Travel

Last week we went to Tenerife.  A couple of surprising things.  According to the airlines, the Canary Islands are not part of the EU; but most Tenerifians regard themselves as being part of it.  The only taxis I saw were Mercedes Benz - and not necesssarily all that old!!

Last week, I spent four days of private retreat with the Northumbria Community. Before I arrived I did not really know what to expect but it turned out to be the perfect place for me at that time. It felt like being on a pilgrimage that started when I visited St. Cuthbert's tomb at Durham Cathedral on my way up.

Yesterday i was on the train going through london and i happened to look over the shoulder of an alien who was sitting infront of me. He was writing a report of his first impressions of london. This is what it said...

This ancient land lies barren and stipped of life. The inhabitants have long ago been turned to stone by their Gods and now sit motionless among the charred and thirsty plant life. Birds fly between the huge and dirty stone creatures. (i think he was talking about the buildings...)

Well we're back from the good ole US of A. And what a time we had! I have been to the states quite a bit, but never to the south and never to rural America.

So this was an experience.

Last week I was in switzerland thinking myself the luckiest person alive to be so lucky as to be staying in a hotel 7000ft in the air (well not in the air ..) I was in awe when i got off the Gondolla... God had blown me away! Words cannot describe the love I felt standing there, tears streaming down my face, wondering how anything in the world could be better than what i was looking out at. How could anything beat that! Yet it did... because as I sat there quietly freezing myself into a small coma, I realised that for me this was God Romancing me, loving me, showing me His glory!

Rachel Hughes in today’s, 28th Jan 07, 'Passion Of The Early Church - Evening Service', gave her personal experience in a test of faith during her holiday in Australia. This struck a chord with me.

Not much longer... only 3 days to go till we are snowboarding down the beautifull white slopes in Les Arcs... And especially special for me as not only will this be my first time boarding but my first time seeing snow (Proper snow... not the sad little flakes that come own in feb) YAY!!!! Ps anyone have any extra skiing Goggles...

It's now been at least three weeks since my passport got an outing, so it will be happily open to be stamped on Thursday when I arrive in Kolkata (Calcutta). I'm going out with a few great guys from one of the HTB pastorate's to help run two Alpha Conferences in Kolkata, as part of the My Hope India project.