On Friday 17th July Mike Dale cooked a welcoming BBQ for the guests and opened his house to the rest of us for drinks and nibbles. Bob Bell generously erected his marquee in the garden, so when the guests eventually arrived, they could get fresh air and enjoy the garden. We had a cosmopolitan welcome for them, and when there was an unforseen issue with one of the sleeping arrangements, Neil and Ros came to the rescue and provided more space.
Neil made sure we ran them to the tube on Saturday morning, for their architectural tour of London - Jonathan Cannon, as well as being the leader and head of the Redeemer Baptist School is an architect.
Mimi Turner got the catering organised for the Saturday Lord’s Day at Neil & Ros’s, where Jonathan Mead and Nadia Thompson took the lead. Jonathan Cannon showed an inspiring and challenging DVD of their life in Australia, stopping for a commentary and to answer questions. Those present were impressed and recognised our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Sunday was HTB day for the visitors, but still Neil & Ros had them round for an evening meal.
On Monday, after the group had witnessed the Ashes game at Lords, they came to a BBQ at the Meads’. Jonathan Mead did the cooking, supposedly assisted by Michael Thompson and the two Australian men, so that Helen Goodman and Caroline Mead could run a Women’s Events sharing evening. When the young women visitors sang grace – a cappella – it was moving and inspiring. Andy Pettman had a chance that evening to have more of a sharing session with the men.
When they left on Tuesday morning, they had tasted true hospitality, not only taking over Hugh and Mercy Potters’ home for the young women, but from Arthur and Rebecca, Jonathan & Caroline, Reiner and Ursula, Tim and Mimi (who arranged it all) and Neil and Ros. They left us with very good memories, as well as CDs of their music and DVDs of their life.

This is not yet over! We were really impressed by their love of the Lord, and the principles which had guided their special call, so similar to our own.