Time of Transition

After returning to England from our trip to Brazil to visit family and friends, and renew our visas, we have been pretty busy tackling the surprises life has thrown our way.

Thiago just finished his School of Communications ! It was an amazing three months where he got to learn more about how he communicates with himself, God and others, while learning practical steps to be a better communicator. It was life changing not only for Thiago but for our whole family? How you might ask?

Well, Thiago would bring what he was learning in class into our conversations at home and it really helped us look at how we communicate to each other as a family and how we could bring practical change. Jessica also greatly benefitted from learning techniques on public speaking. More about that to come ! 😉

Thiago

Another great outcome from Thiago doing the school, was that he had to write a research paper on a people group God put in his heart. And if you know us well enough, you will know he chose to write about the Syrian refugees. Since there are Syrian asylum seekers all over the world, and it can become overwhelming to research, he chose Syrian refugees living in Jordan. this is where God started to reignite our love and commitment to the Syrians. We have always had a special place in our hearts for this beautiful people, however when our move to the UK happened , we assumed that our ministry towards them was put on hold. Yet they are (as all people in the world) very much in God’s heart, and we feel a time of being intentional towards ministry with them is coming back on the radar!

Rachel

As most of you know, when we first arrived in the UK , we lost all of our financial support which ended up with Rachel getting a full time job as care worker to the elderly. She really enjoyed being able to serve the elderly and had great opportunities to share His love practically while bringing them joy simply by providing them with pleasant company. However, Rachel’s health has taken a turn , and she is currently wrestling with symptoms of autoimmune disease.

(which has not been diagnosed yet and we are trusting the Lord for His divine touch and grace to heal her) She also found out that she had a small growth in her brain which was not cancerous ( thank God !) but was causing her hormones to go a bit crazy! Happy to say that was treatable with medication and her hormone levels are back to normal. (Praise the Lord!) As one can imagine, working a full time job while struggling with health eventually took its tole , and Rachel had to quit her job. Although it took its tole on us financially , it definitely benefited the kids to have her home!

Rachel was also able to become more involved with ministry on our base. Currently she is a part of the Oasis Ministry that is devoted to prayerfully support and create an atmosphere of care and rest for missionaries; where they can be restored and empowered spiritually, emotionally and physically. Thus being prepared to continue the great commission . The ministry provides this by making a very comfortable flat on our campus available as well as providing prayer, debriefing, baby sitting (so parents can rest) etc. We are also looking at the possibility of sending our first care team out to visit missionaries in our circuit in Greece. The team will go with intent to serve missionaries who are currently working with refugees. More on that later in our next update. 🙂

Time of Transition

We are also facing many challenges financially , and are seeking God as to how to how He wants to lead us in this.

As all can see we have had an eventful year! As we stopped to pray and seek God on what He has for us from this point on, He really ministered in our hearts about refining our vision. And has brought the Syrians right back into our hearts.

Thankfully, our campus has three country circuits that are the main receivers of Syrian asylum seekers. So please join us in prayer as we join and plan in being more intentional to reach the Syrians in our circuits. we have many possibilities and will share them as soon as it is clear to us which ones to start or join.

We are also facing many challenges financially , and are seeking God as to how to how He wants to lead us in this. Again the word He has given us is to be intentional in our calling. Especially towards the Syrians and He will provide. Please pray with us as we prayerfully consider people to partner up with us in this new phase of ministry.