Old friends


28 years ago we met Dani and Ebi Angst at Moorlands College (near Christchurch, Dorset). Here we are outside their beautiful home in the northern part of Switzerland, full of fun and great memories. Here are our two families on holiday in Finland a few years after we left Moorlands. (Yes, I'm the one in a beard.)
Why Finland? Dani and Ebi were missionaries with Wycliffe Bible translators based in St Petersburg and they regularly took holidays in nearby Finland. It was a great holiday.
The last time I was in a church was two weeks ago in Tanzania. Today we joined Dani and Ebi with their daughter Natalie at their local reformed church. The difference could not have been greater! The same God was worshipped, the same Bible preached from but the context was poles apart. However it was encouraging to find life in this national state Church (including some contemporary English worship songs played by an excellent band) and an emphasis on mission, both local and overseas.
I learned part of a verse from the bible in German, written on the wall of the church sanctuary:
Jesus sagt
Ich bin der Weg,
und die Warheit
und das Leben.
I believe it!
After the service Dani took me up the bell tower to show me the view. And then the bells started to chime ...
Sorry, what did you say?
I said, we live just over there!

It's been wonderful just to 'be' with these old friends at the start of our journey through Europe. Tomorrow the journey continues through Germany, Austria and Slovenia (8+ hours). Please pray for good travel - and somewhere to stay!

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