First trip to USA!

Well friends my first trip is over and gone. It went so fast, so much to do so little time.

First thing I had to get used to was re-adjusting my time clock. 2 Flights and 2 time changes as well.

Finally I arrived in Tacoma Seattle and Charles and Kathy from the group Higher Call were there to meet me at the airport and welcome me to America.

After a few hours sleep and I mean a few hours it was time to get up bright and early. This was my way of re-adjusting my body clock quickly so that I could sleep at night. It worked well as I found out later that night.

Before going to America I had been praying that the Lord would let me meet people who needed to be encouraged and Charles was also praying for this. Throughout the week everywhere we went we meet people that the Lord had placed in our path. In one music shop we meet a young man called Colin who shared his testimony with us and we prayed with him there and then in the music shop. Colin wants to get involved more in Praise and worship and find a good church that will encourage him and build him up in the faith. Please pray for Colin in the days ahead.

Charles and Kathy went beyond what would have been expected of any host. They showed me as much of the beauty of Washington State as they could in the time we had. We had started of as e-mail buddies on shout life but soon became firm friends and I enjoyed their company and fellowship more and more each day.

Charles made one of my boyhood wishes come true and that was to dress me up as a cowboy.

I got into the role quite well only no horses but we did have everything else we needed after one visit downtown to the local Country and Western store and then that was me rigged out for the week.

At night we visited a few churches in the area and attended a Barbeque at church after which I was asked to give a word of Testimony and talk about the Mission work that I am involved in.

I was pleased that many were encouraged by my Testimony and the Mission report and my thanks go to the Pastor for his invite to speak.

During the week I was also shown a war cemetery and it was good to reflect on and pray for what freedom cost for us all and reflect on the many young life’s that have been lost in battle.

On Sunday I was invited to sing and testify at another church and Charles accompanied me on the keyboard. Again the Lord encouraged all who were present including myself for the love and fellowship of being with His people.

During the week I had the joy of singing a few of my songs with the group Higher Call and my thanks to them for their encouragement and letting me hear what my songs sound like with a full band playing alongside.

I was also invited to a school graduation which I looked forward to as I had only ever seen one on TV.

I enjoyed watching the graduation and listening to all the young people as they started looking forward to adult life.

Charles and Kathy showed me the beauty of Mount Rainer and many other beautiful areas of Gods creation . I also was able to see Elk for the first time ever, 23 spotted in 2 hrs is that a record ?

I also was able to see Deer and Lama’s and Racoon`s.The only downside was when we passed over a dead Skunk on the road and I was able to smell something that I have never smelt before or wish to ever smell again.

On my last night Charles sat up late into the night to make Cds that I could take home to help me and encourage me and I am grateful to him for his time effort and commitment.

Kathy also amazed me each day with her good food and I miss my Chicken sandwiches Kathy more and more each day.

I was also introduced to a Corn dog and a new taste to me of A1 sauce which is now home with me ready for use .

During the week I was able to speak to some brothers and sisters in Christ from shoutlife on the telephone and it was indeed a real blessing to me to converse with them.

So thanks Jackie and Joseph and my apologies to David who had tried to contact me.

Upon reflection I enjoyed my time in Tacoma and was encouraged and blessed with each new day.

Special thanks to Charles and Kathy for their time and commitment to me each and every day.

I really appreciated everything they did and enjoyed listening to Charles playing keyboard and singing his own songs. I look forward to listening to them when he puts them on to shout life.

What next I wonder, well I will have to wait on the leading of the Lord but I still feel drawn to singing

at a Christian festival or Praise event. If any one would like to recommend me to anyone feel free to get in touch or pass on my details to the organiser’s.

I do not seek payment for singing or preaching .

My payment is to be put up with a Christian family for fellowship and that I am able to encourage the children of God.

That is payment enough indeed.

I was able to give away over 90 Cd`s in total to people I meet each day during my time in Washington State and I look forward to getting some feedback in the coming weeks and months on how they were received or hopefully on new doors opening through others listening to the music.

On the way home everything went well until my flight arrived in at Newark and on time. Unfortunately we sat on the runway for an hour as plane number 7 waiting to unload passengers and luggage.

I had to catch my second flight to Belfast at 9pm leaving at 9.20pm.We finally got unloaded at 9pm and by the time I made my way to the check in desk my flight had left.

I was sent to a hotel for the night arriving at 12 midnight and pizza was ordered for a meal. I had checked my ticket very quickly and could see 9.00am and 8.45pm on the ticket which I assumed was the time I had to be back at the airport for next morning. At the hotel over 70 people had missed connecting flights. I asked what time the shuttle left again for the airport in the morning and I was informed that the first shuttle left at 4am.I therefore arranged a wake up call for 3am and the hotel kept my breakfast voucher even though I had informed them that I would not be staying for breakfast.

Perhaps they needed it more than I did ?

It was very warm in the hotel and hard to sleep but I was up again at 3am showered and ready to go. At 4am I was on the shuttle and on my way to the airport with a few hours to spare or so I thought.

At the airport I used the only voucher I had left for 8 Dollars and added some dollars to it and I had a coffee and some sandwiches for breakfast.

I arrived at the check in desk and presented my ticket for the 9am flight and I was informed that the flight was not 9am but 9pm.

With 3hrs sleep since 7am on Wed morning I now had over 16 hrs still to wait for my flight home.

I now know how Tom Hanks must have felt in the film The Terminal as I walked around and around all day long from one shop to the next, from one coffee stop to the next from one hour to the next. I tried to sleep on 4 occasions but with all the tannoy information sounding out every few minutes it was impossible to sleep.

Nevertheless always look for a positive in a negative situation. As I walked around I came across a shop that would put any emblem on a hat that you purchased inside so in I went and I asked for Jesus to be placed on the front of the red hat that I had picked. I paid for the hat put it on my head and went on my walkabout and watched as people looked at the name on my hat. Some people came forward and we talked about the Lord and some people were smiling and nodding stating that they were Christians to.

One young man shouted out, Nice Cap brother! I had 3 Cds still left and I meet 3 people that I know the Lord wanted me to give the Cds to that day. After I had handed out the Cds I prayed for the people who had received them that they would know and be encouraged in the Lord.

I had by now become quite an expert at checking the departure screens and eagerly awaited the Belfast flight to appear. Eventually it appeared only to change the departure gate 4 times. On the 4^th change I informed the flight crew who were waiting at the 3^rd gate that we now had a 4^th change and new gate to go to.

After what seemed like an eternity I boarded the plane and even though there were some excellent films to watch I feel asleep from sheer exhaustion on the plane and did not even wake for the in flight meal. Upon arrival in Belfast I waited on my luggage as all other luggage was collected by my fellow passengers but my alas my luggage did not appear. I checked with the airport staff and they were able to inform me that my luggage had made it home on the previous nights flight.

Amazing I thought, the wonders of modern technology as my luggage had no legs it could not run it had no brain to think with no voice to ask for directions but amazingly it arrived home before I did.

Must be a new type of luggage I thought to myself I have not heard of before. I thought of a new name and called it Intelligent luggage or smart luggage for short.

I must start a patent I could make a fortune with this idea.!

Well my friends I want to thank you all for your support your telephone calls your shout mails your guest book comments and most importantly for your prayers.

With your prayers know that souls have been encouraged in the Lord and you have my heartfelt thanks for this.

God bless you all!

p.s. Do not forget to check out all the photographs that I have placed on my shoutlife  profile page on my first visit to America. What a beautiful country I now understand why many Americans say God bless America! After my visit I know that God has indeed blessed America .A beautiful country and beautiful brothers and sisters in Christ. No matter what problems there are in the world no matter what despair always remember that we have a blessed hope and that Jesus loves you more than any other and always encourage one another in the Lord. Let that little light shine let it shine let it shine let it shine!

Your brother in Christ

joseph