Post No.6 - Out And About

Ian read to risk life and limb

Lenda in men's size 8 shoes

Hi All! Life continues to be interesting for us in many different ways. Our connection with St John's Harborne is growing and we have had some very fruitful conversations with their leadership and members. We feel that we are starting to get a handle on what makes them tick, and also something of the journey they are being asked to embrace, especially by Nigel, their senior minister. On Wednesday we spent some time with Marcus, their worship pastor, who spoke very positively about the time he had recently spent at a worship conference at Bethel (Redding, USA); he encouraged us to make the most of our time there by just soaking up the place... That's exactly what we are intending to do, and our sense of excitement is rising as that time draws closer. But we still have two Sundays at St John's before we fly to the USA on the 28th.

Yesterday evening we were invited to attend one of their C Groups (their name for Life Groups) which was an interesting experience. It was a social night over a meal (supper we were told), so we had our tea before we went only to find that when we arrived it was a full, and very nice, evening meal. By the end of the evening we were full as ticks... But it was good to meet this group of people in their environment and talk about faith and the journey St John's is on. At the close of the group they asked us to pray for them.

Last Sunday after church we were invited home for lunch by a couple called Vinod and Angie Bhatia. Vinod is one of the worship leaders and a very competent musician, and we had a great time talking about music and worship, among other things. They were extremely generous to us and made us feel very blessed. Vinod is Indian and has a very interesting and encouraging story about how he became a follower of Jesus.

We continue to be stimulated by the books we are reading and to reflect on what this means for living the Christian life in faith and power. I'm reading "The Essential Guide to Healing" by Bill Johnson & Randy Clark, and Lenda is working her way through "The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind". We've played a round of golf at Moor Mall Park, and walked on the sacred turf of the Belfry, spiritual home of the Ryder Cup (golfers will understand) and I continue to defy the odds by cycling these busy roads! The other evening I got a flat tyre and had to walk home - about 5 kms. Never mind, it was a nice evening!

Stephen at lake Hollingworth 

Zoe, Stevie & Lenda

Last week we had two very enjoyable days in Manchester with Stevie. We traveled by train, and enjoyed the scenery, even if some of it went by fairly quickly (190 kms at times). We met Zoe, Stephen's girlfriend, and saw a bit of Manchester and Rochdale, where Stephen is based. At this stage he is planning to stay in Rochdale and possibly apply for UK residency (that's what a girl does to a man's heart!), so it was good to spend some time with him. He's coming down to Birmingham next week to spend a couple of days with us as we might not see him for some considerable time. On Tuesday the three of us will travel to Bitteswell (train to Rugby; another spiritual home) to visit Pete & Anna Smith who our sons, Paul, David and Stephen, lived with during their time playing cricket for the Bitteswell club. It will be good to thank them in person for the hospitality they gave our boys.

Jacob, Esther, Josh & Rob

Last Monday we had the pleasure of catching up with Rob (Rag), Esther, Josh and Jacob Ewers of Walsall, Birmingham and Central Hake's Bay, NZ. They have returned to Walsall (northern Birmingham) for 6 months to connect with family. Esther's mum and dad, brother and two sisters live here so it is very much home for her; no wonder she was homesick while in CHB! We now understand where Rag & Esther's accent comes from - it's very much Bromie form the west-midlands. When we first arrived here and traveled on the buses and heard the locals speaking I would often turn to Lenda and say "That sounds like Esther!". We had a laugh with them about it. But it was great to see them and realize that we are on a very similar journey faith-wise, even reading the same books! (Rag and me, anyway). Josh is keen to return to CHB to possibly start an internship with Epic Ministries in the new year, so God willing, we will see the Ewer's back in CHB early January 2013.

Lunch together in Walsall

So we continue to live a quiet life here and be of some entertainment and amusement to the locals. Please pray for us, and especially that we would draw closer and deeper into God by the power of the Holy Spirit, so the kingdom-life we so much want to live and express with flow from that intimacy of relationship. 

May God richly bless you with your full inheritance in Christ Jesus! With much love, Ian & Lenda