Birmingham and Beyond

When we first planned this trip, Birmingham was not on the agenda. Then I accepted an invitation to serve on the Canadian board of Reach Across. Since Birmingham is the ministry arena for some Canadian RA people, we added a small detour and spent a night with them. It was a short but truly delightful visit and an opportunity to see first hand this diverse area that is home to the people they serve. We thank God for these faithful folk.

An unexpected surprise last night was a phone call from Abbotsford letting us know that Valerie's mother, having dislocated her previously fractured hip, was back in the emergency room and almost certainly facing surgery. She was in good spirits having insisted on lunch when she arrived at the hospital. When the nurse told her we were on the phone, her response, loud enough for us to hear, was "tell them not to come!" We spoke to her doctor at length and are confident she is in good hands. In addition to everything else, we are thankful for a working cell phone.

We're back on the train headed for Glasgow. The trip takes us through some beautifully scenic country. Pictures through a train window are less than ideal; this one is on the edge of the Lake District. On to Scotland....