Elizabeth

A wide river, ambling and gentle, flowed to our left, its banks covered with yellow and pink flowers. Rolling suitcases bounced along the cobblestone path until all 27 of us had huffed and puffed into the courtyard of our hostel in York. Already the laid back ambience of York had endeared itself to those tired of the hustle and bustle of cosmopolitan London. Thus began our time in York. The group settled into our hostel and then joined two knowledgeable guides on a walking tour of the city. "Your country is so young," said a Brit to our group. Walking on the stone wall built by the Normans and Romans over a thousand years ago made this fact all the more obvious. We again saw evidence of Britain's antiquity when we took a day trip to the ruins of Whitby Abbey, a site crucial to the history of British Christianity.

I had two highlights in York in particular. On our first full day in York, the group visited York Minster, a beautiful and grand Gothic cathedral. Six of the group went to a Communion service inside the Minster and were served an Anglican Communion by a priest who didn't match his setting. While the cathedral is certainly grand, it's also a bit austere and lofty. In contrast, the Anglican priest's face shone with a merry graciousness and his warmth to each person was evident in his firm handshake and kind, "Peace be with you." On Sunday evening, we visited St. Michael-le-Belfrey, an Anglican church next door to the Minster. Keith was a pastoral intern at this church in the summer of 1984, so we were all eager to visit. The church had undergone a miraculous renewal movement almost 30 years ago and it is now one of the most dynamic and growing churches in England. We arrived a half hour early and enjoyed coffee at the front of the sanctuary with members of the congregation. The service, full of worshipful music, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and a powerful sermon, was a huge testimony to God's power. The service was personally meaningful--a reminder that God is constant and faithful even in the midst of continuous travel.

On a lighter note, I've begun to love brie, the French cheese. On recommendation from my friend Allison, I tried a brie and redcurrant jelly sandwich on a fresh baguette. Amazing! For anyone who's heard that English food is dull, I'd be happy to squash that particular notion. I've had excellent food on this trip, from thick, sweet raspberry yogurt to squishy, salty French fries with cod on Whitby. Hungry yet? And who can forget English Sticky Toffee Pudding with a puddle of vanilla custard? And thus I hope I have whetted your appetite, for yummy food, exciting travel, and for the transformational power of the Living God.