Tales From Wales

Clean Slate's 1999 European Tour

Part I of IV.

Greetings from Vermont!

We have returned from our trip to Wales and have much to tell you. We had a very profitable and enjoyable time as we jumped from one engagement to another. While in Wales over a span of six days, we encouraged the local church, challenged non-believers, and stretched ourselves in service to Christ. This is the first of a four part series which provides a day-by-day summary of our activities during the trip.

For those of you who need some background, Clean Slate is a music ministry of the Panton Community Baptist Church in Panton, Vermont (USA). Last year, we were provided the opportunity to say 'yes!' to an invitation to travel to South Wales in October 1999 to minister through music and personal contact in several towns. We prepared for about 9 months, learning new music, gigging in and around our home church (New York, Vermont, New Hampshire), arranging for transportation and sound equipment in Wales, and praying for it all to go well. Before we knew it, we were on our way to Wales on the 8th of October.

Clean Slate is: Gordon Dobson (vocals and gospel); Suzanne Rood (vocals and piano); Vickie Cook (vocals and keyboard); Marge Huff (trumpet, coronet, and recorder); David Huff (sound); Keith Darwin (bass, electric and acoustic 6-string guitar); Heather Darwin (flute); Bob Robinson (drums, harmonica, vocals); and Lisa Robinson (electric and acoustic 12-string guitar). Also present on the trip were Rich Rood [not pictured] (gospel and outreach) and Nathanial Huff (roadie and gear guy).

And now, Part I (Days One, Two, and Three):

Day 1: Saturday, 9 Oct 1999

In reality, this day started around 3:00 PM Friday as we assembled for the drive to Montreal. We boarded the plane around 9:00 PM, and arrived in London at 9:00 AM Saturday. Nobody slept on the plane. Matt Tricker, the missionary in the region and our main contact for the entire trip, met us in the airport wearing a "Dr. Seuss" rainbow color hat that extended a foot above his head. He was sure easy to spot!

It took two vans to transport us and our luggage to Jerusalem Baptist Church in Pentrebach, South Wales. The 3-hour drive provided some lovely scenery between catnaps (and three trips around Windsor Castle 'till we found the right way out of town!). Members of the church had volunteered to put us up during our stay. Upon arrival we were introduced to our host families. For everone except Vickie, the remainder of the day was spent relaxing and getting to know the sponsors.

While Matt and Vickie were gathering some last minute gear they stopped at a house where an exorcism was in process(!). Matt suggested they not stay but it was too late as the occupants (of the house) spotted Matt and emplored him to come help them. So, in they all went with a tired Vickie in tow. In anticipation of success, the homeowners had turned the heat way up. Apparently, the house gets very cold as the demon vacates its victim. The heat and lack of sleep was too much for Vickie, so she fell asleep. Yes, she fell asleep during her first exorcism! Matt filled us in on the details afterward: The possessed person was the daughter of a Satanic high priest. Whenever she tried to read the Bible, her eyes would begin to burn. When someone read it to her, she'd hear sounds in her ears that masked what was being read. After the exorcism, she was able to both read and hear the Word of God.

Day 2: Sunday, 10 Oct 1999

On our first full day in Wales, we split the group: Rich preached at the Jerusalem Baptist Church (our host church) while Clean Slate lead worship at St. John The Baptist Welsh Anglican Church in Troed-y-rhiw (TROY de rue).

In Pentrebach, Rich found the group to be few in number but great in spirit, much like Panton church 8 years ago.

The Welsh Anglican church building was an old all stone structure with a large pump pipe organ along the side. Inside it was cool and a bit damp. The front of the church was graced by some beautiful stained glass depicting the Last Supper and the Life of Christ.

At the church, we met our sound tech for the week, Johnny Mac. We hired Johnny and his PA system but hadn't had much of a chance to talk with him before this time. After a quick setup and sound check, we were ready.

This was the first time that the congregation at the Anglican Church had seen a "modern" service, but they seemed receptive. Gordon presented the sermon and did his usual splendid job. After the service the Vicar Steve had some interesting comments. He mentioned to Keith and others, how he could see that God was softening Bob's heart. He couldn't have been more right. He seemed to know things that we hadn't told him. He also predicted more sermons for Gordon in the future, it seems!

In the afternoon, we set up at the Jerusalem Church in Pentrabach for our first full concert. Things went pretty well, considering how tired we were. Bob instituted a very popular contest. When the band played its theme song, the first person to stand and raise both hands was given a set of drum sticks. The first winner was Joel, whose father had loaned Keith a bass for the week after intial contacts over the Internet on the ChurchBass list server.

Day 3: Monday, 11 Oct 1999

First thing in the morning several of the group visited the Caedraw Primary School. This was the first of three elementary schools we were invited to during the week. A typical session would last about 20 minutes, with Suzanne teaching a few Sunday School songs, Heather giving the "Wordless Book" gospel presentation, and a storyboard presentation by either Rich or Matt. This day, Rich pretended to be a "pig" (boy, he really threw himself into that role!) which brought much laughter from the kids. In other sessions, Matt Tricker told some very animated stories with paintbrush and storyboard which he uses in his street ministries.

On each occasion, the kids were wonderfully behaved, fascinated with our accents, and wondered how many famous people we knew. They were also receptive to the stories that were shared. We were amazed that we would be invited into a public school to talk about Jesus, and with the complete freedom we had to present the gospel.

That evening, we traveled to Hirwaun to play a concert at the Ramoth Pentecostal Church. The concert went very well as 60 or 70 people came out to hear us. It was fun to see the people really getting into the concert.

Afterwards, Lisa had the opportunity to talk with some ladies who had travelled several hours for the concert. As Lisa described our church and how God had grown it from 3 to almost 100 people in this decade, one of the ladies began to cry. This woman told the story of how they had prayed for years for God to work in their church, but nothing had happened. She was distraught and said God must have stopped listening to them. Lisa then heard herself reply that we had come to that church from 3000 miles away to meet this lady and to tell her that God does hear their prayers, and that they will be answered if they don't give up. At that instant, Lisa was living Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses". God took over, giving her both the words to say and the ability to say it! Truly, God was at work both in and through her at that moment.

This concludes Part I.  Click here to continue with Part II.

Last modified: April 05, 2005

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