Day 1.5

I'm back on the train getting ready to head to London. I've just spent the day with Lawrence.

He seems so much better than last year. A number of trouble makers have left the church which is good and bad. It is good because he is more free to pursue God's vision for the church. It is bad because he has even less resources with which to do it.

Two important recent developments. One, Lawrence has met with the local Baptists and is beginning to gain traction in the association (not sure if that is what they call it, but its the right idea). The group of ministers in the area have written on his behalf to receive some money from the official Baptist world. His colleagues think he should be helped, now they are trying to work through their system to make that happen. I;m so proud for him. His diligence and faithfulness is beginning to pay off. In addition, he has met some of the former pastors of the church. They have told him of their difficulties at the church. Several of them did not get paid. The same trouble makers were at the church causing trouble years ago. He was encouraged by these talks.

I think he was a very successful pastor in Ghana and this struggle has been a very difficult blow to his ego. I think these pastor friends have helped him re-frame the trouble. It sounds so much like New Hope from my life. I would not wish it on anyone, but after surviving a place like it, a person has a deeper level of commitment and a stronger sense of calling.

Lastly, information for the future: The Jurys Inn Brighton has just opened. It is yards outside of the train station and has excellent rates. www.jurysinns.com. 101 Stroudley Rd. Brighton, BN1 4DJ, 44 (0) 127 386 2121. During the week is reasonable 56pounds, a little over 100 on weekends.

We had a coffee and then walked into town for him to get extra minutes on his phone. Their computers were not working so he was not able to get that done. Sarah was trying to reach him, but he missed her call. Eventually she called back. We were sitting on the rocky beach getting some sun and.she was coming to Brighton from the University where she is about the finish her final year for a Bachelors degree in renal nursing. She came and we got to sit together for about an hour and listen about their children. Their oldest is in the final year of high school and they are planning to send her to Ghana for college.

I asked why and they told me that the English schools are so focused on technology, that the children are learning to become lazy by depending on all the stuff around their lives. They think her education will be better in Ghana. They say it is better training for the mind when you have less technology to depend upon. It sounded just like me when I act surprised that kids in High School take calculators to class. We had to use slide rulers or paper.

We made plans to ask Bruce and Nancy Webb to come and do a marriage seminar and I will contact him when I get home.

When I get back to London I'm going to find a theater and see Indian Jones! I'm praying it is exciting enough to keep me awake.

Mind the Gap
Kyle