Today we drove our little car from Usk in Wales to Manchester the home of a football team whose name I cannot remember! We drove through Glouster and saw flood waters all around us. Boy has it rained! Can you imagine after 10 years of drought in Australia we have had rain continually. Val remands me that it has rained daily for all but two of the last 30 days where we have been! There's no need to have short showers here right now.
Tomorrow we make our way to a place just north of York where we will visit with the family if Naomi, a lovely lass who dropped into Aus earlier this year and stayed with us for s day or two.
On Monday we are scheduled to fly from Manchester to Helsinki in Finland. Our plans and flights have changed a bit. While we have been on the track we had contact with a brother we have known for more than 20 years who is a Lutheran Pastor in Finland. We had a strong sense it was important to go and have some time with this friend. We then fly to Geneva and a week with a brother there who translated "So you don't want to go Church anymore" into French. From there we will fly home via Chennai. I was talking to Kevin Kamalraj In India today and they are looking forward to welcoming us. There are only two problems.
First, When Val lost her passport we thoguht we'd need to get a new visa for her. When the old passport was returned with the new one it seemed that her old passport would be able to be used for her visa into India. We have emailed the Indian Consulate in London on two occasions and we have no response. We are not sure at all what will happen here.
Second, we changed our airline ticket and United Airlines assured us that the situation was in hand and all we have to do is get Scandanavian Airlines to rewrite the ticket. We thought it important enough to stay here in Manchester overnightand try to get the thing sorted (as the English seem to say). We went to the airport and found the SAS office but they did not have the data from UA. Afetr a phone call the data was delivered to them but there was no evidence that we had paid for the changes (we believe it was billed against our credit card). We'll know in a day or so if the thing is fixed and we can fly!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
And on to Wales....
Early Saturday morning 21st July, we loaded up the little black machine fired up the GPS (now we were using our own unit that fitted on our hand computer and set off for Usk in Wales. It wasn't a very long journey and we wound through the well signed motorways and found our way to the home of Paul and Ruth Bullivant. Their home is a beautiful little house that once served as the coach house of a fine home but has been transformed into the sort of house one sees in 'Country Living' magazines. Their daughter and so-in-law and family haibitate the large dwelling and together they enjoy their delightful homes overlookng the the English (or should I say Welsh) country garden where birds of every desription hold conventions and where even on the wettest day the beauty of the area gives joy to ones soul.
Paul and Ruth exercise leadership in a local fellowship in a chapel in a village nearby. We had the joy of meeting with the folks there on sunday morning. It was the holiday season but there will still a good number, young and old, got together. It reminded us of some time we remember warmly in the life of the church at Hawthorn. We sang some songs that we knew and heard some we didn't. Val found the music and words for a song she had been searching for for ages. Kevin spoke at the service. The fellowship was sweet.
In the evening about 30 of the leaders gathered for reflection time together. Once again it brought back memories. Kevin shared a picture that Father had given about the way Father is taking His church back again. It was a good time! We felt real joy being able to visit with Capel Ed, a most unlikely Presbyterian Church! But then it is really God's Church isn't it!
Last night we feasted together with a meal fit for a king with our hosts and the elders and wives of the Capel Ed. We laughed and talked and shared and prayed it was indeed a great night.
Our days with the Bullivants have been restful and recreative. We haven't done lots of activities but we have enjoyed these two old saints heaps!! Of couse we have know these guys for a good few years now and have visited them before on a number of occasions and they have visited them on occasions also. In fact we hope to see them early next year all over again.
Paul and Ruth exercise leadership in a local fellowship in a chapel in a village nearby. We had the joy of meeting with the folks there on sunday morning. It was the holiday season but there will still a good number, young and old, got together. It reminded us of some time we remember warmly in the life of the church at Hawthorn. We sang some songs that we knew and heard some we didn't. Val found the music and words for a song she had been searching for for ages. Kevin spoke at the service. The fellowship was sweet.
In the evening about 30 of the leaders gathered for reflection time together. Once again it brought back memories. Kevin shared a picture that Father had given about the way Father is taking His church back again. It was a good time! We felt real joy being able to visit with Capel Ed, a most unlikely Presbyterian Church! But then it is really God's Church isn't it!
Last night we feasted together with a meal fit for a king with our hosts and the elders and wives of the Capel Ed. We laughed and talked and shared and prayed it was indeed a great night.
Our days with the Bullivants have been restful and recreative. We haven't done lots of activities but we have enjoyed these two old saints heaps!! Of couse we have know these guys for a good few years now and have visited them before on a number of occasions and they have visited them on occasions also. In fact we hope to see them early next year all over again.
On to Bristol...
We said our goodbyes to our hosts, the Gregories, and again with the help of the GPS found our way from St Albans to Bristol and the home of Darryl and Joy Greig and their two delightful daughters, Tali and Karis . They live in a terraced house in streets that seem to go forever with line after line of grey double storied terraces.
The area has it's share of excitement with police chases and infamous visitors. One group of visitors broke the front door of the Greig home and visited even when the family were not home! The area has a heavy feel and Darryl and Joy feel sure that it is the place that Father wanted them to live.
Darryl still works 4 days a week for Hewlett Packard and serves as a Pastor of a small church fellowship that exists in the area. They still have their eyes set on going back to Mozambique in Africa at some time in the future.
Kevin enjoyed meeting with some of the folk at a 'home group' and we both enjoyed a trip to Bath to se the Roman Baths that have been renovated and unearthed. The Roman's certainly did things well!
We enjoyed having some time to yarn and listen to Darryl and Joy and to reflect on the things that have happened in our lives since we last met. We also enjoyed the opportunity to pray with Darry and Joy the night before we left. It was good to be with them for the few days.
The area has it's share of excitement with police chases and infamous visitors. One group of visitors broke the front door of the Greig home and visited even when the family were not home! The area has a heavy feel and Darryl and Joy feel sure that it is the place that Father wanted them to live.
Darryl still works 4 days a week for Hewlett Packard and serves as a Pastor of a small church fellowship that exists in the area. They still have their eyes set on going back to Mozambique in Africa at some time in the future.
Kevin enjoyed meeting with some of the folk at a 'home group' and we both enjoyed a trip to Bath to se the Roman Baths that have been renovated and unearthed. The Roman's certainly did things well!
We enjoyed having some time to yarn and listen to Darryl and Joy and to reflect on the things that have happened in our lives since we last met. We also enjoyed the opportunity to pray with Darry and Joy the night before we left. It was good to be with them for the few days.
About a brother called Beresford....
Our last full day in the london area allowed us to visit a brother we first met 8 years ago in North Carolina at the Southern House Church Conference. Beresford was a speaker and presented material that explored how the traditions of men had distorted the things of God, for the Jew first and for the Christian.
Beresford lives with his wife, Belinda and eight year old daughter Bethany in a small house in Epping. His home is in walking distance of some of the other folk who share their life in Jesus.
Beresford calls a 'spade a spade' and doesn't mind shocking people in his straightforward and sometimes amusing turn of phrase. He is committed to live the truth he knows and teaches.
Beresford Job came to know the Lord in 1971. In 1976 he responded to a call into full time itinerant teaching and pastoral ministry, and has pioneered biblical house church life and experience in England throughout that time. When Beresford bowed his knee to Jesus and as he read the Bible he did not join an organised church but rather met with brothers and sisters who loved Jesus and learnt to be the church! God gave him the ability and gift to read and teach the Bible which he has done ever since. He relies on Father for his resourcing and does not ask people for money or support. The loveliness of Jesus is evident in their family. Beresford has made hundreds of teaching tapes and CD's that have a growing circulation both in the UK and the USA where he visits twice a year.
A friend who operates a Law office has encouraged Beresford to write some of the things he has taught people in a book. Beresford has now completed the book.
The fellowship that he is part of has a web site and can be viewed at www.house-church.org/
Beresford lives with his wife, Belinda and eight year old daughter Bethany in a small house in Epping. His home is in walking distance of some of the other folk who share their life in Jesus.
Beresford calls a 'spade a spade' and doesn't mind shocking people in his straightforward and sometimes amusing turn of phrase. He is committed to live the truth he knows and teaches.
Beresford Job came to know the Lord in 1971. In 1976 he responded to a call into full time itinerant teaching and pastoral ministry, and has pioneered biblical house church life and experience in England throughout that time. When Beresford bowed his knee to Jesus and as he read the Bible he did not join an organised church but rather met with brothers and sisters who loved Jesus and learnt to be the church! God gave him the ability and gift to read and teach the Bible which he has done ever since. He relies on Father for his resourcing and does not ask people for money or support. The loveliness of Jesus is evident in their family. Beresford has made hundreds of teaching tapes and CD's that have a growing circulation both in the UK and the USA where he visits twice a year.
A friend who operates a Law office has encouraged Beresford to write some of the things he has taught people in a book. Beresford has now completed the book.
The fellowship that he is part of has a web site and can be viewed at www.house-church.org/
Caitlin in London, and a new home....
A highlight of our visit to London was visiting our dear friend and almost extra-daughter Caitlin Homes in her new flat in the southern London suburb of Lewisham. It might be age but we thought back to the time years before when Caitin had walked into the church at West Hawthorn after being found by Jesus and the years tat followed where we had the privelidge to see her grow as a godly and bright person.
Her first floor unit, a section of an old house gives her a wonderful open feel in othewise crowded London with lots of the feeling of space, light and sunshine (when it is there!)
Caitlin now serves as a teacher at a girls school about an hour away from her home. She had just finished marking exam papers which heralded the end of the school year. She was looking forward to turning the flat which she had just aquired into her very own home during her holiday.
The maritime museam was nearby at Greenwich and Caitlin gave us a personal tour of this intrieging place. We stood both sides of the line that signified the point of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and saw the changes to navigation and observing the stars that made overseas visits much safer than they ever were. Of course the exhibition concluded with a display on Global Positioning Satelite (GPS) navigation. The same GPS system we were using in the car helped us find our way to the museam.
We had a lovely day together, in many ways it seemed that we had never been apart but we hadn’t seen Caitlin for 18 months! With the help of a local 'bobby' she guided us to a coin laundry where we attended to our washing. Then the time ended too quickly after a meal together at the best Hamburger Restaurant in the world (I think).
Her first floor unit, a section of an old house gives her a wonderful open feel in othewise crowded London with lots of the feeling of space, light and sunshine (when it is there!)
Caitlin now serves as a teacher at a girls school about an hour away from her home. She had just finished marking exam papers which heralded the end of the school year. She was looking forward to turning the flat which she had just aquired into her very own home during her holiday.
The maritime museam was nearby at Greenwich and Caitlin gave us a personal tour of this intrieging place. We stood both sides of the line that signified the point of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and saw the changes to navigation and observing the stars that made overseas visits much safer than they ever were. Of course the exhibition concluded with a display on Global Positioning Satelite (GPS) navigation. The same GPS system we were using in the car helped us find our way to the museam.
We had a lovely day together, in many ways it seemed that we had never been apart but we hadn’t seen Caitlin for 18 months! With the help of a local 'bobby' she guided us to a coin laundry where we attended to our washing. Then the time ended too quickly after a meal together at the best Hamburger Restaurant in the world (I think).
City of the first English martyr....
Leaving cousin Barry and Sue, we made our way around London on the M25 a 200 mile long road that rings London. People here call it the biggest car park in the world but we found it a great and efficient road the three or four times we used it. Someone told us that population equal to that of Australia lives inside the ring created by the M25!
St Alban’s was named after the man who was killed because of his faith in Christ many centuries ago. It is a very old town with history everywhere you turn and at the same time modern culture poking it’s head out of the antiquity. Part of the modern culture are our friends Roy and Christine Gregory. We were introduced the them and the fellowship that they share by the late Tom Marshall who was a visiting teacher at Hawthorn during our time there and in St Albans too. He felt we were sister fellowships. They have visited us on one occasion and folk from Oz have been recipients of their hospitality with at least one person outstaying their welcome!
It was great to hear about what has happened over the years, to hear of their children both now married and to meet again daughter, Rachel and her lovely daughter, Lucy. The fellowship there has changed over the years but is still rich and quite full on. Our short time with the Gregories was stimulating and Christine’s stories exhausted us by our laughing. Their home was a great base from which to visit some folk closer to London.
Closest was Chris and Sarah Hill who just live a few streets from our base. Chris works for British Airways and for years he trained flight crew and from time to time his work took him to Melbourne where it was not unusual for him to drop into a gathering at the Smith home. Chris and Sarah have been on something of an adventure where Father has led them through many adventures convincing them of his goodness and enabling them to move out of the control of the traditions of men and called them to walk quietly with him.
St Alban’s was named after the man who was killed because of his faith in Christ many centuries ago. It is a very old town with history everywhere you turn and at the same time modern culture poking it’s head out of the antiquity. Part of the modern culture are our friends Roy and Christine Gregory. We were introduced the them and the fellowship that they share by the late Tom Marshall who was a visiting teacher at Hawthorn during our time there and in St Albans too. He felt we were sister fellowships. They have visited us on one occasion and folk from Oz have been recipients of their hospitality with at least one person outstaying their welcome!
It was great to hear about what has happened over the years, to hear of their children both now married and to meet again daughter, Rachel and her lovely daughter, Lucy. The fellowship there has changed over the years but is still rich and quite full on. Our short time with the Gregories was stimulating and Christine’s stories exhausted us by our laughing. Their home was a great base from which to visit some folk closer to London.
Closest was Chris and Sarah Hill who just live a few streets from our base. Chris works for British Airways and for years he trained flight crew and from time to time his work took him to Melbourne where it was not unusual for him to drop into a gathering at the Smith home. Chris and Sarah have been on something of an adventure where Father has led them through many adventures convincing them of his goodness and enabling them to move out of the control of the traditions of men and called them to walk quietly with him.
More from the past...
Our second drive took us closer to London. We found our way to the offices of the Cliff Richard Organisation where we met and had a long lunch with our old friend, Bill Latham. Cliff wasn’t in but we did say hi to Gill Snow who is now Bill’s Personal Assistant. We met both Bill and Gill when they worked at Tear Fund in what seems like another life! It must have been 30 years since we had been face to face and we enjoyed the time to reminisce, to recall friends and to reflect on the way Father has led us all over the years.
Bill was the first Tear Fund staff member from the UK who visited the Aussie rebel child. He was a gracious ambassador. Over the years we enjoyed our communication and friendhip lover the miles with him.
A article we read on the intenet told how Bill was the guy who was slipped into the car with Cliff Richard when one of the Shadows pointed Cliff into an interest with Jehovah Wintness teaching. It seems that God used Bill to encourage Cliff to set his eyes on the centrality of Jesus. Bill and Cliff have remained friends and friends of Jesus! Cliff or Sir Cliff has written the preface to David Pawson’s autobiography.
It was great to touch base with Bill again!
Bill was the first Tear Fund staff member from the UK who visited the Aussie rebel child. He was a gracious ambassador. Over the years we enjoyed our communication and friendhip lover the miles with him.
A article we read on the intenet told how Bill was the guy who was slipped into the car with Cliff Richard when one of the Shadows pointed Cliff into an interest with Jehovah Wintness teaching. It seems that God used Bill to encourage Cliff to set his eyes on the centrality of Jesus. Bill and Cliff have remained friends and friends of Jesus! Cliff or Sir Cliff has written the preface to David Pawson’s autobiography.
It was great to touch base with Bill again!
A visit with the Pawsons...
Our first adventure saw us finding the hide-a-way house of our dear friends, David and Enid Pawson in a semi-rual location south-west of London. It was a real joy to see them and to hear the freshness of these self-confessed ‘matue-aged’ people. David told us of some of the things he had been doing and introduced us to some of the more than 20? books that had been added to the 1200 audio and video tapes he had made and that now are listened to in every corner of the earth. He told us that because some of his videotaped teaching series were now used on television, he was effectuively preaching/teaching 24 hours a day – even while he is asleep!
That’s not bad for a bloke in his seventies! But then Enid and he had just been on a holiday in the USA and had been on a bus tour that meant every day they were woken at 6 am with a call at 7 am to ensure their bags were packed ready for the bus and then they had till the 8 am call to have breakfast and get on the bus for the days adventure.
David gave us a copy of the book he was never going to write. ‘David Pawson – not as bad as the truth’ and subtitled, ‘Memoirs of an Unorthodox Evangelical’ is a unique honest autobiograhy which traces the life, adventures and struggles of a quiet man, a gentle friend of Jesus who is much like a lion. It is a moving read. Anyone who has listened to David’s tapes or known him just a little will remember some of the events and stories. As ever, he is the master story teller.
Kevin certainly laughed at some of the story as he read the book, but he was moved to tears again and again and yet thrilled to read the account of a man who walked creatively and obediently with the Living God.
We thought of the time over twenty years ago when David was staying in our home sitting on the floor swapping riddles with our children and the time when Kevin was driving David to the airport and was so engrossed in conversation that he slowed down and while David didn’t miss his flight to Canberra, when he did address the Parlimentary Christian Fellowship he did so in the clothes he travelled in, as his luggage didn’t catch the flight. We are a few amongst many who have grown to know Father better through the clear uncompromising biblical teachng of this lovely man. It was our great joy to see David and Enid on this journey.
That’s not bad for a bloke in his seventies! But then Enid and he had just been on a holiday in the USA and had been on a bus tour that meant every day they were woken at 6 am with a call at 7 am to ensure their bags were packed ready for the bus and then they had till the 8 am call to have breakfast and get on the bus for the days adventure.
David gave us a copy of the book he was never going to write. ‘David Pawson – not as bad as the truth’ and subtitled, ‘Memoirs of an Unorthodox Evangelical’ is a unique honest autobiograhy which traces the life, adventures and struggles of a quiet man, a gentle friend of Jesus who is much like a lion. It is a moving read. Anyone who has listened to David’s tapes or known him just a little will remember some of the events and stories. As ever, he is the master story teller.
Kevin certainly laughed at some of the story as he read the book, but he was moved to tears again and again and yet thrilled to read the account of a man who walked creatively and obediently with the Living God.
We thought of the time over twenty years ago when David was staying in our home sitting on the floor swapping riddles with our children and the time when Kevin was driving David to the airport and was so engrossed in conversation that he slowed down and while David didn’t miss his flight to Canberra, when he did address the Parlimentary Christian Fellowship he did so in the clothes he travelled in, as his luggage didn’t catch the flight. We are a few amongst many who have grown to know Father better through the clear uncompromising biblical teachng of this lovely man. It was our great joy to see David and Enid on this journey.
And so to Britain...
An early morning start from the home of David and Nina Rice in Ashford and a whirlwind drive through the suburbs of Dublin revisiting the route that driver, Lionel used in his now pre-retirement days was thrilling. We saw the home that his family surrended to live in the wondeful setting that had been home for the gathering, we used a tolled underground tunnel and made it to the airport in great time, easily able to be two hours early for our flight to the UK.
The departures hall was packed with many aircraft scheduled to leave during the morning hours. Dublin International airport is an extremely busy place! Imaging our surprise when the counter for the small airline, FLYBE Airlines had just two channels and we waited in line for a record short time to book on our flight to Southampton.
Small airport or no, the security was still strong and we stripped off shoes and belts, opened computers and bags of make-up etc. and crawled through the process. In spite of all this in no time at all we found the food hall and enjoyed the breakfast we hadn’t had time have before we had left.
Another uneventful flight on the prop driven plane with all the care in the world from the flight crew saw us landing just an hour or so later at Southhampton. We filled in arrival cards and held them with our passports but in the airport found no one to grant us permission to enter or not to enter. We hoped there were no terrorists on the plane with us! We just walked in.
We gathered our luggage and walked out to meet a cousin of some sort! We weren’t sure if was first second or twentieth cousin and how far removed we had no idea but we were excited to meet Barry Smith.
Barry had spent a few years of his life writing “The Annuls of the Smith Family of Sligo” and in the process of his task we had become connected. We had looked forward to meeting this ‘voice on the telephone’ emailer for months. Barry took us to his beautiful home where we met his wife Sue and some of their four kids. This was to be our base for four days.
We had opportunity to have a look around the living history of Winchester, where Barry and Sue lived. The strong history and innate beauty was wonderful. A highlight of our visit was when the Smith's took the Smith's to Winchester Cathedral for a night of clasical music. kevin found the intensity of music of 'The Planets' a bit too much but we enjoyed more "Belshazzer's Feast".
From this base of the Smith's home we arranged to hire a compact little Black Peugot motor that has transported us across the UK. What is more Barry loaned us his Natsav GPS which made findng our way around the motorways, roads and little lanes much easier and most probably saved Val and I from the pressure of driving and navigating in a foreign land and the possiblity of a marriage crisis! The non-descript male voice commanded, “...in half a mile take the third roundaout exit...” and we found it did get us where we hoped to go.
The departures hall was packed with many aircraft scheduled to leave during the morning hours. Dublin International airport is an extremely busy place! Imaging our surprise when the counter for the small airline, FLYBE Airlines had just two channels and we waited in line for a record short time to book on our flight to Southampton.
Small airport or no, the security was still strong and we stripped off shoes and belts, opened computers and bags of make-up etc. and crawled through the process. In spite of all this in no time at all we found the food hall and enjoyed the breakfast we hadn’t had time have before we had left.
Another uneventful flight on the prop driven plane with all the care in the world from the flight crew saw us landing just an hour or so later at Southhampton. We filled in arrival cards and held them with our passports but in the airport found no one to grant us permission to enter or not to enter. We hoped there were no terrorists on the plane with us! We just walked in.
We gathered our luggage and walked out to meet a cousin of some sort! We weren’t sure if was first second or twentieth cousin and how far removed we had no idea but we were excited to meet Barry Smith.
Barry had spent a few years of his life writing “The Annuls of the Smith Family of Sligo” and in the process of his task we had become connected. We had looked forward to meeting this ‘voice on the telephone’ emailer for months. Barry took us to his beautiful home where we met his wife Sue and some of their four kids. This was to be our base for four days.
We had opportunity to have a look around the living history of Winchester, where Barry and Sue lived. The strong history and innate beauty was wonderful. A highlight of our visit was when the Smith's took the Smith's to Winchester Cathedral for a night of clasical music. kevin found the intensity of music of 'The Planets' a bit too much but we enjoyed more "Belshazzer's Feast".
From this base of the Smith's home we arranged to hire a compact little Black Peugot motor that has transported us across the UK. What is more Barry loaned us his Natsav GPS which made findng our way around the motorways, roads and little lanes much easier and most probably saved Val and I from the pressure of driving and navigating in a foreign land and the possiblity of a marriage crisis! The non-descript male voice commanded, “...in half a mile take the third roundaout exit...” and we found it did get us where we hoped to go.
Monday, July 16, 2007
A break up in the north of the island called Ireland!
Many of the fellowship attendees had departed and life was normalising for our hosts in Dublin. Our plan was to hire a car and take a trip around the rugged north west of Ireland ending up in no grander place than Sligo, home of the Barton Smith clan. We were delighted when our hosts, David and Nina Rice offered to come with us or more truthfully, we were able to go with them!
On Tuesday 3rd July we climbed into David's Volvo 4x4 and headed north in the rain. Our five hour journey brought us to a beautiful, comfortable house on the hillside at Carrick Art in Donegal County (the home of Donegal Tweed) loaned to us by a couple amongst the local believers in Dublin.
Big picture windows overlooked the valley and the craggy coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. Over the next three days we watched as the clouds, sun (a few minutes at least) and rain came and transformed the scene into scores of different pictures. The weather cleared enough for us to get out and see the locale with it's unique little white houses dotted over the hills. Carrick Art is a 'holiday' area and as schools were still in session the area had the feeling of a ghost town. The farmer down the way ambled here and there on his tractor and we had to imagine what the picture would be a few weeks on when the place would be buzzing with kids on their term break.
Time and again during those days we were assured by what we began to see was 'Irish optimism' that looked at the dark clouds and said, "I think it is clearing!" But clear or not, we had a great time to yarn with David and Nina, to read and sleep and explore this very beautiful part of God's magnificent creation in that most northern extreme of the island called Ireland.
We enjoyed wonderful food at eateries from the 'posh' pub to the little coffee shop called McNutts Cafe. Perhaps it was the similarity to our own cafe adventure when we operated McGowan's Cafe in Lancefield ,but it was the only cafe we frequented twice. Val said while they were similar, they were different in that the waitresses dropped the cutlery on one visit and cutlerty and a plate on the other! But the place that made us feel almost homesick was a little take-away chippy in a small village. The small shop area was busy before we entered with the half dozen locals waiting their food. The entrance of we four made the place very crowded. Somewhere in the background there was an aussie accent. Val looked around and found a lone TV playing 'Home and Away'.!
The sun brought light from around 4.30 am and it kept about its work all day only dropping out of sight late with daylight continuing through to 10.30 pm or so. The long days enabled us to have an extended time to enjoy more of the fellowship of the previous week.
On the Friday we commenced our return to Dublin with an overnight stopover in Sligo. We crisscrossed the mountains and enjoyed the rugged beauty of the countless lakes and inlets, the rocks and crags, the beautiful tiny villages, the fresh growth and the countless colour greens of the trees and undergrowth. Little wonder they call it the 'Emerald Isle'.
The few hours spent in Sligo with relatives and their town was absolute joy For Val and I this was a refreshing break on our extended journey.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
A visit to Sligo, the home of the Barton Smiths
Our visit to Sligo was complete with a meal with cousin Ted Barton Smith and his wife. David and Nina, our hosts from Dublin were our chauffersmand enjoyed meeting some of the Smith rels. David knew many Sligo locals, having taught them at the school in which he teaches science.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
The Gathering
In preparation for the gathering David had erected a marquee in the open area next to the house so that Ireland's proverbial rain storms would not dampen the gathered events. The first such event was on the following day, with well over 100 people gathering for a picnic lunch and a time to meet and share. Present were Americans, South Africans, New Zealanders, Zimbabweans, British, Scots, Swedes, Aussies (us) and of course, the Irish! (We were to have an Ethiopian join us also but a visa was not granted to him.)
The biggest group by far were the locals. A bunch of Irish families who live around Dublin and share a common walk with Jesus. Many have known each other for most of their lives having been a structured 'fellowship' where regular meetings had held them together but Father. This led them to move into the freedom of following Jesus' direction and gave them a sense of togetherness that flows out of following him, finding themselves perhaps more together than they had ever been! Being with them is like being part of a big extended family, not problem free but together doing what they understand Father calls them to do.
For the next 7 days we continued to get together in different groupings, usually around a meal, and enjoying our commonality - Jesus as centre and supreme. This was no conference where people were streamed to meetings but a place where we could walk and play together under the headship of Father. Although there was a 'ladies meeting' on the Tuesday where Val reluctantly attended her third ladies meeting ever and turned into the 'guest speaker'! (not really v's comment). Some of the men played golf that afternoon while others started to play snooker then dissolved into a deep sharing discussion at another brother's home. A highlight of the gathering was a Bus trip that gave a wonderful historic overview of the County in which we were meeting. Add to that the many small clusters who met and shared the good things that Father was doing where we come from.
David Rice wrote sharing the vision that had grown:
The gathering concluded on Saturday with a barbecue lunch which the weather demanded was back at the Marquee. The whole time saw Father speaking through the gathered bunch. There was great unity, joy and no sense of cross purpose seen at all. Reflecting on the time together the words of Psalm 133 were in many minds,
Kevin kept walking around and singing (under his breath), the Charles Wesley Hymn,
The biggest group by far were the locals. A bunch of Irish families who live around Dublin and share a common walk with Jesus. Many have known each other for most of their lives having been a structured 'fellowship' where regular meetings had held them together but Father. This led them to move into the freedom of following Jesus' direction and gave them a sense of togetherness that flows out of following him, finding themselves perhaps more together than they had ever been! Being with them is like being part of a big extended family, not problem free but together doing what they understand Father calls them to do.
For the next 7 days we continued to get together in different groupings, usually around a meal, and enjoying our commonality - Jesus as centre and supreme. This was no conference where people were streamed to meetings but a place where we could walk and play together under the headship of Father. Although there was a 'ladies meeting' on the Tuesday where Val reluctantly attended her third ladies meeting ever and turned into the 'guest speaker'! (not really v's comment). Some of the men played golf that afternoon while others started to play snooker then dissolved into a deep sharing discussion at another brother's home. A highlight of the gathering was a Bus trip that gave a wonderful historic overview of the County in which we were meeting. Add to that the many small clusters who met and shared the good things that Father was doing where we come from.
David Rice wrote sharing the vision that had grown:
Most of you will have received an email from us in January outlining
our hopes and desires for the 10 days or so we hope to spend together at the end
of June next. At that time we told you of folks from various parts of the
world who hope to join us. They were the Dennison family from
Jo'burg, The Lentons From Zimbabwe, Kevin and Val Smith
from Melbourne, Australia, Wayne Jacobsen from California, the
Langfords from England.
Since then there are quite a few more who have joined the list. They are Mike and Lynette Woods and family from Washington (formerly from NZ); Colin and Jeanette Thompson from Gateshead, England; Stan and Mavis Firth from London, England; Mike and Jill Conraith from London; and Stephan Vosloo from Ladysmith, South Africa.
We feel this is a wonderful opportunity to be together
with these folks and each other for a fellowship festival.... a time to
fellowship together and share what we are hearing from heaven, to be open
to hear new things for the way forward and face up to the challenges of the
future. We do not have in mind a meeting-centered time, (though we
may all come together once or twice), but rather a time of being together
from house to house, garden to garden, barbecue to barbecue, hike to
hike. In other words time for relaxed sharing that is really centered around the
Lord Jesus.
The gathering concluded on Saturday with a barbecue lunch which the weather demanded was back at the Marquee. The whole time saw Father speaking through the gathered bunch. There was great unity, joy and no sense of cross purpose seen at all. Reflecting on the time together the words of Psalm 133 were in many minds,
“Behold how pleasant and good it is when brother dwell together in unity,
for there the Lord bestows a blessing life forever more..!”
Kevin kept walking around and singing (under his breath), the Charles Wesley Hymn,
“...and if this fellowship below with Jesus be so sweet,
What heights of rapture shall we know when 'round his throne we meet...”
What heights of rapture shall we know when 'round his throne we meet...”
Wayne Jacobsen's blog records his reflections on the time together you can read it by clicking on Waynes Jacobsen's Blog.
If you would lie to see some more pictures from the gathering CLICK HERE for a wonderful slide show by Bill Lolar a brother who lives in Wales (athough he is a American!)
One family responded after the gathering:
Though it is a few weeks now since our weekend with you all we
wanted to say how much the time spent together was such a joy and blessing to
each of us in this family. The gathering in the tent on the Sunday was special
as we met people of whom we had heard; people we had not seen for 18 years; and
others whom we have seen more recently in the times when we have come to Ireland in the last few years. As that gathering drew to a close we were aware of the
outpouring of Father's love upon his children that afternoon and how precious it
is to be in his family. A special thank you is due to all you dear folk in
Ireland who so generously opened your homes and lives to all we visitors from
across the seas and as a result provided Father with the opportunity to draw us
so wonderfully together around his throne of grace, love and fun.
Jesus certainly inhabited the fun on Monday's bus trip! Colin (and Joyce), you did so
well that day. The whole atmosphere of laughter, song and conversation that
pervaded the day left a deep and lasting memory in us that has prompted many
conversations within our family concerning the people and their faith, their joy
and their hopes that have inspired us all in different ways.
To David and Nina, thank you for your willingness to respond
to the Spirit and allowing him to facilitate such a gathering of the body of our
Christ. Thank you to each and every one who came; we so enjoyed your company and your fellowship and the taste of the banquet that is spread before us as we
gather at the table of the Lord.
And so we arrive in Dublin.
We winged our way from Toronto on an Air Canada 767 aircraft. The Flight Services Manager informed us that we were travelling on the oldest aircraft in their fleet. The flight was memorable as all exit rows were unavailable and we were seated in the central area of the economy cabin jammed up against the toilet wall in seats that didn't recline! The leg room was smaller than all other seats. Kevin had to put his long legs in the aisle where during the rest time with the lights out a crew member carried something along the aisle hitting his right arthritic knee waking him from sleep, the first of three such episodes on the 6 hour flight. We were not really impressed by our first flight with this airline.
As a result of the bad weather and missing our connecting plane we arrived in Dublin on Saturday morning. It was a day later than we had planned. We were held up again as there were VIP passengers, Irish president Mary McAleese and her entourage alighted while we waited for a time that seemed forever! We walked off the plane to be met by our good friend David Rice.
David drove us the one hour journey through the very light traffic to his home.
Some of the participants for the gathering from across the world had already arrived and the others arrived later that day. This gathering was the main focus of our journey.David and Nina Rice live in a rural area out from Dublin. Their home has two living units where the Rices and a sister and brother-i-law live, and the upstairs area allows rooms for guests. Val and Kevin enjoyed a very comfortable upstairs attic style room. Wayne Jacobsen was ensconsed on the same level just down the hallway.
Broken seats on Air Canada 767.
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