ANNIE BARRELL spent a year as an intern at St Aldates Church, Oxford, including two weeks working at a drug rehabilitation centre in Madrid.
For the past seven months I have been living and ‘interning’ in St. Aldates Church Oxford. I also enjoy a really great community here living with 11 other interns and learning how to live away from home. It has been an enriching experience both for the community I have been serving and for me personally. Day to day, I am involved in the activities of the Church and mainly supporting the Children’s work. This includes running a Mums & Tots group on a Wednesday as well as leading Sunday school, which is thriving at 160 kids each week.
I have also been challenged and stretched in the teaching program, it has challenged me to think deeper about the Christian faith I hold, the theology behind it and the outworking of ‘Christ’ in my everyday life. One of the particularly memorable experiences of this year was participating in the Alpha Course; it was a great time to allow people in a non-threatening environment to be able to ask questions about faith and Christianity. I would recommend the course to all people who would like to explore the Christian faith at a deep level – many run in Bury St. Edmunds and elsewhere.
I have just returned from a two week placement abroad which included working in a drug rehabilitation project in Madrid. I was so inspired by the work of ‘Betel International’, and how they bring people out of poverty and into a new life – drug free. It was amazing to come alongside those who are going through the programme and see ‘faith in action’. It was great to take part in giving to the project, but really it ultimately gave back to me. Those going through the programme are some of the most generous people I have ever met, both in love and friendship. Especially when we all caught a nasty vomiting bug – they helped the centre to feel like a ‘home from home’. It was a real challenge for me to be more generous in all aspects of my own life. It gave me an insight into a world that is both challenging and important to support.
Looking forward to the last three months of the internship, I am most looking forward to organising “The Big Build” – a holiday club for children aged 5-10, which includes working alongside our partner church, St. Mary’s Barton. Barton is one of the most deprived areas in the UK just next to one of the most affluent University towns. I hope that as a team we can provide a really fun and enriching time for the children in the area.
I have really enjoyed my year, I have matured and grown in ways I never expected but I have also come to a fuller understanding of what my faith means to me. I want to thank the Old Burians for their support this year – I was truly blessed by you and your gift to me.