Not many people have the chance to celebrate a birthday at such a prestigious event, so I count myself extremely lucky that I turned 19 on the 13th of July – two days before the delegates landed. It actually started in someone else’s house, in a sleeping bag and still wearing day-clothes, as I had gone to a party on the free evening before and didn’t know if my college accommodation (Rutherford) would still be open by the time I got back… It soon picked up, however, and after being taken to lunch at Ask (I thoroughly recommend the chicken caesar salad) by my nice young man and finding some much yearned-for boots in the sale, I headed back for a seminar on the logistics of the day on London (it’s on Thursday) Upon entering the room, I was handed a birthday card signed by many of the stewards in their own language. I was touched. Out of all the items I have managed to collect so far (including a hi-viz vest, a notebook made from recycled tyres and the promise of a Lambeth hymn book to come) this is the best souvenir I could have, along with the home-made necklace left outside my door by the teacher from Ghana who lives on my corridor.

Later we held evening prayer in our common room, and I was well happy when we discovered my favourite hymn in Mission Praise (The Day Thou Gavest). We had been joined the day before by some of the Conference Chaplaincy team – monks and nuns from Melenesia. They had already proved they had a fantastic ear for harmony the evening before and really added a certain something to an already beautiful song. After the service they also made ‘Happy Birthday’ sound pretty awesome – having it sung in a dozen different languages by so many new friends in such a close setting is something I am sure to remember forever. This was followed by a performance by the brothers and sisters on panpipes and drums, with singing and dancing. I can’t describe how incredible it was.

Best birthday ever.