#andwerehoff York-Hull-BREXIT-Rotterdam-Haarlem-Darmstadt

Here I sit at the edge of Eisenach, Germany just under a mighty fortress-the Wartburg Castle. Most of my days have been without Internet, and today is no different. So, I will post this as soon as I get some wifi. Eisenach is a little town connected to many people and events. St. Elizabeth, Luther (Junker Jorg), Pachelbel, Telemann, Bach, Wagner, BMW, and a very sad meeting I will write about later. First, I better start where I left off earlier.

We drove from the ancient city of Bath to the ancient city of York by way of the Cotswolds and Manchester on June 23rd, the day of the referendum for the UK voters to decide to exit or remain in the European Union. Polls had been hovering back and forth around 50-50 for the whole time we've been here, but took a bit of a swing toward remaining in the days before the referendum because of the tragic murder of MP Jo Cox, a supporter of remaining, by a disturbed man. We drove by polling stations all day and saw voters coming and going. It was quieter than I expected. I couldn't find exit poll results, because most don't trust exit polls (they were very wrong in the last elections). The country was shocked the next morning when the exit side won with over 52% of the vote. The conservative Prime Minister announced his resignation, the liberal Labor Party is calling for the resignation of their leader. The pound dropped in value, so did the euro. Scotland wants another referendum to exit the UK, but stay in the EU. Those are the headlines that make the news, but our conversations with friends and new friends tell a more emotional story. Workers from other places who feel unwelcome. Refugees driven out of another regime, now voted off the island? Missionaries from other places wondering if their planned future is sustainable. 

#beautiful Cotswolds

#notbeautiful Curvy roads which induce sickness.

Football guys outside of Old Trafford, where Manchester United has played for over 100 years.

On the tour in Old Trafford

Entrance tunnel the players come on to the pitch

An old Beckham jersey in the Home dressing room.

We made it to the Porter vicarage in York for a pick up game of football with the Porter boys versus the Hoff boys (They won 5-4, but it was close). It was a beautiful evening getting to know Sam, Luke, Isaac, David, and their friend Libby. Matthew is the vicar at St Michael le Belfrey in the York's city center. He is on a well-earned sabbatical in and around California, while we were at his home. I hope to meet him someday, as it seems we share a common heart for the ministry of discipleship in congregations committed to the Word and the Spirit. 

You can see the York Minster (seat of the Archbishop of York), between the shrubbery. 

St Michael le Belfrey is right in the shadow of the York Minister. Because of the enormous size of the Minster, St Mike's looks smallish, until you get inside, and realize it is a sizable building. 

Here is a picture of the front of St Mike's, with a tower from the Minister to the left. Like Trinity, St Mike's experienced renewal in the 1970's under the ministry of David Watson who actually started at St Cuthbert's (a short walk away), and outgrew that space and relocated the congregation to St Mike's, St Cuthbert's becoming the office space. When our friend, Lisa Cueller lived in York, this was home base for her. We are so glad she arranged for us to meet Sam and family! #true

York has ancient Viking, Roman, and every following strata of history. The intact walls around the city reach back to Roman times. I don't remember what gate this is. Lisa's friend, Kerstin was a terrific impromptu tour guide.

Here is a picture of St Cuthbert's (Where St Mike's used to office). Now it serves as a house of prayer. They have many of their own prayer and training events, and stream IHOP at other times. We were grateful for the generosity of the diocese to allow this holy space to be used for this instead of turning it into a pub or some other use. If you can see from the picture, they utilized the space creatively. They left the chancel area and the windows and memorials intact around the perimeter of the room, but added a 2 story structure in the middle that serves as individual and thematic prayer rooms.

A walk on the walls.

A picture for Lisa from the side of the Minster.

The size of the Minster is impossible to capture on film. They are performing an adaptation of an old mystery play based on the story of redemption from creation to consummation, so half of the Minster is taken up with raised staging and bleacher seats. The choir is unchanged.

Outside of the Minster, the York Regiment was honored and given permission by the Lord Mayor to walk and protect the city. The (excellent) marching band played James Bond music.

We exited Britain from Kingston-upon-Hull on Friday night on a ferry to Rotterdam, Holland. After having the time of our life, and being spoiled by the kindness of strangers and new friends, it was difficult to leave.

The port at Rotterdam, Holland is the largest in Europe. We took a train to Haarlem to visit Corrie Ten Boom house, but got their ten minutes late for the English tour after jogging from the train station. Shoot! The Dutch tour was our only hope to get in, and it looked like it was filling up as we waited outside by Ten Boom Jewelery (still in business). The kind Dutch tour guide, a volunteer, wouldn't take us because of the language barrier, and more importantly, the small size of the rooms for so large a group. We put our pathetic faces on, but that didn't work either. Most of the Dutch visitors interceded for us with the guide, and some even asked to skip the tour so we could go. Having four kids with heavy backpacks has proven to be a attention getter, and smile maker. You don't need to translate what people are thinking by looking at their eyes and smile that say, "Those people are crazy!" Finally, the tour guide bended and allowed us to go, and asked for two volunteers from the Dutch crowd to translate for us, which they did readily. I am still moved by the group's kindness toward us. 

The tour is even more moving. The Ten Boom family was such an example of practical Christianity. Here is the actual hiding place, with its own chamber pot and venting. After the Ten Boom family was arrested, the Jews hiding behind this brick wall were unable to come out for 72 hours! Surrender is one of the themes God has been repeating to me throughout this trip. The Ten Boom's surrendered their rights, time, resources, safety, future, and even lives for the Lord's agenda. 

The Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary have their beautiful handiwork right in the hiding place.

Afterwards we went to the Haarlem Market, and had lunch. I had a herring, pickles, and onions sandwich.

Flower stand in the Haarlem market.

That night we slept in a youth hostel in Darmstadt, Germany (south of Frankfurt). We worshipped with the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary in their original chapel. They have the most beautiful crucifix over their Altar, with a Jewish Star of David patch from a prisoner of a concentration camp fixed under the corpus. The star was given to the Sisters for their reconciling work. It cuts deep to consider our Lord, the "King of the Jews" walking around the streets, in the camps, on the gallows, in the chambers, in the graves. Jesus would have been made to wear the star, but from what I know about him, he would have chosen to wear it.

Sister Anastasia did a fantastic job translating the service for us, and giving the most spiritually enriching tour.

Sister Daniella spent time in San Pedro and the Scottsdale, AZ branch, and took Peter and Sammy berry picking for currents...

At the end of the garden of Jesus' suffering stands the mosaic of Jesus' victory.

There is a base relief of the Holy Trinity which hangs over Mother Basilea and Mother Martyria's graves. I think it gives Rublev's icon of the Trinity a run for being my favorite depiction of the tender communion of the three persons.

A great day in Canaan!

Walking to the Darmstadt train station to catch our next trip to Eisenach. More on that tomorrow (or the next time I get wifi).

Peace, dear friends!