Meningitis Charity Ball

One of the reasons I started this blog was to keep those interested up to date with what I've been getting up to, mainly to be used when I start my placement in South Africa but I decided to blog during the summer to get used to this new venture. 

Although I do apologise for the fact that what I'm about to talk about happened before my week in Craigavon(see previous blog) but I couldn't not tell you guys about it.

So here goes....

On Friday 15th August I attended a charity ball with some of my closest friends from school, church and other people I did not know ;) 

The charity at the forefront of the evening was Meningitis Now.

Why you may be asking yourselves ? 

To cut a long story short it was my big brother Christopher who organised and planned this event in memory of our sister Gemma who sadly passed away from Meningitis when she was nine months old, 3 years and nine months before I was born to be precise. 

This wasn't the first event my brother had organised for Meningitis, the first being a football tournament but in my opinion this was the most successful. 

It was an all round fantastic evening with food, table entertainment, photographs, ballot, auction and live music for the remainder of the event. 

I personally had such a good night as I was able to spend it with my nearest and dearest. 

But what really made it special was two guests in particular, Steve and Gloria Dayman. For the average person these names may not mean anything in particular but for my family they are as Steve was the founder of the meningitis trust charity who supported my family back in 1993 when Gemma passed away. For them to be there and share the night was phenomenal !!! 

The main aim I want to get across in this post, which I don't say very often is that I AM SUPER PROUD OF MY BIG BROTHER, he was able to pull off a incredible night and raise awareness and vital funds for meningitis now to help research along. 

A staggering £2147, so well done Christopher, you should be very proud because I sure am. 

(I'll leave you with a photo of my fiends and I suited and booted, don't we look dashing? ) 

(*photo by Curtis Irvine Photography*) 

Much love..... Courtney x 

Craigavon Summer Mission 2014

Recently I had the privilege to spend a week with 30ish teenagers/leaders from my church and around 150 kids in Craigavon Baptist Church.

It undoubtedly ranks itself as the best week of this year.

This is the second year West Church have teamed up with the local church in Craigavon to deliver a five day holiday Bible club for primary school aged children.   During this week we lead the kids in songs, crafts,  arts, games,  snacks and story stations with a day dedicated as a salvation day.  On this day the message of Jesus living, dying and rising again is the focus of the day, giving the kids the opportunity to place their hearts on the cross as a way of asking Jesus into their lives.

Craigavon 2014 taught me a lesson that I already knew but never really understood untill now.  It taught me that even tho hardships will happen and evil will try to influence our minds it will never succeed because we have a Awesome God on OUR side that will always be beside us, He will never leave us and He will Never give us more than we can handle.
Craigavon 2014 taught me the true meaning of friendship,  love, kindness and Patience.

As I sit here writing down these words I can't even truly express how valuable Craigavon 2014 as been in my life.  I want to say soo much but I can't find the right words to do it justice so ill end by saying.

Iam eternally grateful for the amazing experiences that I can face with my family in West Church but I am even more grateful for a God that loves me more than I can ever imagine

Much love... Courtney x