Hawkstone Follies

Saturday 23 June saw the Joneses trekking among the follies at Hawkstone. We had a great day there: the rain managed to hold off, we walked a good 4 miles, explored the caverns and climbed a huge column giving us views of Shropshire, Staffordshire and mid and north Wales. Despite the somewhat off-putting entrance fee of £6 for an adult, I would thoroughly recommend it to all. For those of you from further afield, it is where the 1980s BBC adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was filmed.

Unfortunately, the camera was left behind and so the rather small images are off my mobile. Above are Naomi being a mermaid, the three Joneses and north Shropshire and, finally, Yoda (or Ben Jones).

Only two weeks now until we are go to France. For those of you who don't know, we are going to do 2 weeks of mission work in Brittany with a UFM team there. Tomorrow, I am off to the Grange church, Shrewsbury, to help with an evangelistic BBQ. Finally, being a temporary primary school secretary is going well: one sugar or two?

Tickets, s'il vous plait.

Having spent the last two weekends away from home, it is nice to be spending this weekend in Shropshire. Last weekend I went with Lou to Clarberston Road, Pembrokehire, to preach in a small church there. We spent a lovely Saturday exploring Saundersfoot and Tenby and had a good day on Sunday with the people at Bethany Free Church. On Thursday of last week I started a ‘summer job’ for four weeks or so, working as the stand-in school secretary at a small local primary school. I am currently the only male member of staff but am being looked after very well by all the ladies there!

It is only four weeks now until the four of us go to Brittany for a fortnight to help with a missionary team there, organised through UFM, where we will be helping an evangelical church in Guingamp with mission activities, leaflet distribution, etc. Please continue to pray for us that the Lord would use us then and encourage us now as we attempt to improve our French before going.

We spent a lovely morning today at the Cambrian Railway, Llynclys, Shropshire. The journey is only a mile or so, but we had a good time on the old diesel unit which carried us on a short ride. The day out is pictured above. How old do Naomi and Ben look?! I must be truly over-the-hill now!

Finally, for a trial period, I have removed the stipulation that those adding comments to my blog are gmail account holders only, so please add some comments even if you do not have a gmail account. It would be good to hear from you all!

Bank-holiday insanity

Two clans were merged temporarily over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend as the Joneses and Lords spent three days at Black Rock Sands, North Wales. Copious amounts of take-away and ice-cream were consumed. Saturday was spent exploring Borth-y-Gest and Portmadoc, Sunday was spent at Capel Fron Church and on the beach (in temperatures of around 9C!) and Monday was spent around the beautiful Aberglaslyn and Beddgelert - I defy anyone to find lovelier scenery anywhere in the UK. Pictured are the two clans less Lou the photographer and a percentage of our gathered masses sampling the delights of Beddgelert banana choc-chip, raspberry pavlova, creme-caramel, pecan and butterscotch, etc, ice-creams. And, for the record, there were no major fallings-out!

The 'A' Team.

Thursday was characterised by a mixture of sadness and happiness as my exams at college were finally completed, but also it was time to say goodbye for a while to some of my brothers and sisters. My exams went 'fair-to-middling' I think; thank you to those who prayed for me at this time. Pictured are the majority of students with whom I shared 'A-block' this year. I love them all in Christ, except for Tom and Laszlo between 10pm and 1am at night. From left to right: Me (England), Steve (England), Sergiy (Ukraine), Shwekey (Burma), Miriam (Wales), Nathan (Pakistan/Yorkshire), Lambert (Cameroon), Tim (Ulster), and at the front, Laszlo (Romania) on the left, and Tom (England).

I now have a chance to put my feet up for a while and spend some time with the family. Any summer job offers would be gratefully received...Lou is needing something to do!

Liars, Evil Brutes, Lazy Gluttons...

This week has been spent at home attempting to revise for next week's exams. Please pray for me during next week. I have exams on the book of Romans, Islam, Bible Inspiration and Authority, and Church History (1700-1850) on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Today, though, presented a chance to relax and listen to some good ministry. A group of us from Wem Baptist Church (with around 600 others) went to the Northern Men's Convention to hear teaching on Biblical manhood from the book of Titus. We certainly came away convicted that we need to be 'self-controlled' and 'devoted to doing good' and no longer liars, evil brutes or lazy gluttons! Pictured above (from the left) are Edward and Mark Towers, Noel Cardus, Pete Turnbull, David Rowe, Paul Towers, Phil Wright, yours truly, and Andy Everett. Also pictured is our illustrious pastor following the WBC minibus to Manc-land by motorbike.

Happy Birthday, Dear Benjy

Our little man reached the grand old age of two on Sunday 15 April. A small(-ish) gathering was convened and the momentous occasion was celebrated by the consuming of copious amounts of ceck (that’s Ben-ish for cake, by the way).

Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside…

On our arrival in the UK from France in Portsmouth, the Jones Family drove to Ramsgate, Kent, to spend a few days with my maternal grandparents. Containing and entertaining a four-year old and almost two-year old in a warden-controlled flat was something of a challenge. However, we enjoyed ourselves and experienced the excitement of an open-top bus ride around Thanet and an afternoon surveying dead, stuffed animals at Quex House and Museum.

Nous sommes retournés!

The Family Jones returned to the UK on Tuesday 10 April after eleven relaxing days on holiday in Brittany. The scenery on the Côte de Granit Rose was magnificent, the weather was generally fine, and the French cuisine was most definitely experienced. We stayed in a static caravan near the small resort of Ploumanac’h and had a very relaxing few stays. We also had the pleasure of visiting the Guingamp Evangelical Protestant Church for two Sunday morning services and were entertained at the home of the pastor (Emmanuel Hartiel) and his family (wife Maria, son Josef, and daughter Lydie) one Thursday evening. Once more, a great debate raged as to whose French was ‘meilleur’, Steven’s or Lou’s. I graciously admit that Lou’s French was more frequently used and more effective. However, it must be stated that it was not I who requested a ‘dirty butter caramel’ ice cream rather than a ‘salted butter caramel’ ice cream (‘beurre sale’ substituting for ‘beurre salé’).

February and March Thus Far.

At last! A lull in the tempest that has been February and March thus far has come to pass. At college the last few weeks have witnessed a flurry of essay writing and lectures. I have also received my semester one module results which thankfully will not result in any re-sits. And I finally concluded that life is simply too short for biblical Hebrew.

At church, highlights of the last few weeks have included a visit to Senior YPF from my college friend Laszlo from Transylvania. I am preaching this evening in Wem (not necessarily a highlight!) and next week at the Mereside Church in Shrewsbury. Your prayers would be much appreciated.

At home, we are very much looking forward to our holiday in Brittany in a few weeks’ time. However, we were able to take time out yesterday to have a walk around ‘The Quarry’, Shrewsbury’s municipal park, and to have picnic on the train home.

Finally, the Wolves have experienced a brilliant few weeks. They take on the Baggies today and, as usual these days, a Sunday kick-off has prevented me from experiencing victory (or, on the basis of the other two Black Country derbies this season, likely defeat). And for those of you to whom this is most relevant (and you know who you are), the Wolves are currently above Preston in the table.

Snow and more snow

After global warming dominating the news for the last fortnight, it was almost inevitable that snow would arrive at Bryntirion and in Wem. So here is my colleague Lambert from Cameroon enjoying his FIRST EVER experience of snow, along with Tim from N. Ireland and Nathan from Yorkshire. I even managed to get home in time to have a snow ball fight with the kids before bedtime.

Back to College

On Monday 5 February I returned to college to recommence my Bible studies. It was strange to be deserting Lou and the kids after being at home for the best part of two months. Nevertheless, the prospect of further study and seeing my brothers and sisters in Christ again helped alleviate the potential homesickness somewhat. After some deliberation, I have decided to carry on studying Biblical Hebrew along with modules on Redemption, the book of Romans and the Eighteenth Century Evangelical Revival. It is with some relish that I will be approaching these three modules. Please continue to pray for us as a family, especially for Lou and the kids in my absence, and for my studies, that I would grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so endeth the third week...

And so my three-week 'work experience' placement at Wem Baptist Church has drawn to a close. The Lord has sustained me and now I'm ready to return to college for a rest. Pastor Phil and Assistant Pastor Rob have been a joy to shadow (so they told me to say, anyway). Many thanks to them and to those who've prayed for me during my placement. I am looking forward to a week at home writing up my experiences and spending some time with my better half and the kids. Just don't mention the Wolves...

Naomi's Big Week

The last couple of weeks have also witnessed a momentous occasion in the Jones household: Naomi’s first days of full-time education. How cute does she look? She gets it from her Dad.

A Busy Week!

Finally, I have a chance to do some updating with Lou’s assistance. Over this past eight days or so I have commenced my college course placement, or ‘work experience’, at my home church in Wem. I have had the pleasure of ‘shadowing’ Pastor Phil and (soon-to-be) Assistant Pastor Rob. Highlights of the week include a star appearance on Radio Shropshire (watch out, John Humphries), attendance at a school assembly in Ruyton XI Towns and speaking to the Christian Union at Thomas Adams School. The week has been a real encouragement and blessing to me and I hope that I have been able to give at least a bit back to the Church and to Pastor Phil and Rob. Please continue to pray for me and for Phil and Rob; I’m not sure who needs most prayer…

New Year's Eve

Having hoped for a quiet start to 2007, the Jones household was invaded by a right motley bunch of individuals. You'd never guess which of these characters is charged with our spiritual oversight as our Pastor. Clue: he appears to be having a charismatic moment. Notice also the distinguished looking, more mature lady who seems to be phoning for assistance.

New Year, New Blog

Having previously mocked all bloggers, I have finally succumbed to pressure and entered the digital age! Of course, the only reason that I have relented is so that you can all pray for us in an informed manner and not because I have an ego problem...