Joshie's Baptism

Joshie got baptised this weekend!

It was such a special morning.

Here's the livestream (33.03 - Joshie’s testimony & 43.36 - his baptism)

I have never bought a car part 3

I once wrote that we have never brought a car and then we got a bigger one which incredibly was also gifted to us. To date this is still true. 

More recently, when we moved we realised that living out of town meant that we are jumping into cars a lot more. A lot more!

We've been convicted that we should try to find another car, but prohibited down to costs. With Caleb now 18 we also felt that we should be getting him driving ... my mum insistent to gift him the driving lessons having put all me and brothers through it wanting to pass it on. Joshie is only weeks away before being eligible himself to start learning.

When asked recently by the board of EA what our current needs are, I said a smaller more economical run around car would be incredible.

It turned out there was one that was looking for a 'good home'. But what was more special was it was from the lady who first housed a family fleeing Uganda in 1972 settle in Sevenoaks. That family was my Mummy & Papa and eldest brother (just 6 months old). They stayed with this family for a while as a home was being prepared for them. During this time, they learnt about markets, where to shop how to work out the locals and have a friendly ear. Their daughter even wrote a Welcome poem for us.  A poem that I have shared many times during Empathy Action's Desperate Journeys debrief (and my papa once shared to the church that they all belonged to).

It all of a sudden feels like 'more than just a car', but a special gift (again) and one which means more to us than just a set of wheels. 

Greenbelt 2024 Pics

 

Summer 2024 photos

 

End of an era: thank you Newlands Road

It’s a rainy day. Storm Jocelyn battering the country (Scotland always seems to take the brunt of it) and tonight we listen to the whistles coming through the chimney around the log burner. Caleb games in his room. Joshie and mummy watching an episode together and Reuben doing likewise. Ezzy and I in the living room hanging out. Today, I’m counting as my last night in Newlands Road proper. I still technically have one more night. Though tomorrow will be after the packers have been in and taken out everything save for our beds and overnight bags.

Tomorrow it will be just a shell. But today, it has life and fun. 

We’ve been hear since May 2014. Nearly 10 years. But nearly 21 years in Tunbridge Wells. In two days, onThursday we move out into a new county, just 15 minutes away in Crowborough. 

It’s a miracle that got us in here and a miracle that’s got us out. And our time here has been miraculous. 

Thank you Newlands Road for

- introducing us to Ezra

- seeing our children go through primary school and into secondary 

- welcome Ezzy to St Luke’s nursery and then St John’s school

- for allowing the formation of Empathy Action

- for allowing us to host friends, family and be a have for all who walked through the doors

- for gifting us a wonderful base to be hospitable and show love

We’re grateful for you and for the ones who allowed us to grace this space… but mostly we’re grateful to the Almighty who allows us to be led, by faith, into such incredible spaces and places such as this one.