 Jamie goes to school in uniform. Abi has friends that are her own age that speak English. Chris owns a Mondeo (there's nothing like a public confession). Liz chats with mums at the school gate... as a peer. Sam exists! It's all change - finally we have some news for you.
Frustratingly the visa situation that led to us coming back last year has not changed at all and so we are left with three options – to return under a visa that Liz can get, with her working in the school and Chris unable to work – to relocate either within the same country (different Province) or elsewhere in the world – or to remain back in the UK and look for other work. As neither of us has any sense of the pillar of cloud and fire in our minds moving on we feel, for now, that the closest option to remaining in the camp is the third option. It is a decision that has been very hard in the making and it brings with it many mixed emotions. We will, therefore, be finishing with I/S either at the end of February or March. In the mean time Chris is looking (very unsuccessfully, so far) for jobs. The break is not totally final yet because I/S have a system so that if we feel called to return overseas with them at any time during the next two years we would not have to go through their interview process again. They will be contacting everyone who supports us financially (direct to I/S and not via churches) to discuss what happens next with our support.
These last 8 years have been an amazing journey that has not only been incredibly formational for us but, we pray, will also leave a lasting impact behind in the lives of those we have crossed over with. We feel incredible privileged to have seen so much achieved through the growth of the school (which is now fully registered, has a new head teacher and appears to be in great shape) and through the well drilling and latrines work. We feel even more privileged to have seen God at work in the lives of so many diverse people, ourselves included. So, we want to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has been a part of this with us. We couldn't have done it without you. There has never been a time when we haven't felt loved, cared for and prayed for. Thank you!
 For now we remain very uncertain about our future. We started off taking great comfort from the Proverbs 3v5-6:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
As we finish this time the same verses are at the forefront of our minds. We don't yet know what it will mean for us to live intentionally here in the UK but we trust that the straight path will appear (… soon please!).
In the mean time Chris has been writing a book looking at some of the causes of injustice for the poor and what the church, particularly, can be doing about them, drawing on our experiences of course! It is due to be published in the summer by Gilead Books Publishing, but Chris will use a pseudonym so as to protect the work of others that is still going on. When it is available we will send you the appropriate link!
Liz has been getting used to life as a mother of three. Sam has been feeding... lots – it has been an unusual experience for us to have a baby that actually fits into the correct age of clothes, rather than being drowned in them! Abi is loving being a big sister and is very attentive to Sam... whereas Jamie is more interested in his football club and playing with school friends. Abi now has her reception place lined up for September in the same school that Jamie now goes to. And, we have been trying to get Jamie and Abi used to eating fish fingers, baked beans and other UK standard children's food. It is still normally a hopeless endeavour, which is in contrast to the zoo-like feeding frenzy that goes on when we cook fried rice! Adjustment takes time.
Thank you again for all of your interest, prayers and support. It is deeply appreciated. It has been great to catch up with many of you since we returned and we hope to see many more of you in the near future.
Thanks:
- For the incredible ways that we have seen God at work through or time with I/S;
- For everyone who has supported us during our time with I/S;
- For good adjustments back to life in the UK; and
- For a wonderfully supportive church here in Chester who are smoothing that transition for us.
Thinking:
- For vision and direction over the “What next?”;
- For work (in the very near future) for Chris; and
- For Chris' book to be well received and to have the impact intended – to challenge Christians and churches in their response to global poverty and not to result in the work that is still on-going to be affected.
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