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.