Hello again! Day 4 in Bromley, England, was our day of worship with Hayes Lane Baptist Church here in the borough of Bromley. Dad and I had a good time singing “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone), though I don’t feel like we connected well with our British audience (pshaw, their loss). Faith had an INCREDIBLE children’s message, that had even ME on the edge of my seat listening, waiting, watching. She’s an entirely different person with little kids! (Might I add that English kidsm such as Tim Gardiner’s Tom and Luke, are so cute!!!!!!!!) Jamie did the sermon, on Galatians 6:7-10.
Then came lunch at the church, filled with chatter with our new British friends, laughs, and good food. To my surprise, a few of the men brought out a football (the American kind) and started tossing it around! I joined, as did Dad and Jamie, and was easily accepted. I was even chatting season predictions with Tim’s brother (whose name I forget). Our meeting for the football (the English kind) camp went well, and it sounds well enough.
The evening service brought with it my Dad and I playing “Mighty to Save,” though again I don’t really think it hit home with them. We really need to send these Brits some real music (though their hymns are beautiful!)!!!!!!!!!! Maybe some Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, maybe some Lincoln Brewster. . . . Anyways, David Hircock (their pastor) preached on Joshua 4, and then Marsha shared her stirring testimony. As I write this, she is hopefully sleeping with the prayers of an entire church behind her, as she has slept a grand total of four hours since the plane here. Please by praying with us.
There was some more fellowship afterwards. Then, it was to McDonalds while Tim dropped our ladyfolk off at the hotel. We walked back . . . in the cold. . . . And we ate McDonalds in Bromley, England (somehow, the English Mickey-D’s tastes better than its American counterpart–hmm. . . .)
Well, that brings me to sitting here in the Avis Hotel’s guest lounge, typing our blog. A few thoughts on today. The music, although not my favorite, was very beautiful and I caught on quick. It was quite an experience in the services today, and we all loved it and the fellowship.
I feel very blessed to be here, and I know my time to actually do something is coming tomorrow. I can’t wait to see Faith with the kids, because that is obviously her element. Marsha is stirring hearts (ours, at the very least), and Dad and Jamie are, well, Dad and Jamie–our leaders. Me, I’m just the young guitarist and fill-in. But if that’s what God wants me to be here–emotional support and the do-what-we-say-when-we-need-you-to guy–then I will do it gladly for God’s glory and not mine.
Garrett Thomas
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