Grace spelled and expounded

I was in Grace's house today for lunch after the breaking of bread service in Clumberhall. Gace has always treated me very warmly and I'm very comfortable around her. Unlike some others whom I'm still feeling stiff around, looking for topics to talk about. But with Grace, it was different. She was just gracious. We took the tram to her house which is just 10 minutes away from the city centre.

She cooked while I hang around in her kitchen, exploring her things. Very rude of me but I was really curious on an English home's settings. The amount of cutlery and plates and cooking utensils they have simply amaze me. Back home, I would had have them disposed!
She made some delicious chicken with cauliflower and carrots and potatoes, covered with think brown gravy..simply delicious! Like in Ada's house, we sat at the table and talked. She told me bout people in Clumberhall. It was like a brief introduction to the believers in clumberhall. I found out today who was married , who wasnt and who's widowed. It was amazing that some chose to remain singles and serve the Lord so faithfully. Where do they get the strength from? And if only I could take a picture of the believers in Clumberhall, you would understand my enthusiasm. They are all three scores and above. Some are in their eighties! I don't reckon I would still have the strength to walk out, take bus and come to church when I'm eighty! I would probably be in a wheel chair and need to be look after by someone else! Simply amazing. Suddenly, I begin to see their love for Christ and how He has blessed them so richly. What a privellege to still be able to gather with peers at that old ripe age and break bread together on every Sunday. Truly..what a privellege...

Grace then told me about her family, her parents and brothers. Her parents are both missionaries from England who went to Brazil to start a church. Forgive me for not remembering the name of the place where the church was first planted, it was too foreign for me to remember. She herself was born in Brazil. She made a scrapbook of the life of her mother. Grace's mother was born in 1899. She recounted bit by bit from the time when her mother was born, into her teenage years and eventually marriage days before having Grace and her 2 brothers. As we flipped through the album together, I was amazed. It was simply overwhelming..the stories of her parents, their work and their lives as a family. There was so much love in this family. And oh, Grace was a dashing young woman in those pictures. It was a pity that she was never married ( I think so as she did not mention anything bout having a husband). And oh her younger brother was a fine young man too. He passed away just last year because of cancer. After the photo session, I understood why she has so much to say about her younger brother. He was such a gem...and all were fond of him. And of course, both Grace and him were very close. It was a pity that he has passed on. He was 64.

In Clumberhall, all are very old. As Grace shared with me, the thing that struck me was how times has changed. Back then, Christians were much more responsible and their love to the lord permeates the air. Christian parents teach their children so well that they too continued on in their faith even until old age. There are so much warmth and love and people really love the Lord. Looking now, what has it become? Why has "christianity" become such a taboo subject? Why is it so difficult to talk to one another about the Lord? Why is it that we can talk to each other bout any other things so spontaneously and naturally but become stiff when it comes to the Lord? It became apparent to me that the world has evolved and changed to such a way that it moulds everyone to be someone that they are not supposed to be. It's really a pity..

What can I absorb from Grace and Ada and others in Clumberhall to bring back to my home? I'm determined to learn as much from them as not go back empty handed.

Oh Lord..help me..

Riches of His Blessings

I had always wondered what the blessings of God really mean. People always tell me that God blesses us spiritually and materially. I don't understand the extend of his out pouring love until recently. Sometimes it's really good to step out from your comfort zone and see how the Lord works. Back home, being very sheltered as I am, I was short-sighted in seeing these things. I mean, I was blessed with a good family- wonderful supportive parents and sisters(though they get on your nerve sometimes, but they are really precious jewels that cannot be replaced), marvellous bunch of friends and a nice home...I didnt realise how comfortable I was till I left home to further my studies in Nottingham.

Now, I wished I could still enjoy the convenience I had at home. I walked to everywhere now..to town to get groceries, to attend classes, wash after myself. I'm on my own now. No more rides from Mum, no more leaving the dishes knowing that someone else will clean them, no more Mum ironing my clothes..no more such convenience. I learnt to appreciate them better now. I didn't realise how well my parents taught me on how important cleanliness is and certain principles that seem petty to some until now to an extend that I become fussy when things are not as tidy as at home. Haha..talking about being so strongly in-rooted.

Now being away, I see things that I don't see back home. I now understand how hard earned money is. When you just have this certain amount to spend on, you'll think before putting certain things into your trolley in the supermarket. The conversion rate obviously makes buying even harder. But perhaps, focus seem to shift to other things here. I was blessed to have been introduced to an assembly in city where hospitality hangs on their neck. Horrible description, but yeah..

People here have been very kind to me. I spent a whole afternoon in Ada's house. She attends service in Clumberhall too. She made me meals, gave me her homemade jam which tasted very nice. Above all, she showed me kindness that I had never expected. Imagine being away from home and here there're people who showed so much love and warmth. I am very thankful. Also another family, the Osbornes, whom I was in contact with before I came over. They were very nice too. They have an adorable son, Matthew who till now still talking about the embarassing incident on leaving me in the toilet when the fire alarm went off in McDonalds! Both Neil and Ruth Osbornes made sure I'm all right here and invited me over to their house for an evening. Such warm people...

Even my friends here are nice. We stayed together and each help support each other..Utter blessedness...I'm truly thankful..