Welcome to the CADA North East website!

Today has been quite a remarkable day.
It began with 8am Communion at Winchester Cathedral. I was then sent off with a blessing from the Dean. Thank you, Chris.

Only minutes after setting off I saw a couple looking for where to go and they were holding the same guide book that I’m using.
So we got talking.
And ended up walking together and the more we talked the more we found we had in common.
Complete strangers.
They from the Wirral.
Me from Newcastle.
Jane and Tim. What a joy to meet you!
I felt I’d been given a couple of angels to keep me company and guide me!

After two hours I decided I needed a rest so we parted company.
We’d reached a church. The door was open so I thought I’d go in and cool down.
I recognised the door from a picture in the guide book. On approaching I heard an organ playing. It was 11 am and I’d arrived at the end of the service but I went in wondering if they were serving tea & coffee.
They were.
And the welcome!
Wow.
I felt surrounded by angels. It was such a happy company.
The vicar, David, took an interest in what I’m doing and prayed for me before I left, but not before he told me that as a student in Newcastle he went to J John’s first ever evangelistic mission at Jesmond Parish Church and, responding to Christ’s love and call, he started following him!
I told him the church was like an oasis to me and he was stunned; that was the description of what the church was to become that someone had given him.

And on it went:
The couple who pointed out the right path,

The older lady walking alone who told me about her involvement with her local church,

The curate-soon-to-be-installed in her first post. Sarah-Louise I think she’s called. We just prayed out in the street for each other.
I hope her dog is ok. I’m worried about her.

The kindness of the staff at The Cricketer,

The dad with his young daughter who helped me with great conversation and with lifting my incredibly heavy rucksack,

The lady on the bus who is a member of Mother’s Union who had been bell ringing…..

So many beautiful interactions!

And I’ve been praying especially for my interactions on this walk.