Serving with our whole lives (not just a specific 'ministry')

'He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God' Micah 6 verse 8

'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will' Romans 12 verses 1-2

Have you every wondered how you can best serve God with your life? Have you ever heard others talking about their 'giftings' and wondered what yours might be? Have you ever heard somebody decline an invitation to serve in a particular way because that, 'Is not my ministry'? Have you found yourself responding in such manner?

I think I could answer, 'Yes!', to all of those questions.

Lately I have found myself frustrated at times when it has seemed others have been so focussed  on what 'their ministry' might be that they seem to miss out on opportunities to serve and encourage those whose paths they cross on a regular basis. This seems to be a particular challenge for some groups of Christians more than others. I appreciate that most people have busy lives with multiple competing commitments and that it is never going to be possible for an individual or group of people to be able to meet the needs of everybody who surrounds them, all of the time. But I wonder whether those of use who work-cross culturally, and are often in a particular country to respond to a particular need, or to work with a specific project or organisation are more at risk of missing the opportunities that God brings to us every day.

One thing that challenged me on this recently was a couple of my local friends commenting how we are unusual for the way we have integrated into our local church. I love our church! It is the greatest blessing to us, and as a family it is wonderful to be up and down to different meetings and ministries through the week, and for the children to grow up seeing the central role of the church in our lives and community. It is not just a Sunday or midweek thing, and it is through serving together in these different aspects that we have been blessed with strengthened friendships in the country that has been our home for these past three years. Of course we have taken delight in embracing the fellowship and different opportunities to serve, and to learn more of the different needs in society here, the cultural beliefs and taboos, the biggest challenges that young people face, and generally the best way to reach out with the gospel. But our friends have mentioned that other foreigners tend to remain more on the fringes and be more distant, and I have found myself responding that we are maybe different because we 'are not missionaries, we are just normal church members'. But that has made me contemplate this area more. There are some areas of church life that are tougher than others, and there have been times when I have invited missionaries who live locally to join and support the work (actually, I am asking them for encouragement and support in a role that I struggle with), but the response is usually that they are too busy with their 'ministry'.

As a young Christian I attended a Christian Medical Fellowship conference where Helen Roseveare was the speaker. She was brilliant because of her honesty and humility. She spoke of her early years in Congo (more detail is in her books, 'Give me this mountain', and 'He gave us a valley'.) Two things struck me deeply, such that I remember more than twenty years later. Firstly she describes how frustrated she used to become by interruptions, because her task had been to build a hospital and establish a nursing school. How could she do that when she was constantly interrupted? But with time, she came to see that the plans God had for her on a particular day were delivered to her in the form of interruptions. The second thing I remember her saying referred to her ministry in later life. She said that when people asked how she was, she would always mention that she was tired and busy, but then she was convicted of that, and realised that if she really was serving God in all ways with all she had, then she would expect that she might be tired and busy. So she stopped saying that.

The other week I was visiting friends and saw a very beautiful quote on their fridge: '“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” John Wesley. This made me think again about the same area.

In the same week, I was able to enjoy a home Bible study with other friends, and we were discussing 'the body of Christ' and how each of us has a role. One friend gave a helpful illustration - he explained that in the army, a person may be a doctor, or a telecommunications expert, or another technical role, but first and foremost, they are a soldier. They cannot neglect their responsibilities as soldiers because of their technical role. I found this very helpful. Yes, the Bible does talk about specific gifts that are not given to everybody - passages detailing this include 1 Corinthians chapter 12. But there are more passages which give instructions as to how to ordinary Christian is to relate both to other Christians (as a Bible study, look up all the passages which use the phrase 'one another') and to those we seek to reach with the gospel. We are called to be wise, to make the most of every opportunity, to watch our conversation carefully, to visit and care for 'the least of these', to look after the orphan and the widow, to visit the prisoner, and to do much of this 'in secret' without drawing attention to our acts, knowing that it is seen and honoured by God. That is very different from publicly proclaiming 'my ministry' and sticking to that.

It reminds me also of the well known story of the 'good Samaritan' (Luke 10 verses 25-37). A man has been beaten and left for dead along a roadside. A priest passed by and also a Levite. They were the religious people of the day, and the passage indicates they saw the man, but they passed by and did nothing. The reasons may have been that they were in a hurry, and this was an inconvenience, or that they were worried about ceremonial cleanliness. Some of it could have been simple pride regarding their positions in society. But they did the exact opposite of what Christ would call us to do for those who are destitute and in desperate need. It was a Samaritan, the last person one might have logically expected, who showed the love, kindness, compassion, patience and generosity that resulted in the man's recovery.

It is too easy for us to justify being like the priest or Levite. We can excuse our actions, but I think the overarching theme of the Bible is along the lines of the John Wesley quote - to do as much good as we can, to as many people as we can, for as long as we can. This might not always be noted. It might not earn us prestige in our communities. For the cross-cultural workers and missionaries, it might not be the kind of thing you choose to report in your newsletters or during your presentations on home assignment. But it is through the mess and inconvenience of daily life that God brings gospel opportunities right to you. Your choice is simply whether to trust God with your time, your energy, your resources and then do your best to do what is right, or to turn the other way.

Living between different worlds

I am sitting in an airport lounge waiting to fly back to my home in East Africa. I am returning from a week-long work-related visit to my passport country, and am now longing to be back in the warmth, chaos and dust of home.

It has been over a year since I was last here. So many people have asked me open-ended questions, such as ‘How are the family?’, or, ‘How is work?’, or ‘What is your church like?’, or ‘How is Africa?’ Often I am quite bewildered to know where to start. There are some things that are just too difficult to fully explain, and it is easier to focus on concrete facts (like, ‘Please pray for a favourable judgement at my daughter’s adoption hearing’). As I return home, I feel quite emotional and jumbled, and from that perspective, offer a few reflections of what it can be like for a person who now lives far away to parachute back into their ‘old’ life for a short time:

1.       General bewilderment: It is just like parachuting back in to a life which in some ways feels absolutely familiar and which in other ways feels completely foreign. I find this really unsettling – examples this time have included a change in several denominations of the currency used, some quite dramatic fashion trends (for example full beards on young men), people who have undergone significant life events in the time I have been gone, computerisation of all medical records in the hospital where I work and even the building of a brand new, very shiny hospital (not open yet – likely to be by the time I am next back)

2.       Relationships. It can be immensely rewarding and encouraging to meet with friends, even for a short time, and yet at the same time, this can also be frustrating as there just isn’t always enough time to really connect. I have not worked out a particular formula to predict which encounters will fall into which of these categories, but I have noted a couple of things. For me, I don’t even tell very many people that I will be around – I pray about this a lot before making the trip, and then get in contact with a few people. It is much easier to meet one on one with a person and talk properly than to be surrounded by many people, but not actually get to talk to any of them at any level. I often find it quite bewildering to be surrounded by friends who are all chatting away about many different things – particularly when I am just back, I’d much rather meet for a quiet meal, coffee or walk in the park with just one or two people. At the same time, I also pray that God shows me any opportunities I should make the most of – for example colleagues going out after work, a group of friends going to a run together, or somebody you had not planned to meet who has a particular need. This time, I particularly enjoyed something called Park Run where I went with two friends and bumped into a number of people I had not seen for years. It was relaxed and enjoyable and conversation was easy as we’d all just shared a run on a beautiful morning.

3.       Cultural changes. There are often subtle changes in the way people think, talk and behave, and it can be noticeable even after a year. I had read a statistic that in the UK apparently more food is now consumed outside the home than at home (I am still not quite convinced I believe this). On my first two nights, staying with two different friends, both decided ‘just to go out for dinner because it’s easier’. It’s a small thing, but took me by surprise. (Both were extremely pleasant evenings, and I am not commenting on whether this choice is a good one or not, but rather that this was not something that I would have ever thought of doing!). More sadly, there is a huge amount of pressure towards general tolerance, and particularly shifting of gender and sexual norms. There are subtle (and not so subtle) signals of this everywhere, and I have found myself relieved that I have not needed to explain such things to my children (yet). I have little doubt that when we visit for longer as a family, that my now capable readers will ask me some interesting questions about things they see and read out and about, on billboards, in newspapers and on screens. I think in some ways it is helpful to come back and be a little shocked by a shift away from biblically correct worldview – it is a reminder that we need to live in this world as strangers and pilgrims, being as innocent as doves but as shrewd as snakes (in the words of Jesus). It helps me to pray for the country of my birth, for my friends and family, for the political decisions that are made, and also to prayerfully consider how to prepare my children for their first visit back.

4.       Emotion. I tend to be quite pragmatic about life, and tend to see problems as challenges to overcome and opportunities for growth. I tend to be thankful for what is in front of me in different places (people, food, gospel opportunities, fun things to do) rather than lamenting the things that are not available in that place. But I find short visits a strangely emotional whirlwind. In Africa, I have good friends and feel very settled in a church where we can both serve and grow as Christians. But there is often just a level of separation – of not quite feeling really understood, having to be a little careful about use of humour, of always feeling a little guarded and aware that there may be cultural undertones of which I am unaware. When I am back in the culture where I grew up, I do not feel some of these subtle barriers, and with some friends, there is this amazingly liberating feeling of being understood. This is really precious, and I think you don’t always realise quite how precious it is until you do not have it. This week I have been greatly encouraged and refreshed by some of my closest friends, and I feel sad to be leaving (but thankful at least for the internet and ways of trying to remain in touch). At church this morning I felt quite overcome by a wave of emotion – thankfulness, sadness and a real awareness of eternity where every tribe and tongue will sing God’s praises in harmony.

5.       Loss. If you read this blog, you know I am thankful for so many things that I could not even begin to list them. But with that, there are feelings of sadness and loss. Two days ago, it was nine years since my daughter died, and because I was in the right country, I was able to visit her grave. I was able to reflect on all she taught me, and all I am thankful for. But there is always going to be sadness there. When she died, I really did feel like a part of me died too. I think the part of me that died was a selfish, worldly part that feels entitled to pleasure and comfort in this current world. Another part was a fresh innocent hope that this world was not as bad as many people say, but her death was a reminder that this world is fallen, broken and in need of redemption. The Bible is clear on those points. So whilst I am thankful too for these lessons, I can still feel the raw pain – almost as though somebody had ripped my heart out and thrown it at a wall. Another reflection that comes is that as we live in this world, almost all of us will face pain and loss of one degree or another. Many of my African friends have been through more than my European friends could possibly imagine. Some of my European friends have been through more than many of my African friends would understand. One group might face political instability, genocide and prejudice, hunger, poverty and high death rates from illnesses which might be preventable in other parts of the world. Others might face abuse from dysfunctional families, mental illness and addiction, financial insecurity and bereavement without the support structure to support them through it. Nobody is immune to pain and loss. And when I move from one world to another, sharing the lives of people from many places, I feel aware of the pain that is a universal part of being human. I long for the new heaven promised in Revelation chapter 21, where we are promised that there will be no more illness, pain or death and that the Lord Himself will wipe away every tear. True comfort is found nowhere else.

I am aware that this reflection is not particularly well structured, and that I have touched on a number of challenging themes without really working the thread through to a conclusion. In attempt to draw things together a little, I would say:

1.       If you have friends or family who have moved between cultures, be aware that coming back for a visit may bring complex thoughts and feelings that can be difficult to articulate

2.       Be aware that this must be very similar for those who have moved into your country and culture from elsewhere – and take the time to listen

3.       Remember that God’s family will be made from every tribe and tongue. We are all made in His image, and in this world, we all know joy and pain, sadness and loss, hope and despair, often all jumbled in a complex tangle

4.       Be thankful for what you have – relationships, material provisions, health and strength – and where you feel loss in these areas, find things that you can give thanks for

5.       Remember that confusion, misunderstanding and loss will be in this world until Jesus returns to make all things new. Beware of the idol of earthly comfort and security and seek to live as a stranger and pilgrim in this world, spending your life (your time, your strength, your resources) to build His kingdom

Christians working overseas, but not 'missionaries'?

'Are you a missionary?' is a question I am often asked. And just as often, I don't really know how to answer.

At first I would always say, 'No'. I am a Christian doctor working in an overseas setting because I want to use my God-given gifts here, to share my faith and to serve in our local church. But my actual job is in a secular university setting, and I receive a part-time salary for the work I do. So, no, I am not a missionary. (But then I would reflect, my husband is working as a doctor and tutor in a Christian institute, and serves as a volunteer with no salary. Does that then make him a missionary?)

So, what is a missionary anyway? I think that is where we can face a real challenge! What is it that the person asking the question has in mind?

Some people would say that all Christians are missionaries, just that we might assume this role in our 'home culture' or further afield. People who make this argument point to the many places in the Bible where we are called to share our faith, to make the most of every opportunity, to love and to serve others, to be ready to give a reason for the hope that we have, and so forth. However, there are flaws with this argument too, as discussed here. I used to hold this view - that what we are currently doing in east Africa is pretty much the same as what we did in the UK - we serve in several ministries through our local church, we seek to have a reasonably open home and show hospitality, we homeschool our children and we work part-time using the skills we have. It's pretty much the same here. Except when it isn't!

Some people would define a missionary as a person who has been sent by their local church with a specific purpose and 'calling'. But even then, the word 'calling' can be quite emotive and has its limitations. Our calling is to be children of God, faithful to Him and loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. It is relatively rare for a person to have a very specific, crystal-clear sense of calling to a specific country or people group; more often, we are given some liberty to consider the spiritual expediency of different opportunities. Certainly, we feel it is right to be where we are for now, and we were sent out with the blessing of our UK  church. So, are we missionaries?

Or, does one need to be affiliated with a mission organisation? Is it necessary to have been to Bible college and have had a period of cultural orientation and language study? But that definition would have limitations too!

Or is it relating to the source of income? Does a missionary need to raise full support and 'live by faith', or could one have a part-time source of income enabling them to work without needing to depend on external resources and donations? Didn't the Apostle Paul and some of his companions work as tentmakers for that very reason? So it can't just be a source-of-income issue!

One might suggest this is an academic argument, and doesn't really matter, that it is pedantic semantics. And in many respects it may not matter - it is just a label. However, I have lately felt that it does make a difference how we broadly define ourselves, and what 'bracket' people put us into, perhaps particularly in terms of how we relate to one another and those around us.

One important area is support. (And NO, I do not really mean financial support, I mean spiritual support, and perhaps even simple friendship and encouragement). If a church is supporting 'missionaries', in likelihood (although I do know that this is not invariable, and can often be erratic), they will consider carefully how best to support these people - perhaps through regular contact (email or Skype), praying for them, following up on challenging situations and prayer requests, spending time with them when they are back in their 'home country' and so forth. But if a church member is located overseas but doesn't seem to fall into that 'missionary' bracket, there might be less thought given to the support that a person or family might benefit from.

More locally, there might be a bit of a missionary community - friendships where people can talk honestly about some of the struggles and dilemmas, and the approach to situations where it is not always quite clear what the most loving and helpful thing to do is. It can be just so amazing to be able to talk with people who seem to understand what the job involves, understand the frustrations and understand the desire to know and love a different people but often feel one is falling short of that. Recently, I have built friendships with people in this country who are 'missionaries' - and the bond there is strong, largely because of that shared motivation and desire, and that the challenges we face are often broadly similar. It is a huge relief when you realise that you are not alone in this, and that others grapple too, and that there are no simple 'one size fits all' answers to some situations. But it can be strange - I can still feel that I am a kind of 'imposter' because my job is secular! It can be difficult for somebody like me to break into this kind of network, and it has taken time (we've been here a couple of years now) to build relationships.

I love the blog alifeoverseas.com because the writers often touch on themes that I resonate with, but which I don't often have the opportunity to talk about. I think there can also be different challenges for a Christian who is serving in an overseas setting but is not what they might consider to be a missionary. For some people, their desire to serve God might not have been the major factor in their geographical situation. And yet, circumstances have called that person to be where they are, and there are many opportunities to serve. Especially if that person's faith is quite new or immature, there can be a great need for teaching, support and discipleship as challenging cross-cultural situations unfold.

Perhaps there are added challenges for the 'non-missionary' - for example, in the medical NGO world, there many be many Christians but there are also well-meaning people with strongly opposing worldviews - strongly humanist or athiest for example. How does a Christian reach out to this group? Another 'people group' I can find challenging are those who seem very immersed in an 'expat community' and seem to have very little awareness of what life is like for the people of this country; this group often includes Christians, and it can be easy to feel judgemental or frustrated (or, if I am honest, sometimes envious when life seems to involve many wonderful adventures to high-end lodges and enjoyment of the 'good life', especially at weekends when we are often busy with our church-related roles and of course celebrating the Sabbath). Such people sometimes might suggest we are making things more difficult for ourselves than we need through some of the choices we have made, and this can be a subtle but dangerous discouragement (reflecting on the temptations thrown at Jesus in Matthew Chapter 4!). Working in a mission hospital might involve a day that starts with prayers, working on a predominantly Christian team and having team Bible study once a week; a Christian doing a similar role in a secular organisation would not have that spiritual environment; one could argue this brings great opportunity, but it can bring isolation.

Furthermore, there can be different challenges that arise - I remember during the ebola epidemic feeling unsettled by how some of the people who seemed to be doing the most, and doing so selflessly, seemed to be the non-Christians, whereas those whose hope was in Christ often had excuses as to why they shouldn't risk going to west Africa at that time. (Of course I generalise here). Whilst I might academically 'know' the right answers to some of my questions, they can be unsettling and there are times when it would help to have older and wiser Christians to glean from, and to really discuss what the Bible has to say. I feel that I am reasonably grounded in my faith, and yet, some questions and challenges and situations can leave me asking questions which I felt I had resolved long ago. A Christian working in a challenging situation overseas needs spiritual encouragement and pastoral support, and one should not assume that because they are 'mature' or capable, that they will never waver in their faith. There needs to be a 'safe place' to ask questions or to admit to struggling with something - for me, that might be understanding why I was born in a country with access to high quality universal education, free healthcare, a good climate and economic and political stability, whereas my nearest neighbours here live in a slum area with high rates of HIV and teenage pregnancy, struggle to afford to have their children in school, are frequently hungry and have walked through significant trauma during conflicts over the past two decades. I can rationalise that, I can read books on it and listen to sermons and podcasts, and yet some part of me still screams out, 'Why???' I need somebody who is not afraid by that question, and who does not give platitudes. I need somebody who is not scared by the fact that a Christian who has been working in international healthcare for more than a decade can still grapple with these questions.

If Christians working overseas attend a local (as opposed to international) church, it might be that there are few in the congregation who understand their role, their challenges and responsibilities and the cultural context within which their spiritual questions are framed. That is to be expected, and much of the time it is not what would be considered a 'problem'. Often, as outwardly confident Christians who love to open their home (and have space to do so), it is easy to 'drift' into hosting and leading Bible studies and fellowship groups. I feel like we suddenly are involved in quite a number of ministries, and whilst this is absolutely what we want, and an ideal opportunity to serve, we also want people back home to know we are doing this, and to pray that we have wisdom - for example in distinguishing where a cultural tradition brings a moral challenge or a sin issue, or where it is simply a matter of preference or style. Also, it can sometimes just be tiring to host, bake, be cheerful and interested, and there can be a risk of burnout. As a homeschooling family, I don't believe time with our children suffers (in fact they love having a full home, and often invite people round), but it can be hard to make time for a marriage that doesn't feel like a series of business meetings and goal-setting workshops. One would expect 'missionaries' to be doing this type of work, and to face these kind of threats, but might not realise that medical academics may also do so.

I think if we assert that we are not missionaries, this whole element of spirituality - the need for spiritual support, encouragement and accountability, and that what we engage in is often spiritual warfare - can be neglected.

So, how would I conclude? Sometimes, I  reflect the question back: 'What do you mean by missionary?' Other times, when I feel that the question has more to do with whether I am motivated primarily by my desire to love and serve God here, and that includes through my professional skills, I simply say, 'Pretty much' or something that is almost, but not quite a 'Yes'. I would encourage churches who have members who spend time overseas for studies or work-related activities to be aware of the challenges and opportunities that may present themselves, and to commit to supporting these individuals through communication and prayer support. And I would remember that all Christians are called to love, to serve and to witness - and that each of us will face different challenges arising from our environment and our relationships. It is not that a 'missionary' is in any way spiritually superior, it's just the set of challenges faced tend to be different.

The poor you will always have with you

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. 

Micah 6:8

I recently travelled for a work-related conference. Arriving early at the venue, I went out for a walk to see my surroundings and get some fresh air. In the mid-afternoon, I was astonished to see clear drunkenness among both men and women across a range of ages and from what appeared to be diverse socio-economic status. In many doorways slept homeless people, and outside many shops there were beggars. I was stunned by the vulgar language used and the aggressive tones which were used, particularly by younger women. There seemed to be no joy, just anger, alcohol, and angst.

This was the city of my birth.

Recently, a visitor to our home in east Africa was clearly shocked by the poverty which she saw around us. Children in ragged clothes would play football barefoot outside our gate. People lived in much more basic housing and had fewer possessions, and live on what can sound like an impossibly low amount per day. She kept sighing and commenting on how difficult it was, and how she would find it hard to 'live among such hardship'.

What has struck me is that poverty is everywhere. Deuteronomy 15:11 reminds us that 'There will always be poor people in the land'. In three out of four gospels, Jesus is recorded as stating, 'The poor you will always have with you'. Poverty is always among us, but perhaps when we are in our own familiar environment, we don't notice what is staring us in the face. In a country where there is better social welfare and universal access to healthcare and education, the disparities might be less obvious. Indeed in some places, it is those who are 'poor' who seem to have the most disposable income, or at least who spend in a way which is more externally apparent. It can seem paradoxical. But my recent observations reminded me that there are as many social problems in a UK city as there are in a developing world context. I think it is helpful to consider what poverty actually is. Is it purely related to the amount a person lives on per day, or does the definition extend beyond being materially poor? A very helpful resource is the book 'When Helping Hurts', and the associated Chalmers Centre. This really helped me understand what poverty meant, and why simply providing 'aid' was not the answer. It also made me appreciate that people become trapped and disempowered and so unable to lift themselves out of their situation. This is seen across cultures and in all environments.

Many of my friends and colleagues in Africa think that Europe and America are places with the streets paved with gold. Their view often comes from films, books or seeing the computers and cameras that people tend to come across with. They struggle to believe that life can be hard, that the cost of living is much higher so money might not go far, and that there are as many, albeit different, social problems. However for me, returning briefly after many years to the place where I was born, I found myself more shocked by what I saw than by the more obvious material poverty in my neighbourhood in east Africa.

What is my point here?

1) The words of Christ are eternal. As long as we live in this world, there will be poverty among us.

2) In every society and context, there are opportunities for us to love and serve.

3) We must take care not to become numb to that which surrounds us daily, but prayerfully seek to see the situation and see how God can use us in it

4) We must not feel that people living in other places have a more 'spiritual' role; I know sometimes people can see their overseas workers or missionaries as being somehow on a pedestal. My argument is that there is every bit as much work to do where you are. Working amongst angry, hopeless people in a cold European city may not seem as 'glamorous' or 'special' as working with HIV-positive women in an African city, but I would encourage you that there are every bit as many opportunities.

5) Get involved and seek to love and serve those around you.

Five Encouragements

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus' 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

We moved into our home two days before Christmas, and now I finally feel we are settling into life here. Where we were before was beautiful, peaceful, convenient, but somehow felt like staying in a deserted, dilapidated 1970s hotel, and there were also unfenced swimming pools which meant I was not happy for the boys to play outside without close observation. We have much to give thanks for, and thought I would share a handful of these encouragements.

1) Our next door neighbours are Christians who homeschool! This really was a surprise, as homeschooling is still quite unusual here. At work, I often feel there is an undertone that I should put the children in one of the big international schools and then I'd have more time to work! Even when people speak reasonably positively about homeschooling as a concept, they still don't seem to understand that time and effort it can take, and that I will not be at work every day of the week. This is fine; I would not expect people to automatically understand our lifestyle choice! But to have people who share our compound who totally understand our motivations is amazing. The children are similar ages, and already they have spent many afternoons playing together and we need to consider some activities that can be done as a group. (They use ACE, whereas we use Sonlight, so the structures are a little different, but there is so much potential to overlap). It was also quite humbling to realise we were an answer to their prayers as much as they were to ours; our house had been occupied by older single people for some time, so I think it is a breath of fresh air to have a group of lively children.

2) The boys continue to achieve milestones. I know this is normal and to be expected in any family, but it is still awe-inspiring when it happens. For example, my elder six year old has grasped reading, and now sees that he can read just about anything he wants - it is like a whole new world that is opening up in front of him, and today he thanked me for teaching him to read. My younger six year old learnt to swim - from being petrified of the water, the other day he shocked me by jumping into the deep end of a friend's pool, swimming a lovely length and nonchalantly climbing out again. For him, this is a huge milestone, and he was delighted to have planned this surprise for me (I was overseas for the final week of swimming lessons, when he really grasped it). My three (almost four) year old is learning his letters fast, and has been enjoying having his own workbooks and sitting at the table with his big brothers. He too can see the excitement of new concepts opening up. One could argue, more importantly than that, we are seeing some nice character development. My eldest told me how he regretted doing something cruel to his younger brother about a year ago. My middle son meticulously tidies up, and they actually argue about whose turn it is to wash up (as in, they both want it to be their turn, and the youngest is going to wash up for a special treat on his birthday). The little one offers me cold water or coffee when he thinks I need it!

3) We are happy with our choice of curriculum - I've written about this before, but it took a while before we decided to use a curriculum at all, and Sonlight really does map nicely to the style we had already developed. We don't stick only to the materials - we try to ensure we are not too rigid, and continue to have flexibility to really delve into a topic, or to embrace a one-off  opportunity that may present itself. People often comment to this effect, but it really is important to remember that a curriculum is a tool, not something we should become a slave to. The boys are excited to be learning - whilst the intensive swim camp over the last couple of months was great, they were actually asking to return to their normal 'school' routine and are enjoying it as much as before. We have some more materials arriving soon with our shipment, and that is exciting.

4) We can run! This might sound like a really strange, and perhaps trivial point. But when I first saw this city, although confident that God was leading us here, I despaired at the traffic. We know those who spend several hours a day in traffic. My husband's workplace is 8 Km away. He can run in 45 min, walk in 1 hr 15 min, and once he went by car and took more than 1.5 hours. So running is actually the fastest and most efficient way to travel around this city, and of course it brings huge health benefits. My workplace is 4 Km away, which I find a lovely distance. We are at a bit of altitude and it is hilly - it can be quite tiring. We both feel more energetic when we run regularly, and I know for sure that the exercise and fresh air are good for my mood. When we previously lived in southern Africa, I found it difficult to run - it was an unusual thing to do, and I found I attracted too much attention, felt immodest in shorts, and never really got used to the altitude. Here, we are relatively close the the altitude training centres in the East African highlands, and there are many runners out and about in our neighbourhood, both expat and local. The boys have been doing Fartlek training on the road outside our compound, and they are also getting very fit.

5) We are beginning (beginning....) to feel more part of the church community. There is a small township next to our road and some of our friends live there; we often meet on the way to church. It is only 15 minutes walk from here, and there was a fortnight of daily prayer meetings after new year. By going to these, and taking the boys to the start of some (to be collected by the second parent on the way home from work), we got to know some people in a different way than you might on a Sunday morning alone. It does take longer in a different culture, that is for sure. When I have visited expat (or more mixed) churches, they are more welcoming on face value. But it has been rewarding to keep working at it here, especially as we are here for a good few years. The Bible teaching is amazing, very solid and clear. In Africa in general, there can be problems with 'prosperity' teaching and the 'celebrity pastor', and that is very much not the case here; it is often spoken against. Many of the congregation are from a tribe from the north - a place which had some real hardships some years ago with the war, child soldiers and so-forth. I think this experience has refined the faith of many, and also taught very clearly that our true home and true rest will come in heaven.

I could say so much more, but these are five examples of recent encouragements as we continue to settle into life here.

How have you been encouraged this week?

Book Review: Everyday Church (Tim Chester and Steve Timmis)

I recently finished 'Everyday Church: mission by being good neighbours' by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis. It is an extended study on the first letter of Peter, written to a persecuted and marginalised church, and seeks to challenge the readers to consider how we reach the world around us with the gospel. There were some areas that I found very helpful to consider:

1) We can be tempted to assume some level of judeo-christian heritage influencing worldview

When we move to a new culture, the first few months are spent listening, watching and asking. We want to know what people value highly. We want to know the stories of individuals, and to know what historical and cultural events have influenced their identity and worldview. And then, as Christians, we seek to find ways to interact and engage with this, bringing the hope of the gospel.

But in 'the west', we can easily assume that we know 'our own' culture. We can assume that those around us have the same basic moral compass, and have simply chosen to reject the things of God, or to choose to stop going to church. But in the current generation, there are increasing numbers who never went to church in the first place.

I heard the gospel for the first time aged 17. I had never been in a church, or attended Sunday school, and had been exposed to no  Christian teaching that I can remember. At the time (over 20 years ago now) this was a bit unusual. However, this is increasingly the norm.

We need to stop and take time to consider the prevailing worldviews, values and culture that surrounds us and prayerfully look for ways to engage. Sometimes the best way to do this is simply to listen, and to ask questions

2) Arising from the first point, simply adding more church events and activities may be futile

I know quite a number of Christians who seem to think getting somebody into a church building will have some kind of supernaturally transformative effect. Not only is this an error, but it becomes increasingly difficult to get people to come to church events, because they seem irrelevant. (Of course there will be people who walk into a church and immediately hear and receive the truth with gladness - and this is something we should pray for. But these are few compared to those who would never set foot in a church).

We can assume that people will come in to evangelistic and mission events, but in fact we need to go out and reach out to them instead.

3) People long for real relationship

Western society is increasingly fragmented. One of the best ways to reach people with the truth about Jesus is through building relationships. As we come to understand priorities, concerns, worries and hopes, we come to understand how we can bring the truth to people. (And some simple, practical examples are given). Certainly that has been our experience - so many people are lonely, isolated and long for somebody to take and interest and to care

Think of those around you who do not share your  hope. How can you reach out to them with love?

4) Daily life is full of 'mission' opportunities

Sometimes people can feel that they are too busy for another 'event' or specific outreach activity. Yet when you reflect on your day to day life, you will realise there are many points at which we are interacting with those who don't share our hope in Christ. These can be simple daily tasks - walking to the shops/ work/ the park, playing with our children, taking the car to the mechanic, going to the market, many others (take a moment to consider your life). We don't necessarily need to add extra things, but need to approach every moment with gospel intentionality.

Parents with children in school talk often of the 'school gate' being a mission opportunity; I believe home schooling families also have many daily opportunities to share their faith.

Consider the mission opportunities in your everyday life. Who do you interact with? Where can you spend just a few more minutes with somebody? Is prayer a daily priority?

5) 'By this all men shall know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another'

As Christians we are called to have brotherly love for one another, to see all our resources as gifts from God to be used for His glory, to be generous and hospitable and to open our lives to one another. This is radically countercultural in our individualistic society. Hence as we live in fellowship with one another, others will be challenged to ask for the 'reason for the hope that we have'. The authors are under no illusion that this is always easy - indeed as imperfect humans, real relationships can get messy, can be painful, can require hard work, commitment and forgiveness! But this is in part the power of it all - those in the world might simply give up and walk away, whereas the kind of relationships that the Bible calls us to would not entertain this option.

Challenge: Do you have true relationships with other Christians, or do you simply sit in the same room for a couple of hours every week?


The book moves on to describe an alternative model of church life, where the Sunday service has importance for corporate worship and Bible teaching, but where the true Christian fellowship and shared living takes place within smaller communities. The authors take care to emphasise that this does not mean that church events, mission activities and Sunday services are unimportant, but rather that reliance on these alone will result in missing a large sector of society.

For me, it was a refreshing read. Our aim in all that we do is to share our lives and our faith. I have had times when I have felt very guilty for not going to a particular event, or doing door-to-door outreach (I actually have concerns about that, and it makes me uncomfortable). However, the times when I have really seen people challenged in their faith, or asking the important questions about life, have usually been around our dinner table as we have opened our door and sought to share our lives with those around us. Similarly, reflecting on the area where we lived until recently, we did not have many (?any) of our neighbours attend church with us, but we did have many opportunities to spend time with people, to speak of our faith, and to help people with particular needs.

If you feel frustrated that church can seem irrelevant and disengaged from today's society, I would suggest you read this book.

If you want to use every moment of your life to serve God and help others see the light of His truth, I would suggest you read this book,

If you know you tend to compartmentalise your life into the spiritual and secular, and don't know how to move on from here, I would suggest you read this book

And if you see nothing wrong with the way church 'is done' but are interested in stopping to reflect and evaluate your outreach, then I would suggest you read this book.

Seasons

'I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.' Philippians 4:12

'In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you' 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Currently in the northern hemisphere, autumn is in full splendour. Trees of orange and gold, fresh crisp mornings, warm jumpers, the first open fires of the year, the turning of another year. When I first worked with missionaries as a teenager, one thing that several commented to me was that they missed the seasons most of all, and at that time, I didn't really understand what they meant.

Today in science, the boys had some experiments to do. The book we were using as a guide clearly referred to autumn, and the boys expressed disappointment that we weren't having autumn here. But we went off to the garden anyway, to look at the leaves on the trees and to consider all the different forms of wildlife that were contained within each tree (insects, birds, other animals and so forth). And this was where we had the most wonderful surprise. In our favourite jackfruit tree, there was a lizard shedding its skin. The boys watched, transfixed. At one point the lizard ran onto the grass and then looked lost, so the boys rescued it and put it back into it's 'home'. And we all marvelled at how amazingly created these reptiles are, and rejoiced at the opportunities to see things which we had only read about before. Suddenly, the thought of a chilly autumn day back in the UK melted away and we were able to embrace our surroundings.

I think this is an important principle when it comes to transitions (indeed to all of us as described in an older post, but I am writing from that perspective). There is almost a choice to be made. Do you spend time lamenting those things which you miss, or do you take the time to embrace and explore the things which are new? I miss cheese. I really do (you can get some forms here, but they are very expensive and not all that nice. Previously my husband bought me two pregnant goats one Christmas so that we could try to make our own cheese, but our set-up here doesn't really include space for goats!). I digress... I do miss cheese, and nice wholewheat bread, and a few other things. But here I can easily buy abundant fruit - pineapples, bananas, papaya, passion fruit. It is not yet mango season. The vegetables in the market are fresh, flavoursome and there are some things which we don't seem to have in the UK - several types of dark green leafy vegetable, peanut (or g-nut as they call it here) flour, jackfruit of course. Whenever I feel tempted to bemoan the lack of cheese, I have to laugh because there are so many other delicious things to enjoy here. The bread is not great. But nsima/ posho/ ugali/ whatever you choose to call it is quite nice, and the boys love it.

Similarly, I do miss those fresh blue skied autumn days. And in time, I will miss the long summer nights. We are virtually on the equator here, so the day length does not vary. But there are good things there too. The weather tends to be predictable. It gets hot. In the rainy season, it really rains and you are likely to get soaked. And then it gets hot and you dry off. You don't have to carry a jumper and a waterproof and some sun cream all at once just in case of unexpected changes (and when you are nipping out with young children in tow, this really is an advantage!).

We miss friends. Of course we do. But slowly, slowly we are meeting new people and with the improvement in internet connectivity it is possible to stay in touch better than it would have been five or ten years ago. There is always a balance in a new place - how much to spend time keeping in touch with 'home', and how much to realise that your 'home' has now moved and there are people right in front of you to spend time with, love and care for, share the gospel with, challenge and encourage and so forth. And again, at some level, there is a choice in how we approach things.

Today, I feel like God gave us an amazing blessing and encouragement by showing us that the opportunities here are simply different. Yes, no autumn colours, but awesome, watching the lizard shed its skin.

Maybe you are in transition. Maybe you've moved within the city, within the country or between countries. Let me encourage you to open your eyes and embrace the good things about where you now are.

Are you blessed? Don't feel guilty, but give thanks!

And He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses' Luke 12:15

As we packed up our life in the UK, the headlines were filled with dreadful stories regarding the refugees fleeing from Syria. So many 'normal', 'respectable' families were leaving all they owned and making tremendously dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean Sea. Weekly there were reports of overloaded boats capsizing and many men, women and children being drowned. As I heard these reports, I was in the process of deciding which possessions to bring in our luggage, which to pack into a 20 foot container, which to store and which to give away. I felt acutely aware of the discrepancy; that I had the luxury of more possessions than I actually need and the financial blessings to enable the shipment, in contrast to those who flee with nothing.

What should our response be? Are there any Biblical principles to consider?

'There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land' Deuteronomy 15:11

'Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give,  willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life'. 1 Tim 6:17-19

'From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked'. Luke 12:48

From these sections, I would draw several principles:

1) In any society there will be those who have more and those who have less. 

2) Rather than feeling guilty about what we have, we rather should prayerfully seek how we can best use these things for God's glory

3) Our confidence and security should never come from our material security, but from our confidence in God

4) We have a responsibility before God to see all things as a gift from Him, to be used for His glory

I think new Christians often feel this way - that they immediately want to sell everything they have and give the proceeds to the poor. Yet this is not usually their calling, and indeed by doing so, they might simply join the number of needy people in the population. Instead we need to consider all things as a gift, and possibly a transient gift.

Indeed, there may be times when it is right to spend slightly more on something in order to serve God more effectively - thinking of our field of work, that could be a reliable laptop computer which enables us to work effectively when we move between sites and countries and when there are powercuts, or a car which tough enough to not require frequent repairs from driving on low quality roads in the rainy season and which is large enough to be able to offer others lifts. Sometimes, the best use of your money (after giving/ tithing) is to spend a little more than you might naturally choose to in order to maximise the opportunities. (We are very frugal as a family, and often find the most efficient and economical approach, so it is quite difficult for us to make these choices. However living frugally can also become a kind of idol, and again requires a prayerful approach).

We don't know what the future holds. When my daughter and I were evacuated by air ambulance seven years ago, I was allowed to pack one small bag. My husband followed the following day with 20 Kg of baggage. But we did not know that we would ever return to our home after that. And you know, that didn't matter at all to us then. We were content to leave it all behind, knowing God was with us and would provide all we needed. Things were just things. Here, we are in an East African country, which at the present time is relatively stable. But other missionary friends in West Africa are facing a military coup and much uncertainty which seems to have come about quite suddenly. We do not know the day or the time when such things might happen. Yes, we are expecting many of our belongings to arrive by ship in a few months' time - books, toys, camping equipment and so forth; but that day might never come. And our desire in having all these things is to be able to serve God well, to encourage others, to raise and educate the boys in a godly way, and to use everything for His glory.

When my daughter was ill, and after she died, some friends expressed a feeling of guilt for having several healthy children. I used to counsel them not to feel guilty, but rather to rejoice in what they had. None of us know what tomorrow might bring, and Jesus tells us quite clearly not to worry about tomorrow. And we are clearly instructed that we are to 'give thanks in all circumstances'.

It might be your material blessings, maybe your health, maybe your family - but please don't feel guilty about the areas where you have been greatly blessed. You may well have friends who would long for what you have, there may be others on your street, in your church, in your workplaces, in your city who are struggling tremendously. May I encourage you to give thanks to God and prayerfully seek how to use His blessings for His kingdom.

Transitions

'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen' Hebrews 11:1

Followed by many stories of the people who lived by faith (whose lives are described in the Old Testament, then:

'These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth' Hebrews 11:13

Today was an emotional day. For the past year we have been joined at church by two families from different parts of the world. In both cases, the husband was working at the same hospital as me and their wives were home looking after three children of almost the same ages as our boys. One of them had been in touch before arriving, via an international network of Christian doctors, and we met the other family soon afterwards (somewhat by chance, if things ever should be by chance when God is in control!) playing in a nearby park. I am often amazed how in the family of God, there is no real issue of culture - instead we are all 'strangers and pilgrims' on the same journey, headed heaven bound.

The children bonded quickly - I remember one day last summer when my five year old and their four year old were absolutely delighted to pee against the same tree (sorry to be so graphic, but that was the moment that they became firm friends!). They then dashed off into the undergrowth and spent the next few hours playing with sticks. I have many photos of them together, digging in the dirt, collecting beetles, building dens. We have had some great days out together as a family. Language did not really seem an issue. Recently, my sons commented 'he makes more sense now; he used to speak nonsense most of the time'. They had not realised he was speaking different languages, but the fact they thought he was talking 'nonsense' did not matter at all in the friendship. On another occasion, we all enjoyed a blustery walk to some islands at low tide. Six adults, nine children, seven nationalities represented and multiple languages being spoken, and yet the fellowship was rich.

We learnt lots from one another. There are cultural differences all over the place, perhaps reflected in the songs we might choose or the style of Bible study with which we are familiar, but we were all coming from different directions to head in the way we believe God is calling us. I've recently commented on how I have found that having children really brings out the differences, and at times can make us feel different and misunderstood, even among Christians. There was little of this here.

Today, we had prayers of farewell as both these families will depart over the next couple of weeks; they may never come back to live in the UK. At the same service, we prayed for another close family with three children who are going on a scouting visit to a tough Asian country with a view to longer term missionary service; they left today. And as I type, my husband is upstairs packing as he flies to Africa the day after tomorrow to set some things up for our move in September. All of this movement, all of this transition brought some unexpected emotion (I am usually more of a pragmatist!). Also, this has been the first time my boys have really been aware of the departures, and the eldest has commented he feels sad (I have been trying to hide how I feel from him, but today this was not possible). I feel very much in a state of transition, not really sure where home is. This has been a recurring theme over the past decade as we have moved between countries several times, sometimes not knowing how long we are there for, sometimes unexpectedly, sometimes with great purpose. We have known joys and sorrows, but in all we know God has been faithful.

So, rather than continue to describe emotions, I will focus on what all of this teaches us about God (and the lessons I hope my children really hold on to):

1) God is so much bigger than we can understand. The world is bigger than we understand. We should never put people into 'boxes' because of their nationality or language

2) One day in heaven, the Bible is quite clear, there will be a great multitude from every tribe and tongue. 'After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!' Revelation 7:9-10

3) The family of God transcends culture. We can learn so much from the way people from other countries see the outworking of the Biblical instructions regarding fellowship, hospitality and encouragement

4) We have a great ability to pray for one another. At the weekend we had been to the beach with one of the families and built a massive sandcastle. The next day, my six year old drew a sandcastle with 19 flags on it (because he had counted that he knew people in 19 countries). We have a world map (ours is Operation World with statistics about unreached people groups on it) on which we have placed yellow stickers for where the people we are praying for are. We've started a monthly prayer meeting in our house. It seems so much more real to the boys because they have real friends there

5) Similarly, writing letters of encouragement - for the boys, having a reason to write makes a huge difference to their willingness to do handwriting. They also love to receive letters - recently we wrote to some friends on the other side of the world, and several weeks later we had a reply - the boys love this, and it keeps the relationships alive

6) Having other friends who are in transition helps our boys see that our family is not so very unusual, and that there are others who move between countries and cultures too. This has been really helpful for them, and the fact that 9 of their friends are leaving in the next week will make it easier for us to move at the end of the summer.

7) We've seen God open doors, bless and provide for these other families. That has been exciting! We have previously known God provide everything we could possibly need for us. Therefore as we approach the next move, there really is no need to fear at all. God knows where we should live, where we should go to church, the key people we should build relationships with. The faith of our friends at this time of transition has been a blessing

8) We've seen amazing hospitality and blessing from these people who have been 'visitors' in the UK - this is such an important reminder that whether you are in a place for a week, a month or a year, you should not see it as too short to be used by God.

I am sure I will reflect more on this topic over the coming weeks, but for now I should go and help with the packing.

My challenge to you tonight is to consider:

1) Where is your true home?
2) Where do you find your identity?
3) Where do you place your security?

Where is our true home?

'Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honourable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation' 1 Peter 2:11-12

'You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier' 2 Timothy 2:3-4

Several years ago, I read 'Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds' by Ruth van Reken and David Pollock. It was on a friend's bookshelf; at that time I had no children and no particular reason to read it other than that I had heard this phrase 'third culture kids' bandied about quite a lot. Sometimes it was used to describe a challenge, sometimes as what seemed to me to be an excuse, but most often just as a statement of fact, a kind of identity. A 'third culture kid' is a child who has accompanied their parents into another culture which is not their passport nation (often as a result of a parent's career choice - either secular or a spiritual calling). A 'cross cultural kid' is similar, but has lived in many different cultural environments. If you are raising a family between cultures, I would recommend reading the book - quite a lot made sense and it has given me some things to watch out for and potential solutions which might be of help. (I should re-read it now, with a growing family and another international move coming up).

The chapter that stuck in my mind at the time related to the process of leaving - of how often, during the final few months in a place, you start to disentangle yourself from relationships and activities, and almost start to psychologically 'leave' ahead of the physical move. I found that interesting because I had been aware of those behaviours in both my friends and in others. I think as a family we are starting to do that now - there will be an interesting conference, or a home educators meet-up in the autumn, but we know we won't be here. We are watching the apple and cherry trees blossom, and remembering some fantastic foraging last autumn; but by autumn we will be near the equator and the seasonal oranges and browns, crisp cold autumn mornings and fresh apple and blackberry crumble will not be our experience this year.

Whilst I think it is good to be aware of the processes involved in moving between cultures (particularly the ways in which we can help our children through transition), I think it is also important to remember that as a Christian, this world is not our home. A friend sent me a book, 'Inside Out: True Change is Possible' by Larry Crabb, since she had found it deeply challenging. I read part of it on the plane yesterday. One of his key arguments is that modern Christianity often sells the gospel short by suggesting that we can know relief from life's problems in the here and now, as well as looking forward to a glorious eternity. This is NOT what the Bible teaches. For example:

Jesus Himself said, 'These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you WILL have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world' John 16:33 (Emphasis mine)

The Apostle Paul described it thus: 'Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory' 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

I believe a lie that we are often sold as Christians is that we should somehow be looking for peace, security and comfort in this world. If we do not find it, or if we find it temporarily only to then move on again, we may be tempted to feel that something is wrong with us. Our proposed move is to a city in east Africa which is densely populated, has a traffic problem, and where there are not the wide open spaces which one might associate with Africa, particularly an African childhood. In contrast to where we lived previously for four years, where we had a large garden with abundant fruit trees, where we grew many vegetables and kept goats and chickens, we may find ourselves with little outdoor space. When I have been explaining this, and other differences, to friends, I find I am often asked, 'Why are you going there then?' Why are we going somewhere that we do not find beautiful, where we are not sure our children will have the idyllic childhood that probably doesn't exist anyway, but which may be associated with missionary life? I find it particularly difficult when I am asked this question by Christians, because it seems to miss the point entirely.

We are moving here because we are confident that this is where God wants our family to be over the next few years. Quoting the Apostle Paul again, 'I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' Philippians 4: 11-13

And again, 'And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work' 2 Corinthians 9:8

God is able to provide everything we need. We trust God with all areas of our lives. We trust Him with our children. We trust that He will enable us to serve Him as a family wherever we are, whatever culture we are in. Our highest aim is not for comfort and peace here and now, but for a life that gives honour to God and looks forward to the far greater hope of heaven.