LONDON BLOG FIVE

Hello from Illinois. We arrived home on Wednesday evening after an 8-hour boring flight! Now we are trying to adjust to the time change and relax after a very wonderful and strenuous three months in England.
The final two and a half weeks at the Wycliffe Centre went by with mixed emotions. We said goodbye to many good friends as some left for another smaller project in Germany and others returned to the U.S. and Canada. At the same time there was much work to do so those of us left worked extra hours and I was asked to give the daily devotions in the morning.
One weekend we went to my relative’s apartment in Chiswick (west London) for two nights. They were out of town but invited us to use the place for a time away from the routine. On Saturday we went into London via The Tube again. We took a boat ride on the River Thames, visited the Imperial War museum with a special Holocaust exhibit, attended the Evensong service at Westminster Abbey (free, instead of the usual $20 each for a tour!), walked around Picadilly Circus and strolled through the opulent Harrods department store. .

On Sunday we returned to the Centre by tube, train and bus, with a short walk through Regent Park on the way

On the last Sunday we woke to a surprising and beautiful two-inch snowfall.
That day we had a car to take people to church in the morning and also enjoy an afternoon ride in the countryside with another couple. The snow added to the beauty of the wooded hillsides and we walked through two towns along the River Thames nearby.


The last two days a company was hired to finish the drywall and “mudding” that we were not able to complete. Our crew was diminished and now since we left there are only about a dozen people working on the project. It will be a struggle to gain occupancy by the first of May, but that is the commitment.

It was hard to say our final goodbyes to the team, the “Brits” we were working with and the staff and students at the Wycliffe Centre. During the three months a very strong bond developed with many. We are glad we went on this service project; it was more than we could have imagined. God has been gracious and kind.

For now our travelog ends. We don’t have specific plans other than to take care of some personal matters, help a few people and visit some of our family. Thanks for traveling with us; your comments are always appreciated.

With our love.