everything will fall into place. if they don't open, then its not his will you go that way". 

when I got the chance to go for the interview,  and was told I had got the job, I was really really excited! i've loved every minute so far! God is amazing! its a privilege to be doing his work!

in 2011 I visited various groups of people giving them my personal experience of growing up as a blind person, becoming a christian, and sharing with them the work that TTR does and how they can get involved as well as biblical references to show how God views disability. I have spoken to groups of 300 and groups of 6. to young and old. this isn't a boast about what I have done, but a story of how God has blessed  his work this year. people have donated, people have signed up to keep in touch, and I know that people are praying for our work. I have received good feedback from the groups i've visited, which is another thing to God's glory since he gives me the words to say. 

I've been with Tim and Abi to the conference in Budapest  too. there we learned about what other countries are doing for disabled people, and shared testimonies and tips with each other. it was a blessed time. 

I have been on the radio a little as well. I was on Torches Insight program talking about Budapest, and did 2 thoughts for the day on my local radio station, Bigglesfm. 

I also when to Guatemala for the 3rd time and was part of another wonderful team. that trip was such a blessing and God was really there with us, blessing us as well as those we spoke to. please see www.to-guatemala.blogspot.com for details of that trip. 

I have had my first experience of christian camp as well, i went with my best friends Christina and Kayleigh-Anne to Pioneer camp at Root Hill farm. I had a great time! i was asked to give a short talk on TTR and my life, as well as some tips of what churches could do to include disabled people who came in unexpectedly. this well and truly broke the ice and after that I met lots of lovely people and had many interesting conversations. 

September and October were filled with speaking bookings, keeping up with the social network side of things, and getting to know my new computer  (an apple mac) which I had purchased after my windows computer and associated screen reader caused accessibility issues for me!   November was enlivened by attending the ladies conference weekend, where 2 years ago I had been asked to give a seminar on my trips to Guatemala and TTR. it was great to catch up with people and it was a great blessing to hear the messages from our speaker on Job and how God is always with us in our problems. on the way home we were involved in a car accident, but no one was seriously hurt-just bruised and we were able to drive away from the scene thanking God for his protection. the cars didn't fair so well as 2 were written off! but God protected us inside. 

I was asked by my brother Ben (a carpenter who is helping out at a local church while they haven't got a pastor) to take a prayer meeting which he was too snowed under to make. this was a great blessing as the church (not my brothers church but another one) want to keep in touch with TTR. 

December was blighted slightly by me catching the worst cold i've had for 3 or more years. I was booked to speak at a church in London, but due to the slight problem of me all but loosing my voice, and feeling rotten, i didn't make it. 

I am over it now though, and wasn't ill over christmas :-)

the last work related thing was the christmas meal which was a lot of fun! a time of fellowship and happiness and christmasiness (if that's a word) 

then i went on Annual leave until Tuesday 3rd Jan. I had a wonderful christmas, birthday and new year. 

I want to wind up 2011 by wishing you all a happy and blessed 2012, and thank you for your support! 

what i've been trying to say in this mammoth post, is that I couldn't have predicted what would happen last year, or where I would be now. without God, everything is impossible and pointless. but with God nothing is impossible. I couldn't ask for a better saviour and friend. he has richly blessed me, and helped me, even when i have felt alone, he has been there. I know he will continue to do this, and will be with you also this year and forever more. 

please feel free to contact me if you have a group you would like me to speak to. my email philippa@throughtheroof.org or follow me on facebook (Philippa Woodcraft TTR) or on twitter (philippattr).