As I write this, the television is full of images of appalling destruction, the aftermath of the terrorist attack on America. I had planned to write at length this month about our family visit to the States this summer, but for obvious reasons that will have to wait for another time.
Let me instead take a few moments to celebrate one small part of American Christianity, which we encountered during our visit: the Mennonite community in the Central Valley of California. We stayed with a Mennonite family near Fresno, whom we had got to know over the years through their visits to L'Abri Fellowship but had never visited ourselves.
We did some serious sight-seeing in the Valley - from the extraordinary sequoia forests in two national parks, to tours of fruit-processing plants which I can assure you are much more interesting than you might think - but the lasting impression I shall take away with me is the experience of living and worshipping with Mennonites, albeit for one short week.
