Waleslahoma

June 13, 2012 -- Days 5 & 6 The Construction Team continued their arduous assault on the entrance to the church, both inside and out.  Inch by inch they scraped away the detritus of old leprosy, repainting, rejuvenating the building as a symbol of what could lie in store for the whole community.  Bystanders took notice.  An Armenian sandwich shop owner gave critiques on the work from inside his truck, offering to give the teak oil to restore the wooden doors.  Many people asked if the church were reopening (it had never closed).  One woman teared  up. The Mission Team prepared for all the upcoming events for the week, planning, shopping, and praying.  Allen and Iestyn drove to Manchester airport on Wednesday and retrieved Jennifer Mansour.   Marc Owen, Church Life Secretary of the Wales Baptist Union and a dear friend, arrived on Wednesday so that he, Allen, Rhun, Derek, and Iestyn could brainstorm on future mission possibilities.  After days of grueling work together, Welsh ladies Linda and Moira gave Elizabeth and Jenonne a tour of beautiful Conwy Castle and the beach resort town of Llandudno.  More and more people showed up for tea in the afternoons and some of those who came returned for evening events, each day building momentum from the previous ones.  There were even discussions of literature and existential philosophy. The two evenings featured a Wales Night and then an American night.  The Wales night included Welsh delicacies (Welsh cakes!), a Welsh language lesson, an arm wrestling competition between Lonnie and Euros (Lonnie won) and Welsh circle dancing led by Arawn, our friend from Camp Bala last year.  The evening concluded with a singing of the Welsh national anthem.  For Oklahoma night, the meal included chili cheese hot dogs and nachos.  Lonnie showed the Welsh how to prepare their dogs.  Larry gave an informative lesson on American and Oklahoma history and taught the Welsh about Oklahoma "language" like "purdy." Allen emceed a Welsh and American quiz game that went over well, while Derek serves as scorekeeper.  The festival concluded with a rousing  a Capella version of Oklahoma, dessert (including S'mores) and feather all and Lonnie's wild game of lawn golf.  The churchyard reverberated with cheers and wild laughter.  The building had perhaps not seen so lively a night since the 1800's.  Perhaps never.