Pastor Hsi (sitting) married Stanley Smith and his Norwegian bride Sophie de Reuter in Shansi province in China.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Pastor Hsi (sitting) married Stanley Smith and his Norwegian bride Sophie de Reuter in Shansi province in China.
Earthquake May 2008
In May 2008 there was a massive earthquake. We got involved and worked with 300 believers from all over China in rebuilding schools and homes.
Cambridge 7
Back row on the right is Stanley Peregrine Smith. It has been a joy to begin to be involved with China following the footsteps of those who have gone before. Stanley Smith and other friends from Cambridge went out to China to join Hudson Taylor in inland China.Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Uncle Norman's Church in Shiraz
Chris and Esther visited Iran on their way to Turkeyand were able to drop in on Shiraz. My great uncle Norman (Dr Norman Sharp)build thischurch which is still being used. He was a Persian scholar loved Iran passionately.It is fascinating that three of the family have now worked there --I was there in 1968 to 1970,
My brother Dave was therelater on until the arrival of the Khomeini regime.
Ali worked there in Bam a couple of years ago.
Now Zara and Richard walk where their great great great uncle used to walk.
3 sons-in-law
It was rather thrilling looking into the bow and seeing the 3 Sons in law in the bow sharing their experiences. Ewout is strictly not yet a son-in-lawbut he is rapidly heading in that direction. I think he was getting some tips on how to handle a Lyth girl!
Who knows what God's plans are for these three families.
The Four
Susannah was at the helm when we did our fastest speed on a glorious broad reach (that means with the wind coming from the side!!).For those who had not sailed much before this was a wonderful introductionto sailing with some good winds at times when we had to shorten sail somewhat.
Skpper Chris
Skipper Chris at the wheel of the good ship Makena. 13 hours overnight on a bus from Istanbul took us to Fethiye on the Mediterranean. There we picke up the yacht Makena which would sleep 8 of us at a pinch. Ewout was in the central area where we ate. We collapsed the dining room table down and is "dining-room" table. Chris in true Skipper fashion slept next to the wheel.
Asian Stars from the roof
Mother and daughter lie out on the roof looking up at the Asian stars and talking about the inevitable subject - Ali's upcoming wedding to Ewout in October.Looking at Europe from Asia
Our flight took us via Amsterdam to Istanbul. For three days we stayed in Istanbul on the Asian side and had this view over the Bosporus towards Europe. We saw all the famous sites that time would allow - the Palance, the Blue Mosque among others. The legs and brain seem to become drained of energy after a few hours of slow meandering around. Somehow it is less wearying to walk briskly. Maybe I am just not such a museum person.Monday, June 16, 2008
A toast in rare Port
A couple of years ago a friend gave me a bottle of port that was first put into casks in the late 1800s. I made a mental promise that this woiuld be drunk in celebration of the engagement of the last of our girls - Alison.This port has effectively spanned parts of all 3 centuries 1800s - 1900s -2000s.
We celebrated God's goodness to us as a family with this toast with rare and rich wine. It was only a tiny glass for each of us but wonderful. We were so glad to have Pete and Fiona visiting with us for the weekend. We celebrated together the promise of Ewout's joining of our family. Just a little of the Port will be saved for when we meet with Dave and Susannah and Chris and Esther in a couple of weeks.
Our hearts are full.
Ewout van Ooosten
On Saturday night Ewout van Oosten sat with me in our dining room and asked for the hand of our last remaining unmarried daughter!!! I felt honoured to be asked and I was delighted to be able to give my very willing permission. Here at last is the man who could capture my daughters elusive heart. On Sunday they were walking back from church through the buttercup fields that look out towards the Pennines. "Alison Rachel Lyth - will you marry me. " The Dutch are delightfully direct and Ewout no exception.Ewout and Ali met at an OM conference in Germany in early March and the sparks began to fly almost immediately. They have met often and spoken for many, many hours on Skype across the Atlantic. This finally culminated yesterday in the proposal.
Ewout works with youth from disadvantaged backgrounds in Delft in Holland. It is a pioneer work and very much appreciated by the authorities in Delft as well as by the Churches. He is highly respected and is doing a wonderful work.
The plan is that Ali will join him and concentrate first on getting into Dutch culture and language. Ewout has started her off by buying an orange football jersey. We have all been cheering for Dutch victory in the football. Of course this is made somewhat easier by the fact that the English team was knocked out before the competition ever started.
This momentous intervention throws a spanner in the works of Ali's plans to go the USA. Of course God in his wisdom had not allowed here to get a visa for the USA and so she had a feeling of frustration over that great delay. Now it all becomes clear.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Mike and Elsie in Kabul
I (Elsie) have been back home in Carlisle for the past 2 weeks and it's good to be home again, although our time in Kabul was a wonderful, wonderful time. As you can see from the favourite stories , cooking and baking together, visiting with friends, team meetings, lots of play time following photos, my time was spent with Chris and Esther and the children most of the time. We had, great times to talk together, etc.
As we drove past these destroyed buildings, Zara coined a new phrase - "that sad building has been Talibanned!"Friday, April 18, 2008
Afghan Rebel Chief??
Jenny Thornton accompanied us to run a programme for the children during the Serve Retreat. It went down very well indeed. She will forever be known to the kids as 'Sausage' her nickname given her by the kids.
Here she is getting into the Afghan mood in the thin sunshine of Kabul. The heat of the summer is still a bit of a dream.
The Hammock is a favourite
Chris Richard and Zara in the hammock in the garden in Kabul. Life sometimes seems very normal. and at other times it is crazy.Granny Elsie to Afghanistan
We have just had, or should I say are having, the most wonderful time with the Grandchildren. Elsie and I went over to Afghanistan to be with the SERVE team for the Board Meeting, and of course to see the grandchildren and Chris and Esther of course. We have had a wonderful time reconnecting and getting to know afresh these little creatures.Granny Elsie is a particular favourite and has been able to stay on in Kabul for almost an extra month. Here she is with Richard
In the middle of our time there we went over to Tajikistan to spend time with the serve team at their retreat. Elsie was one of the speakers and was a great blessing. We feel very humbled mixing with these folk who are really in a tough situation and yet remain cheerful and thankful in the midst of difficulty
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Important decisions on Software
As I write this Elsie and I are at present in the Georgia USA at the in Atlanta OM USA headquarters. I am part of a team that is looking at the possible purchase of new software for the whole organization. Over the years we have spent an enormous amount of effort writing our own software called Petra and Caleb. Petra has been written to handle local administration (active in 100 sites across the world); and Caleb, based on the web, where we share information from all over the world. This a very important issue and has the potential to give us huge advances in functionality. However it can also be a divisive decision time. The solution, if not implemented properly, could cause great harm to unity and functionality. I am so very conscious that it is only the Lord that can give us the wisdom to make right decisions. Please stand with me as I give leadership in this area. As I look back over the last 15 years of effort to help OM (working in 100 countries) move ahead together. I frequently marvel at the good decisions the Lord has enabled us to make. Every time he brings in the right people with the relevant skills and experience to move us ahead. This morning I had breakfast with a man who was with OM in Iran over 30 years ago. He has almost exactly the relevant skills and experience needed to help us to implement a major direction change such as we are contemplating. He is now coming available to leave what he is doing to help us. He is delighted at the prospect. How does God do all this. Truly we are dependent on his power and foresight. I love it.
We have taken the opportunity while here in the US to have Christmas up in the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina and had an amazing time with our three girls, Alison, Fiona and Pete and assorted husbands and in laws. You can see photos on our blog at www.lythnews.blogspot.com . We feel very rich in our children and their love and fun. As we look ahead we wonder if some of our time in the years ahead may have to be spent this side of the Atlantic. Of course as soon as we start thinking that Dave and Susannah (www.kretchies.blogspot.com/ ) head off to India for six months to work with rescued underage prostitutes. Chris and Esther (www.centralasiafamily.blogspot.com ) continue in Afghanistan with our two grandchildren Zara and Richard. Life there becomes increasingly uncertain with frequent suicide bombings and kidnappings. Alison is planning to join OM USA this year and will launch a ‘women’s advocacy’ programme where she speaks up for the needs of the marginalized women of the world among the wealthy women of the USA. This is a new adventure and she looks ahead to enabling women in
We will be back in the UK at the end of January. Elsie will have been away for nearly two months. Now that we don’t have children at home we tend to be more on the road together. It is wonderful. Thanks so much for praying - those who do.
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