England Adventures: "Shocking Experience"

God often looks after the silly mistakes His children make. A word of caution, the most thought out plan can have traces of silliness in it. In my case it was a shocking experience. Here is what happened.

First off let me thank all of you who have lifted up a prayer of protection for me because I sure needed that covering.

The electrical sockets that I am use to have three holes to accommodate a two or three prong appliance. Two holes are flat and parallel to each other while the other hole is circular sitting below or above the two flat holes. All you have to do is push and plug and if the appliance is working it turns on.

In the UK there is a difference in the sockets. The UK sockets have three holes but all three holes are flat and
turned in different directions. The sockets also have a switch that can be turned on or off. In order for the standard appliances to work an adapter is needed. The adapter allows standard appliances to be plugged into the UK wall socket.

I bought one of these adapters on a previous trip. Unfortunately, the adapter only allows one appliance to be plugged in at a time. So I thought I would be smart and use a standard surge protector. All I needed to do was plug the adapter into the UK wall socket and plug surge protector into the adapter then there would be six addition places to plug other appliance. This is an easy conversion from the standard socket to the UK socket, so I thought.

I tried it just as outlined above. It was all set and here is what happened. When I clicked the switch I heard a loud BANG! in the wall, a brilliant flash of light that looked like lightening shooting from the socket and the surge protector what making a papping sound. Immediately I jumped back in a state of shock and with in a few seconds the room was dark. After a while I realized the current did not hit me and I was still alive. Praise God!!!

One of the first thought that came to mind was, “What did you do now. Boy genius you have turned out all the lights”. The lights from the other apartment shinning through my window prompted me that the effect was limited to my apartment. It took three days before I told the landlord about the problem because I felt too silly to own up to it. Someone the office came to the apartment and flipped a breaker switch and the lights were back on.

Are you grateful that God protects you from the silly things you do?
Lamentations 3: 21-22 declares:
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

The burnt up surge protector is a reminder to me that what is so obvious to me can be so dangerous.

England Adventures: "Lewes Bonfire"

Most visitors to England would probably never hear about Lewes. Lewes is a small town south of London with a traditional design and by walking along the sidewalk you can feel the rich history. The big event the town is known for is its bonfire and fireworks. Once a year locals dress in costumes and march along the street toward one of several spots for bonfire with burning torches.

If you have a taste for culture, a sense of adventure and the heart to deal with loud really loud fireworks then the Lewes Bonfire is a place to visit. I was told that it is an event you should experience if only once. So I decided to give it a try.

After waiting an hour to board the train I took the 5 minute ride from the university to Lewes. When I got there some of the parading had already begun so I pushed my way through the crowd to find a good spot to watch the activities. IFortunately I found a spot on the sidewalk in front of the home of a local family.

The atmosphere was really festive at this house. People were going in and out of the house with cheese, finger food and wine. The kids played on the sidewalk and the elderly watched through the living room window. The family was so kind they offered their goodies to the spectators who stood in the front of their house to watch the parade. Instead of eating I took the opportunity to talk to the kind lady and elderly gentleman. They both informed me of the rich culture behind the parade. He had been attending the celebration for fifty years and hasn’t missed one yet.

Apparently this parade has been going on for hundreds of years. The costumes that were used in the parade had to be handed down from the previous generation or handmade. If you love history you would have enjoyed the display of culture. Persons in the parade marched proudly dressed up in king’s robes, queen’s attire, servant’s uniforms, peasant’s rags and soldier’s uniforms. I saw Indians decked with feathers and I even saw Shrek and Fiona but I didn’t see donkey.

The major cities in most countries have lost its true cultural identity but nestled in little towns much of what was remains. If plan to visit England and you want true taste of its culture visit a small town. The big cities will only rob you of a true cultural experience.

Much of what true Christianity about is found in the heart of those who, despite the complexity around them, have maintained the traditional values of the faith. That is to love God with all that is within you and to love your neighbours as you would love yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). A similar version of this is what I witnessed at the parade. In the faces of those that marched on the parade I saw a love for their tradition. The participants were confident in their history and comfortable in their costumes. In the family that came out and shared what they had I saw a respect and apreciation for neighbour. I don't live next door to those people. I can't even tell you their names, but the kindness they showed sure make me fell like I live next door.

England Adventures: "First Church Service",

Having a place of worship is important to maintain a God centered and focused life. Finding a fellowship where you can develop lasting friendships in many instances takes time. Well I have been fortunate to have a place even before arriving to England. This is how it happened.

When I attended Kansas State University a few years ago I had an advisor and friend by the name of Justin Kastner. He was a young doctor in Agriculture who had recently move back home to Kansas with his wife Susie. Justin was instrumental in helping with my thesis so he became one of my favorite professors to call on for a reference when I decided to purse a doctoral degree.

Hearing about my decision to go to England, Justin suggested that I look up Archie Coates because they both attended the same church when he was in England. Apparently Archie was about to embark upon a new venture, that is planting a new fellowship in Brighton in the St. Peters building http://stpetersbrighton.org/home When I got settled in I began looking for Archie and he was not hard to find. The fellowship he was planting was having its first service in two days.

Well I found the fellowship and attended its first service. It was exciting and at the same time a blessing. I was able to meet people who are excited for God and eager to do His work. The fellowship was warm and accepting. After church I was invited to have lunch with the team and it was a memorable experience. We ate at Susie’s favorite restaurant “Wagamama” then walked around the city for a couple hours. It was a great blessing.

I find it amazing how God was able to use a Bahamas – United States relationship to develop a Bahamas – Britain relationship. This little Bahamian went to a Kansas town in middle of nowhere and developed a friendship that would impact his future for ever. A friendship established when Justin was in England extended to a friendship between myself and him in Kansas and now continues to extend between me and the fellowship in England. It is like the friendship train keeps going on and on, between different people in different places. Praise God. It makes me wanna go and hug somebody : )

England Adventures: Grocery Store Experience

Obey The Unction From the Spirit of God

I went to the grocery store and what an experience. The lesson is Obey the Spirit of God when He gives an "unction". The unction is that deep down feeling of what to do.

Well I needed to go to the store, by asking around I found out that I could catch the bus to the near by store, 'Sainsbury's'. The Spirit gave an unction to take the medium size suitcase with me. I thought of how big that thing was and how noticeable it would be. I could just see the people staring and saying all sorts of things to themselves about me with the big suitcase. So instead of following the unction, I decided to take the small suitcase along with a hand held plastic sack I found in the apartment.
Well I caught the bus right across the street from the store. In my mind I needed to get everything I needed to last for a long, long time because it will be a while before I came grocery shopping again. The groceries should last about 2-3 months so I shopped going through every aisle picking out what was needed.

Despite the high prices in the store I did pretty good I thought because the total cost was around ₤75 (England is not the place for bargain shoppers). It wasn't until the groceries was being loaded onto the belt did I realize the suitecase and the extra plastic sack was not going to be big enough. The cashier was cashing and I was packing and before he was half way through the suitcase was full. It was in that moment I felt so, so silly, so dumb. I said to myself there is no car, no taxi so how in the world will you get all this stuff on the bus. I order to escape the starring eyes I pushed the trolley with the suitcase, the plastic bag, two other bags of groceries and eight liters of water to the outside. There I began reshuffling the groceries.

As people walked by they stared at my groceries in the corner of the sidewalk. Boy if I had only listened to the unction I would not be feeling so small right now.

I managed to reshuffle the groceries so that they fit better. People just starred as I scuffled to the bus stop. Yes, I did find a pole to hide behind so I would not be so noticeable. Boy if I had only listened to the unction I would not be feeling so small right now.

The bus came I got on and of course the people just starred. I found a seat close to the front in the handicap section. No body said a word, not the bus driver not even the old ladies (probably in their early 70's) who sat right behind the handicap section. They had also been shopping but their grocery carrier was bigger than mine and all of their stuff fit into one bag. As one of the old ladies wobbled passed by me on her way off the bus she said with her British accent, "boy you are loaded". "Yep" I replied. As she stepped off the bus she turned to me and said "You need a donkey". I laughed and thought, boy if I had only listened to the unction I would not be feeling so small right now.

When I got off the bus I made sure to get off in a location that was close the apartment but away from the crowd. Even still, as I was walking down the sidewalk people who were headed in my direction stepped off the sidewalk and just starred. As they made space on the sidewalk for the 'grocery man' I thought boy if had only listened to the unction I would not be feeling so small right now.

Praise God I made it, nothing missing and nothing broken. I did learn a lesson OBEY THE UNCTION FROM THE SPIRIT OF GOD. We know that God knows what is best, but perhaps you might be like me and think you know what looks best or what will work the best. God knows best so just obey and save yourself some embarrassments and some dumb moments.

England Adventures: "Trip from the Airport"

God is working it out for you

Moving from one place to another is not an easy task, especially when you have to carry four pieces of luggage from one country to another. The airport departure – from the car to the ticket counter at the airport there is a porter to assist. The airport arrival – from the baggage claim to the shuttle bus there is a trolley to assist. Who or what can you rely on to assist after the airport? This is where I met Ahmad, a man probably in his late forties from the Middle East.

I had just gotten off the shuttle and headed up the escalator to find train tickets. He saw me struggling with my luggage and asked if I needed a taxi. My immediate response was “No, I can manage.”
“Where are you going to, I will help you”, he replied.
“To university”.
“Come” he said, “I will take you”.
“How much is your taxi?”
“I don’t have the book, come and I will tell you”, he insisted.

By this time he had already grabbed two of my luggage and headed for the door. It is hard to argue with someone when you have an obvious burden and they are providing relief. I thought to myself he doesn’t appear to be dangerous and I am bigger than he is so if he tries something I am confident I could take him. Besides, I know his fare could not compete with the railroad fare so I will hear what it is then leave.

He goes to get his car and by the looks of it I’m getting all kinds of signals that this guy is not who he claims to be. So I’m thinking I am out of here. He comes back to me with some excuse of why he does not have his fare book and ask where I’m going. I tell him the university and he doesn’t know how to get there. I pull out a map and suddenly he remembers. I ask him how much and he says, “₤70”. Yep, this was my cue to grab my stuff and leave because this price is outrageous. He sees me gabbing my stuff and pleads with me to make a deal. Well call me crazy, but I did make a deal for ₤45. Why? Because I sensed desperation and realized that this guy is a hustler trying to make a few pounds.

Throughout this whole ordeal I am praying, “Lord what should I do, what should I do?” I did not get a direct answer but what I felt was a sense of covering, one that protected me from any harm that would come near me. It was this feeling that calmed me when ahmad took my luggage when I was headed up the escalator and this feeling prevented me from walking away from the whole ordeal. Throughout the whole thing I did not feel threatened, I felt protected. Not just any protection, God’s protection.

We got the car loaded (of course the car is not a taxi) and headed for the university. I know the trip would be a short one and I pulled out the map to make sure we were headed in the right direction. I my mind I’m thinking, ‘great a black man and a man from the Middle East travelling together with a bunch of luggage’. If that’s not suspicious what is?

During the drive we exchange small talk and within 25 minutes we were at the university. He was very helpful and patient. While I went into the building to enquire about housing he waited in the car with the luggage. Within 15 minutes we were off loading the luggage. In my heart I felt impressed to give him a little extra. Why? I don’t know I just did. Safe and sound at the university, praise God!

What is the significance of this ordeal and why am I sharing it? Well let me outline them for you because at first I did not see it until the end.

• My flight landed in London at 12 noon on a Friday and I am at the university shortly after 3 pm.
• I had lots of luggage, no means of transportation, no resources to waste and in need of a place to stay.
• The university’s housing office closes at 5 pm and did not open until Monday.

When you put all of these points together here is the significance. The ride that I got from the Middle East supposedly taxi driver enabled me to arrive at the university early enough to look at and secure a place to stay. Without Ahmad’s assistance I would have had to find a hotel for the 3 nights (there are none near by) and some how haul that luggage around. Some would call it coincidence but I see Ahmad being used by God. I see God making provision for His child to get where him where he needs to be when he needs to be there.

What I did not tell you was that last year when I was hear in London visiting the university I saw a man in the train station struggling with his luggage up the stairs. Keep in mind the stairs in the station are not just a few steps. You can literally stand at the bottom of the stairs and not see the top. You don't walk up these steps, you have to climb them and with luggage it is overwhelming. As I looked at the man I saw everyone passing, I saw him in a world with many people but all alone. No one to help, no one to assist. So I grabbed two of his bags and helped him up the stairs. At the top of the stairs he looked at me with a gratitude that penetrated my soul. He said something in Arabic but all I understood was the look of gratitude. This look still sticks with me today.

Persons that saw what happen had a face of disbelief, as to say why did you do that? Jesus commented that 'He did what He saw the Father do' (John 5:19) . I only did what I saw needed to be done. Perhaps what happen to me was a returned favor. What ever it was I am grateful to God and I give Him all the praise for working it out.