Blog

Leanne Dunlop <journogirl>




	Svaykee! (Hello in Latvian...)	10/20/07

	What must it have been like to live around the turn of the 20th century?? I feel like I have more of a clue as I am enjoying this random, restful time out in Ruzina, Latvia.... it? a crazy place, definitely feels a bit like I've stepped back in time, and also still pretty cold! Im enjoying the delights of the local food - and even sampled some Seaweed salad from Siberia the other day - and was quite nice! Looking forward to my return to the emerald isle...Hope you beboers are doing well... "Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday, so why worry? " Lx

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	Latvia...	10/10/07

	Some people asking... just a quick update... Latvia is going pretty well (if somewhat COLD , I am deeply challenged by the simplicity and sincerity of the believer's faith here. I am resting and taking time to 'be' and not 'do' all the time. It's a real special time for me and the Lord I think, time will tell! If you care enough, please pray, for ongoing good times with the Lord and his people here. Drop me a line, would be good to hear from you. Also pray for my niece Ellie, having major surgery to remove pancreas in London on Friday (12thOctober). Thanks muchly. From an hour east of the Russian border... Love and blessings, L

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	Michael is famous in Bradford	6/27/07

	Check out flashbox - plus Michael's epic comment >>

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	Tribute to Matthew Howell	4/30/07

	People always tend to say positive things about a person who has just died, but I just cannot express what a truely amazing young man of God (and my adopted 'wee bro') Matthew Howell was. Matthew really was one of a kind, and there are probably few people I would say I genuinely feel completely privileged to have not only known but to have invested in and called my true friend and "big wee bro", but Matthew was certainly one of those. He was special, truely special. It is SUCH a privilege to have had him in my life for this all too brief time, for these last 7 or so years, since our crazy prayer-filled Dalriada school days!! He has touched more people's lives in 22 years than the average pensioner, a tribute in itself, and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him, not least his family (whom I pass on my deepest sympathies to.. I can't imagine how hard this is for you, you are in my prayers). Matthew would want us all to mourn, yes (for that is only right) but to also remember OUR COMFORTER at this time, the great Lord and saviour we can call out to at this time and know that Matthew has gone to be with. ('Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.') Matthew and I talked in times gone by about the brevity of life and the need to live all out for Jesus - as his true, radical + passionate followers now, for "we don't know which day is going to be our last." I remember also talking with Matthew about the fact we both had this bizarre feeling that we might well die young, and, therefore, ought to live our lives out to the full for God's glory now, each day, with no regrets. What an awesome tribute to Matthew that this is what he did and died doing. My last memory of him is of a big warm 'Matthew hug' just after praying together not so long ago, and I shall treasure this now all the more. It is with deepest sorrow I post this now, still in a complete state of shock from Alan Scott's phone call earlier to tell me of Matthew's sudden departure from this life last night. A gaping hole has been left. Another timely reminder of how precious and brief a gift life really is, like a vapour which quickly evaporates. Let's treat it (and one another) as such. May the God of all comfort comfort those of you reading this who knew Matthew and are mourning. May any of the rest of you spare a thought and a prayer for his family... Leanne

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	Aye Up!	4/20/07

	As they say in West Yorkshire, 'Aye up lad, how's it going??!!' I hope you're all getting it handy and keeping her lit?! (as they say in good old cowtown Ballymoney!) How many Bradfordians does it take to change a lightbulb? Answer: 10.... 1 to change the lightbulb and 9 to fly to Pakistan to purchase it and emigrate back to the UK again to sell it, plus many more! (just a wee joke Drop me a line and send me some good old 'Norn Iron' banter!

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	Snow-capped Switcfoot in Bradford!	2/10/07

	My ears are still ringing (literally!) from the singing and sounds of 'Switchfoot' in Bradford tonight, where this world renowned MTV-listed Christian band playd at ALC as part of their current UK tour. It's been a while since I've been to any concert, let alone one so excellent in every way, lights, sounds, audience connection, organisation - the works. They topped it all off with a generous half hour afterwards to sign hundreds of fans' items of merchandise, meeting and greeting them in the process. This included yours truely. I was grateful for the chance to meet and briefly commend each of the five members of the band, and tongue in cheek said, "You'll have to come to Northern Ireland some day, we'd love to have you over!" and they all were instantly taken by the accent and seemed blown away that I was from NI yet at their concert in Bradford, England, ( I didn't tell them I currently live here!! but they were very sincere in saying they are looking into it and "really want to come to Northern Ireland soon!" SO THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS....HOT OFF THE PRESS: Switchfoot have given me their word that they'll come to our wee quality part of the world sometime soon!! They seem a really quality bunch of sound great, talented, humble guys, so it was a privilege to meet them tonight! Still can't quite believe my jammieness! (I prefer to think of it as the favour of the Lord... He loves to bless us with things that we enjoy - and I love this type of wee random encounter! All this was capped off by a short but slidey drive home in the newly fallen snow tonight in West Yorkshire! And now at almost mightnight it's time for 'cinderella' here to get to bed after the ball tonight! Drop me a line....

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	Weekend adventures...	12/4/06

	So, just for a wee quick update as some of you have actually been bothering to take note of my waffle and read this blog thing! Yesterday morning, I went up to the estate in Bradford I work in with kids doing footie coaching and self-esteem building through the organisation I am currently volunteering with( called 'One In A MILLION.') Once again I ran the Under 11s warm-up and footie match (in freezing cold, though dry, conditions) I am really enjoying now having built more of a relationship with some of the lads, that they now have a bit of 'banter' with me and are making some progress both in their play and in their social skills!! - even if I did have to stop a punch up between one ten-year-old and another!!Oh well, better than baseball bats last week with the older teens - and Im not exaggerating!! But gradually as time and prayer goes on I know that this will get better. Bradford continues to be a weird and wonderful place for me Anyway, yesterday afternoon I headed over to the beautifully historic city of YORK with 4 of my other Leadership Academy friends. It was a trip down 'memory lane' for me, as I recalled my P.7 School trip when I'd last been to the 'Minster and co. Yesterday's visit was permeated with throngs of shoppers snapping up Christmas purchases, with all the streets filled so much that it was hard to move without bumping into another person. We enjoyed visiting the little German Christmas market though, and later after a 'wee bev' out of Starbucks, the five of us enjoyed the delights of a Greek restaurant in York called 'Mana' - where I sampled perhaps my first ever Greek dish, Kanaloni... mmm, yum! Today I had a fantastivc 13 hour sleep - only surfacing at lunchtime after a much needed catch up on my sleep after a hectic few weeks, and went to church tonight at 6pm after a lovely big Sunday dinner cooked by my equally lovely English housemate Sarah. Oh how the simple things in life please me these days, ha-ha!! I hope that you are doing well - do feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me if you're reading this, would love to hear from you. Concluding thought: Why do quality Northern Ireland people tend to put themselves down so much more than, say, the English??! You are all AMAZING!!! (Am now going to try to sleep now - after only getting up about 11 hours ago... that's what Sundays were designed for Loudest love Leanne

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	Move over Mourinho, Rooney and Ronaldo! :)	11/26/06

	Hi again, I am not normally such a sad geek updating this the 2nd day in a row (but then again, perhaps I am about to become one?!) but after the random Spirit-led adventure I've just had today, I just thought I'd let anyone who desires to read about it here know! I was the 11.30am service at Abundant Life Church in Bradford this morning (as usual since I've been here in Sept) and it was all about creating space to have 'divine solitude' - in other words quality time out with the Lord away from the normal everyday mad busyness. Anyway, I decided to go with the Spirit's still small voice within me as I am all the more learning and enjoying doing, and took myself off to Manchester for t he afternoon, and decided to end up gatecrashing Old Trafford (on the day of the biggest footie match of the Premiership season so far - Man Utd v Chelsea). As a result, even though I didn't have a ticket I was able to see the match on a screen at the front (plus here the crowd) and then go to the player's exit afterwards and see both sets of players leaving the ground. I really love the way God like's to bless his children with random wee things He knows his individual daughters and sons will love!! I got to be at the front of the crowd, as a result got to see the likes of Jose Mourinho, Roman Abromovich and all the Chelsea players (Lampard, Terry, Drogba and co) leave on their big bad bus! Then all the Utd players came out - and got to see Giggs, Neville, Ronaldo, Rooney and co from a pretty remarkably close distance. Then I even managed to get a few autographs - Ronaldo, Saha, O'Shea and Edwin Van der Saar - which my Man Utd friend will love! Anyway, "delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" - your pleasure may not be found in football, but hey, you gotta love the diversity of each of us eh?! Have a great week and feel free to drop me a line. Loudest Love Leanne

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	A day in the life of Leanne in Bradford! :)	11/25/06

	Okay, so some of you have been asking what exactly do I get up to in Bradford and 'give me all the details'! Today, is a fine example to write about! Began my day with quick prayer and bible reading of Psalm 25 (I always read either the Psalm or Proverb corresponding with the day's date at the beginning of my day) Then I arrived at ALC (Abundant Life Centre - where Abundant Life Church exists!) for my service within the ministry for kids up in a pretty poor and rough estate in Bradford where I am involved with leading a football coaching/playing session for Under 11 boys from 11am -12pm. This is both challenging, hard work and fun! Also had to stop a fight today between some Asian and white guys apparently started because of a derogatory racist remark (similar to Protestant and Catholics back home Anyway, I came back to my house for quick bite of lunch at 1pm, followed by change, then back to ALC to work for a few hours to help clean up after a conference was held in main building last night. Then I took myself off to Waterstones and a coffee shop for an hour and a half to take time out to journal, read and pray (writing my prayers down, not speaking!!) I then had arranged to meet a large gathering of my fellow Leadership Academy students to go ICE-SKATING outdoors tonight - so about 30 of us bombed down the road to Halifax for a great night's craic and entertainment - and I only fell/wobbled once - yah!! My day has ended with some good food and a chance to enjoy the delights of the BBC1 news followed by Match of the Day - though Spurs are not playing till tommorrow so it's not as good when they're not on. Have a great weekend all you sad techno geeks reading this!! (only joking, I love you all! Leanne.xo

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	You are the Weakest Link....	2/26/05

	Hi there! Never used this journal thing before, but just thought I'd try it to let my friends (yeah, am hoping you count yourself one of those!!) know about my run-in with a certain Mz Robinson, otherwise known as nasty Anne. Last summer, in my post graduation madness I saw an advert from the BBC looking for contestants on 'The Weakest Link' and for some reason I got the urge to send off for more details. Anyway, got asked to go for an audition in Belfast - which turned out to be a much more serious affair than I had imagined, so I just decided 'what the heck,'as I didnt care if I got on it or not, ' I will just be myself and half a laugh' - the producers must have liked that style and somehow picked me to come over to take part in a real episode of the show in London, so last September (9th I think it was) I had a lovely wee trip over to Pinewood studios all courtesy of the 'beeb' and recorded what you will now be able to see for real on your tv screens on MONDAY 28TH FEB at 5.15 pm on BBC2. I am sure it will amuse you all greatly - I was pathetic, but at least I didnt get voted off after first round Have a laugh and let me know feedback - the amount of make-up they plastered on me is funny in itself!! I am going to be mortified when I see it. Please be kind to me when you watch>> God gave me a desire to stand up to the critical, mouthy Anne in his strength and with His courage. The day was lots of fun and certainly one I wont forget in a hurry! Hope to chat and see you each soon. God Bless Leanne.xo

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