Pete and Fiona's house - under contract

Great trip to Cincinnati and a joyful reunion with Pete and Fiona and Susannah and Dave. How luck we are to have them living in the same city.

Pete and Fiona are launching into housebuying. It seemed an impossibilty but the bank foreclosing on this property (just round the corner from Dave and Susannah) in Northside has brought the price down to manageable proportions. The house is already divided into three appartments. There will be a fair amount of work to be done to make the appartments ideal, but much of it is not major structural work. I guess the Lord knows that they cannot afford anything that doesn't have a good margin of payback built in, in terms of rentable value. God is good.

Beaver Damage

Near Matts house there is a creek that was beautiful and clear and ran chuckling down stream. A beaver (or two) got in and the the trees all around are felled, the stream is a bog, and the undergrowth a complete tangle of broken trees fallen in every direction. Unfortunately when the poplars and other food trees are all gone the beavers will likely move on and leave a mess so that not even they benefit. Beavers and civilisation don't mix very well so they probably have to be got rid of.

It is fascinating watching how the old trappers used to work to get all the furs that they exchanged for foodstuffs when they came out from the forests.

Matt's new house

Matt is the proud owner of a new house. I think it is called a grit box style - this refers to the shape with one side of the roof longer than the other. Grit boxes are on the side of the road and are the source of grit to make hills passable in winter when the roads treacherous with ice. Anyhow that is my thought on where the term comes from.

Bill's sawmill

Bill has bought himself a sawmill and demonstrated his use. I think that all the siding on Matt's house was cut with this saw. It has always been one of the things that impresses me about the USA that people are willing to have a go and to do things themselves rather than calling in the experts. Bill is of course an accomplished woodsman, hunter and trapper as well as being very good at building. We stayed with Bill and Waneta in their house which he built with his own hands.

Katie and Fiona

Fiona came over to Castile in upstate New York to meet us and linked up with her cousin Katie Weiss. The years fell away and they were kids again. Whenever we came over to North America we would link up with the Weiss (Waneta is Elsie's sister) and have memorable times together.

Now Fiona is a married woman and living in the USA. Something we would never have thought of. Life is such an adventure of different experiences and God has been so merciful in allowing us to enjoy it all so much.

Whirlwind December

It has been difficult to catch our breath over the last month or so. We soldiered through an extremely busy patch in late November where I estimate that I sat in full day meetings every day for almost two weeks including Sundays. This included London, Dubai and Carlisle and led up to the official opening of our new offices on 02 December. Where is my balance?? I think it taught me a lesson. Men are not built to sit in meetings all day.

02 December was the official opening of the new office – a historic day. We had around 200 people there to celebrate with us. A group of OM’s ‘Future Leaders’ as well as the main leadership of OM – the International Executive Committee – were there as well. The finale was the office opening. At one stage the CEO of STL stood up and challenged folk to give towards the cost of the the building. He threw the gauntlet down by saying that STL would match any gift given in the next 10 days. To my delight and astonishment £112,000 came in which will be matched, over time, by STL. What a miracle!! It heads some way towards the £900,000 which we have borrowed to buy the two office buildings. We had £870,000 which we had collected already. God is good.

09 December Elsie and I caught the plane to Toronto and the beginning of our Home Assignment. Elsie had effectively not been back for the last 4 years and so the visit is long overdue.

Since then it has been a wonderful whirlwind of breakfasts lunches and suppers with different friends. Doug and Pat Thompson hosted us in Toronto helped in so many ways. Some of Doug’s latest paintings of clouds took our breath away, and we pray that these will begin to sell well.

Carruthers Creek Church has supported us for a number of years so it was a huge blessing to get to know some of them.

Craig and Krista Shugart continue on paths less travelled as they minister to the group of people both families love so much. Warwick and Annette Cooper are at People’s Church – a privilege to link up again with them. Jack and Fran Harper were a lifesaver to us as a young couple and we arrived newly married, alone and initially friendless in Toronto. If Elsie and I are as bright and with it when we reach 84 we will be thrilled. Our main communication with them seems to be on Skype – would you believe it? Chuck and Sue Wilson welcomed us to Toronto back in the early days and helped us to find our first flat as a married couple. What a joy to meet up with them again and to thank them for being such a faithful part of our support team.

Then it was down to OM Canada in Port Colbourne and a wonderful time with Greg and Annie Kernaghan and so many others of our friends there.

We crossed the border to the US on 15 December and had a wonderful time with Elsie’s Dad, Eli, and his wife Donna who made us so welcome. Then time with Bill and Waneta (Elsie’s sister) Weiss and others of the family. Matt Weiss’, new house, built high above a creek dammed by beavers, was much admired.

3 Generations

Chris looks a bit tired but I am remarkably fresh. I wonder why that is. It could be that little bundle I am holding.

Chris has been able to spend quite a bit of time here in the UK before and after the birth. The children have to be born in the UK in order to retain British Nationality. I remember so well having to come back because I thought that Fiona would be stateless.

It is becoming more and more of issue for those working abroad that they find themselves in some ways disadvantaged when they are coming home.

Esther remarkably fresh

Here is Esther just a few hours after the birth and looking really good. It went a lot better and left her a lot less bruised.

The little man

Zara with Richard

I had no idea it would be such an incredible experince to see my first grandson born and entering the family. Richard Christopher Lyth was born on 28 October . I think that there has almost been a Richard Lyth in every second generation since the mid 1600's. My father (Richard Lyth) will be dancing around in heaven and my mother is delighted.

Zara has been very welcoming and understanding of this new little person who has come into the family. As usual a new baby brings enormous disruption to a family along with amazing blessing. Richard is very good but is no exception to the rule. However the birth went very well 

God's Promise

I don't know if it has significance but it was lovely to come out from our first prayer time in the new buildings and to find a double rainbow hanging low overhead.

We so long that his be a place where God is honoured and his people served. 

Trying out the new quads

A couple of weeks before the move we went over and had a time to prepare everyone. People sat at their 'quads' where 4 people sit facing eachother but with their own desk and space. Here are members of the Petra team trying them out. By going for largely open plan office styles we are able to house 103 people in these new buildings. 

Most important desk

Here is the most popular and also the most imporant desk in the new offices. The first meeting we had in the new offices involved some of the children and this corner was a great hit. Wouldn't you go for a little chair with an orange crab on the seat??! 

Liz Roberts

Liz Roberts
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

Liz Roberts is our OM ICT Office Manager. She has born the brunt of all the floods, the chemical spillages and the endless problems we have had with air circulation in the old offices. She tells me that we have 27 windows in the old office of which 3 open.

Roll on 04 November when we move into the new offices!!!

Reminder of war

Reminder of war
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

Like jetsam on a lonely beach the road up through the Khyber Pass is littered with the relics of war. All too often warfare is only an incident away. While were in Kabul a US Army vehicle ploughed into bystanders. Within minutes a full scale riot developed and by the end of the two days many buildings were burned and many people were dead.

These were anti-foreign riots so we had to keep our heads pretty low. As Chris rode back from the office on the first day, he was stopped by a young man who asked his nationality. Chris said he was British. 'It is a good thing that you are not from USA or we would have killed you!'

Ganny teaching photography

Ganny teaching photography
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

'Ganny' is what Zara calls Elsie. Zara is already camera aware but Ganny is helping to hone her skills.

God gave Elsie and me the gift of a wonderful visit to Afghanistan. I flew to Dubai to a joyous reunion with Elsie. We had been separated for 10 days, with me in meetings in Germany, and Elsie working at the guest house in DubaI. I had a few hours sleep and then on to Peshawar, that famous old North West Frontier Province town, in the West of Pakistan. We met there with the SERVE team from Afghanistan on a retreat. Then a 12 hour overland trip through the Khyber Pass to Kabul.

Mike’s schedule

As I write this I just back from a Communications Working Group Meeting in Germany. On Wednesday I fly to Dubai to join Elsie. It is a busy time though a worthwhile busy-ness. Here is my schedule of travel over the next couple of months

17 May I go to Dubai to join Elsie
18 May Elsie and I head for Peshawar for the SERVE team retreat
19-21 May SERVE retreat with in Peshawar
22 May Overland from Peshawar to Kabul
24 May Mike and Elsie speak to the OM folk in Kabul
25-26 May SERVE board meetings
27-31 May Visit SERVE Projects and work with OM on Ministry Plans
01-04 Jun Camping in Bamian with Chris and Esther
05 Jun Fly to Dubai
06 Jun To Newcastle
09 Jun To Cincinatti to be with Fiona Susannah n spouses
12 Jun To Fort Wayne Indiana for IITC meetings
18 Jun Return to UK – Newcastle
23-25 Jun ICT Retreat
17-24 Aug International Forum in Germany

Elsie crack shot

Elsie crack shot
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

Elsie developed unexpected skills when we went out clay pigeon shooting. It was a wonderful experience as we bruised shoulders and split clay pigeons and rabits into a hundred pieces.

Conlan weekend

Conlan weekend
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

This particular weekend we met up with Todd and Karen Hendricks and their party and had a wonderful time together in fellowship and enjoyment of the Suffolk countryside.

Conlan Homestead

Conlan Homestead
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

The Conlan homestead is more than a shack but they are using it for such great hospitality.

Conlan family

Conlan family
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

So good to meet up with the Conlan family en masse down in Suffolk. It has been a long time since I saw all of them together. We relived some of the adventures we have had together including one memorable night in Portugal when Peter, Birigitta and Elsie managed to fool mw with a tale of a thief at the door. They reminded me of course of my picking up a cudgel to go out into the darkness to face the 'thief'.

Mike and Elsie

Mike and Elsie
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

We did a little trek down the back of Nagarkot and had a wonderful time with a friendly family we met. The heavens opened as we walked back up to our lodge and we just got in in time.

Langtang early morning

Langtang early morning
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

We managed to get a day out of Kathmandu, sneaking past the barricades to Nagarkot. We spent the night there facing out towards the Himalayas. I always find the terraced hills and the foothills stretching off into the distance enormously refreshing and awe inspiring.

The snow capped 'dur khaima' (Far Pavillions) peaked out for a brief period in the early morning. The peaks of Langtang and brought back vivid memories of a family trek out on the old Tibetan salt trail during our time in Nepal in the late 1980s.

The Sari ladies in Kathmandu

The Sari ladies in Kathmandu
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

4 of those who were involved in Leadership Matters Course in Kathmandu. Min Soon, Jenny, Joanne and Elsie. It is a graceful garment the sari, isn't it?

This LMC was an exciting time of investment in the lives of poeple from Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. It was exciting to see an almost visible growthin confidence in communication skills. Joanne was about to move back to speak in churches in Ireland for 3 months of speaking in churches. "I was dreading it but now have the tools I need!!"

Burning Tyres in Kathmandu

Burning Tyres in Kathmandu
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

We seem to spawn revolutions wherever we go. Kathmandu was the scene of great unrest. Up to 100,000 people were out on the streets protesting over the monarchy and pushing for democracy. When we were able to get out to dodge the Government curfew we had to wend out way through burning tyres and brick wielding students.

Leadership Matters in Stellenbosch

Leadership Matters in Stellenbosch
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

40 of us got together in a Camp set in a vineyard in Stellenbosch to work together on leadership skills. It was exciting to watch the light go on as people understood the principles of delegatio and creative thinking. Working through a personal Life Plan was a special time of experiencing God and his personal interest.

Peering above the trees

Peering above the trees
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

How could we visit Africa without a sight of this incredible beast which towers above all others on earth. The gentle giant. I am glad they are not carnivores!!

Gyroplane

P1310442
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

Here is what it looks like - the current gyroplanes just have the rotor instead of a wing. They are stable to fly but you do need to have training if you are to fly safely.

Flight in a gyroplane

P1310444
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

I have followed for some time the development of gyroplanes. With the potential of vertical take-off and landing and then the addition of wings for fast flight, we might have some interesting hybrids developing in the years ahead.

Look at http://www.cartercopters.com/ for some interesting possibilities for the years ahead.

I got to fly a gyroplane in Spring, South Africa!! What a privilege.

P2260736

P2260736
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

One day I managed a trip by cable car to the top of Table Mountain. As the sun set we looked out over top of Cape Point down towards the far distance of Antartica. Magic stuff!! Isn't the Lord's creation great.

Smoking Competition

P2070604
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

For much of February I was in South Africa. Much of that time I was with striking distance of Table Mountain. The legend has it that the Devil and Jan den Hunk had a pipe smoking competition on top of the mountain and the Devil came off worse. Ever since that time he tends to blow off smoke when he gets mad and down it comes rolling off the top of the mountain.

Mike and Elsie

mike and elsie good
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

Because I take a lot of the photos we often don't get any decent pictures of us. You may not think this is good but you should see some of the others.

The next months are going to see us separated a fair amount and so we would value prayer for that. On Monday (30 Jan) I leave for South Africa for a month - a week of International Leadership Meetings and then 2 weeks of Leadership Matters Training.

Susannah and Dave Kretzschmar

Susannah and Dave Kretzschmar
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

Well, they are husband and wife. It is difficult to believe that my youngest daughter is a bride and now a wife with two weeks of experience.

We were so thankful for God's wonderful presence with us and for all the many friends who came to join us in celebration. We feel enormously rich.

The plans are for a week in Cincinnati where they may settle later. Then there is two months in Costa Rica learning Spanish (Susannah) and working on organic farms. Of course there will also be some serious surfing and diving.

The summer may well see 3 months of Salmon fishing in Alaska. Then I guess it will be time to think about further plans.

Mike & Elsie

Mike & Elsie
Originally uploaded by mikelyth.

Elsie and I are chilly in the frosty air of 17 December, but you can tell that we are pretty delighted that we have seen Dave and Susannah wed. It was a most wonderful wedding with the Lord uplifted.

Notice how well my tie matches Elsie's outfit. I never cease to be amazed at these women.