Carol Purves

Hurricane Matthew

Before I cease from writing about my visit to the States, I will update you on how the hurricane affected my friends. Listening to the news it seems the hurricane didn’t make landfall after it left Haiti. (What terrible destruction they received in a country which hadn’t even recovered from the earthquake in 2010) South Carolina appeared to have very high winds and flooding. My friends living near Charlotte escaped the worst of the damage.

They were deluged with plenty of rain but fortunately no structural damage or flooding and few trees uprooted. An event at the nearby university was cancelled with tattered tents and signs.

Fortunately our weather seems so tame in comparison. The same can be said of our politics!

Carol

Weather

This state has had a very hot summer. But by the time I was there the temperature wasn’t much over 30 degrees.  It was a shock on my return to find it was under 15 degrees back in England. The heat wasn’t really a problem as one goes from air conditioned house to air conditioned car and then air conditioned buildings.

Because my friend had had a serious car accident at Easter she wasn’t driving. This meant we had walk about five minutes to the shops. We always went early in the morning before the heat of the day.  Walking is an unusual thing there as people just do not walk!

Unlike this country the weather is not the main topic of conversation. What do you say when it is nearly always sunny and hot.

I soon got used to being called ma’am but what I really didn’t like was being addressed as Miss Carol.

Carol

Language

Everyone I met was absolutely lovely, but we are divided by a language. On my computer I’m used to ‘color’ instead of ‘colour’ and ‘center’ instead of ‘centre.’ We also have the difference of ‘autumn’ or ‘fall; ‘rubbish’ or ‘garbage’ or ‘trash.’ I didn’t list all the differences and after a couple of weeks I accepted them without thought.

The one which really pulled me up short was ‘normative.’   Not in my Oxford English Dictionary but my computer accepted it. Help.

Carol

Travelling

I’ve just been in South Carolina to visit a friend for 2 1/2 weeks. I will share some of my happenings with you and this blog is about travelling (or should be traveling in America)

I can’t praise British Airways enough. Polite air hostesses and hosts. Nothing was too much trouble. After a particular bumpy ride flying into Manchester on the return journey, the passengers clapped a very smooth landing. Good feeling all round.

Some things were an enigma. Taxi fare from Manchester Station to hotel was a whopping £20 and £5 on the return journey. Same distance, about nine minutes each time.

Not yet learned how to sleep on the 8 hours nighttime return flight nor how to prevent catching serious bugs from the aircraft. Three days in bed is not a good way to start a holiday.

Carol

If you go wandering round my website, you will find the second re-print of my book on Gladys Aylward. There are not many changes, so maybe you will not want to buy this but you are sure to have many friends you can recommend it to.

Someone asked why another reprint? Well, all the original books have sold and so have the first reprint. As I travel round lecturing and talking about Gladys I find she still has a great following.

I’m not surprised. she was an intrepid young lady working for the Lord, travelling alone right across Russia to China at a time when travel was difficult, especially for females. She met extreme difficulties on the way, nearly losing her life on more than one occasion.

This book was printed by professional publishers who are my friends and the cover was done by a professional artist who is also my friend.

I obviously have the right friends.

Carol

I have temporarily left the cold shores of Britain to fly ‘across the pond’ to America. Watch this space. I’ll tell you all about it when I return.

Carol

‘In the year Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on the throne, high and exalted.’ Is 6:1 . This is what Isaiah recorded. When I read this story again, I found quite a new take on it.

There are three people in this story, Uzziah, Isaiah and God. Uzziah reigned from 792 to 749 BC, was struck down with leprosy and was leprous until he died. He has been dead for nearly 3 thousand years now.

Likewise Isaiah, was a faithful man of God and prophesied to a number of kings. There are many stories about him in the Bible and a whole book accredited to him. But he too has died.

Only one character in the story is still alive. God. The Lord alone remains. Kings may come and go; prophets die but our God goes on ‘for ever.’

Carol

The concert was free; the chair comfortable; the surroundings beautiful.

I was sitting in my garden with eyes closed. A blackbird perching in the nearest chimney top sang his heart out in praise to God. The late summer leaves were rustling in harmony in the slightest of zephyr breezes. A bee or two hovered and buzzed, extracting the final drops of nectar.

For the second movement I had to listen very hard. A tiny creature or maybe an insect was collecting his lunch.

The final movement was loud and explosive. Starlings gathered along the line of my roof, chattering and screeching their intention to depart. I had to open my eyes. As one bird flew off the roof, another took his place, while those already there shuffled up to let him in. The shuffling continued as no-one was left out.

The last bar of the music was dramatic. As one, every bird flew off in the same direction. But as if to bid me goodbye, there was one last circling of beating wings.

The person I wanted to speak to was on another phone, ‘This is the oily rag speaking for the engine driver’, I was told.

When I spoke to the ‘oily rag.’ in mock humility I said

‘If you’re the oily rag, I’m only a blob of oil.’
Then I realised how important a blob of oil is. Its use was essential in Biblical time. It was often used in their religious observances and David and other kings were anointed with it. Jacob poured oil on the stone where he had been lying when he saw the angels ascending and descending and the widow who Elisha knew, was destitute until the miracle of the jar of continuous oil. Also Jesus condemned the five virgins who didn’t keep their lamps trimmed.

I might only be a blob of oil, but thinking of all this, I feel important.

Carol

On Saturday we had another meeting of Christian writers. Because our group is growing and many come quite a distance, we started in the middle of the day with a snack for those who wanted it. This gave more time to chat and get to know each other better. Being Christian and writers we had a lot to talk about.

The subject ‘Nature’s Music’ meant many excellent pieces of work were produced (mostly poetry). I wish I had space and time to re-print Colin’s poem. It went through the four seasons with a great amount of alliteration. Great fun to read and listen to.