My journey with ICY-UK over the past two and a half years has been full of many ups and downs. As I had never been away from home before, it was a big step to move to a new place. Perhaps it was not as big of a step as for those students who have come over from the USA. Nonetheless, it meant leaving my family and friends and settling into a different way of life. The family of ICY-UK provided much support throughout this transition.
The teaching I received from ICY-UK has not only increased my knowledge of God and the Bible, but has encouraged me in my faith. I will never forget a Christian Spirituality lecture I once had in which the lecturer had a picture for me. This picture was of a sweetpea flower, which by its nature, needs to cling onto other things in order for it to grow and survive. The lecturer felt that God was saying to me that in order for me to grow and survive, I need to be clinging to God for strength. This picture has stuck with me for the whole of my journey with ICY and has kept me encouraged during times of pressure and anxiety within my Church placement.
One thing that I find to be really important within the format of ICY-UK is the bi-monthly conferences. It was here that I have found friends, fellowship, and support. It seems strange that even though as members of ICY-UK we are scattered all across the globe, we still have strong bonds between us. One thing I feel helps to create these bonds are the prayer concerts we have on the last evening of every conference, during which we are encouraged to pray and speak into each others’ lives.
As I come to the end of my three years with ICY-UK, I am getting ready to hand over my youth work to new people. I am wrapping up my study and working hard to finish well. I am currently looking around for new jobs and exploring what to do next. Everything feels quite uncertain. However, one thing that I am certain about is that I will never leave the family that I have formed within ICY-UK. I have formed relationships that will last a lifetime! Written by Hannah Northcott
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