New Year's Eve

Finally things are starting to slow down. Tonight is New Year's Eve and we have a big Betel party. We are supposed to dress up with a "theme". After much deliberation, and discarding the Wizard of Oz (no green face paint or witch hat), smurfs (no blue face paint), cats and dogs (easy, but no enthusiasm) we have finally decided on going as Peter Pan, Hook, Smead, several lost boys and the crocodile. And Bubar (Jonny's girlfriend) as Tinker Bell. I am going as a lost boy....or rapidly aging woman. They wanted me to go as Wendy, but I do not have a long nightie, and I would have to be the ancient Wendy from "Hook". I would rather be a lost boy.
We will eat buffet style, watch every house do a skit or something funny, and we were warned to be funny. We made a short video about my dream of how our house should be run - with eight male types. It shows what I would like it to be and what the stark reality is. We thought it was funny and had fun making it so that is all that should matter. House One always goes all out and hogs the video camera but usually theirs is the best. There is also alot of lip-synching to disco music. The girls in the Girls house like to dress up and dance to something. Then we just watch funny videos until midnight and then all drink this non-alcoholic stuff called Schlure, like sparkling grape juice. We yell and hug and make lots of noise along with all the gay bars around us.
I hope everyone else has a great night.

Stuff

Lots of stuff always happening. None of it monumental, just living.
One, our mommy cat has disappeared. We still have Lulubelle, her daughter.
We are in our new house, and there is a big field behind the houses where we live. We think that our kitty went over our fence and then over our neighbor's fence and into the field. She is a very good hunter. Even though she has a bell on her collar, she would still bring dead mice and pigeons to our back door. We are all praying that she will come back.
The men's houses are filling up, mainly because it is getting cold and nasty outside. Last Christmas all five men's houses were full. Now, we have two more houses, and they are getting full. Betel is meant to be a long-term program, but many leave in the spring. But, full houses means lots of people for Christmas.
Everyone in the centres draw names, and everyone is given 5 pounds to spend for the person they drew. Then on Christmas day we have a big Christmas dinner for all - close to 200 people last year, and then they call out names and everyone gets their present. It is fun because many people get gag gifts.
Last year I was in charge of making sure everyone got a gift, as we had new guys coming in up to Christmas eve. It all worked out, kinda. I just bought about five extra tins of candy and had name tags in the inner office. Because some people had swapped names, some had left, some had gone home, there were about four people whose names were never called. But I ran in the office and came out with presents for all. Yeah! I hope I don't get that job again this year.
We just stay really busy. I now understand why people come off "the field" to rest. There is so much to do and very few workers. I never feel like I have gotten everything done as much or as well as I could have. We pray for more men and women to come in, but we need to be praying for more workers! We have teams come over from Virginia, Pennsylvania and the Carolinas and they are such a great help and encouragement. I don't think they can even imagine how much they encourage the men and women. We need day-to-day workers to answer the phones and drive people around. I guess I am just tired. I feel guilty when I find time to relax, even at home, because there are things I should be doing at home. Ok, I think it is time for a restful cup of tea and a quick sit-down.

Slideshow

Oh, yeah, I am pretty envious of the slide shows on Kim Hill's blog and Ginger's blog. I want one of those. I watch Kim Hill's just to get a glimpse of the poolhouse.

Thanksgiving in England

Well, first off, we ain't frying no turkeys. Big sad face. In fact people here think I'm kidding when I tell them that I used to drop a whole turkey in a big vat of oil and fry it for less than an hour. They say that it sounds like something people up north of us would do ( like in Leeds or Liverpool). That is a dig, because everything north of London is called the north and is supposed to get less and less posh as you go up. Anyway, we will be having a Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday with the nine of us - our family (including Jonny) and the three guys who live with us; the Martins, from Pennsylvania; some from Ohio, some from Virginia, some from North Carolina and a couple of British spouses. We have imported canned pumpkin and pecans. This year I know that cornmeal is called polenta meal and is sold in the ethnic section of Sainsburys.

We will miss the football games and the Macy's day parade. I will miss the funny stories from those brave or goofy enough to think that going to the Galleria at 4:00 a.m. on Friday morning will be profitable and fun. I will miss my mom and the rest of the Gulledge family. I will most certainly be making Southern Living cornbread dressing in honor of my father and grandmother who have passed on. Happy Feasting to all.

Bullying

We were warned that bullying was a big problem in the UK. We did not realize that redheads are targeted. They are called "Ginger" in a derogatory way. So this past Monday, Paul was targeted on his train ride home from school. It is only a ten minute ride and but some older guys joined some of his schoolmates on the train and they are the ones who were the bullies. Paul usually sits with his friends, but got separated and got on a different car. There is no way to walk from car to car. Anyway, he settled down to read and the older guys told him to move. He thought that they just wanted room to all sit together, since they were with about three guys and two girls from his school. Then one walked by him and smacked him on the side of his head. They were calling him "Yank" and then when he protested they poured their drink on his head. He came home angry and confused.
Paul, being almost six feet tall, is really a gentle kid. He didn't want to start a fight, but he wanted to know how to defend himself. I was really steamed at first, as any mom would be. But when we calmed down, we decided to pray for those guys, and pray that God would not put them on the same car. We has told Paul to stick with his friends on the train. Bullying is not allowed at their school so I am not as worried about it there.
If anyone has any advice, please let me know. Please join me in praying for Paul.

In search of gloves.

Dang, I am tired.
I got home at four, after search the school's lost property ( they don't say "lost and found ) for the last two pairs of gloves that Peter lost recently. No luck. So we all hopped in my big bold beautiful Volvo and set off for Solihull town centre. We parked at the park and walked up to the centre to avoid the ridiculous parking fees.
Paul, Jonny and Christoper went on to the library and Peter and I went in search of cheap gloves. We found some at Woolworths and then popped in Sainsbury's for milk, as we have not had any in donations for the last couple of days. Here they have UHT - ultra heat treated- milk which tastes pretty good when really cold so that is what I buy. It doesn't have to be refrigerated for months and is cheaper than the fresh kind. When I have to buy milk, that is what I go for, so if we get milk in, then I keep the unopened liters in the cabinet for the next time we need it.
So then we go back across the outside shopping area, in through the mall ( which closes down at six p.m.) and to the great big wonderful central library. It is the coolest one I have found so far. Then we all carry all our books and the milk about a mile back to the park and go home to start dinner. I really walk more here than I ever did back home.

New House

We are in our new house. Last week was stressful, but now we are getting more settled.

We now have three Betel guys living with us. They are guys who have been with Betel for years and have reached a level of maturity and responsibility. They want to continue to play a vital part in the ministry of Betel, but without living in the dorms. So the directors approached us and asked if we would be willing to rent a larger house so that several guys could move in. Living with us gives them greater freedom, with the accountability of a Christian family.

God provided the new house, just two miles away from Windmill house, the main center, and in the same neighborhood as Peter and Christopher's school. It is a six bedroom, three bathroom, two living-room house. Pete, Ken and Brian all have their own rooms and share a bathroom. Our boys - Paul, Christopher and Peter share a very large attic room and Jonny is currently using the downstairs guest room / study. It is a full house, but big enough. We are blown away by God's provision. Our landlords, the Whittaker's, have dropped by twice and seem very supportive and gracious. They own and work in the doctor's office next door to us. Dr. Whittaker sees many of our men in Betel as her patients.

Please pray as we come together as a family. Scott and I knew that this move would stretch us more. We have to share almost everything, except bathrooms. We have to be ready to speak the truth in love and open our lives to these guys. But God is good and He is guiding us all.
I really want unity to be our banner - that we will be known for our love and patience with each other; that is sharing and living together we will bear more fruit of the spirit.

A Hard Day

A hard day. A young woman did a telephone interview with Beth. Then she rang back and I spoke with her. She is 24 and addicted to both alcohol and drugs. She is on probation. She is pregnant. She is also extremely depressed and has tried to kill herself and her family said that they found another stash of pills and "good-bye letters" yesterday. Her doctor says that she has a history of abuse, is having anxiety attacks and hearing voices. We can't take her because she is pregnant. We do a cold turkey detox, and it is not safe for pregnant women. Nathan tells her that and she says she will abort the baby, she doesn't care.........Next thing she calls us back and says that she is no longer pregnant and is bleeding. We are all thinking, "what has she done?"
I interviewed a woman this morning with three children. They have been taken from her. She could not stop crying. I want to cry.
We have a new guy on the couch at Windmill, shaking so bad he can't hold his tea cup. The new guys have such sad eyes, full of despair and hopelessness.
We have what they need, but will they take it??? We have Christ, hope of the nations. We have prayer and love. Will they stay and take it?

Moving to Wythall

We move to Wythall in two weeks. Wythall sounds like saying whistle while holding your tongue. It is one of those commuter villages that has easy access to a major motorway. It is not as colorful as where we live now, in Shirley. At least it doesn't appear to be on the surface. There is a nice fish and chips shop and a lovely footpath that has beckoned to me for a while as I drive past. But here in Shirley, we have all kinds of neighbors, all ethnicities. We have a smallish Tesco at the end of our street which is very handy. There is a lively high street area with a park that always has families strolling around. We have lived here in Shirley longer than we have lived anywhere in the past three and a half years. We know our neighbors well enough to borrow things. Our next door neighbor - Mrs. Shirley- is a sweet funny widow who doesn't hesitate to tap on our door to have one of us open jars for her. I love that.
I prayed for a big wonky house. That is exactly what God has given us. Funny little rooms, not too run down, but not posh either. We will fill all six bedrooms immediately - with our family and three Betel guys. Pete and Bryan are like excited little boys on Christmas eve, waiting to move in. They keep popping their heads in my office at the center and asking questions. I hope we will all keep unity as our goal. I pray that we will be stretched and learn to form a family unit together. Please pray for us.

Kindness unlocks

I went to a women's conference today in Lincoln at New Life church. Margaret Stunt was the main speaker. Wow, what a breath of fresh air. She was profound and quite funny. But one of the things she said was "Kindness unlocks." Unlocks doors in the community, hearts of those close to you, family relationships.
She said that when we are secure in God's love, we don't have to worry about what others think. We can love the extra mile. Kindness preaches, we don't have to say a word.
Inversely, anger locks. Anger locks up our hearts in unforgiveness and bitterness.

I need to truly ingest this in my heart and spirit. God has given us the rejects of English society to love and sometimes that is hard. But kindness unlocks the doors to their hearts.
I really like that thought

Less expectations in the material world, more expectations in the spiritual world.
This is what it is like being a missionary.
I put less and less hope in what is material, what my hands can produce or secure, and more hope in what God will provide, trusting in His good Heart.
Very, very, achingly slowly, I am learning to do this. He is faithful, patient and kind to teach and provide, I am slow and dull. But this is one of the things I wanted to learn.
Spiritually, he is open cages and taking down walls in my heart, even though I try to crawl back into my cages at times. He is cutting away, pruning the pride, greed, selfishness and anger that infects my heart and spirit. Living in community, preparing to take two more men into our own house, is a huge challenge for me - the only woman in the group. Right now we have four sons, and Ken, who was in the Betel program, living with us. In two weeks, Brian and Pete will be added. They are both long term residents with Betel, who want to move out of the dorms, but want a place with accountability. I have to prepare my heart to welcome them, to not take offense at their personality quirks. I know that God is stretching my heart in all this. That is where I want to be : pressing in, stretched out of my comfort zone.

My shoes and socks are wet, soaked with whatever it is that is so constant here - dew or rain or just wet seepage. At lunchtime, Scott and l like to walk on one of the three footpaths around Windmill house. The one that we took today goes through three sheep fields (with lots of sheep poop), over four stiles, down an ancient roman road, until you meet up with the road going up Weatheroak Hill.
We past by cottages with names: Granny's cottage; Rose cottage, Dolphin House and dolphin barn.
We trudge past the Coach and Horse freehouse pub, and up the steep hill. Finally, we past the refurbished windmill in a pasture and duck past Windmill cottage onto the grounds of Windmill house. I love these walks. When coming down the hill, we have this beautiful view of rolling hills and more sheep fields. I love the view with the trees turning autumn colors.
Then when we get back in, we go to the tea room, a big closet with a sink. Usually a little grungy and unkept, it is where you start the kettle and make a wonderful cup of hot tea.

Ok, that all sounds very idyllic, and it mostly is. I have grown to love a hot cuppa, to understand why it is so valued in this damp, cloudy, cold country. Even in the middle of the summer, I still was drinking hot tea, because it was still cool during the day - high sixties and low seventies. That is cool for an Alabama girl. I have even learned to like it the way most true English take their tea - no sugar, teabag left in, and milky. That took a while, but since I love to eat a bit of chocolate with my tea, I wanted to learn how to forgo the sugar. And of course, PG tips is the tea of choice. YUM
Cadbury chocolate and a cup of tea. My friend Carol came over a couple of weeks ago and brought Hershey kisses with almonds. I have hidden most of them and am enjoying a couple every night with my last cup. Thanks, Carol!!

my first blog

hi yall.
Jonny is helping me set up a cool blog.
So here goes.......