Wow – we arrived. All safe and sane. Thank you all for your prayers and your kind comments.
When we left Prague, it was minus 7 degrees. We had lots of moments:
Moment 1. The van got a bit stuck on the ice outside our house and i had to sprinkle salt on the road until it melted.
Moment 2. While still in Prague, the van started spluttering and then died, right outside a Honda dealership. (its a Mercedes 100D, not a Honda). 9 Czech mechanics looked at our van went straight to work. In the meantime, we called up Derek and Amy who were also leaving to drive across the continent – either to Belgium or Berlin. They turned up with 11 cheeseburgers from MacDonalds and we had a great time together. The mechanics fixed the van – with a new filter and another unnamed, untranslateable part, and it only cost US$35 for parts and labor – thanks God, and thanks that it did not break down on the journey.
Moment 3. Driving through Czech Republic was something. The temperature dropped further and we had snow drifting on the roads in a ghostly fashion, but nice to look at.
Germany was uneventful, in a good way. We drove through the night.
France was great. I got lost again in the place I usually get lost at. But only 1 hour lost.
We arrived in Calais 2 hours before the ferry left. Enough time to go to Carrefour and buy pate, cheese, bread and red wine.
Moment 4. Eating French food on the ferry. Ferry trips are always fun. This one cost us £48 for the van and all 7 passengers. Not bad!
We arrived in London last night. We are renting a 2 bedroom flat for a while – week by week. Small and pokey, but it is in an Indian area and we LOVE Indians and their food.
We slept well last night and spent today at home, unpacking, cleaning, food shopping, rolling out our carpets to make the place more like home. We dont have phone yet nor internet so you may not hear from me for a while – I am writing this at the public library.
Again, thanks for tracking with us. Love you all. Love being in London!! Thanks God for everything.
More photos here.
Made it!!!!!!
Wow sounds like you had quite a journey – but glad that you made it. If you fancy a good coffee and some free broadband access just pop into cms I am sure we will sort something nice out 🙂
Welcome to London!
Wey hey! Welcome to London ! You guys have so many wild and wonderful times ahead of you in this fabulous, intense, complex and sparkly city. So glad you got here and are in a flat already. Our kidlets will be so disappointed that you won’t be here when they wake up; we’ll have to come and play with you again soon…we want to come on the London Eye with you at dusk as the light changes and the city starts to shimmer, and run along the Embankment with its spotlights in the pavement, and eat curry with you in the places you have found and yell WELCOME to this land. We are so glad you are here.
A, like Gareth, should you require it – drop in at christchurch (where the emergent conf was that you ad hoc’d at) if you want to squat in a pukka office for some mac/broadband/airport use. sorry couldn’t sort you out with accomodation for any longer than a few days mate. Ryan, Pete (who’s another bloke who likes his hats or myself will be kicking around.
be well,
s
Welcome, congratulations and welcome again.
I lived in Beijing for awhile and we would eat at McDonalds once a week. When I returned to the States, a McDonald’s hamburger would instantly remind me of China. Funny, huh?
By the way, I’m a Fuller alumnus. My friend Jude Tiersma Waston told me about your site ages ago and I am just now getting around to commenting. Thanks for your presence in the blogging community!
harooh, hoorah, hooray!
Oh Im soooo glad you guys made it safe. Thought of you all quite a bit these last days – especially when the whether got scary. Katka is still dividing the “inheritance” from your kitchen etc. How amazing you guys have come to spend 3 years here with us. Jarda was so sorry he couldnt say good bye to you, but he is resolute about coming to see you in London. Katka and myself too. It seems that only now we come to realize how much our lives have chnaged during those 3 years. Its hard to put it in words. At any rate – thank you for being who you are. When I thínk of your family, the words of Isaiah come to my mind – “Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.” (Isaiah 8:18). Thats what you Joneses have been here for us Czechs – signs and symbols of the Kingdom, of the Jesus family. After I got to know you, I look forward to heaven more then before. Hope that our lives will remain connected in Him. And I know He has some wonderful times of refreshment for you guys now!
Wow! What a journey. Talk about vicarious thrills and chills. Andrew I have some scripture for you today. I’ll post it on your devotional site. WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME. You will go before us but we are coming soon. Just like the Lord goes before us all. You are in my daily prayers.
Blessings on your arrival in London! I have a friend from the States (Stephen Smith) who is working over there, possibly near where you are living. The organization he is with is the Noor Jehan Asian Performing Arts Centre (noorjehancentre.org). If you have time, I’d encourage you to get in touch with them. It’s a great ministry going on (connected with YWAM). Also check out sarahfrancis.com, for more details.
Glad you made it! Hope all is/goes well.
you seem like a fun guy, I hope you enjoy London and London enjoys you.
Good news! Good news!
Peace and blessings to you and your family.
hurray! you made it!!!!!!!!