BIT 27 - September 13, 2008

 I have quite a BIT for you this time! We left Northern Ireland about two weeks ago, and got the train back down to Shankill, just south of Dublin. We stayed with our friends Christopher & Anna Ryman until Sunday the 17th when we took a high-speed Ferry from Dun Loughaire to Holyhead in Wales. We had a layover of about 2 hours there, so I took a walk across the "Celtic Gateway Bridge" and while walking across I saw an old Steam engine being serviced!

 I then walked over to the VERY old St Cybi's church near there... It is within the enclosure of what was once believed to have been a Roman fort, and the Church itself is quite a sight, with bits and pieces from many different time periods...

 From early Pagan, to Catholic, to the time of the Reformation, to additions from, as recent as the late 19th century. Each of which has left it's mark on the beautiful structure! The gentleman there was very helpful and FULL of knowledge about the history surrounding both the church as well as the various families that played a significant role in it's colorful history.

 After that, I hurried back to the station to catch our train into Manchester, England. That was another beautiful trip... There are so many castles there... I wish I could have stopped at all of the train stops for a week to go and visit the castles, and towns.

 Later that evening we arrived at the Nazarene Theological College where we stayed. The next morning as Dad stood next to me in my room, while planning our day, we both heard a loud "pop"... and then he fell backwards onto my bed. It sounded much like when you pop your neck. Or as dad describes it, like when a rubber band snaps.
 
 It wasn't either of those though! It was actually the sound of his tendon in the back of his leg, where the calf and the back of the knee are, snapped off! He says that it was like having someone put your calf muscle into a vice, and than give it a few turns. OUCH!
 
 We got him in bed, and I sent out a prayer letter to a bunch of people on both of our mailing lists... as many as I could find on short notice. It was a trying time, but a friend of ours had sent us John Hagee's, "Healing Scriptures", just a few days earlier and so I put it on and set it to repeat for him 24hrs a day over those following days. I have listened to it before, and it is such a faith builder, It was just what he needed at that time!
 

 So many of you have been so supportive, and sent many words of encouragement. We all really appreciate it! Thank you! Those at the college were very helpful, and were very gracious. After the 1st day there, Dad started to have less pain, and was able to stretch out his leg straight, but still could not put any weight on it. The day after that, he could put a tiny bit of pressure on the tips of his toes, and that was the day that Pastor Matthew Norris came and picked us up and brought us to stay with Burt & Betty Reid's home where we stayed for a few days.
 
 We had a marvelous time with them, and also got to know the Norris family. It was a great time of recuperation for my dad, and you know what? Although it is a 2 story house, and we were staying on the 2nd floor, it had a handicap lift! That is such an awesome thing how God arranged that... it is WAY beyond being a mere "coincidence"! That was a true miracle!
 
 Then on Saturday, Matthew took us to Penycae, in Northern Wales where we stayed with Ricky & Yvon Girvan. On Sunday, I ministered at the Penycae Nazarene Church, and also gave a mini concert in the evening.  Pastor Tracey Day took us out to a very nice restaurant where we had some "authentic" local fare... It was very, very good and it was nice just relaxing for awhile!

 The next day the Pastor's husband brought us over to Irthlingborough, Northampton, at the Barnabas Frontier Centre, where the Nazarene British Isles South District Holiday was to take place.  I played a few solos and shared my testimony during the service that evening on the opening night.
 
 The next evening I played a concert for them before dinner, and ministered again together with the worship leader for service. It was a nice time of R&R for us... especially Dad for his leg... I'll get to that later. We also were able to get to know some of the people there, and make new friends. It was so nice to get to know some of the pastors whom I had only spoken with over the phone just a few weeks earlier.
 
 Then on Wednesday, Pastor Peter Idris Taylor brought us to Brackley, Northamptonshire to stay at Roger & Carol Lewry's home while we stayed in the area... I had a nice time with them, and during our stay, Peter took us to see Oxford. We walked around slowly and Peter and I left Mom & Dad so they could rest, while we went on ahead to see a bit more.
 
 Oxford is a very interesting place to see... I wouldn't mind coming back someday to spend a week or so walking it, and taking a few of the tours of the many historical buildings. When we got back to Mom & Dad, they were ministering to a young man, Jerome, who had twisted his ankle badly on a portion of damaged cobblestone walkway....They prayed over him, and the face crunching pain he was feeling left.  In a short time, he was able to continue on his way! Witnessing for people is always first on our agenda and God supplied another opportunity for my parents to plant a seed in that young man's life!
 

 On Saturday, I played a concert at New Life Community Church, and had a great time playing and answering the many questions they had. We got home pretty late that night, but everyone had a good time!
 
 Then on Sunday I played a few songs at Brackley Baptist Church, and shared my testimony of how I learned how to play the guitar. That same evening, I played a full concert there. It was a nice crowd, and during the intermission, we all had a cup of tea and a nice chat before doing the last half of the concert.  I always enjoy talking to the folks that come to hear me play. 
 
 Early on Monday, Peter brought us over to Watford where we stayed for the last 4 days in England before we flew to Germany that next Friday!
 
 One of the ladies we met at the Nazarene holiday offered her place for us to stay at, as she lives only about an hour away from the airport.  Her name is Janet Packham, and she has such a beautiful home that has a lovely garden, and a number of apple trees!!! They were SOOOOO good! Nothing like eating fresh apples picked as you go, her blackberries and rhubarb and pears were just as good! That was a real treat!
 

These apples were delicious!