Last Week of June
Greetings,
2 weeks ago, Nadine and I visited Oxford. It has 37 colleges and way too much traffic. We had lunch on Broad Street and sat outdoors for our meal. While there, I happened to notice an engraved plaque on the wall across the street. After lunch I walked over to read the plaque. I was amazed at what I read. My attention was directed to the center of Broad Street where there was a brick ‘X’ (or cross). I read the rest of the plaque then stood on the ‘X’. What I read on the plaque shook me a moment. In the years of 1555 and 1556, three Protestant ministers from the Cambridge area were burned at the stake at that very spot. Bishops Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer all lost their lives for their faith. Actually, the Catholic Queen Mary had ordered the burnings. I thought, “How many folks would be willing to take such a stand for Christ today?” Even though there are about 30,000 people a year martyred in our world today for their faith, there are not many people that I know would take such a stand. One wonders why the state of the church is so weak and losing ground.
But Oxford is a beautiful city. One place I wanted to visit was Christs Church (and college). I was all primed to take many photos of the place. We were not allowed into the courtyard or campus. A special ceremony was taking place with the installation of a new Bishop of Oxford. We stood at the gate and watched the procession with the new bishop, in all of his brilliant colors, pass in front of us. I was able to see on the inside of the courtyard to see many other dignitaries. One that I recognized was Camilla (wife of Prince Charles) who, it appeared, had been relegated to serve as representative of the royal family. Nadine declined to be interviewed by a TV reporter on the events (I have never known her to be shy of words). We enjoyed our day after riding the tour bus around town several times. We passed the pub where C. S. Lewis and J. R. Tolkien (both professors in Oxford) met to discuss either the Lord of the Rings or the Chronicles of Narnia.
A week later, we visited Cambridge. Cambridge is named after the bridge that crosses the River Cam. It has 31 colleges with 26,000 students and 36,000 bicycles and way too much traffic. We had lunch with our friends Nigel and Val Ford, at a coffee shop at the Andrew Street Baptist Church. After lunch we took a self guided tour of the historic church. One of the highlights for me was to see a chair and a foot stool that belonged to William Carey, the father of modern missions who spent over 40 years in India. If you recall your history, William Carey was a shoe cobbler from a nearby town. He went before the Baptist Missions Organization of England looking for financial assistance to serve the Lord in India. He was told that he was not needed and that if God wanted to save those people, He would do it without Carey’s help. He went anyway and while there translated the Scriptures into the dialect of the Indian people. I took a photo of the chair and foot stool but because I have not learned how to import pictures into this blog, you’ll have to trust me on this one.
While touring the city of Cambridge (tour bus again) we were reminded by the guide of the three men who were taken from Cambridge to Oxford and executed for their faith. We saw some punting on the river. Punting is a gondola type boat that is moved along the river by long poles (Venice style). We did not take the time to do that. But we did walk a great deal and saw some of the colleges. Kings College is world famous and is very beautiful. Queens College is the oldest, established in 1444. Trinity College is beautiful and rather large, stretching for several blocks.
We are about 2 weeks from our departure back to the states (July 14). The Henley Church has asked us to return as soon as possible and to finish out the year here. We will try to get in one more blog before we pack up our stuff. This has been the most enjoyable experience and the time has flown by so quickly! God has been so good to us by giving us a place to serve, people to love, a challenge to meet and a ministry to share. Folks are excited to be a part of the church. Last Saturday (June 23) we had the Family Festival at the church. The church was decorated with flowers and made to look very beautiful. We played games in the garden until the rain drove us inside. There was enough food to feed the entire town. After overdoing it around the tables, we went to the chapel and sang some old hymns. The folks here love to sing and praise the Lord. God has been so good to us.
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NADINE’S CORNER
Hi everyone….here’s more fun word translations
PUBLIC SCHOOL Private “Prep” school
PUNTER Party goer
QUEUE Line
QUID 1 pound (US $- $2.00)
SCOTCH EGG Hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat
SERVIETTE Napkin
SLEEPING POLICEMAN Speed bump
SMALLS Underwear
SNOGGING Kissing, cuddling
SOLICITOR Lawyer
STONE 14 pounds (weight measurement)
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This place is fun - no doubt about it. I think the language difference is the most fun. As you have been able to see by our ”Word” translations, even though we speak the same language, it’s quite different! I believe I mentioned earlier on that they put the emphasis on different syllables from us and it makes for some thought-provoking moments!!
The weather here is the greatest! Perfect for “hot-blooded, MATURE females” like myself!!!!! Lots and lots of rain and clouds and usually wind, but we haven’t minded in the least. I love it. What will take some getting used to is the heat we’re going to meet up with in Virginia and Arizona and New Mexico during our short break in the States! Now, THAT’s some disturbing weather! HA.
I have to report some disturbing news to you this time around. As you know, my Dad has been ill since we’ve been here with lung cancer. The Lord has been very, very gracious to him and to me by taking care of him and giving him a time of respite. He has felt very good the entire 6 months and that has taken such a burden off my shoulders. A couple of weeks ago, we found out that the cancer has now bounced over to the other lung and into his lymph nodes. As you must know, this is NOT good. He will be taking more radiation treatments (low dose) until his dosage quota is up. Then mother nature will take her course. My siblings pressed the Doctor for an idea of how long my Dad might have and he told them that usually in these type of cancer patients, they last about six months from the time of diagnosis. My Dad was diagnosed in the Feb/Mar timeframe, so you can see what we’re up against here. It does, of course, make it most difficult to plan our return trip, and the future as well. But then, we never know what the Lord has planned, do we? My Dad is a fighter with a will to live and I think he will surprise everyone with his ability to rebound better than most. He believes God is going to help him and never gives up hope. What a testimony he is to my heart. Please keep him in your prayers.
I have also learned in the past week that my very good, very sweet friend in Virginia (Millie Taylor) has throat cancer. She is a Christian, praise the Lord, but she’s single and only has one sister that lives close enough to be of help to her. Would you also keep her in your prayers. I will be doing all I can long distance to console and encourage her during this time.
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I have a wonderful e-mail about friendship that I would like to share with you. The title is ”TWO HORSES”, author is unknown.
“Just up the road from my home is a field in which are two horses. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is BLIND. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing. If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her!
As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owner of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see.
Good friends are like this. You don’t always see them but you know they are always there.
Please listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours.
Someone said, “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” “
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Until the next time -
Our love to all.
