Serendipity!

The Jamboree has been full of serendipity ... but now it's drawing to a close all too quickly!

Yesterday the sun got the better of me! After completing my blog I went off to do my duty on as a Listening Ear but it was very quiet at our tent! It seemed unbearably hot inside and outside the tent.

We made our way over to the Tropical Hub to join in the Roman Catholic Worship. Teeming with young people from many different parts of the world it was a lively mix of worship with three mini sermons in Spanish, French and English exploring the reading for the day - the Parable of the Rich Fool who thought he could keep all his worldly possessions only to discover that death summoned! We were challenged to consider our priorities and seek the things of God's kingdom, justice and peace.

We took supper in the company of someone from Fijii who told her story to Felicity. I was glad to sit and listen!

My evening came to an early end and an early night was followed by a very good sleep.

Breakfast this morning was in the company of three from Kenya who were thrilled with the Jamboree but now ready to get back home.

This morning I had a task to do.

We both packed up as much as we could for me to take back to the car. That was quite some expedition. It is a 30 minute walk from our tent to the bus stop for the car park, a 30 minute ride in the bus to the Air Field, a 30 minute retrieve of the bags, a 30 minute bus ride back, a 30 minute walk back to the tent and a five minute walk to the Internet Cafe. It is now 3-15 and I left the tent at 10-15. You can see the sums don't add up!!

The first problem was that I had nearly reached the bus stop before realising I had left my car keys back at the tent.

That's what led to the serendipitous moment!

I had got half way back to the bus stop on my second journey when I drew level with an elderly man heavy laden with a back pack and draped in a flag. For two pins I would simply have passed him as I was in a hurry. But that's not quite the spirit of the Jamboree! So yet another conversation began.

At his enquiry I explained I was from Cheltenham. He explained he was from Australia, or at least he had been living there for 40 years. Originally he had been from Surrey ... and he hadn't lost the accent!

He asked if I had enjoyed the Jamboree, and then he said one of the best moments for him had been on Brownsea Island. "So, you had been there!" I said. For the Sunrise ceremony representative scouts from all the countries at the Jamboree had gone over to Brownsea Island to renew their promise there. I took it he had been with the Australian contingent.

But that had not been the reason for his presence at Brownsea Island.

"They wanted someone from the family there," he explained.

I guessed the family he was referring to!!

It turned out my fellow traveller, also taking an advance bag back to the car, was none other than Micahel Baden Powell another grandson of Lord Baden Powell! With great excitement I invited him to sign my map, and he added his name in a wonderful signature right across Australia. He then proceeded to pin a badge on my Jamboree necker, "I met Michael Baden Powell Founder's Grandson, Scouting Centenary 1st August 1907 2007."

I recalled visiting the family house with Felicity earlier in the year, and he was beginning to explain that he had been born one month after his Grandfather's death, but that he had wonderful memories of his Grandmother, when a buggy drew up.

The buggy offered him a lift, and he in turn insisted I ride on the buggy too.

I have a wonderful picture of Michael Baden Powell clinging on to my all too heavy bag with muddy wellingtons strapped on top in the h ope that neither he nor the bag would tumble from the back of the buggy.

The buggy driver took him to the celebrity car park where his wife picked him up and I realised that I was nowhere near the bus stop to take me to the North Weald Airfield car park that I needed. No matter, the buggy driver took me round to the bus stop and my journey was completed.

With a good long break for lunch I am now ready for my next duty from 4-00 through to 10-00.

What a wonderful day yet again!

A day full of serendipity.

Every blessing,

Richard and Felicity