Fun on the South Coast: Hastings

So last Sunday evening we snuck out of town on train headed for Hastings. A young couple from Immanuel had moved back to England and opened up a B&B there...a dream they had spoken of while they were living in Sweden. It is called The Laindons. Click here for their website.
Their B&B is gorgeous and we were treated as VIP guests. Our room was luxurious and beautiful. The Scandinavian influence was palpable and we loved it! (I cannot believe I did not get one photo of the interior of our room.)
We awoke in the morning to a made to order breakfast in The Laindons beautiful conservatory/breakfast room with this fantastic view. The food was delicious. We started with this yogurt/fruit parfait and fresh squeezed orange juice followed by a full English breakfast (heart attack on a plate) for Doug and more modest bacon, egg and avocado plateful for me. Delicious coffee roasted by Jon was the perfect kick starter to our day.
Hastings is a very lovely town with a big history of fishing and boating We didn't want to do anything except wander around and soak it in. It was a gorgeous sunny day even if the wind was a bit chilly. We did manage to find a warm, sunny spot for a bit of refreshment that was so relaxing and nice.

Cutest window in town...an old woman under the sink!

Antique stores, colorful facades, interesting curiosity shops dotted the cobbled streets and the architecture was a wonderful mix of tudor and modern. We just loved everything we encountered.
We enjoyed a wander through the Fisherman's museum where we learned a bit more about the industry. In boating/fishing communities, the people really stick together and there's something very special about these salty communities.
The east and west hills rise above the town offering spectacular views. A wonderful funicular saves you steps and energy as you take an almost vertical ride up to the top. Gorgeous acres of green await you and the views of the town and the sea are well worth the effort. The B&B was clearly visible! 
We wandered through the cobbled streets, stopping to take in the sea views, the fresh fish, more of the architecture. While apparently this fish and chips shop doesn't have the best fish in town, you have to give them props for their name! The walk along the seaside was so nice that I actually went for an evening run later that day. Good thing that I did because when we got back to the B&B, Sara had homemade scones ready for afternoon tea! Delicious. I love me a good scone, cream and jam!
Hastings is an adorable town with lovely views and great architecture.If you are into antique shopping, antique stores also abound. I can only imagine in the middle of summer what a fun playground this coastal village becomes.

London Calling

Get it...London Calling...from the iconic red phone booths!

When we left Stockholm at the end of January, we were a bit uncertain of what the road ahead might look like. But we were confident that God would lead even if we couldn't see what path would unfold. Now the next stop on our journey has been revealed and we will be moving to London, England in August to serve as the interim pastors for the American International Church in London. We could not be more thrilled with this opportunity and thank God for his goodness to us.
This is a church with whom we share a history.

Our first trip to London, 1999

We've attended two pastors conferences hosted by this community. I have spoken at a women's retreat there and preached on a Sunday morning. Additionally, I was privileged to attend the ordination of their associate pastor and participate in that service last spring. We've known the pastor who is leaving well. In fact, he and his son visited Stockholm twice and I stayed in their home when I was there for the women's conference. Turns out, I was staying in the home that we will now inhabit.
The call is for 6-12 months, seeking to journey with the church as they search for a new senior pastor. It's perfect for us as it allows us to return to ministry, get back to Europe, serve another International church under a very different model than Immanuel, and get a feel for interim ministry. It is such a bonus that we already know several members of the community and have a great familiarity with the church. 
The church is right in the heart of London. It's a very urban, busy area and it will be quite exciting to see what's it's like to minister in a big, bustling city. And it will be fun to live in a foreign city where English is spoken!
So we'll be trading our shorts and sandals for rain gear and wellies! And yes, Tanner is going to make the journey. He does not know this yet. I'm wondering how he'll react when he sees that crate come out of storage!
London has long been a favorite city of ours. We've enjoyed the sights and sounds of this vast city. To be given an opportunity to live and work there, to partner with a vibrant church community as they continue to seek to fulfill their mission, to be invited in to lead and nurture a community as they seek their next steps is a humbling gift for which we are very thankful.
Keep us and the church in your prayers as together we seek God's will for His church in London.

Jolly Old England

The first stop on our English getaway was Woking where good friends from Stockholm have a second home.  Upon waking, rain was falling softly at first then with increasing vigor.  Our plans for the day changed with every new drop.  It seemed the clearing forecast was increasingly unlikely so we made plans to drive to the pub for lunch instead of walking and to see a movie this afternoon instead of exploring quaint little towns.  Upon getting out the door however we noticed a bluing sky and even some sunshine. We turned the car around, change into wellies, grabbed two of the three dogs and took a walk across the nearby golf course.  The trail was so gorgeous and I was enchanted by the fresh holly!  I'm so thankful we made this switch!  It was a beautiful walk on a fairly warm day and it was wonderful to get some exercise, chat with our dear friends and enjoy the lovely English countryside.  From there, we jumped back in the car and drove to Newlands Corner where a gorgeous view and a delicious hot chocolate awaited us.  The wind was up so we jumped back into the car and headed to Cranleigh, a charming town with an old fashioned sweet shop, a nice pub for lunch and a lovely coffee shop.  Lunch was great.  Pubs in England are hard to beat for just good fare and the burger I had went down easily! After lunch we enjoyed strolling through the village shops admiring the nice things for sale. Our afternoon coffee spot was a very interesting loft.  When we got up to leave at 3.20 p.m. I was struck by how light it still was outside!  Wow!  Nice to punch out of the 3.00 darkness of Sweden!
From Cranleigh we headed over to Guildford, another sweet town. The view from the top of the car park was very sweet.  What a charming and beautiful place Guildford is!  To my great surprise, there is a Krispy Kreme shop!  I did not indulge as the pub lunch was plentiful!  It was fun to see England's version of a dollar store: 
We wandered through the town, continued our window shopping, chatted up a storm with our friends and relaxed over a glass of wine in another great restaurant.  We finally decided that it was time to head home.  Upon arriving back at the homestead at Fishers Hill House, we were delighted at the fantastic welcoming committee.
Today was beautiful, new and interesting.  Relaxing time with our friends while sharing lovely sights and wonderful conversation is such balm for the soul.  It really was a grand day in jolly old England.

Another Day, Another Cathedral, Another Pub

Day 2 started with loads of rain and the city awash with umbrellas!  Our group engaged in a great conversation about Youth Ministry, Labib shared more challenging thoughts from his life and experiences and we took a wonderful visit to St. Paul's Cathedral.  I had been here before for worship services but had never climbed the dome so this was my chance.  It's a long way up, with narrow stairways winding around and around but it is well worth it!  There is also a no photo rule in St. Paul's but this time I cheated a bit and took this wonderful shot from the whispering gallery.  Doug and Chris are actually slightly visible on the floor if you know where to look!   They are on the right side, in the front row of the chairs that are set back from the circle.
I finally made it to the top and popped out high above the city of London.  It was a gray, rainy, gloomy day but it was still a thrill to see the city sprawling out before me.  I have to admit that I thought of Peter Pan flying across London with Wendy, John and Michael in tow!  And of course, as I was walking down the cathedral's outdoor steps, I couldn't help but hum Feed the Birds and think of Jane and Michael Banks' visit to The City with their banker father in Mary Poppins!
The rain abated enough for us to find the wonderful Blackfriars pub so we popped in for a drink and a chat with our friends from Brussels and Kenya.  Watching the pub fill with locals as the work day came to a close was enjoyable.  The metal friezes on the walls depicting scenes from a monk's life were truly lovely.  A beautifully prepared meal awaited us upon our return to church.  
Another amazing day, filled with rich conversations and wonderful sights and sounds was coming to a close.