First (2) month(s) in the UK

Dear Supporters,   I started this post at our 1 month mark in the UK, but now we have been here 2 months already and so much has happened! As I mentioned just before we left the Republic of Ireland, we secured a 4 bedroom house near Oxford literally days before we boarded the ferry to the UK. It has been such a blessing, the house is fully furnished and equipped and even has resources for home schooling. The Shunem Trust offer this house to missionaries on furlough or returning to the UK at the same rate you would struggle to find a 1 bedroom flat in the area. The remote support work for MAF Tanzania is actually working pretty well. I have time to focus on some of the admin tasks I could not always get to, especially during the last year when I was the only pilot. We have successfully managed to cover the regular outreach flying by juggling 4 relief-pilots who each cover 3-5 weeks at a time. We are hopeful that a full-time pilot will join the program by the 2nd quarter of next year. The community and Trinity Church Oxford have been so great in receiving us during this time of transition and change. One of the leadership couples were missionaries in Tanzania for 14 years with Africa Inland Mission. They know the challenges of returning 'home.' I have been supported by the church to gain some church ministry experience while we settle and search for a full-time job.  Within the first couple of weeks, I had an opportunity to preach on 1 Corinthians 2, in a 1000 year old church building in the heart of Oxford. I was able to relate to Paul's fear and trembling and lack of wisdom and eloquence. So, all I could do was focus on Jesus, the cross and His resurrection!

The boys have really done well, in the first few week, we enjoyed some sunny days, but the temperatures have dropped quite a bit recently. They join a weekly home education nature walk and have enjoyed experiencing the change of seasons. Louis is starting to join in more with home school and Amelia is doing a great job managing both of them. Since we've been here we celebrated 3 birthdays; we had Grandma's birthday the day before we moved to Oxford, then we had Louis' 4th birthday with our first visitors in our 'new' house. In November we joined Oupa's 70th birthday online with friends and family from all over.

As you can see, we have so much to be thankful for and there is EVEN more that I will send in a separate newsletter, but I do not want this one to get too long. In the meantime, I will let you wonder why I needed to find a suit to wear for the first time since our wedding.