Monday, March 22, 2010

House News (and other bits and pieces)

We've had quite and incredible couple of weeks. We decided to go for a mortgage interview and found that we can borrow enough to be able to buy a house in the village. There was only one we could afford (before we sell in N. Ireland). It's a 3 bedroom mid-terrace which needs completely gutted and renovated!!! Several things have happened to make us think this is the house God wants us to buy. It feels like we're taking on the Drop-In Centre once more...another aspect of the ministry here that resembles what we were doing in Mexico! We should get possession by the end of April and then it will take up to a couple of months to make the house habitable. We'll post some before and after pictures.

We've already met some of our neighbours. A couple of ladies work in the office in Tabitha's school and we met another lady who will live close to us on Friday night. We're so looking forward to being in the heart of the village and more involved in people's lives. Now that the decision has been made we would really appreciate your prayers that our house in N. Ireland sells quickly. We would get a better interest rate if we could transfer our mortgage over than we will get if we have to take out a separate mortgage.

The SU group in the school continues to be a highlight in the week. The kids are so open and friendly. Andrew has been asked if he would be involved in the school's Easter service. This week we have a special evening for mums of toddlers on Thursday. This will be a monthly event and we are kicking off with a night on First Aid. We have put out some publicity and are hoping for new contacts.

We are just coming out of a period of sickness. Lots of new bugs for the kids to get used to. We so appreciate your prayers as we work excitedly to see God's kingdom extended.

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Agnew update

It's so hard to believe we've been in Scotland for 7 weeks already. Time really is flying by. We are still staying with our friend and traveling back and forward between Edinburgh and the the town where we are working. Just this week our 'family' expanded as another girl moved into the flat/apartment.

Just this past week we heard that we are in good health when we got the results of our medicals. The doctor has recommended that Tabitha have an electrocardiogram to check out a little heart murmur she has had since birth. We also finished off our debriefing session with some recommendations to help us through this time of transition and beyond. We are so grateful for the service provided here which is especially geared toward foreign missionaries. Though I think we have transitioned very well it is always helpful to verbalise experiences and emotions to know what is going on and how to respond. This has been a difficult week for Tabitha who has been wanting to back to Mexico and Northern Ireland.

Perhaps it's because she knows we are moving again and doesn't feel settled, perhaps she is trying to cope with the transition in her own little way. We appreciate your prayers for her as she figures it all out.

We have been looking at houses in Wallyford and we have had some interest in our house in N. Ireland. So praise God!! There's nothing concrete yet and at times we are frustrated and eager to move out and get settled but overall we are confident that God's timing is perfect and He is very much in control of what is happening. Our quest to find a house has opened many opportunities for input from people who live in the area and we have begun to make new friends.

The SU group continues to give us a real buzz with between 30 and 40 kids each week. The mothers and toddlers group is trying out some new ideas and we hope to attract some more new mums. We're excited that already there is a weekly bible study on Tuesday evenings and with new believers from the area attending it is a fresh and exciting time. The weeks are busy with quite a bit of planning and meetings at the moment.

Thank you for your continued prayers and keep checking in every couple of weeks for brief updates as God blesses the work here.