Short hair, peanut butter and why do people leave?

I succumbed and asked Lisa to cut my hair short. Shorter than I have had in over four years. I was thinking how easy it would be to care for, how I would look more "Up-to-date" (groovy) and how I could make it funky with gel or wax. But now that I have done it, I am afraid - that I look like a man, or my mom, or just lots less feminine. I think I will like it in two weeks. Just call me Dan.
A sign that we have been in England a long time is that my children are now eating English peanut butter and liking it. English peanut butter is less smooth and sweet than say, Jiff, or even Walmart's Great Value brand. I used to either ask visitors from the US to bring us a big jar of Jiff or I bought some at Aldi's that was kind of close to the American kind. But now they are not even asking for American peanut butter, they are just eating the Sainsbury's store brand as if that is all they have ever known. Also, all of them drink their hot tea with milk. What's next?
Haggis? Steak and kidney pie? Black pudding?
Life in Betel means that there are seasons of people coming and people leaving. Lately, people are leaving the program for some sad reasons. One just said that she wanted the things of the world more than the things of God. One stole some money. Some just want to get high or drunk again. It is always hard when people leave. You laugh with them, you eat meals with them, you pray with them, and then one day, they just walk out the door. Most of the time, I don't get to say goodbye. That makes me sad. Our director wisely says that we must love the ones that are with us, the ones that God has given us for this moment.

My hair is still short. I'm going to go have a cup of tea.

Daisy Boo

I know that if there is ever a drought in England, all we will have to do to call down rain is hang clothes out on the line to dry and start our little charcoal grill. Works every time.

Otherwise, we did have a nice day. We were a particularly idyllic and wholesome looking family as we cycled to the local canal, walked along the side and picked blackberries. At one junction we came up at a bridge, at a country pub where people were sitting and walking around with their pints of ale. I spoke with one man who was standing at the bridge. He had not heard of any other type of missionaries other than Mormon. I explained that we were not Mormons, we were Presbyterians. He seemed to accept that well. He went on to tell me that he did not believe in the trinity. It was about this time I noticed that he was a little sloshed. So I decided to go find the kids. He cheered me on as I left in a very friendly manner. I hope he did not fall into the canal after we left.

But now we are home and because of the abundance of water that insists on falling from the sky, (because we lit the grill) we have to pan fry our pork chops. Pete (big Pete, not my Peter) is roasting peppers and chicken in the oven and they smell really good. As he says, " It's the business!" We are also debating the viability of a year old Christmas pudding that he found in the back of the lower cabinet in our kitchen. Bonn Appetit!

Sidenote: did you know that one of Jamie Oliver's daughter's name is Daisy Boo? I love it. He should have lived in Alabama!!

Visas

We got our visas!!!! Wow. We went away for the weekend to a Betel house in Nottingham and when we came back on Sunday evening - there was the package. sitting on the table in the hall, waiting for us. Three more years - big wow. We are happy and releived and a little stunned. Stunned, because, we feel that this is still God's will for us. So far from home, family and friends.

But we are relieved that things will go on - like the boys schooling. This will be the first year in four years that Paul will go to the same school two years in a row. From the time he was 10 until now he has gone to a different school each year. First year: Minnesota; next year: Philadelphia; third year: Alvechurch middle school; fourth year: Henley High and now he is returning to Henley High. He will be able to complete Henley High as long as we don't do something stupid to get us kicked out to the country. Christopher will start with him in Henley High this year. Can you say two train fares??? Peter will return to his primary school, for the first time, without Christopher. Now I have to dash around and finish buying all the bits that they need for school. It is not a matter of school supplies - those are mostly provided by the schools. It is all the specific stuff you have to have for their uniforms. Blazers with school crests, ties, the proper shoes, and two full P.E. outfits ( a winter one and summer one). The P.E. shirts must be bought from the school with the school logo embrodiered on front. I even have to buy Henley-in-Arden High school gym socks!!!! Crazy eh?

But, this is what we have prayed for - that God would either keep us here or send us elsewhere. So here we stay. The guys in the house were pleased - chuffed - as they say here. Things are going well in our house. The guys are getting along and dare I say it ---- maturing!
Ken is doing really well. We are pleased (chuffed) at how well he is doing. Praise God because I don't want to have to choke any of them.

So, wow. I am going to go have a cup of tea and watch the rain.

Pray for our UK visa renewal

Please pray for our visa renewal to go smoothly and quickly. We are due to go to Spain for the annual WEC-USA conference at the end of August and need our passports to travel. When I called this morning to check on the progress I was told that they had not even started to process it yet. Waaahhh! We sent it in a month ago. So now we are starting to really call in prayer.
Thanks.