 GREATHAM NEWSLETTER, FEBRUARY 2004 Dear Friends I have just returned from my nightly trip to the Manor House to write up the meal list for tomorrow. It seems such a small and insignificant task. It can take a long time as I try to spread the students around the tables evenly so they get to eat with all the workers regularly. A practical task which, like so many routine jobs at L’Abri, is weaving together a tapestry of moments. I wonder what they will discuss at Wade’s table tomorrow? I wonder how the Holy Spirit will work during the conversation? It is exciting to see the Lord bring together yet another group of people and to witness His working in their lives. I always find it interesting as I greet people for the first time and realise that their faces will mean and reveal so much more at the end of three months It is wonderful to have Jim and Merran Paul and their two children here this term up in the top flat of the Manor House. Jim has taken time out of his busy life as a doctor to reflect on their future. Little Samuel at 2 months is full of ‘coos’ and smiles, while Jack, 4 ½, runs around the Manor in his Spiderman outfit. Jeff and Heather Dryden and their 2-year-old son Willem are currently living in the Main Flat in the Manor. It has been a joy to have them return as helpers. Pray for them as they have been accepted as workers and will join the team fully as of next term. With Mia Sumann to add to this list there are a lot of pre-schoolers pattering around the place. It is always wonderful to see the children enjoying the big house and the large gardens. We are deeply
thankful for such mature and extremely capable helpers this term.
Together with the Drydens, dear Ken and Sally Phoenix have returned
for another term. Sally is a wonderful stable, cheery presence
in the kitchen, as well as being a great cook, and Ken can’t
get anything done because we keep interrupting him to fix things!
Stefan and Lois Lindholm have been with us since the autumn. They
have been such an encouragement to us with their warm presence
in the Manor. Pray for them too as they seek the Lord’s
guidance for their future back home in Sweden. They have had a
long-standing relationship with the Swedish L’Abri. Last
but by no means least is Rob Heimburger from Alabama. He has come
with the explicit purpose of preventing our walls from collapsing.
(He is carrying out much needed repairs to our exterior walls).
I think we will award him an honorary In his letter in the summer, Rudi spoke about change. This climate has not altered. We were all saddened by the news from Rudi and Deike that they plan to leave us at the end of the summer. Rudi has felt for some time the desire to study theology and more recently they have both felt the call to return to Germany. Do pray for them and for us. We have rejoiced with them, even in tears, as we have watched them wrestle with this decision and seen the Lord clearly leading them forward. They have both been very dear and key members of the team and it is hard to imagine continuing without them. Many young men have been helped by Rudi’s coming alongside and playing the role of a ‘mentor’ We will miss Deike’s organisation skills and her ability to juggle family responsibilities with L’Abri life. We will miss the two beautiful redheads who reside with them. Mia and Lotta have found their way into many hearts, student and worker alike. Whilst grieving this loss we have been delighted to accept Edith Reitsema as a worker here. She spent a year with us as a worker in training. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who can work so fast. We look forward to working further with her and seeing the Lord use her gifts amongst us. After our sabbatical in the summer it was decided that the Fellows should be the lucky ones to move into the newly refurbished Stables. We have been deeply thankful for this change for our whole family. We are continually thanking the Lord for sending a team of Canadians who gave of their time, skills and money to make the Stables more habitable. Plumbing leaks which had gone undetected, mending rotten window frames, together with the laying of a solid pine floor in the living area, a new floor in the bathroom and a new kitchen, have transformed the place. Andrew had great fun building a retractable staircase with his father-in-law to access the second storey rooms from the living room. This has meant we have more bedroom space for our children, and we can make the staircase disappear when we have large student meals! The Fellows’ move was just the beginning. During the Christmas break Edith moved into the Well House and in three weeks has redecorated it entirely (a much needed task) and laid a new tile floor, as well as carrying a full load of tutoring and meals. It has been lovely to watch her turn this space into a warm, welcoming home. After a 4-year period in the top flat Dawn has moved out to take up residence in the flat at the back of the house. A wonderful provision for her was the timely visit of her younger brother Luke whose carpentry skills were exploited to the full in putting up bookshelves etc. and helping Dawn make the flat into a welcoming, warm hobbithole for all who care to drop in. Following Wade’s interim co-ordinatorship during the summer, he has now been appointed co-ordinator permanently. Please pray for him as he seeks to lead us forward as a team particularly in this time of change. So, a lot of changes ! Susan Macaulay once said ‘The water changes but the river remains the same’. As we moved into the Stables it was interesting to hear the comments of different visitors whose recollections of the home related to different times in history. For some it was the McGregors’ home, for some the Seagrens’, or the Winters’, or the Boddingtons’. Just a reminder of the water changing but the river remaining the same. Our prayer is that each dwelling will be a shelter and oasis for the many that travel through. Due to the success of our L’Abri day conference last spring we are holding another one on 17th April 2004. Once again the date coincides with the annual Members’ meeting being held here at Greatham, so members from all the branches will be present and many of them speaking. Those of you who receive our Friday night lecture list should be receiving a leaflet about the conference in the next couple of weeks. For further information contact Martin and Di Mitchell, 52 Bones Lane, Buriton, Petersfield GU31 5SE. Telephone 01730 266064.
Thank you for you continuing interest. In the Lord, Helen  |