Sitting here tonight, in the guest flat of a lovely warden assisted housing complex, the home of a couple who have become good friends in recent months – Hugh & Sandra Southon, in Paignton, South Devon… though today was the first day I have actually met them! The joys of mobile phones, and good old Facebook….! More in a minute…
Landed an hour late in Heathrow on Thursday night… question: how can you possibly land (over an hour actually) so late on flight that takes only 55 minutes? Guess I’ll never know! What’s more, the computer guidance system to bring the plane into the gate wasn’t there, nor any of the personnel who wave tennis bats and torches, so we sat waiting for quite a few additional minutes…. and the then the luggage took forever! Joy of travelling number 1!
Long drive to Cornwall, not far short of as far as you can go west and south, but it was lovely to see my sister and brother in law. It was my first visit to them since their son, Stewart’s funeral in January. It was so lovely to be with them, and catch up with the last few months other than over the phone. I can’t even begin to think what they’re going through after the years and years of intensive caring for Stew, one of the most blessed young men on the planet to have them as mum and dad.
Down to Plymouth Saturday afternoon, straight off to hospital to pray for long-time friend Sue Mason: Sue has been hospitalised for 5 months, having initially had heart surgery, but some of the effects of the surgery, and the medications, have created other massive issues in her. I’ve known Kitt, Sue, and their daughter Joy for 25 years or more, so it was a joy to go and pray for her. I’ve a feeling that tomorrow morning will see more of the answer to today’s praying…
An evening wit the leaders of City Church, Plymouth, was a joy – social, chatty, full of good food, wine, God, people, God, wine…. lovely! Fantastic meeting yesterday at their church yesterday: I’ve been going there for about 25 years now, and love the people there dearly: what was fantastic yesterday, apart from the fact that one or two people immediately testified to freedom from pain, was that from the normal sized congregation, it’s doubled in the last year, and God is very clearly repositioning people from across the country to move to Plymouth, as God really does seem on the move there.
One of the repositioned people, who, with her husband, God has taken right out beyond the edge of their comfort zones (sell their house where they live, move to Plymouth, rent, with no knowledge of what job or provision comes next – my story from years back, so I love it!!) – had terrible carpal tunnel pain, both wrists and arms – virtually gone by the time I left. Another guy with pain head to toe – massive reduced pain: no ‘out of this world’ miracles but loads blessed with freedom from niggling debilitating things… and believing even more for a massive miracle for Jules, the Pastor, and his amazing wife Olwyn….
Prayed for people in their homes after that, including a neighbour of the friend I had lunch with, who has a sign on their front door -‘ no cold callers: no religious callers’!. Then on to Paignton, realised the last time I came here was with my dad and mu,, and sister, and I’d probably have been about 5… :), it’s changed in 55 years! Prayed with lovely Sandra Southon, 5 year-long stroke victim, and her hubby Hugh… she’s home from hospital today after a mini-stroke last week: what she needs back, and what I really believe God will give her back this week, is her voice. The ‘big’ stroke 5 years back took that out when the stroke caused damage to the vocal receptors….I’m sure Hugh’ll tell me….! Better still, Sandra….!!!
