Days out

Trip 1

I haven't been to an IKEA store for ages but found myself there as we sought out a few items for daughter number three and her flat. I guess one day we will stop laying out finance for our children but no sign yet! Still all good fun. Now all we need is to move her in later this week no doubt we will have a full car of goods and need for energy at the other end to put the recently purchased goods together. But thats later in the week.

Trip 2

A visit to the hospital and the audiology department to get my hearing aid sorted. A training scientist meant did I mind a full hearing check? Of course not. No deterioration good news and a new hearing aid means I don't have to keep taking it out to check the battery to make it work. I certainly have been getting my money out of the health service recently. I can only hope I give going to the hospitals a good long break now, well,apart from visiting ill church members.

Trip 3

Today Jill and I drove over to Lincoln to see how Eric and Mary and the family from Ghana are settling in. Wonderful to see them all and to receive hugs from Suzzane and Jehu. School and college appears to be going well in these early weeks. Eric is full of ideas for the churches and I am sure his enthusiasm will go along way in helping to move things on. Chatting took me back to my recent time in Asebu and to receive the greetings of those I have begun to get to know there not least my farmer. Mary made us palm soup so Jill could taste for her self what I had experienced. That taste took me back to my farmer and his small village. How he had cut the palm down which was made into soup later that day. Then again it reminded me of the wonderful oranges he gave me from his trees, and of leading worship in the part built church he attends, and giving him communion. Good to know that money sent has meant the building work has recommenced and I pray I will be able to send more. 

There was good news that someone agreed to pay for the drilling of a bore hole about £2,000 which means clean water for the manse and church at Asebu, and for the new toilets with the potential for a small buisness sellng clean fresh water.  

Well being reminded of all of this helps to reorientate my thinking when caught up in the niggles of church life here. I know its possible that a difference can be made for peoples lives and yes I thank God I have been enabled to do so. 

One of the things I have learnt slowly over the years is to understand what Mr Wesley meant by 'go to those who need you the most' People have to want you to work with them and if they don't you take up the  advice of Jesus himself and 'shake off the dust on your shoes and move on.'

Of course discerning this is not easy but its a vital part of the Christians tool kit, and especially being a minister. 

Now a couple of days not travelling before we move our daughter  to London so its chill out time.