January 2005 We hope you had an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas. Also that you were able to set time aside and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas and thank God for His Son. For a while, Heather and I have been meaning to sit down and write this update. Though first of all can we take this opportunity to ‘thank you’, for your continued prayers and loving kindness shown towards us. Since our last prayer letter in October we have been busy with our house in Newtownards. We took possession on 2 November, but the electricians moved in first to totally re-wire the house. They didn’t make too much mess and finished 1 week later. We spent a few days painting the bedrooms with several friends and moved in on Phillip’s 9th birthday. We quickly unpacked our 9 suitcases and tried to sort the house for living in. We are very thankful to special friends who helped clean, paint, wallpaper and look after Phillip and Debbie. Although, there is still some work that needs done in the very near future. We also want to thank our home church, Mountpottinger Baptist. We have appreciated the understanding that we have received from our family in the Lord. Sometimes we underestimate and neglect our home churches and how precious a family we have in the Lord and since coming back we have noticed what a Godly group of people we have before us in our home church. We want to take this opportunity to thank the Lord for their prayerfulness and support, especially in this last number of months. We also want to say a big thank you to Helen Atchison and Dave & Arlene Ashfield for sending out our prayer letter. At the beginning of December the whole family had a day working with the Ark Open Farm at the St George’s Market in Belfast City Centre. This was a day for people to see and cuddle some animals, but it turned out a good chance for us to use our Spanish with quite a few people from Spain and South America who stopped. We also attended the Latin American church at Belfast Bible College for their Christmas service. This was lovely and nearly every country in Central and South America was represented. We also met up with 3 other Arequipenans and had a lovely afternoon in Spanish. We plan to continue attending the Latin American services which meets once a once a month on a Monday evening. I (Iain) have had several appointments in the Royal Hospital with the specialist, the most recent being just before Christmas. My eye-sight has declined further in my left eye, however the right has remained stable. The Consultant in her assessment said that the climate in Peru did not cause my condition to deteriorate so quickly. One explanation is that it is my genetic make-up which is causing the deterioration. There is no chance of recovering the lost vision and no way of stopping further deterioration. Or so was thought. During an appointment in early January, we were informed that during a gene study they had discovered the precise gene carrying the eye problem. The Doctor’s have also said that when they have discovered the ‘pathway’, they will be able to prescribe a specific vitamin to combat the degeneration. They hope to have this completed by the autumn and although it will help either slow down the degeneration or stop it, it will not repair any lost sight. Since our return in August 2005, we have faced much pain and heartache and continue to go through these emotions, yet we see God’s hands at work. As someone said to us ‘through these troubled times we can see the tender touches of a loving God’, for this we give thanks. Could we ask you to continue praying, especially for God’s clear guiding and directing for our lives. At this time we are looking to God and trusting in Him for the future, though as you may appreciate at this time we have struggles and desires. Also, trying to know the will of God can seem difficult. So please pray! During Christmas we had friends stay with us who had been in the Philippines, for 10 months. They had to return home due to the ill-health of their two children. It was good to spend this time with them and share about different experiences, struggles and feelings. We also had some bad news just after the New Year. One of our missionary families in Africa lost their four year old son in a tragic accident on New Year’s Eve. Please pray for them at this time. Phillip & Debbie continue to settle in. Phillip struggles more with being back and would openly say that he prefers his school in Peru to here in Northern Ireland. We are trying to keep up their Spanish as much as we can. Please pray for understanding and patience with the children. We know that they are struggling like us with re-entry. Max Uhle was a very special school for them and we think that Phillip is especially missing his languages! Even though he had loads of homework! He also misses his international friends and off course the dog and rabbits. Debbie misses blue skies and hardly ever goes out of the house to play as she feels it is too cold and wet! She does from time to time miss her friends too and her teacher Lula in Max Uhle. When we hear them talking about their experiences in Peru we realise how adapted they where and how painful it is for them too. Heather continues to work in Bangor and Iain continues to apply for employment. We are trying to fit back into life here but still struggle regularly. We have had a few phone calls from Peru which has been really wonderful but also leaves us feeling empty afterwards. After unpacking, our house has many reminders of Arequipa and gifts that people gave us which have special places and significance for us. We have found all our photos and Phillip and Debbie have spent much time looking over them and recalling stories relating to them. We have been back 5/6 months today and we still feel our hearts are in Peru. God gave us a burden for Peru and we find ourselves seeking out South Americans, like magnets. Please remember the work of SIM in Peru and around the world, as they seek to serve the Lord. If you have access to the internet you can view ministries on www.sim.co.uk. Pray also for the Ireland office for the next with Ian Grant ( and family) and Lynn Williamson ( and family ) as they seek to advance the Lord’s mission. We want to thank God for those at SIM Ireland/UK. We are not sure of what this next year will bring, but we are seeking God’s will, though we are certain that ‘because Christ lives we can face tomorrow’. We trust and pray that you will know the loving tenderness of the Lord Jesus. At times we can feel like God is far away, but we continue to learn that He is close by at all times. Also the constant need that we should be God-dependent, leaning on His everlasting grace and sufficiency. We thank God for your support in our ministry. Please continue to pray for: the Breakfast Programme & Franciso who delivers the food in Arequipa each week With all our thanks and Christian love through our precious Lord and Saviour, |
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