18 May 2009

My Holiday


Picture from www.kingdomfaith.com/yorkshire





Well Folks, I am having a wonderful time here in the UK. I have been here one week and one day. And it has been pretty busy. Arrived in Newcastle after a very long journey but everything went smoothly and right on time. I enjoyed flying with Emirates. |Peter and Margaret were waiting for me at the airport and then we boarded my first English train for a trip to their suburb. The area we travelled in looked depressed but that is usual for the area where trains run no mattter where you are in the world. On Monday I felt a little jet lagged so we just stayed at home and rested. The next day we took the train into the city centre and I shopped. There is more goods to choose from here than I find in Australia. I had to buy a LARGE handbag as the one I had wasn't big enough for all the bits and pieces I couldn't get in my luggage. And to all of those who knew about my struggle with luggage weight in the end Emirates increased their allowance on May 4th to 30kgs. so all the clothes I left at home, I could have taken!! Drat. I am finding it hard to find souvenirs so I may not bring much home with me.

I met Maurice's sister Norma and her husband Albert. They were lovely and kind to me, even giving me a small cash gift to "Help you on your way. lass." I was touched. I will be seeing them again as I have family questions I want to ask and it didn't seem right the first time we set eyes on each other.

I find the houses are very small and compact here. Except at this time I am sitting in an old manse which has three floors an a dormer attic and bedrooms by the dozen. I have been here for a residential healing conference and it has blown my mind seeing God work in so many lives in a miraculous way. My mind has been stretched as to what is possible with God. I am a little in awe as I know that He will expect me to use the new knowledge that he has entrusted me with and I am not sure what avenue that will take. But all things are possible for God and I know I only want to do what He wants me to do.

Today is my last day here. The countryside is beautifully green interspersed with yellow rape seed fields, which I think is our canola. I have been for long walks. Tomorrow I am being picked up by friends of my brother and going to do some driving/ sightseeing. Whitby Abbey, York, Leeds, Harrogate and Ripon. Then I will go on to the Lake District. I came here to Scarborough by the Trans Penine Express Train and after the Lakes I will go back to Newcastle by train from Carlisle. Getting very proficient on these trains but they are a quick and cheap way to travel.

Must go as I have been using this computer for a long time now. I don't know when I will have access again. I am hoping to copy and paste a picture from the web of the house I am staying in.

03 May 2009

More Information

Just want to give a little more information for those of you who are interested in my situation. Where I am living. It is a large camping ground for people on low incomes. That was part of the conditions of the lease that was given many years ago. A gentleman gave a huge parcel of land to all the churches and non profit groups for them to provide places for people to holiday. There are all the main line churches, boy and girl scouts, Scripture Union, Legacy (war widows) provided for. Now after 99years peppercorn rent the council wants to reclaim this property as it is prime ocean front land and will recoup much money. Anyway our church has a campground. It contains about 28/30 trailers. Some are privately owned and others belong to the church. There is a large girls and boys dorm, a campers kitchen and a large dining room. These were used for school camps etc. Not so much anymore as this type of thing has gone out of fashion. Our church sometimes uses the dining room for large dinners and get- togethers.

I am about a two minute walk down the sandy path (that was in my last post) to the beach. I can't see or hear it from where I am situated. It is very quiet here. Only the caretaker and one other resident in a van across the grass from me. It is of course full up with tents and campers at holiday time and week ends often see people coming to their vans for a break from the city life.

All in all it is a blessing to be here. My picture today-- Nothing on the horizon but a little sailing ship. How do you feel when there in nothing on your horizon. A bit deflated. It is always good to have something you are looking forward to. But remember Scripture tells us that God knows the plans he has for us. So someone bigger than me knows what in on my horizon and He knows what's on yours as well. So don't feel discouraged be encouraged.