What a week in France!

Hello all or should I say bonjour. Hope all is well. So the last week spent in France was not only inspirational but amazing too, we got to see different places and people, the first stop was at Dunkirk wherever met a lovely couple from Dunkirk Salvation Army. They have been there since July and it is there first appointment. They welcomed us there and gave us a French breakfast which was bread and short bread type things, and yoghurts and we could put either honey or sugar or different flavoured jams and marmalade. Then we went into there meeting hall where they explained more things to us about the area and what goes on. The church and government don't work together, that's all churches so the Catholics and Protestant. The Salvation Army there is a church but also does social work, the social is funded by the governant and don't have a lot to do with the church. It was really nice to meet the corp and have breakfast and lunch with then, they also took us on a prayer walk. For those who I haven't told I was doubting my faith a bit, I was more in believing than not. Now I believe so much more and my faith is stronger than ever from the support I've had at Eston and the support from Alove and friends and family. Forge and France opened my eyes a bit by reflecting and really thinking of who I really am, I am Matt Oliver a 23 year old who loves GOD! I want to get into sports ministry and hopefully by essential 2 the second year I've really been listening to my calling, and while traveling aswell as having fun and a laugh on the bus and the places we were in France I used it to think of what I want to do. We went to Omaha beach it's one of the main D-Day landings, all the 9000 American graves are it was so peaceful and beautiful but 70 years ago it was a battlefield. Had a nice time on the beach and in the sea to but really what stuck to my head was the men from all the countries died here who were my age, had a lot going for themselves. Me James and Axl were at the back playing football manager then we started hitting 2 balloons one a bat the other a ball and played a game of cricket. We had such a laugh playing it aswell as farkle and football manager, we also had some very good chats we are all becoming a big family now is essentials and the team. I think I have come a long way since September. One of the places we went had a blocks in the sea which is what the  Brits used to make a port the size of Dover to get trucks etc over to France as the Germans had the others. And Ian said a quote a necessity is the mother of creation. We then went to a place called liseaux, there were a couple who planted a baptist church there of 10 at a house to over 40 now. A man there said which really stuck out to me was, what ever we think god is calling us to do might not be what god is calling us to do but go for it as god will always have a door open for our right paths and he will be with us to get us on the right path. I hope you enjoyed the read let me know what you think have a blessed week. Could you all pray for me and the other essentials and the Alove team, to bless us all as we're coming to the end of an amazing experience but pray for Matt, Anita, Axl, Chris, Malin, Lottie, James, Matt thanks again for reading god bless Matt :) 

What's god doing in your life?

Hey there hope all is well? I'm having a really good time. Matt Leeder came up with his wife chel and baby Edith they led our meeting and cage church :). It was very good really fun learnt a new song come all you vagabonds now I love it.                                                                                                                                                                The following week was good learning more about myself each and everyday, we went to forge that's was really good and blessed weekend learning more about youth work in a Salvation Army, and about what I want to do god spoke to me that week as I was doubting my faith a bit but I think it's stronger than before from the support I have had, I want to do go into sports  ministry doing children's and youth work. Led cameo this week was about forge and I am going to lead the house group which will be scary but fun. France is upon us going to France for some training after explore leadership day. Hope you have a blessed week matt