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Hello.

Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragements, we love hearing from you and are praying for you also! This newsletter we are going to catch you up on our summer holidays, tell you about our new tenant and prep you for whats coming up this term in Camden!

Conroy Life

We still love living on the Queens Creacent estate, grateful to have had our flat contract extended we can stay until August 2019! We sadly waved Jack goodbye as he returned to his last year at Uni in Brighton. But have gladly welcomed a new memeber of the “Ludham” family, Anya! 
We met Anya at the People International Conference 5 years ago, and have stayed in contact. Because... we just couldn’t help it - she’s wonderful! She has come all the way from Kazakhstan to spend a year with XLP on the experience gap year. She is placed in Camden with us, based at St Luke’s church in Kentish Town. 

Greece Conference.

It seems like a lifetime ago that we went to Greece for our 3rd People International Conference! But we spent a wonderful 10 days serving young people at the conference, these are teenagers from missionary families based all over Central Asia. We spent the week studying the bible with Bob Goff’s teachings around what it means to BE love in the world. I recommend reading either of his books!

Snow Camp

This year once again I was involved in organising 60+ young people from London learning to ski and snowboard. Imagine yourself on a hot late July day (granted most years this could be difficult to imagine, however this was year it was hot) turning up to a bus ski boots, coat & trousers in your hands ready to take a bunch of young people to the Snow Centre in Hemel. Its absolute nuts, especially as most of the young people can't believe there is actual snow! It's a huge challenge for all of them mentally and physically from getting up super early to learning a completely new skill. I could bang on about snow camp for the entire letter but essentially we take young people that would never have the opportunity to learn to ski or snowboard out of London and give them the chance. This is can lead to more training and possible instructor training and trips out the alps. 

Summer Camp

For us Summer Camp is a total highlight and in some cases a showcase of the relationships built with the young people over the year. This year was no different. Rosie and I gave our selves the target of taking at least two young people from Queens Crescent (Where we live) away. We smashed this in May when when we took a few away and since that every week the YP had been asking when we can go next!?

Well this summer we took 10 away from our local estate and 20 others from all over North and East London. The weekend is always packed full of activities and new experiences for the YP. Quite a few have never left London and most of them have never camped. Being able to take young people away from their areas is so important, its in these time that breakthrough can be made.

One story I can tell was a complete shift in behaviour by a group go kids we took. They where determined to test us, i'll be honest they where not very good at testing us and I have seen better however they tried pushing buttons to a point where we decided to confront them. A very wise colleague of mine suggested instead of telling them off, encourage them about everything they have done well and that we are proud of them for trying. He suggested to still acknowledge that behaviour could be better but to encourage them on the good things they have done. I can tell you that the contemplative and clever among you might see this as an obvious cause of action but when you are cold and tired I can see its not. The result of this conversation transformed the dynamic of the group, the attitude of the YP changed and actually they stepped up to the attitude that had been spoken over them. 

This is why we love weekends away because of what it teaches us about the YP we work with but also teaches the young people about us. We hope summer camp can give the YP we work with a positive experience of adult interaction.

Matts New Role!

So I get a new challenge! As if there was no challenge already!? My new job will be 'XL-R8 Projects lead' which is essentially over seeing the busses and everything they do. I will be working with 3 staff to help us have a bigger impact and continue to make the busses work the best they possibly can, pushing the projects forward. It will now be even more my problem when the busses don't work... I think I have mentioned them not working in every newsletter we have put out so expect more I'm sure, just pray harder! 

Anyway, I'm very excited! 
 

So Anya is living with us! It's great having our own Russian spy living with us. Her placement church is St. Lukes Kentish Town where we attend which is super exciting. Her job with them to help develop their youth work whilst helping the church build a link with its local community youth provision. 

Anya is a loooong way from Kazakstan where she calls home so please pray for her as she misses her family and friends! 
A little look at there we live :) 
PRAYER REQUESTS.
  • Matt in his new role and bus project lead and everything that entails
  • Anya as she is away from home 
  • Rosie as she is dealing with some challenging situations with some of her key young people. 
  • Recently met our landlords - seemed positive, pray favour so we can ask for another year extension this summer.
  • Young people who are at risk of exclusion and our relationships with the schools.
  • New project starting this year around Kings Cross.
  • As we talk about and possibly start transitional work with year 6 students who are at risk of permanent exclusion. 
Copyright © 2019 Matt and Rosie Conroy, All rights reserved.


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