Jemma's Thoughts on Life: #jemmainwales

A whole month! A whole month ago today I left tiny Annalong for a new adventure. A new adventure that just happens to be 386 miles away from my home. And what an adventure it has been.

For those of you who know me and have known me for at least the past 3 years you will know I have not stopped raving about going to Cardiff. Well, it is my pleasure to tell you all that Cardiff is so much better than I could have ever hoped or imagined. I have fallen in love with this city and the people who live in it. And to be honest it feels like I've lived here for a lot longer than a month.

There has been one person who has been with me through it all. God has been with me every step of the way. And boy has he provided me with everything that I need and so much more. For example, I was ~~slightly apprehensive~~ scrap that I was very very very apprehensive of who was going to be living in my flat. But God had it all sorted, he heard my prayers and has provided me with great flatmates who are nice and allow me to sleep (cause I need my sleep).

God has also been so faithful in the friends he has blessed me with here in Cardiff. When I arrived here a month ago, I knew no-one. And now, a month later, I have met so many wonderful people who I get to call friends. I have met people who I know I shall be friends with for a long time, people who make me laugh and people who laugh at my stupidity and stupid stories.

God has also provided me with opportunities to share my faith. At home everyone knew I was a Christian. They knew my boundaries and they respected that. When I came to uni no-one knew what I believed. They didn't know that I love Jesus. But through various conversations and through the choices I have made whilst being in Cardiff I have been able to share my faith. God has given me a boldness in speaking about him to others. I like to talk, a lot. But when it comes to talking about my faith I tend to shy off, not wanting to make things awkward or to offend anyone. But I prayed that God would give me opportunities and courage to share with people about him, and he did. And I am so grateful for these opportunities and the conversations that arise from them.

A massive prayer and fear that God has answered and helped me conquer is homesickness. I love my family, and my friends. And when I had to leave them I was very scared that I wouldn't settle. I am super super close to my mum especially and the thought of leaving her was hard. I mean I'm the kind of girl who goes home everyday and regurgitates my WHOLE day to her. She is some woman for keeping up with all that say. And for the first time in 18 years she wasn't going to be right there whenever I want to talk to her. I mean I phone her everyday and tell her everything that way but it just isn't the same. But since being in Cardiff I haven't really missed home that much. I've missed all the people from home, like I kind of wish I could just bring them all over to Cardiff but I haven't felt homesick.

To say that God has taught me a few things this month is an understatement. God has taught me and deepened my faith more than I could ever have imagined this month. He has taught me and is still teaching me to lean on and trust him. Being at home with mum and dad I never really had to fully commit my whole trust in God. I knew that I was pretty safe and I knew that I had friends and family who loved me close by. But arriving in Cardiff I had to trust that God had everything planned out. I had to trust that I would make friends. that my flatmates would be nice. that I wouldn't be homesick. And believe me for a control freak like me that is very hard. But I have learnt so much more about God's character through this past month than I have in the 18 years I lived at home.

Here are some highlights of my past month: