25th January 2026
My mom said they are experiencing London weather there in the southeast corner of Tennessee. In fact the weather today in both places looks to be almost identical: highs in the 40’s (Fahrenheit), mostly cloudy with some rain. The only difference is the traffic. And possibly the availability of some good English breakfast tea (which I’m enjoying in the afternoon).
Although my flight to London was delayed I arrived only about an hour later than originally scheduled. This gave me time to freshen up, grab my bags, figure out how to get to my hotel, and also enjoy the first taste of coffee on this trip. Normally I would have had a cup or two on the plane but I might have been sleeping when some of the beverage and food carts passed by.
Finding my hotel was easier than I anticipated. It’s almost as if they planned it that way for weary tourists so they don’t get lost. I checked in, found my room, and got settled in for a meeting. The UCG Council of Elders has been scheduling quarterly check-in meetings with the entire GCE, giving us a chance to hear what they are working on and also ask questions.
The funny thing about being in London during this particular (scheduled for this afternoon) is that the elders nearby will also be tuning in, but we won’t be together. It’s also kind of funny that someone mentioned to me that they would be having a meeting this afternoon and I didn’t realize that it was the same meeting until Lena mentioned it. She’s so smart. Since we’re all predisposed this afternoon I won’t be able to get together with anyone today.
I do have plans to meet up with Denise McClean and Gerhard Marx tomorrow morning to collect the donated glasses from the Bricket Wood congregation. Hopefully we’ll have a chance to visit for a little while, although we will be meeting just outside a Tube station. Plus I will need to head back to the airport soon afterward to catch my flight to Malawi (via Ethiopia).
While I sit here sipping my tea and listening to the council members answer some questions, I’m reminding myself that I should share some good news. We have a new great niece, born this morning in Kentucky! So exciting! The new baby girl is in the NICU as I’m writing this, getting some extra help from doctors and nurses. Mom and Dad are, I’m sure, exhausted but overall doing well. I’m glad they made it to the hospital before the big snowstorm hit. There are people in various places across the US losing power and battling the cold, the ice, and the snow.
With a cup of instant coffee in hand and the meeting finished, I answered a few messages from home. Even when I’m away I always try to be reachable if possible. This usually isn’t a problem in most places these days. Even when we are far away we are close by. This is also how it is between brethren at all times (hopefully). We are connected through the presence of God within us: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many” (1 Corinthians 12:13-14).
Now that I’ve had a chance to rest a little, to repack a little, to solidify my timeline for tomorrow a little, I’m getting a bite to eat. Maybe I could have been adventurous and order something less familiar, but fish and chips always hit the spot. Especially in places famous for the dish. I’ve had better chips for sure, but the fish is spot on. I’m not sure what to do with the peas.
… 7:30pm …
The snowstorm check-ins continue. So far I’ve seen some photos of the snow from family in Cincinnati, some brethren in NJ who think the snow levels will reach over a foot in their area, and a call from a lady who lives just barely upstate in NY (Middletown) who is checking on people. She said it’s terrible there right now but she’s safe. We thank God for His protection and care over His people.
After dinner I took a walk, took another call, had one more cup of coffee, and headed to bed. I almost feel adjusted to this time zone already but tomorrow I’ll be heading further east.
-Lewis VanAusdle
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