Sunny Manchester

It really is – don’t laugh! It hasn’t rained on us at all since we moved on Wednesday – a day earlier than we had planned. I’m sitting here in the kitchen which is really the only place at the moment I can connect to a network. We are in our lovely new home, everyone has been so kind and thoughtful.

Not strictly biblical - but I like the thought
Not strictly biblical - but I like the thought

Didsbury is a beautiful place where yesterday I went for a run and discovered an idyllic park just round the corner. Some kind new friends invited us out last night to join in a family celebration – people are SO friendly!

Great talk today from Alan Taylor at church about LOVE. Lots of insightful points, what grabbed me most was the idea of surprising love. Check it out at the website.

What a week for going from person to person learning how to love. Among others (including the removals men who were brilliant) I’ve met…

Anthony the alarm man, who took a copy of a little book with him full of bible promises – I wrote in it, “praying that God would bless you and keep you safe as you keep others safe.”

Ron the aerial man who will introduce me to his pals at the Dog & Partridge

Ron the runner who helped me when I got lost and ran back with me – what an interesting bloke!

Paul the gas fitter who told me his Dad was a Jew who became a Christian when a street evangelist spoke to him; Paul took a little devotional book and as I prayed with him together with Zoe, his eyes welled up with tears.

This morning I met an absolute Manchester legend – Mike Shaft. I used to listen to Mike’s TCOB shows on Piccadilly 261 back in the day – and how chuffed was I to be his guest for a short slot / interview on his show on BBC Radio Manchester. It went really well.

As I write, Joel, Sarah & Steve, Matt and John from church have turned up to do the one thing I hate most of all – the job I am absolutely most ungifted for – putting together our new flat pack furniture! How amazing that people would give up their sunny Sunday afternoon to do that. What a great gift to us. Surprising love in action.

God loves this city – and I do too!