Our News

Happy New Year to everyone! I have had a few moments to reflect over the last two weeks, being off sick helps with this, and I have been amazed that we have managed to fit so much into just one year!

We began 2005 with a huge bang - our DTS students who went to Albania will understand what that means! I have never seen so many fireworks in my life! Then we spent time in Albania and Romania with quick visits to Bulgaria and Greece squeezed in there. That was an amazing time as most of you would already have heard. 2006 did not come in with such a big bang, but courtesy of our fellow residents of Woodley I was still treated to a few backyard fireworks displays which I could see from our bedroom window. It was no Sydney Harbour, but New Year’s eve is not the same without at least a few fireworks!

When we returned from our overseas outreach 2005 continued with a whirlwind 4 weeks to get ready for our wedding. Shows what can be done when you put your mind to it. We were blessed with a lovely day for our wedding (well, it only rained before and after we had our outside photos taken!) and the second reception and time spent in Australia with our families and friends was wonderful as well. Then we finally returned to the UK in June for a few days, only to turn around and get back on a plane for our official honeymoon in Spain! Half the year gone already!

The next few months were punctuated with highs and lows - mine and Rob’s visas were granted in record time - a huge blessing, as well as months of searching for and finding promising jobs which never went anywhere for various reasons. The up side was we got to travel to Scotland and Sheffield and we never lost the opportunities to do some sightseeing and be total tourists. Turning down the job in Sheffield was one of the most difficult things of the year. I still don’t really fully understand why, but I do know that God had his hand in it, and that he has never stopped guiding us through it all.

Just after this we received news that my house in Australia had sold - this was a huge answer to prayer, as we are finally able to get ourselves out of the debt which has built up over so many months of unemployment. Soon after we returned to Reading from Sheffield Rob and I both got jobs - not exactly what we would call our ideal jobs, but a blessing nonetheless. Then after about a month working in the department store I was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with a rather large gall stone which is what has been causing me so much trouble for the past several months! Doesn’t sound like a blessing, but having a diagnosis and a plan to make it right is so much better than just being in pain all the time and not knowing why. So I consider myself to be very fortunate. It also forced me to not festively overindulge, and I actually lost 3 kg over the Christmas period! It was also wonderful that I was able to leave hospital on Christmas eve, and spend my first Christmas with my new husband.

So what is all this schmaltzy reminiscing for? Well, 2005 has been a difficult year in many ways, but I just wanted to share how truly thankful I am for all the awesome things that God has done for me despite this. Rob and I have learned so much about each other through this year and I am even more thankful than ever that God was thoughtful enough to bring him into my life! I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have kept us in your thoughts and prayers during this important first year of marriage. It means so much to me.

I also wanted to wish you all a fantastic, prosperous and blessed 2006.