Lent Endurance Challenge - Day 1

Hmm - of the things to talk about today, none of them seem to work very well with each other. I suppose I can split them up over different days, as this is to be a daily journal of my Lent Endurance Challenge. http://boaztrust.org.uk/lent-endurance-challenge/

I've started what seems to be a more useful thing to do for Lent than the usual superficial 'give up something' that I never go in for anyway - living for a week on what a failed asylum candidate must survive on: a Red Cross food package and £3.50.

Anna who I met at the Ceilidh a few months ago put me onto the Boaz Trust charity as she works for it, and I saw this and thought it would be a good, eye-opening thing to do, especially after a recent Plant theme about giving and social action.

This particular charity is there to aid people who have come to Manchester seeking asylum from their country, but for whatever reason their application is rejected and they are given 2 weeks to pack up and leave before their benefits are stopped. But for some people it is too dangerous to return, or they have spent everything travelling here and cannot afford to leave, or just do not have anywhere else to go, and so are forced to live as 'living ghosts', with no benefit support, no job, no way of getting a job, and only a food package from the Red Cross to live on and the support of friends and charities like Boaz for shelter and other basic needs.

So, I've got my shopping list for the food parcel, ticking off supplies as I use them and using this blog to keep track of how things go, note down my thoughts and confess any cheating!

According to Nigel the Boaz housing manager's blog (www.lentchallenge.blogspot.com) the package is sufficient for keeping you fed, but certainly takes some adjustment, and really makes you think about what it's like to have to depend on it, and also to live without all the little comforts that we take for granted - the challenge doesn't require giving up of things like houses, heating and hot water, jobs and all the other things that a 'living ghost' doesn't have, but certainly makes you think about how much of an impact they have in our lives.

Thankfully, I'm in a good mindset for starting this today, having just come from a very encouraging Plant weekend away, with a good series of talks on the book of Hosea and the importance of acknowledging our mistakes and returning to God repentant every time we turn away. Also had some good thinking and praying and reading books about relationships and marriage and ideas like that, changing my attitudes to set my heart fully on God, and let him guide me as to my friendships and relationships. More prayer and reading and talking to people needed though!

Also skiing in Austria was incredible, especially the good vibe of being with a bunch of lovely Christians, but that can be for another post - I want to talk all about it, but it feels odd discussing expensive holidays when this week is for focussing on those who don't have jobs or the money to buy food...

It will make me review my spending and giving, certainly - the survey at the Plant weekend and a good sorting and filing of my bank statements and payslips (as they were a mess), plus this week of living 'destitute', will hopefully help me live more cheaply, so as to spend more on others and less on myself.

Update later tonight on how the first day goes!
/*Will