After the market we headed back to her house. I got to meet her fiancé and see her Dad and Grandad. She agreed to walk up to 30 St. John’s Wood Rd with me – I had decided that I really did want to see our old house again! The couple we sold it to are still living there and remembered my parents and were more than happy to take me on a ‘tour’ ! I really do like what they’ve done with the place. They have opened it up a little to let more light in and put banisters up at both stairways. So even though some of it is completely different; quite a bit is the same. The cabinets in the kitchen still have the red and white checked curtains that Mom put in when we had the house, and they have kept the beautiful Victorian tile in the hallways downstairs (which is a relief because we spent HOURS scraping many layers of paint off the tiles when we had the house!).
Emma and I then headed back to her place for a proper British fry!!! AmAzing! I think this is going down as the best meal in England! I felt a part of the family – they welcomed me in with open arms, and then made room for me at their table – it was like enjoying a Hobbits Elevenses!
My old youth leader, Barry, picked me up from Dave an Annette’s at 2:15. I went to his house and played my OMS DVD and then we were able to walk Kenny (the dog that they are looking after for a friend) at Bathpool park!
It hasn’t changed that much since I was last there. Although they do have little training equipment along the main path that you can work out on – here is Barry on one of them :D
We had time to even to see the canal before my train departed!
The train ride to Liverpool was uneventful and not too long - though as I’d caught a bit of a cold - I was exhausted. I think the trip was beginning to catch up with me. Thankfully the interior was a nice, relaxing green. I find that green above all other colors seems to soothe and calm – for me it does anyway ;D
I spoke at Trinity Evangelical Church the next morning and Doug preached. We had few minor technical issues – but the DVD did play in the end ;) I was able to meet Doug’s parents, his brother, and a volunteer that has worked for OMS in mailing for over 20 years whom I knew when we lived here before. It was a good service – odd to hear Doug preach – he brought a good message from the Sermon on the Mount. He focused on those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. I had never before thought about it in this particular light – but hunger is a sign of health – those who are ill are not hungry. Oh that we would be spiritually healthy, would realize our deep hunger for righteousness and the Word and so be fed daily. I have been amazed how the book 1,000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp and my devotions in the morning have so perfectly lined up – all about thanksgiving – eucharisteo – daily giving thanks back to God and worshiping Him in it!
When I arrived in Scotland Lillias Anderson picked me up from the train station. As my train had been delayed by 15 minutes – someone had panicked at one station because the doors weren’t opening and so she pulled the emergency handle by the door. And as the conductor stated: “The perpetrators weren’t even kind enough to hang around and apologize.” Since Bill Anderson was leading the service he didn’t come with Lillias since they weren’t 100% sure when my train would be getting in – turned out that we were at the church before he was! The service went really well, although because the lights would take too long to turn back on after they are off the DVD was shown with most of the lights in the church still on – so I was disappointed because I was barely able to see what was going on and I know the thing from beginning to end :)
Bill informed me at the end of the service that he would be interviewing me on Revival FM the next day – Live! I was able to call Mom and Dad in the States before I went on so they were able to listen in online! I am trying to figure out a way to get it into a format that can be loaded onto this blog. Bill is a great presenter and even though I didn’t quite know what to expect he was very good at presenting a subject, before asking the question so I wasn’t stumbling over how to answer. After the interview Lillias took me to the David Livingstone memorial – I didn’t have my camera with me but here is an online pic of the statue that is just outside the museum. The whole experience was truly amazing.
Next day Trevor and Irene May picked me up and we drove to their house – I got settled in and then as it was quite rainy rather than take a drive through the countryside (which I wouldn’t have enjoyed just knowing that gas is $10/gallon!) we went instead to the Kevingrove Museum and Art Gallery – I kick myself buy my SD card was left in my laptop – so the only pics I have are postcards and some by phone that are a bit dodgy! One of the main exhibits is Dali Salvador's painting: Christ of St. John of the Cross – a very interesting painting. He said when he painted it that he wanted to capture “the Christ God and make his Christ as beautiful as the God that He is” – so there is no crown of thorns, no blood, no nails in His hands and feet.
Wednesday day Irene took me to Stirling Castle. It is a fascinating place – where once the royal families of Scotland lived. It is built on a mountain and so is practically impregnable – much like Masada in Israel. I loved seeing the beauty of how this castle probably looked in its heyday. It was also the set for the film BraveHeart.
 |
| Painted mural above one of the fireplaces |
 |
| Mary Queen of Scots tutor when she was a little girl |
 |
| Robert the Bruce |
 |
| Unicorn tapestry - I've seen this in my ABEKA history book! |
 |
| There was a tribute to the KJV since it was the 400th anniversary |
 |
| Through the archers keyhole |
I spoke at their church on Wednesday evening. It went really well – it was set up almost like a coffee house – with chairs around tables and things. And I was asked a ton of questions at the end but it was very delightful. And I believe I answered well :D
