Fabulous Weekend

We had a truly splendid weekend. We we blessed to be able to stay on shore for a few nights in a lovely home in Bristol, England in Somerset Country (about an hour from where our ship is berthed in Cardiff). An couple that previously served on the ship put out an invitation to the crew that they wanted to invite a few people to their home for the weekend in order to have them share at their local church. John and I had the great privilege of taking them up on their offer! They had a very charming home in the English countryside ~ and it was everything like you imagine the English countryside to be. We had the most lovely time with them. Their daughter and son-in-law were also visiting, so we had an wonderful time connecting with them as well. They were about our age and had just been married a year, so we really had a lot of fun with them. A missionary couple that serve in Poland were also visiting for the weekend, so we really had a full house! The couple were musicians and were quite intriguing and inspiring.

This was our first "get away" since we joined OM in the fall, so it was a real treat. And they truly treated us like royalty! Tea times every afternoon, a lovely stroll in the English country side, sipping lemonade in the garden, playing card games and laughing about all the differences between the Brits and the Americans! :) The highlight for us was definitely having the chance to speak at their quaint village church. The church held just about 40 or so people and must have been several hundred years old. It was incredible. We really felt the spirit moving through us to speak to the congregation. The other missionary couple preformed two songs during the service that they had written. One of the songs so perfectly tied into our experience on the ship. I'll write a separate blog just about the song ~ really amazing.

Wow, thank God for such an incredible few days. We came back to the ship feeling so refreshed and rejuvenated. Praise God.