Winter in London

The snow has been fun for Christmas-time, but this part of England hardly ever gets snow so they have been shutting down all sorts of things and having a tough time driving...
We had a blessed Christmas including carols, candles, a couple hours of playing tag in the park and an amazing meal un-like any American Christmas dinner!

There are all kinds of little discoveries every day about English culture -
It is a joy to be able to learn.

(Sidenote: The yogurt you can buy here is so delicious - and comes in tons of flavors we don't have in the states. Rhubarb is the best!)

This time in England has been a blessing- time to read and take lots of walks, as well as lots of time spent with the family we are staying with. We have played a lot of hide and seek, making animals out of baloons, and other creative ventures with the 4 kids who are here. They are treasures!
We've also been cooking, cleaning and gardening around the house.

A book we've been enjoying is "Life-Journey - A call to Christ-centered Living".  It is filled with poetry and art focused on Christ and His love.

Here is a prayer from that book:

Healing Lord,
Open the hearts of those in
conflict, help them to receive
your healing.

Merciful Lord,
May our human hearts never
harden to the suffering caused by
the absence of peace, help us to
yearn for peace.

Almighty Lord,
Help us to see where we are
avoiding reconciliation, please
grant us opportunities and the
will to change.

Here is the house we are staying in - Bless the Coates family Jesus!

Thank you all for your Christmas notes, prayers and love!

We are leaving for Northern Ireland in 5 days - We'll be in touch!
Love in Christ,
-The Rauwolfs

Merry Christmas Eve!

Here are some photos from a day in London town.

Let it Snow!

Well, we've had quite the restful first week here in London town; partly due to a longer-than-usual spell of jet-lag - our bodies go into "wake up!" mode just when it's time to go to bed - and partly because it's been snowing a bit here, which apparently is rare and a very big deal for this nation of cottages, gardens and tea-cozy's; such a big deal, in fact, that the Department of Transportation decided that no trains should run to the station near where we live (even though it was sunny and hadn't snowed in 4 days), leaving us with no other choice than to stay put.

This said, a few of our London Christmas plans have had to go out the window... But it's really okay! We've been blessed to spend more time with our dear friends, the Coates's. It's been a wonderful season of renewed fellowship and community sharing, leaving us blessed all around.

On another note: when was the last time you walked into a McDonald's and heard your favorite Celtic Christian progressive rock band playing through the speakers? That's precisely what happened today when we took the Coates children to the "golden arches" to play at the attached play space. You'd think there would be a steady playlist on a fast-food chain approved radio station consisting of all the recent pop hits, but not at this McDonald's!

Playing back and forth between tracks from big name acts like Beyonce Knowles was the song "Matthew-The Man" from Iona's early 90's "Book of Kells" release; and it just so happens that this is 9 year-old James Coates's favorite song! Period. He loved it! Must be a God thing. :)

The Book of Kells is most likely the most ancient and elaborate version of the four gospels ever recorded, and done so by early Irish monks. It can be viewed the Trinity College library in Dublin, Ireland. Google it.

Here's the lyrics to the above-mentioned track, referring to the Gospel of Matthew:

"Matthew - The Man"

The tears that salt the earth
The wounds that bleed the land
The mark of ancient scars
These are the ways of man

The sound of restless souls
That pierce beyond the skies
The love that seeks release
The mind that tries to find
A place of peace

There is a place of peace
There is a sea of calm
Where the Spirit gently breathes
Life into the soul of man

And in another realm
Beyond the plains of Earth and time
Where angels gaze upon
The man of truth and light

Blessings of Peace and Love,
 Joey and Christy

Our Dear Friends in London...

We are staying with Richard, Rachel and their darling children James, Mary, Benjamin and David for the next 2 1/2 weeks. It is great to be hear and feels like it was only yesterday that we were all spending time together enjoying fellowship, music and great conversation.

Our flight was a couple hours delayed but everything else was lovely. It was clear enough that we got to see Ireland for the air and it was beautiful!

And now for adjusting to another time zone...
:)

London

Hey!

Our plane to London leaves at 6:50 pm tonight -

Put up a prayer for us if you like!

Blessings to all,

Joseph and Christy

Not So Sleepy In Sleepy Hollow

Our first night in NY we stayed at Joseph's cousin Jen's house and had a good visit with her and her husband Noah, Joseph's Aunt Liz (who happens to visiting from Ketchikan) and little Sadie.

We took a train from the city up to Sleepy Hollow yesterday where we have been visiting with Christy's Great Uncle Bob and his wife Denny. They are a lovely and hospitable couple; we are so blessed to get to spend this time with them!

We have asked (seemingly) hundreds of questions about the family and have learned so much from them. They have quite a treasury of genealogical records on the Chandler side of the family including many original letters written back and forth by the missionary family in India (Christy's Great-great-great/Great-great Grandparents and their families).

For some reason the 3 hour time difference really got to us and we've had jet lag which has caused us to stay up hours later than usual. This has worked out divinely as it has given us an opportunity to spend the time we would've been sleeping, uncovering countless gems of Christy's family history. It has been incredible, as we are setting out to Northern Ireland, to see how many of the family has devoted their lives to Christ, missions and serving, to hold my Great-great Grandfather's Bible and read his loving letters to his children.

More on this later...

Sending love to you all as you celebrate with family this season of Joy in Christ,

love,

Joseph and Christy

New York!

Your breath I hear as the wind, whispering worship.

Your peace I seek as I travel.

Your face I see as the sun, smiling solace.

Your peace I seek as I travel.

Your hand I feel as the water, cradling comfort.

Your peace I seek as I travel.

- Mary Fleeson "Life Journey"

Today is a travel day...8:30 am leaving on our way to Seattle. Airport waiting and arriving in New York tonight around 11. We had a good visit with family in Washington.

Psalm 121
I look up to the mountains-
does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made the heavens and the earth!

He will not let you stumble and fall;
the one who watches over you will not sleep.
Indeed He who watches over Israel
never tires and never sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you
as your protective shade.
The sun will not hurt you by day,
nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps you from all evil
and preserves your life.

The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go.
Both now and forevermore

"Your principles have been the music of my life throughout the years of my pilgrimage."
Psalm 119:54
Thankful for the faithfulness of the Lord!

We are in Washington for 2 nights, then to New York!

Blessings,
Joseph and Christy

Matthew 6

"So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food, drink and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than they are!"

There are so many beautiful birds to marvel at here...watching them has got me meditating on

the journey of trust. Trusting in the Lord who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who creates worlds with a breath, who forms us in our mothers' wombs....

Learning to not spend time on things that are so worthless when compared with knowing Christ Jesus....to spend our time, our thoughts our energy on love and service in the Kingdom of Heaven on earth....completely opposite from the rat-race of this earth life...spending and searching and trying to provide for ourselves. He truly is our all in all...