On our return from Basel we picked up a car at Gatwick. First stop in Helmsley Sth England for lunch with old friends Dan and Ruth Bavington who have now settled after a lifetime going back to the 1950s as building contractors in Karachi Pakistan. Dan is encouraged that a younger generation has come on to carry on this work and ministry strategic as it is providing role models and employment as well as quality building in that country.

We enjoyed a good time in York with Janette’s Glasgow BTI friend of the 1960s who had been in Indonesia where she met and married a Yorkshire seaman who had joined OMF and was teaching nautical ESF in Sumatra as his opening into mission. They moved on to tribal work in Sabah brought up 3 children and are now retired in a small village place outside of the city of York. Their main interests are now in children and grandchildren. The older daughter a Dr. and engineer husband have migrated to Nth Vancouver where they are visiting them.

With them we went on an interesting day visit to a re-stored Abbey a reminder of the operations of Henry VIII who took over many of these properties in the 1500 era. There a group of monks between 11-1500 who operated in a small valley providing services medical, old people’s homes etc as well as their chapels meditation etc. Interesting to note that as stability and prosperity increased there was a decline in their numbers and diligence; parallels in the madrasees and Bible schools of India today who have a function at the social level of absorbing the larger family members who cannot be provided for at home. The system was ended more or less benignly by Henry VIII who took over the properties and pensioned off the monks who remained. The resultant looting and recycling of the materials has reduced the structures to where they are today. Not sure how to evaluate the system progress or retrogression?

This was followed by a picnic in a field to complete the day in simple normal fashion. The menu at home upgraded for the guests with very well cooked and provided meals. Janette enjoyed the update with her old friend of yesteryear who she has kept in contact with. An interesting insight into a part of UK we had not visited before.

Left to go to Sheffield to spend a night at Peter and Paula Smithers who we lived alongside in Karachi in the 80s. They have good memories of all my family.

They are involved in low key work amongst immigrants in the city. They live in an older house a legacy of Paula’s family I think. Peter’s roots are more in Nottingham. Their two boys have now grown. Sam, the older, an architect trained in Glasgow but currently out of work due to the down turn in the economy. He is using the time to make a trip for 4 months to Pakistan where he will work with Zor engineers. His brother has completed his course at All Nations BC met an Irish girl with a wedding in Dec and plans to move into Asian immigrant ministries in Birmingham.

We enjoyed a walk in one of the nearby parks which are gifts from industrialists. The ponds, streams and water wheels that powered the early steel industry with its famous Sheffield cutlery and knives can be traced there.

It required a pre midday start to get to Gloucester area for our next stop off which was to Pat, nee Wakeham and Dennis for tea before leaving for Bristol. Pat is a Dr. by training but has majored on therapeutic style work and ministry and remains committed to and involved in prayer walks and other such emphases. Interesting people active and useful. We had some challenge finding their place as well as motoring down their recommended route to Bristol. There was heavy rain, water on the road and poor visibility so we did not make very good time. But arrived here in Bristol all the same at the time of the arrival of son Daniel and wife so all worked out quite well.

Great visit with Steve and Nikkie. Steve is now Chairman of World Vision UK finding this rewarding and fulfilling.

A rather long ride across busy London brought us to old NZ buddy Howard and Monica Harper in Tumbridge Wells. Howard is rather shaky and uncertain about the outcome of treatment for colon cancer requiring protection for secondaries in the liver. He is trusting and praying that he has five more years of life remaining with strong visions of adding to ministry in his beloved Central Asia. He has lived long and hard. His vision remains singular. Great to link up again after 57 years (1953-2010) of overseas involvement in one form or another! I cannot be sad even though Howard is going down at the moment for life has been full and abundant. A great luncheon with daughter Naomi in T Wells. She remember Yvonne particularly from Kabul days.

John and Brenda Jones in Bournemouth Sth England on the British Chanel. Links here with Delhi which they have upgraded in recent years rejoicing seeing many of their SS children grown and maturing in life and faith.