UK to LA

Greetings from Simi Valley in Los Angeles. I am long overdue an update - sorry for the delay!

Our time in the UK was a real blessing for us. In many ways it was unwinding from the previous 3 ½ months of the work in Zambia, time to take a breath and as a family enjoy seeing some amazing history as we travelled to various churches and stopped with ministry contacts and friends. The meetings were valuable in making further contacts in relation to partnership in Zambia and we look forward to seeing how God uses this visit in the future.

As we travelled through the UK, we have had impressed on our hearts how unique our church fellowship is in New Zealand. We are blessed beyond our imagination, and while we are by no means the perfect church, we have an amazing fellowship at RBC. God has richly blessed us as a fellowship and we must rejoice in the blessings that He has given and continue to share with others from the abundance that we have. We must be an outwardly focused church sharing the love of Christ through all the blessing we have in people, ministries, finances, teaching... Praise God for his blessings to us!

The meetings we had the day before we left UK with Echoes of Service in Bath was certainly a high light and was alone worth the time spent in the UK. The men we met were very gracious and supportive and we were able to be encouraged together in the cause of mission. The trust that these men work with has given gifts to Samfya each year for many years and they will be very interested to see the long term plans for infrastructure development at Samfya with the potential of helping the school as well as having contacts with a wide number of churches who could be made aware of the work as well. Praise the Lord for this valuable meeting!

We are now staying with our friends the Kaya family in Simi Valley. It is a blessing to catch up with them - they are people that we interacted with when we were here at Seminary, a wonderful relationship in Christ and discipling. They have four children and are also caring for a nephew, so the house is very full but loads of fun.

Yesterday we fellowshipped with Christ Community Church in West Covina (where Greg, Traci & Micah come from). I can’t tell you how much of a blessing this time was and how welcoming this church was to us. Donald was able to share in the preliminary parts of both morning services and then give a detailed report to the youth ministry in one session and then to two adult classes in the second session. Then in the evening Donald also taught one further adult class. The people of the church were very supportive about Samfya and they may even be interested in short term missions there in partnership with us. What a great day and what sweet fellowship!!

This week will be further meetings with missions people, Grace Church staff, Scott & Patti, other friends... (and a side trip for Katie to Disneyland!!). Thanks for your ongoing prayers. We are really looking forward to getting home!!