Waving Hands, Flags, Clean Socks, and Clear Pee

I don't know if there is anything more wonderful when you are traveling than when you can stop and enjoy the comforts of being with friends in their home. We arrived at the Llantwit Major train stop after 4 train changes, a bus ride, and a taxi all that day. So it was one of the most beautiful sites in the world to see a light green car drive up to the station with a hand waving out of the driver's side window. There was Dellene, Anna, and Jessie Newcomb to meet us. We were all smiles and hugs!

Next we were taken through their quaint little town to a beautiful house with a recently "dodgy" garage door. Enter Josiah, who is getting quite tall and is nicknamed "flippy" for his hair. Unfortunately we missed out on Von, who had just left for a conference in Singapore. However, this only allowed for even more girl talks with Dellene, which were precious indeed.

One of the things we were looking forward to the most on this trip was the opportunity to see where our dear friends lived and walk a little bit in their shoes. It is always the hope that we can encourage them as part of the church that loves and cares deeply for them, to have them know that they are not forgotten, to see and know how better to pray for them in this new stage in their ministry. We certainly hope that they felt that from us!

What was not expected was the hospitality and care showered on us from each of them! Not only were we fed in grand style, but we also were able to wash and dry (in a dryer!) all of our clothes, and rehydrate.

Now, you may not think much of that, but as a Coloradan we have found that we seem to have an obsession with water. Having a sip of water seems to cure any sickness, and being without brings feelings of desparate panic close to the surface. One thing Jen and I were not expecting was the lack of places to get water and go to the bathroom when we are out and about. So, we drank water nonstop while we were there with our specially tagged glasses (best idea ever!) so we could reuse them all day. Brilliant!

On Sunday, we went to their church and enjoyed worshipping with an enthusiastic congregation. One of the things I loved during their singing is that there were people who brought flags to wave as part of their worship experience.

That evening, we also enjoyed spending time with their other American teammates for a 4th of July celebration, or as they say it here in the UK, "Revolution Day." Josiah says that in history here they talk about allowing America to be independent. He is very interested to learn American history this next year and see what is taught. We didn't have fireworks, but we did enjoy some great American food and patriotic music.

To finish off our time, Monday morning after the kids left for their walk to school in their uniforms, Dellene took us to the beach. We had a breathtaking view of the coast and walked a ways to have yet another wonderful discussion. Dellene has a passion for prayer and we discussed how often we give lip service to prayer's power and importance, but then will ask, "But what are you doing? What are your results?" How challenging to be reminded that prayer stands alone in its power and necessity. A missionary (isn't that all of us as Christians?) needs to be in prayer daily. We must be communion with God for this world, his people, and yes, for something he wants us to specifically do. There is so much more I could write about this and so much more that we talked about, but I am still processing it myself.

So, it is with heartfelt gratitude that Jen and I left the peaceful and refreshing time at the Newcombs with our hearts fuller, our socks cleaner, and our pee clearer!