Trip to England & Sweden

Theresa & I have set up this page as an effort to communicate about our travels to the Salt & Light European Conference. After the conference we will be visiting our friends in Sweden as we go to Gottenberg and Almhult.

Dear Family and Church Family,

Greetings from the U.K.! We’re having a wonderful time! Thinking of you though and wanted to let you know about the trip. If you’re not a detail person, feel free to skim.

3-6-07, Tuesday
We left Minneapolis around 5:00p and arrived Chicago at 6:15p. There we met up with Doug Kreighbaum and Scott Squires from Pittsburg, Jerry & Brenda Curry and Tom & Bev Scopel from Waverly, MO, and Bud & Suellyn Shepherd and Frank & Susan Vieila from Odessa, MO.
After about a 1½ hour delay (due to a lost log book, a broken tug, & de-icing the plane a couple of times due to snow) we left around 9:30p. After that, the trip was very nice - uneventful.

3-7-07, Wednesday
We arrived in London around 12:30p (6:30a MN time) and were met by Sam Dilliway and Graham Sherwood from the Basingstoke church (called Basingstoke Town Center.) Upon arrival at the church, we met Frank & Betina from Denmark (friends of Buck’s), as well as Rebecca (Dave & Chris’s daughter), and several others from the church.
We (along with Doug and Scott) traveled to Basingstoke with John Denning. Upon arriving at John’s home, we met his wife, Marilyn, and Paul, a pastor from India. John & Marilyn are a prophetic couple who pray for Dave & Chris when they’re traveling and mentor other prophetic people. We had pleasant conversation over tea (with milk, Diane) and biscuits (cookies.) Supper was very nice – lace and china. (Oh, the food was delicious too. Tried chutney.)

3-8-07, Thursday
We drove from Basingstoke to Teeside this morning with Phil & Helen Norris. [Thanks for suggesting I (Theresa) meet Helen, Tim W.] (Phil’s the senior leader/pastor of one of the six Basingstoke Community Churches, as well as the area team leader of those six leadership teams, and part of the Salt & Light European Apostolic Team.) All six churches meet together once a month (called Celebration Sunday) to stay connected. It was about a six-hour drive north. The rest stops on the way are much different than ours – a grocery store, restaurant, gas station, etc., all in one spot when you pull off. Road signs along the way encourage you to stop when you get tired, and to “Think not phone whilst driving.” (Cell phone use while driving is illegal here.)
Arrived at the hotel – the Best Western Parkmore Hotel & Leisure Club – very elegant, the table settings are very formal, lots of china and utensils.
At dinner we reconnected with Buck, Haakan, plus we met eight others from the Uddevalla church, including Jan. (If you remember, Haakan spoke highly of her administrative abilities when he was in Mankato.) Pat also reconnected with several people he met at the conference last year.
Afterwards we went to the first meeting of the conference nearby. There are about 700 attendees from many nations. Steve Thomas (leader of the Salt & Light family in Europe and the European Apostolic Team) welcomed all and highly recommended reading a book Bryn Franklin had given him called, Discipleship on the Edge (a commentary on the book of Revelation.)
Ngwiza Mnkandla spoke about what God is doing in the earth. He is a church planter, originally from Zimbabwe, who is now living in Orlando, FL. He’s helping plant churches with an organization called DAWN (Discipling a Whole Nation.) He shared many things that God is doing, with a focus on Brazil and Africa. He said the major move of God that is taking place in Brazil followed a powerful move of prayer, apostolic leadership with a clear focus, and different organizations working together through the church, not around it. (Thought these are key points to consider as we pray for our area and nation.) He said if we’re just praying for our congregations, we’re thinking too small because God wants to save the whole world, and then he referred to Ephesians 3:20 (one of your favorites, Teresa.)
Sorry it’s been so long before we wrote. The internet hasn’t been as accessible as we thought it would be, and Pat’s cell phone is not working. However, e-mail is still the best way to contact us.
We miss you, are thinking of you, and praying all is going well there. Will write again soon.

With love,
Pat & Theresa

P.S. Josh & girls, hope all is going well at home. Would you let Stephanie, Nanny, & Grandpa know about this blog site in case they’re interested? Thanks! We love & miss you!
Love,Dad & Mom/Pat & Ma