FIRE IN OUR HEARTS
AWAKE O ZION!
lands were like paradise and the Hall was New Jerusalem! Pete was more realistic and saw what was coming. The battle of faith continued. We had the deposit, but where on earth would we find the rest? Everyone we approached turned down our application for a mortgage until one friendly bank manager pointed to the ceiling and said, ‘Well, if him up there is on your side, I’d better help!’ It wouldn’t be the last time God would touch the hearts of influential people when we needed it. In July, Dave Lantsbery and Steve, a converted young drunk, took possession of the old rectory — at two o’clock in the morning! The owls screeched all night as the pioneers tried to sleep in a dusty corridor upstairs. Dave was soon on holiday from teaching and went round the auctions for furniture. Lots of people offered them stuff — boxes of crocks, sundae dishes and lemon squeezers — most of it useless! But we were in and the adventure had begun. In July 170 of us left for Ashburnham Place in Sussex. God was taking us deeper, and it was here we all learned to ‘meditate’. Or, at least, tried to! Early one morning I stepped on to the lawn and headed for the woods. It was only six o’clock and the sun was drawing a haze from off the lake. At last I was alone with God. Gently I sang in tongues and felt my desert boots soaking up the morning dew. The donkey brayed noisily, but I kept my distance. (The animal was notorious for biting Christian retreaters!) Otherwise the silence was delicious. I sang out the interpretation and prophesied, then, turning off the path into the woods, I poured out my heart to God. I felt he had become my 109