Some ask why I stay here...

There is a man who comes to the café from time to time. He is very hard work. He rambles and talks about many things, he speaks about bible codes and Hinduism, the gospel of Thomas etc... You will rarely get a word in edgeways. He speaks of being reborn and having a relationship with God. He will visit for several hours and I know that wherever he is, he is rejected, because of the scruffy appearance, the bad social skills, the loud voice, the overbearing conversations. I have known him for about 6 years. He seems to flip from church to church, largely I believe because beside the above, he outstays his welcome. I have also learned from him about his childhood and his family life. He tells me that he was unable to graduate from school as he was unable to understand written questions. He says that when he was little he was allowed to stay up late watching b&w movies on television on his fathers lap (I suspect this was the only time he was quiet). His whole family has rejected him. He has a 'woman' and child and they will not see him. He tells me he is in love with some other woman and is very joyful, but I fear he is mistaken by her smiles to him.
He told me that he went to drop some pumpkins off at his mum a week ago (she must be in her 90's) as he is at least 70. He said that she kicked him out of the house. And then he shows me a little envelope, with a little card inside, that was sent to him. In it, on the card, on one side is some sweet sentimental poem, and on the other is the words written in pen, 'My Dear ...., I love you, always, Mum.'. He asks me what do I make of that? He says how can he be kicked out and then the next day she sends a card. You can read what you want into this, but knowing the man I am sure he was a very difficult child, as he is very difficult today. He is not horrible, just very unusual, peculiar; and he doesn't 'fit in'. I am sure his mothers heart is wrenched every time she sees him, and I am sure she hates sending him away and I try to convey this to him, but he doesn't understand. I always try to make time for him, he is really loveable and gentle, full of little jokes. I know that if I was in any other work I would probably not be able to accommodate him. I am so glad he feels able to visit us. Eventually, at the end of the day that he is visiting he invariably is the last person to leave. For the last number of hours I have had very little chance to speak, and now he must leave. I have to admit, over 6 years I am now getting to say more; he is getting better, but slowly, and I have had to be very direct. It is difficult to force him out, and I, like his mother, feel pain, but it is tinged with joy.

Forever artists

Over the past 7 years I have been able to observe the works of the Café Forever workers in action. In the beginning there were many difficulties; clashes of personality as we embraced the challenge of knowing each other. These clashes are quite common among people with a similar passion - and the amazing thing is, while passion tends to create the clashes, it is that same passion that helps overcome the different natures and methods of work. Having recently read the Book of Acts in the Bible, and in the past, the Voice of The Martyrs, it seems right to give an account of the works of the workers. Both books would express how the Spirit of God moved the people to unconditional and unselfish sacrificial love and I hope that this brief note would do the same.

Carol getting resourced!

It seems to me that missionaries are artists - relationship artists. I notice how they are truly creative in their methods of addressing human problems. An artist will think about what it is they are going to create, look at what materials they have, and then carefully paint their emotion,their soul, their being into the canvas. Some artists' canvasses are blank white sheets and then they can do what they want. Others use recycled materials or dirty old walls - take Banksy as an example! I think a child is a bit like a blank white sheet, and the further on in life he goes, the more distressed the canvas becomes. No child is entirely blank however, because no matter what perfection your birth no child has a perfect upbringing - as a parent I admit it. As a child grows so the influences outside grow - some for the better and some for the worse.

So if each person that is met by the missionary is a canvas - some more distressed than others, it is the missionary (artists) pleasure to see that canvas transformed. Each one has their own specific methods and techniques. They are often meeting together to discuss the intricacies of their canvasses. Their subject matter is always the same, it's how to get that imprinted on the canvas that is the challenge. And each of these artists spend considerable hours researching the Master and talking with Him, to see and understand how He goes about transforming. In the process of working with the canvas it is almost as if artist and canvas intertwine into one - the artist becomes the canvas and the canvas becomes the artist. At other times they go to him when their own distress has caught up with them and their creativity is spent. Together it is hoped that the collected works will become part of the most beautiful gallery ever. How wonderful it is to see distressed recycled materials transformed into a work of beauty.

But what techniques! Personal time with canvasses take their toll - some of these artists will never marry, they will never own a nice little place by the sea, and the days when they are no longer able to lift a brush, they may be comforted in the knowledge that they have a small room on a noisy council estate. Part of that personal time has been shopping - purchasing special paint to apply to the canvas - a gift to each canvas that it would especially appreciate. 'Gifts open the door to the giver' and the correct paint has a wonderful affect on a canvas and it seems almost standard among these artists. Sometimes small amounts of the paint is applied over several canvasses all at once! Tired and lifeless they become interesting and exciting and other artists want to find out what is going on - sometimes they come near and then back off because they fear the colour! But oh what a joy to be covered in paint!

I see these artists listening to the canvas, understanding the canvas, and working the canvas. Their subject matter drives them forward, they are passionate about the work and stay up late at night, eiether coaxing the paint into the canvas or preparing some or other form of fresh guache to add to the next days work. Sometimes they are sculptors and have to cut away unnecessary growths, or dance instructors encouraging dance - whatever they are, they are Masters in the order of Rembrandt and Paul. Rembrandt had a special technique called chiaroscuro - letting light draw the eye into the picture. Paul called it sharing the gospel.

Carol carefully crafts a gift. Marlene makes her home available. Tom paints the playground. Together they work to total transformation. These may seem like trifles - I assure it is not all that they do, but these are some small ways in which a Great Artist makes a boring canvas beautiful.

Abject poverty

Don't be fooled

I regularly go into Canary Wharf as part of my work. One of the things that has struck me today is a small children's 'nursery'. I put it into inverted commas because I don't know what we are thinking these days. A nursery is supposed to be a place where something small can develop safely with all the required nourishments. The place I am thinking about is at the bottom of a massive tower, in the heart of Canary Wharf. Now I am sure that the staff are all very good and friendly to the children and that they have lots of lovely books to read and songs to sing - it amazes me how resourceful we can be. But what ABJECT POVERTY! There is a grass green synthetic mat laid out on the ground along with about 4 small green plastic bushes. The space has a small number of toys and gadgets for the children to play with. I feel like crying. Why is it that we think we can live without nature? It is so sad! God has made such beautiful things, so soft and safe and gentle, and we think that by building a city of concrete and glass we are making good! Sure, there is order, just like in the garden of eden - BUT there is no garden! We have ripped up the good, God made earth and created an awful eyesore. As the natural green spaces disappear I am sure we will evolve mentally and spiritually. I am concerned about the welfare of London! Oh for a little African dirt. Africa, your poor cities, in your poverty, are many ways far wealthier than London. Please pray for us.

Let your Kingdom come - soon, please!

The Allotment

One Tuesday evening in August Bill and Anna invited us to BBQ with them in their allotment. It is the first time I have been on an allotment and I am amazed at how seriously these people take it - some of the properties were really producing fantastic vegetables and flowers. It was like a mini vacation as there wasn't a building in sight, lots of greenery around and the sounds of birds (occasionally interspersed by the noise of aircraft). The bible seems to talk about a 'great reversal', a move away from sin - a move back into the garden of eden - or - paradise. Sin is the rejection of God's plans and authority and Jesus speaks of God as a great gardener, that he will transform our rubble filled allotment into a beautiful garden if we will only let him. We cooked sausages on a stick with the girls and enjoyed the company of great friends. This is good.

In the cafe we have been very busy and a lot of that time I have been serving on the counter due to training, staff holidays etc... It happens around this time of year. I enjoy being on the counter or in the kitchen since it qualifies you as a worker. I know the value of having somebody give their time up for me, and so do our visitors. It was a beautifully warm summer - many days we had tables out on the veranda and sold out our cold drinks, added frappucino's to our product list.

A frappucino is simple to make really, we use 2 shots of fresh arabica bean to cup espresso, add 3 teaspoons of sugar and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Then add half a cup of cold milk and about 4 ice cubes and blend. If you put in the sugar last it will not dissolve as it needs the heat.

As for interesting guests we always have some! One chap came in for about 3 days. He said he used to attend church and was really impressed by the café. He seemed as if he would love to come back but just didn't know how. I invited him to join us for a sunday service. He has yet to come. There are also usual visitors who come, some of who as you get to know them have really troubled minds/pasts and they daily return to things of the past, their old mantras, and it is quite sad to see. I have mentioned it before, but a victim mentality is so debilitating. The most disabled of all are those who feel that God has not given them what they deserve. We have someone who comes in who is truly disabled, physically, his mind is even affected, but he doesn't have a victim mentality - he is grateful for each day, and it is great to see how he is embracing change.

Kelson House from 'the beach'

These small, tight housing estates with their cramped living can only result in tensions though, noisy neighbours, noisy children, youth who have no place to go, cultural differences including sleeping patterns, barking dogs, it can wear you down. D_ is having a hard time dealing with the noise and feels it is intentional - an attack, feels it is a way of saying 'it's time you left'. If you are alone on the estates you can feel very threatened - isolated, especially when there are so many families and gangs. The single people don't understand the noise of the family and are too afraid to go and knock on the door to ask for quiet- and sometimes with good reason. The stairwells are often occupied by youth at night, smoking marijuana, drinking, or outside revving their cars with their staffordshire terriers.

I was in St John's park one friday evening with my children - they were playing on the swings etc... A group of really young children were shouting at a woman (Bengali) and her children. They were about 8 or 9 years old and telling her to 'f off to Pakistan you f#ing paki'. Little boys and girls!It was really a terrible situation. The poor woman told me in very broken English that she has it all the time she comes into the park with her two boys (about 5 and 3). These children can only learn what they say from their parents, and it was so saddening to see how much they loved her fear. This is bad. At times like these Heaven feels a long way off.

Excellence inspires others

On 22 July Natalie and I went to play mini-golf (putt-putt) to South Africans, it was a warm day and I had slowly but surely been persuading her that the children needed a pet. We had been looking at dogs but I just didn't think it was going to work within our surroundings, so with a golf tired and heat-exhausted wife we went to the pet shop and purchased 'Nelson' (after the African president who seems to have nine-lives), a sweet 10 week old kitten. He has since gone through some amazing changes and is slowly becoming a member of the family, the girls think he's wonderful although I don't know if the fee-lines mutual.

Nelson

As a family we went on a short break to Deal. We fell in love with the place when we stayed in the London City Mission's Walmer house, which has since been sold. We, as a result, have purchased a tent and camped in Kingsdown International Camp ground, just around the corner from the old house. It was such fun, the girls loved being able to get  up in the morning and run around outside, chase bubbles, and in the evening to cook sausages on the fire and see stars!

Kingsdown Camping

Following Wednesday, for team-day, Alan Black gave an interesting talk on Cain and Abel and how when we fight for a freedom, often more sin comes with it. I also met up with some people from Beeson Divinity School USA who were going to visit us through the week. The following morning they came to the Café and I explained our work and methods and then took them out to the local estate to distribute flyers. It is great to get out and walk about. The area is crammed with people, I know of some two bed units that have nine people living there! The Island grows at a rate of about 2000 people per year. When we got back to the Café some lady arrived from one of the estates and wanted help with nosiy neighbours. Noise is such a difficult thing - should children be allowed to make noise? Should people be able to determine how much noise is acceptable on an estate? What is correct? It is such a difficult question that  cannot just be answered by 'love your neighbour as you love yourself', since there are 2 parties involved, your neighbour and your children.She wanted me to go and be a witness to her neighbour's noise! It is difficult to know how I could help her.

Flyers with Beeson Div School

An accountant has joined us on a voluntary basis and is very helpful, Brian. He came in on Friday morning and joined us for Bible reading - he said that Ben Bell sends his greetings! He has worked and visits CLC were Ben is now working! How interesting. Glad to know Ben is Well. As the day progressed it was very busy again, one couple arrived with some sort of poem to a father who had committed suicide, drug overdose, the daughter of which was tearful and distressed, I offered my sympathy. The evening came and everyone left for home - I did some repair work on some tables, made the café ready for hire the following day and went home.

As far as a team goes, though I have to say we are very blessed. Andrew, Abi, Duncan, Sarah, this is the busiest school holidays we have had - basically selling out all portions of main meals on a daily basis, and a lot of other product. This is a testimony to some really hard work and dedicated team who forge on ahead despite set-backs and slow starts. They encourage me through their stamina! We will miss Abimaro when she moves on to her new job (even though she'll be around for worship services on Sunday). Their excellence inspires others and is honoring God.

So much going on right now!

Last time I posted on this blog I told you about the amazing find of the book in the back room at the café. Well how about this for an unbelievable addition to the story. The following weekend I walked around at a féte. I had £5 in my pocket and walked past some tables trying to persuade my daughter not to spend the money on the first thing she finds. I walked past a table and spotted a watch - it looked good - had a £5 price tag. I looked closer and it was a SEIKO! I purchased it immedeatly - the guy who sold it told me it had a flat battery and needed replacing - so I put it on my wrist and walked off. When I got home I discovered it was ticking away quite happily. I proceeded to clean it and I turned the strap over and the words were written in the strap 'Apollo'.

There have been a number of new visitors to Café Forever, and as a result I have some new friends. One chap came in, he works at Barclays bank, we'll call him P. We talked for a bit and he was looking for a way to de-stress. I asked if he had played golf before and he said no, but he'd like to try, so the following week we went to a driving range. It was great fun, a week later I hooked another new visitor to join us, M, and we played a round of golf at Bromley course. No particularly great scores but lots of fun and a great day for it. The next day P invited me to go and join him to play cricket. I haven't played in years and so I spent a lot of my time on the pitch praying that I wouldn't mess up too badly! I still have bruises on my legs where I was too slow to hit the ball!

A Nigerian lady arrived on Friday, she joined us for church on sunday too! Another new visitor is a lady who was brought here by her daughter for conversation - to get her out of the house - she said that of all the places she could visit she felt most comfortable with us.
We have also had two very enjoyable post-church picnics - one was to Greenwich Park where some children pedalled around in a boat and the other was an annual cycle trip to Thames Barrier Park.

I had also to attend the funeral of my great uncle, Bill Holt, in Bradford-on-Avon. It was a wonderful ceremony and send-off. Before I left I read in my bible that Jesus was talking to various 'officials' in Jerusalem about the resurrection. He told them that God is the God of the living, not the dead. I thought about this as I journeyed there with my cousin. The final song was 'Lord of the dance', which is very fitting, since uncle Bill was the oldest morris dancer in the world - a fact attested to by his dance company. When we exited the church, as his coffin was being put into the hearse his morris company was dancing! What a wonderful life he lived, full of gentleness and love. Bill was always interested in you, family, and Jesus. I will miss him. Granted it is a little unusual to post video of somebody's funeral but I think this occasion it is not disrespectful, rather honoring in fact.

We have all apart from one had our birthday celebrations - Hannah's party was in the theme of 'Alice in Wonderland' and Natalie put considerable effort into the various cakes, decorations etc... And the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival is now underway which provides many wonderful spectacles to observe at no cost to the public!

Go on an adventure!

I am now reading 'Moon Dust' which I am enjoying, though I have only just begun it. It is a sort of biographical historical account of the apollo missions and the men who came back from the moon, how they relate to the world after their journey. It is a wonderful coincidence as I had given a sermon last sunday on Genesis 1 and Used the Apollo 8 Christmas Message as a background to the sermon. I found the book the following morning lying on a table in the backroom. I had seen it there a week earlier - often people discard their old books at Café Forever, and I am so grateful to the deliverer - whether God or man. I would also recommend it - though I am not finished - the writer has an amusing, humorous style whilst adding loads of technical details that show the difficulties that existed in the era of moon travel and the mental states of those men alive today.

I have started reading again - for the past 5 years - since Hannah's birth I have been quite busy and so I have rarely got into much of a book - I had done an awful lot of reading between 2000 and 2006 and I think I needed a break anyway! I have just consumed the biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas  which has been an excellent read. I have enjoyed learning so much of the German resistance, almost ignored by western films and books - I grew up thinking that all German people must be just like Hitler, thanks to films like 'Kellys Hero's', and 'The Guns of Navarrone'. Metaxas looks at the faith of Bonhoeffer, his upbringing, his struggles with the decision to assassinate 'the fuerher' and his relationships with his friends and those who would harm him, and basically his attitude towards life and death. It also takes into account the culture of Germany and the world at the time, and describes Hitlers methods and his henchmen. It is a thick book, really! But I assure you if you get your hands on a copy it is not slow to read  - at least for me it wasn't.

I chose the Apollo 8 mission as the source for the bible reading for the church. It is almost as if that opening chapter of the worlds most read book was to be delivered in 1969 from the moon in order that it would have it's full impact. These men have travelled 250 000 miles on a rocket. As far as I can see, there was only one other manned flight of an Apollo mission and very few others beforehand that orbited the earth, Apollo 1 caught fire during a test phase and burned up it's 3 crew members inside. It was a daring mission, the most daring adventure ever, to get into an untested spacecraft consisting of 6 million parts to launch into space and go to the moon and back. It is in every sense ASTRONOMICAL! What I found so amazing about the Christmas message is that here they are, so far away from earth and all they can comment on is how good the earth is. They are grateful for it, incredibly grateful, they make me feel very fortunate to be on it. It was at the time the most watched TV broadcast ever. Millions of people the world over saw it, millions of people the world over heard Genesis 1. At the highest point of adventure they realise that they are there by mercy alone.

It makes me think about orbit - what do I orbit around? When I come into contact with others do I talk about grace? Do I take daring adventures trusting in others, going as far as I can? This is well worth watching over and over again.

When extroverts introvert

So following on from my previous post, the extrovert thing. I am an extrovert, I love the company of people, as is a huge majority of the population of the world (this I gather from my own experience of the world and taking a quick glance at Wikipedia). There is a time though, when every one of us needs time alone - time to gather our thoughts, time to sit and listen to the noises that are around us without making noise of our own. I had a rough time in South Africa because I didn't get some time alone, and I like to be alone to get my head straight. I also like to be alone with my family - outside influences can be good, help us to develop - but if we never get a chance to talk about those outside influences we can never really appreciate their impact. Working at Caé Forever is a fantastic job and I love meeting people and learning from them or aiding them in some way - I think we all do. But in a job like this, when I get home in the evening I then look after my children and by the time they're in bed, there's a gaping hole in my life, a need for silence; and my beloved wife is at the end of the line too!
We need to do the most important things first and not leave them 'til last - otherwise the last things end up in a competittion of sorts - just something I am becoming aware of. Since returning from South Africa we have made our sitting room into a quiet place by removing the TV from the centre of attention and I have taken numerous runs/walks around the Island and the farm in the early hours - listening to birds sing among other things. And then I come home and I am about ready to read a short passage from the bible - my personal guide book.

I have added to the pile of TO-DO's in my life as well - I have enrolled at Birmingham Theological Seminary - the place where Tom studied. They have an online certificate available and I am really enjoying it. You can find it at www.thirdmill.org.

Otford Manor

 As for future plans -  well this weekend is our annual weekend away and we are going to Oak Hall in Otford for the first time. We will be taking about 80 people. Jolly, Edward and I are responsible for the BBQ tonight. It will be good to get out in the country and hang out with our friends.

At Café Forever things are going well, although there are always interesting stories. The other day an elderly man came into the café, and ordered some crisps - I could see he was a homeless chap, and dishevelled, seriously. I tried to get into a conversation with him but he was not able to communicate anything intelligible - kept mumbling about Hackney, 1933 and Hitler. He wandered around here during the day and by the evening he hadn't gone anywhere and I did not want him to get hurt so I called social services who called an ambulance for him.
With the arrival of the sun we have started putting tables and chairs outside in an attempt to attract passing trade - to make us more visible, and also to encourage people to stay and sit in the sun. It is a wonderful time to be in London and what a joy to have the sun back! 

Home is where the....sun shines?

'He likes it'

March the 21st we went on a vacation to South Africa. The flight went well - 11 hours on a plane with a 2 year old and a 4 year old can be a little threatening -  but both girls got to sleep very early on. The discomfort of having a child sleep on you is easily a better deal than having a busy, over tired child that is awake on the plane! The first week we stayed in Johannesburg with Leon, Natalie's brother, and hung out with her family. It was so much fun and very relaxing at his place - He has two little girls and the four quickly became close friends; this made easier by the swimming pool! The sun was wonderfully warm as was the pool. I have attached a picture of 'Toffee' the sausage dog being put into a tube in the pool - he surprisingly relaxed, as if submitted to this fate and bobbed around in the water. 

After Johannesburg we went down to Cape Town were we visited with my mum and brother and some of our friends.

Table Mountain from Blauwberg

Cape Town is very beautiful, clean and functional. I cycled on a wine farm with Brett (my brother) and both got stung by a bee - it was very painful - I got the second sting about 1/2 hour after my brother and only then did I begin to sympathise with him (he got it in the face!) - poor Brett, SORRY! I am soooo selfish! We had many visits to wine farms in fact - it is the thing to do - they produce wonderful meals and great wine and while you sample

Free rides while you taste wine!

their delights your children get to ride around on horseback or some other form of entertainment. A winning business model. If only we had that kind of space in the UK - we have seen some similar ideas, but they are rare. We also had a reunion in Tygervalley with some old friends which was great, as was the 'Ocean Basket' fish!

I got particularly depressed towards the end of the holiday -I think I had just had a bit too much of people. This is something I am becoming more aware of - my need for quiet and a need for family ONLY time. I had also begun to long for some sort of spiritual conversation - and this too may have been part of my problem. Relief came when we visited Jacques Van Rensburg and his family, and also Nelia and Ewald. In the last week we had some time in Hermanus with Hanlie - she took us on a lovely walk up to three reservoir dams.

Some asked 'are we glad to be back' and my answer is a definite 'yes' -we love our community and I have become aware of how important it is to 'be known' by others and to 'know' them (not saying that we don't love the ZA bunch - but we just don't live so intimately with you). Home is where the heart is, and no amount of sunshine could take us away from this great bunch of Café Forever IOD peeps - you know who you are! In fact the sun shines around friends, even when there are storm clouds.

Two different responses and 150 pancakes

A friend comes in morning of the 6th and he's frustrated - he seems to have a problem with God; bible is unclear about heaven. I show him Genesis 1, 2, 3 and show how the order that God created the world in is disordered by man's rebellion and how they are moved out of paradise - how Revelation 21, 22 is a return to paradise and the original order is restored. He changes from anger to asking for prayer and praying for my family and then he goes on an errand for me!

Another friend claims to believe in Jesus - I suggest that the devil believes in him too - that he needs to build his house on the rock and not just agree that the plans are good. This man is back on the drink again after 8 months of sobriety - I suggest a higher power is necessary, knowing the 12 steps of AA he has been through. We began by talking about how  it is easy to predict human behaviour by knowing their past behaviour and who they worship. I am suggesting that we know how he behaves through who he worships and his history - that he needs to change his history. He in contrast to the earlier chap is hugely negative and un-receptive. He utterly rejects God but in a very typically English civil way. Surprisingly he came back in the following Monday.

Monday is the day when Abimaro has a mums and tots singing class - it is always over-subscribed. Afterwards the mums generally stay and buy tea etc... I got into a discussion with one mum about money and how it makes a difficult place a better place. I said that I believed that a relationship with God was in fact all that was needed - that you could have all the money in the world and still be miserable. Then I had a chance to share my testimony. I have known her for 2 years and been waiting for this opportunity. It is worth holding out - the story had impact since I am well known and a friend of her. It was the busiest day ever! We made a record in sales, which is important to us as we need to know we are doing business well.

150 pancakes!

Tuesday, shrove Tuesday, is apparently quite a big day in the English calendar - people all over the Island know about, and even commemorate the day by eating pancakes. It dates back to a time when the Catholic church had a big influence on the residents. We decided to have another pancake evening in the café as it was such a success last year, and Jolly and I are the pancake chef's! We began cooking at 5 pm and cooked until about 7:30, producing around 150 pancakes! It was another triumphal outreach programme - about 50 people attending, 4 of whom are looking to help out as volunteers at the café. Hanna, my daughter, also managed to invite two of her school friends and parents.

The ability to laugh at yourself is a sign of freedom

In the last week of January, Andrew, Joe and Declan are in cafe and Declan is telling funny stories about how unacceptable he is for military service; how at one stage he was some sort of junior soldier in a youth league and how he fell asleep on his rifle and nearly shot a corporal - huge smiles on his face and a great ability to laugh at himself - a side we are seeing more frequently- way different man from 6 years ago.

One chap comes in who we have been talking to for a while - I have known him for years. When we last talked about 3 years ago he was interested in Zoarastrianism. He has dabbled around in all sorts of beliefs. He now claims to be demon posessed. It is quite a difficult story for any of us to get our head around and we are trying to encourage him. We do not have any real idea of how to deal with the situation, but we have prayed and hung out with him just trying to befriend him and reading the bible together. On Sunday he comes into church and is MASSIVELY improved - far easier to talk with and understand. It is interesting how useful a sermon given by Alan Black has been for me in working through this problem. He was talking about Jesus ministering to the demon possessed man and how when he had encountered Jesus he was 'in his right mind'. This has encouraged me to keep guiding him towards Jesus, and I know it has helped. Also new in the church is a believing family of 4 from India - wonderful.

On Tuesday a church member, Duncan, came in and learned the ropes of counter work to help as a volunteer on Thursdays and Fridays to replace Ruth who has moved back up North! God is good.

Intense start!

Abimaro, Lisa and Hannah

January has started the year off with lots to do. Sammy (husband of Abimaro who runs the till in her spare time) has started an 8 months internship with City of Peace and for his first day he had a meeting - one which we also all had for the first time, with a large number of Tower Hamlets evangelical ministers. Sammy will be with us 3 days per week and has already managed to develop a couple of relationships within the café, I have no doubt about his capabilities.

We try to have a bible reading every morning and have just completed the letter 1 John. On one morning a lady who has been around church on the fringes a bit has joined us for this reading and she really enjoyed it. She suffers from depression, is on medication, anti-depressants, and spoke about how difficult it is just to get out of her house. She is afraid of the world outside. It must be a terrible mental place to be. Depression is the theme of January, this is one of 3 people that I have learned about who is taking this kind of medication. Another very depressed chap has come into the café and it is almost difficult even to understand what he is talking about, he lost his work a year ago and speaks of demon possession. All of the staff team are trying really hard to accommodate him and include him in things - we need a saviour!

One wonderful thing for January is a chap called Joe who is a firefighter from US has volunteered to help us and a group of ladies from Christchurch have also offered to assist us with our work - they want to help with the youth group! We've also had two good donations!

Sadly one family will be leaving the Isle of Dogs - some friends - to go back to the states, Keith, Mandy and their daughter Lilly. Keith worked at Stepney City Farm and I think did quite a lot to regenerate the place. He was always ready to talk about spiritual things and I hope they have a safe journey and that God continues to bless them. Keith was very conspicuous riding around on his dutch 'Bakfiets' with his little blonde girl in the front.

War!

Then there was the snow! And I managed to have a number of wonderful snow fights with locals, some of who came into the café afterwards to warm up. On Sunday it really dumped down so we went to mudchute farm to the little bowl and took our snowboards and joined about 30 others throwing their kids down the slopes.

Church has been really busy too, we had a packed few services so far - at least 2 new people coming to visit  at each opening. A recurring theme in church prayers is for healing of the crowd or their relatives - and not just minor ailments, cancers, parkinsons disease and strokes to name a few. Tom has started a series on Ruth and was intending to do only one sermon but then a lady who had come in said she will be back following sunday to hear what happens next - so Ruth 2 is the topic I will be preaching on!