On Thursday I travelled, with fear and tripidation, to near Melton Mowbray leaving about 3pm - it took three hours to get to Lucy's place - the traffic on the M25 and the M1 was horrendous. When we were almost at the M1 one of the straps holding the kayaks on the roof rack, came undone and banged on the back window. While Philip secured it I was standing on the bridge and realised that the whole road moves up and down to as the lorries zoom by - I was rather anxious to continue the journey!
As we pulled up to our destination a dog barked vigorously on the other side of the gate and we all tried to decide who was going to open the gate when 'the man' (John) appeared and put the excitable dog in the house. John showed us to the caravans which, although they didn't look very special on the outside, were comfortable. Next he brought me out a delicious cup of tea and cold drinks for the children. We got everything unloaded and the boys had a briefing on the project before getting off to bed.
The next day (Friday) the canoe-building started in earnest. Philip did a wonderful job and astonished John with the carefulness with which he attended to instructions and his diligence in the work. Richard helped a little but Samuel was always available to assist when needed (and Thomas ended up doing quite a bit of work on the canoe too). While the work was going on in the workshop (or while glue was being left to dry) great fun was had down at the river in the various canoes and other boats which were available - though I have to admit that, though tempted, I didn't get into one myself.

After one session on the water Samuel was positively depressed that he had no dry clothes so after many attempts a camp-fire was lit and clothes-hangers of various sorts were devised to support dripping socks and trousers.

After 5 days of heartwarming fellowship and intelligent discussion on a wide range of subjects we returned home refreshed and with 2 canoes strapped on to the roof rack. How amazing it is (to me) that the Lord should so work things that although we were going into the 'unknown' (apart from the canoe bit!) we should find ourselves with fellow believers whose appreciation for the need for real, living church community is in line with mine.


Over the weekend I was listening to Douglas Kelly on Nehemiah (recorded back in the early 80's) after finished all I could understand of Jerram Barrs on Schaeffer. I left the Schaeffer with Carole.

Timothy (with another young chap in the church)was at a car boot sale on Sunday, handing out literature. In the evening a man went along to East Horsely who had recieved a Bible from Timothy in the morning and left (it is reported) feeling that he was oK - he wasn't a sinner. Perhaps he will read that Bible and be persuaded otherwise, before it is too late.