Bob's Blog

Following in the footsteps of her parents, Edie (bob) has begun a blog of her own on her Leappad (think mini ipad for kids).  She is very excited about it and can't wait to keep people informed of 'her' news!

Here is her first attempt.  Please do comment on it and let her know what you think.

As for Ken and I, we are now living on vast amounts of coffee and very little sleep but you will be glad to know our list is beginning to shrink!  We have finished our church talks now which have taken us around the beautiful Cotswolds, speaking at

Taynton 

King's Sutton

Leafield

Witney Community Church

I never realised how much I enjoyed having a microphone in my hand! Seriously though, it has been a real privilege to share our story and how God has been so incredibly faithful to us.  Many people have suggested we write a book - perhaps I might keep that one off the 'list of things to do' at the moment but in time maybe.... watch this space.

So this is the last week for Ken and I living in our house.  The international shippers arrive on Thursday and for the following two weeks my awesome mum is 'camping' in the house with our children as we attend a two week residential training course.  What a star mum is!  We will think of her and the kids having to borrow saucepans, crockery, cutlery, sleeping bags, airbeds etc from willing friends whilst we spend two weeks in a hotel!  Sounds bliss!

Onwards now for the rest of the day - time to clear a few more drawers before coffee time!

I was Brave

'I am never going to a hot country AGAIN!' shouts one of our children at the nurse as she has her last injection!  10 seconds later and they are all done!

The last of the injections and 3 happy children with their 'bravery certificates!' and off to buy some chocolate as a treat.

That's another thing ticked off our list.  Hoorah!

Leading you down the garden path!

Our garden

Spent the afternoon at Burford Garden Centre to celebrate my mother in laws birthday today (it’s our daughter's too today!)  I spent most of my time savouring the smell of the roses – I think I tried to drink in the scent of almost every one I could see (and there are a lot there!)  I am wondering how I can bottle that very English, very heady, very gorgeous aroma to take to Kenya with us.   

Any ideas?   

I am going to miss our cottage garden, the soft purples and romantic pinks but am looking forward to the abundance of giant blue agapanthus and amazing bird of paradise flowers that will take their place in our garden in Nairobi. 

Time is rushing past now faster than water in a river.  

Lots of lists, lots of decision making, lots of fundraising and the beginnings of goodbyes.  Letting go of things we hold dear has begun its gruelling path and it is a meandering route which demands a delicate navigation.  Some of the first of it began at our garage sale at the weekend (not that we have a garage!).   Culling ‘things’ to me is a joy (call me heartless!), but to some in our family it has been a cruel and very emotional mountain.  But the goodbyes of friends (more precious than they will ever know) will be a whole different ball game and one that I am not ready to play – not just yet – perhaps not ever, but play we must. 

We are still amazed daily by God’s faithfulness and continue to rely on his goodness and provision.  

Please can you pray that we                

- raise the rest of the money we need (about another £700 a month)

- sell our car

- organise a party

- finish our list of important and essential things to do!

The power of supporters

Image from Telegraph Travel

With the World Cup starting today thousands of supporters will have travelled thousands of miles to Brazil to cheer on their teams.  More still will be supporting them from home.  I've often read about what a huge psychological boost players get from their supporters cheering them on.  Often it is the difference between success and failure.  Well now we know how they feel!  With scores of people now signed up to support us both financially and in prayer no longer does it feel like we are heading out to Africa on our own, we now have a huge team with us, supporting us all the way!  Thank you so much to everyone who has committed so far, you might never know just what a boost you have given us.  We are now 2/3rds of the way towards our target.  If you would now like to get on board please contact us and sign up today.

Gantt Charts and all things logical!

As I write, we have 6 spreadsheets open, 2 word documents, 4 emails, 3 computers and our youngest daughter is busy practicing Facetime with her grandparents!  What did we do before technology!  How did missionaries manage I wonder 50 years ago?

I must admit, I do like a list.  I was once told to always start every list the same way with the first item as follows:

1. Write a list!

This way, I can cross the first item off straight away.  Good tip!

The problem with our gantt chart (fancy name for a list!) is that it has 124 items on it and I keep adding to them every day.  So as soon as I get the satisfaction of crossing something off, I add another 5 things.  Take for example the car (the one we have left!)  As I was taking it to the garage to fix the wing mirror (1 problem) that Ken had broken several months ago, I managed to hit a (very beautiful) Cotswold stone wall and cause a (not so beautiful) scrape and dent (2 problems!) on the back! One step forward and 2 steps back has never been so real in my life.

But this has been an important week so far for crossing off some of our big items on our gantt chart!  We have got the kids into a school which is great and they are excited about their new school life in Nairobi.  We have fixed a day for our garage sale to sell our house contents.  Shipping companies have quoted for moving our belongings. We've organised our filing cabinet.  We have fixed our day to move to Kenya.  Our local church have organised a farewell service.  And we have people coming over tonight to help us clear our loft!

- it's just a shame not all of these were on our gantt chart!

Not just another job

As you might be aware, unlike most jobs, MAF UK requires all of its overseas staff to raise £25,000 a year to help finance their role.  A few of my friends have suggested that this requirement might put off a number of people applying to work for MAF.   I think it is possible that some good potential candidates might be put off applying because of this condition, however I think it is a very useful way of ensuring that the applicants really do have the calling to undertake the role. This is no ordinary role. It requires most individuals to take a huge reduction in income and to move themselves and their families to a country where life might be much tougher and circumstances very different to what they were used to before.  If it was just another job, paying a wage with no requirement to find their own supporters, many people might be tempted to pack in the role either before they start or shortly after arriving in the country.  This would waste a lot of MAF's money and potentially increase the number of job vacancies.  So yes, it's a challenge but this is why I understand why MAF asks its staff to raise £25,000 a year and besides - I like a challenge!  We have around 6 weeks to raise this money, are you willing to help us achieve this?

The gift of time

I wonder whether like me you ever wish you could turn back the clock or increase the length of the day!  With all that has to be done before we move to Kenya with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) we could certainly do with as much time as possible.  The incredible thing is that is effectively what has happened.  I was due to go into hospital for an operation to remove a liver ulcer today but miraculously the ulcer has vanished (see small but irritating! below) and the operation has been cancelled!

Had I had the operation I would have been out of action for at least three weeks and so this miracle has effectively bought me extra time to prepare for Kenya that I hadn't expected.  Praise God!