Two months ago today I was doing laundry, packing, and last minute cleaning before our journey to England. Now that we are back home, it is hard to believe that the time has gone by so quickly! Thinking back, the memories from this summer flash in my head like a jumbled up slide show of people and places. But when I look again, a few images seem to stand out, reminding me of the moments that made this a truly memorable summer…
Our flat in Bournemouth was small, but cozy. We especially enjoyed having an oven, and I used it almost daily to make everything from butter tarts and coffee cake to spicy chicken and baked macaroni & cheese.
The flat was located about fifteen minutes walk from Nathan’s workplace. His route to work involved climbing a rather dramatically steep hill, which just seemed like good exercise until the day he twisted his ankle. At only two weeks into the summer, we were worried that he would have to go to the hospital, and then spend the rest of the time climbing that hill on crutches. But while his ankle stayed enormously swollen and bruised for weeks, he was still able to walk…or at least hobble! We were both amazed that he could walk at all, and we were very thankful that God helped him heal quickly. It is still swollen, so we will see about getting his ankle x-rayed now that we are home.
 |
 |
I used most of my time over the summer working on homework for one of the distance courses I am taking. I also had several opportunities to visit various programs working with the poor and homeless in Bournemouth. I volunteered a few days at the local Food Bank, served tea at a Wednesday lunch program, talked to a couple who work with immigrants and refugees, and had a chat with a lady at a drop-in centre. We were able to go to quite a few different churches, and thoroughly enjoyed singing and listening in English!
One Sunday morning we visited a Salvation Army corps, and we were invited to stop by the Friday night supper distribution at a downtown churchyard. Local churches and other organizations work together to make sure that there is at least one free meal a day available to people in need. The people who live on the streets are very familiar with the routine, and know where to go each day for food and assistance. Salvation Army volunteers spent much of Friday preparing a meal of chicken, rice, and vegetables, plus cups of soup, tea, fruit, and desert. The meals had been dished into take-away containers, and were served from the side of a specially equipped van that drove into the churchyard. A nurse who specializes in foot care also came, and she knelt down on the asphalt to treat the many sores and wounds on the legs and feet of those who lined up to see her. It was amazing to see so much compassion without contempt or condemnation, and we were blessed just by being there.
 |
|
As the evening was winding up, we both turned when we heard the familiar lilt of Russian-accented English. One of the Salvation Army ladies told us that the young man we had spotted was from Lithuania, so of course, we had to go say hello! We found out that his name was Dimitri, and since he grew up speaking mostly Russian, it was easier for him to talk to us in English than Lithuanian. While his British friends all call him Dimitri, he was thrilled when we used the common short form of his name, “Dima.” His father runs a mechanic shop in a town on the eastern edge of Lithuania, and Dima had gone to England with hopes of proving to his father that he could be successful. He trained in computer programming in Minsk, but has been unable to find work in England. His gaunt face suggests that he has made some unhealthy decisions during his time on the streets, though he still has a glimmer of hope in his eyes. I met up with him again at another meal event, and had a chance to talk to him about his family, his hopes, and dreams. I think it was good for him to feel even a small connection to his home, and we continue to pray that people like those at the Salvation Army will help Dima to find the fulfillment he is looking for.
Nathan taught at Anglo-Continental school in Bournemouth, and he appreciated the experience of teaching at a larger language school. With over 1000 students, it was quite a different atmosphere than what he is used to, so it took a bit of time to adjust to the new system. As always, he enjoyed his classes and students, though he struggled with his Proficiency class, which is a level he hasn’t taught before. He had students from Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, Germany, Japan, Korea, Russia, Czech Republic, Kuwait, Oman, Turkey, Holland, Columbia, Austria, Uganda, China, Taiwan, Sweden, France, and Poland. Though it was a busy summer, he was able to build some relationships with students in the classroom, and is already connecting with some of them online. He works hard to make his classes more interesting than the usual textbook material, and his students (who set up a Facebook fan page in his honour) seem to really appreciate his fun approach and goofy grin.
 |
 |
It seemed like we had only just arrived, and it was already time to start packing for our trip home. Though I knew I wouldn’t miss the low water pressure and drizzly taps in our old building, I gave the oven an extra wipe as I took out the last batch of cookies. I felt a little sad as I loaded our bags in the back of our rental car, knowing that I was saying goodbye to the comforts of homemade cookies, English-speaking shopkeepers, simple Sunday services, and lattes. Still, there is something special about being home, and now that I am finally here, I can truly say that there is no place like it.
