Back from Florida

We have just returned from a wonderful and much needed break staying with friends in Florida.  The holiday was amazing and there was so much we appreciated…hot water, plentiful and tasty food, delicious wines, swimming, cycling, sunbathing, hair cuts, skyping family with a REALLY clear signal, watching TV, water sports, watching the sunset, shopping, relaxing, peaceful nights, pleasant temperature, catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.  It made us realise all the things we have been missing! 

While staying with our friends, we found out that one of their friend’s daughters had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and it was a real privilege to be asked to get together with the group of friends to pray for them all.  We continue to pray for them all at this difficult time.  We also managed to attend worship at a local Methodist church and I found it very moving to be in a church with musical instruments, electricity for the whole service, projectors and video clips and a pleasant temperature with air con!  It was wonderful to worship and not be responsible for anything! 

Coming back has been hard and we took off from Miami with heavy hearts, knowing we are doing what God wants us to do but knowing the reality of life here and the difficulties and frustrations we face day by day.  We got home about 1.30am this morning and had to make do with a dribble of cold water to wash before we fell into bed exhausted!  That didn’t cheer us up too much BUT we were thankful no-one was having a loud party! 

We could hear the Mahaica congregation singing this morning in church (it’s just outside our bedroom!) and they were singing the well known hymn, O Jesus I have promised to serve thee to the end’ and the words really struck home to me today.  I realise that I HAVE promised to serve Jesus to the end, not just when things are easy and smooth but also in the tough times – come what may.  One verse says, ‘Oh let me feel you near me, the world is ever near, I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear.’  I have been dazzled in the last two weeks and I have to admit I like it!  

The other hymn they sang was ‘Take my life’ and the verse ‘Take my will and make it thine, it shall be no longer mine, Take my heart it is thine own, it shall be thy royal throne.’  I realise I have sung that song many many times and it is easy to sing when everything is going my way and not so easy when God’s will and mine are different and I have to learn to submit to him again day by day.  I can’t do it without God’s help and the support of all my lovely friends and family who keep on remembering us and sending their love in many different ways.   

So tomorrow we are back on with the task – I have a lot to do and prepare for – coming up I have several training sessions on phonics for schools, we are leading a marriage enrichment day, confirmation classes for some of the young people, another training day for children’s workers and many other things!  I shall be glad to be busy and the time will fly!!