My adventure to Cardiff

Hello there again dear reader, I hope this blog finds you well. Are you comfortable? I do hope so, I have an adventure to tell you about.

It all started on Monday morning at 9:30 when Dave (my to-be staff worker and boss) called me up and said "so Hannah, what time will you be joining us on Friday?"

I had only just woken up some 10 minutes earlier and was a little taken a back, it took me a minute to realise where exactly I was expected and so I said "ummm... I'm not sure. To be honest I'd completely forgotten I was coming... it seems I better book some tickets."

 That was that, £35 later, I was going to be Cardiff bound Thursday at 4:37. I had booked my train ticket to Cardiff and called my friend Beth (a student at Cardiff Met and a to-be housemate )and asked if I could possibly stay Friday and Saturday night, to which she said "yes!" (Because she is a joy)

So, Thursday I was Cardiff bound, travelling the city of rugby, rowdy students and welsh accents, a city that I knew nothing of and had only experienced via a weekend away activity day ice skating... (which I am told is not really near anywhere I will go) it would be fair to say I was a little nervous.

Now hopefully you will have read prior blogs to explain a bit of my journey to Relay but if you haven't then (tut tut) let me quickly explain: Relay is an act of obedience for me. Now that isn't to say I don't want to do it, that wouldn't be true, I do but I am walking and trusting in a much bigger plan than my little one.I think it is safe to say, I would never have planned myself going to Cardiff to speak openly and boldly about my faith, in a city I know very little about and a time when speaking about your faith is seen as stupid but then, Jesus says about laying down our lives and Jeremiah speaks of leaning not on our own understanding; but instead the Lord and He will makes our paths straight. This is what I'm trusting in, I trust and know The Lord has good plans for me, better than I could dream or wish... I mean come on, I'm going to Cardiff next year to do what I completely love doing, it's scary but how awesome is it gunna be?! I already know it's going to be an incredible yet, incredibly challenging year! :)

So, Thursday it turned out Dave was in Oxford and so I met him and we travelled to Cardiff together. This was such a blessing as I felt a lot less on my own and supported. I've already been so blessed by the Welsh team and the way they have invested in me (via twitter) and made me feel so welcome. When we got to Cardiff, surprisingly, it was raining (note sarcasm) I forget although technically a different country, the lack of consistent weather still stands in Wales. We walked from the station to Dave's where we he took me through and past a few different places including some of the awesome little arcades and Coffee #1, which I feel will become a popular spot for me. Over the weekend I was encouraged to find that it was definitely possible to walk most places in the City.

When we got to Dave's, his lovely wife was there and we got to chat a little. I suddenly found myself incredibly exhausted as I relaxed in their lovely flat but we were going out again to a C.U. event so I woke myself up again, via some self motivation and off we went.

When we got to the event I was welcomed with a room of goodies on the tables, smiles and friendly hello's. I got chatting to one student who turned out to be my Student Workers cousin! Seems everyone is related to everyone in Wales, which I must admit; I kind of love.