Baptized in Welsh Culture – Wales Mission July 2010

Monday, July 12, 2010

Whiplash. That is what it felt like to escort the First Group to where as they were getting in line to check their bags at the Bristol Airport and then to walk 100 yards to where teh Second Group was just getting off their plane. Sad hugs goodbye and warm hugs hello. The First Group saw through the windows that the Second Group had made it safely through immigration and had gotten their baggage.

The Second Group was comprised of Allen Rice and Jennifer Nath as holdovers from the First Group and new members Craig McClain, Jason Coker, Doug and Paula Mikes, Lyn Holmes, Chloe Baulch, Nikki Clark, Sara Gibson, Karri Doughty, Kelly Cheek, and Lauren West. They all had a thoroughly Welsh Day touring Tintern Abbey and Caerphilly Castle, eating a hearty Welsh breakfast at “The Anchor” across from the abbey (which again opened just for us), then Welsh Rarebit, Lamb Cawl, and Welsh Cakes at “Glamor” across from the castle. In the evening, we indulged in traditional Welsh pub food at the local Wetherspoon’s where we ate what we wanted (fish and chips, burgers, etc.) but we all snarfed about half each of a Sticky Toffee Pudding drenched in Custard. Welsh indeed!

Most of this team has never been on a mission, never been abroad (at least to Britain), or both. It is fun to watch them experience their first castle or their first Welsh Rarebit (they generally liked both!) with their eyes wide and their hearts open.

After stopping in Cardiff to see Deedee and Deah Rice (and to get some clean laundry for Allen and some “Go Phones” for the team), we went to the Dragon Hotel in Swansea where we showered and rested for an hour. Then at 7:00 p.m., we met in the hotel lobby, which we made our living room. We had a team meeting, expressing some of our hopes and expectations for this mission. The we went to the pub where we “happened to meet Derek, Ruth, and Aled (in other words, Nikki covertly called them). There was a great deal of introductions, laughter, and high spirits, despite the fatigue of the Americans. The party broke up at 9:30 p.m. and everyone stumbled off to an early bed.

Tomorrow morning we are to meet at Capel Gomer at 9:00 for Prayer and Bible Study, then we are to figure out what we are doing. It would be nice to know – since we have our first children’s program at 4:00 p.m.!