Looking back, looking forward
In the blog we try to post as often as possible, and often the posts reflect the difficulties or problems we encounter on the way. I think that's a good thing to do, partly so you pray for us but also so you remember to pray for others sent to more inhospitable countries, learning more difficult languages and with less support. But it can give a false impression of our time here, so I thought I'd post a bit of a New Year reflection.
We are very happy and blessed, and we have lots to thank God for!
We have a comfortable home. We live in a pleasant suburb. We have a reliable car. Our daily lives are not really any harder than in Britain. We don't have to wash our clothes in the river or even in the launderette!
We have so much to thank God for in the mission. We have a wonderful bunch of supporters – something like 40 individuals and churches have pledged to support us regularly. We have a team at the mission office whom we love and trust. They are people of integrity and personal friends, most of whom have experience of mission or the pastorate. And we have a team here in Bordeaux with a strong and experienced mentor/leader.
We even have a local church where we can feel at home and comfortable. Doctrinally and in our understanding of the Christian life it is a home from home (one lady at New Year said "hopefully the first of many in this church". We couldn't reply because we don't know if we are to stay long-term in the church and work with students, or to work elsewhere, or to church plant, but we would be happy to settle there.)
The kids have a school to go to, where they are basically happy. This has been the area that has caused us most heartache, and I don't think it will ever really be problem-free. French people are not very happy with their school system either. But though it will be hard, it won't be impossible and we have a rapport with the headmistress of the junior school and the headmaster of the middle school where we hope Gwilym will go next year.
We have a language school which is great. The lecturers are dedicated and devoted, and we have good friends among the student body. I know we were a bit unconventional in choosing to do our language study here in Bordeaux rather than at a Christian school in Paris or Albertville, and that has not been without its drawbacks, but I think we would still make the same choice.
We are all making progress with the language. It was obvious for me at New Year when nobody really needed me to interpret for them, and Pat said "don't help me, I can do it".
And there is lots of work to do. The big question is where we should devote our energies after this period of language learning. The churches are small. There's a lot of very dodgy teaching out there. The populace is unreached. The students are an important mission field. But we have some time yet before we need to commit ourselves to the path ahead.
We are very happy and blessed, and we have lots to thank God for!
We have a comfortable home. We live in a pleasant suburb. We have a reliable car. Our daily lives are not really any harder than in Britain. We don't have to wash our clothes in the river or even in the launderette!
We have so much to thank God for in the mission. We have a wonderful bunch of supporters – something like 40 individuals and churches have pledged to support us regularly. We have a team at the mission office whom we love and trust. They are people of integrity and personal friends, most of whom have experience of mission or the pastorate. And we have a team here in Bordeaux with a strong and experienced mentor/leader.
We even have a local church where we can feel at home and comfortable. Doctrinally and in our understanding of the Christian life it is a home from home (one lady at New Year said "hopefully the first of many in this church". We couldn't reply because we don't know if we are to stay long-term in the church and work with students, or to work elsewhere, or to church plant, but we would be happy to settle there.)
The kids have a school to go to, where they are basically happy. This has been the area that has caused us most heartache, and I don't think it will ever really be problem-free. French people are not very happy with their school system either. But though it will be hard, it won't be impossible and we have a rapport with the headmistress of the junior school and the headmaster of the middle school where we hope Gwilym will go next year.
We have a language school which is great. The lecturers are dedicated and devoted, and we have good friends among the student body. I know we were a bit unconventional in choosing to do our language study here in Bordeaux rather than at a Christian school in Paris or Albertville, and that has not been without its drawbacks, but I think we would still make the same choice.
We are all making progress with the language. It was obvious for me at New Year when nobody really needed me to interpret for them, and Pat said "don't help me, I can do it".
And there is lots of work to do. The big question is where we should devote our energies after this period of language learning. The churches are small. There's a lot of very dodgy teaching out there. The populace is unreached. The students are an important mission field. But we have some time yet before we need to commit ourselves to the path ahead.
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