Dear praying friends,
{mosimage}Things are continuing to move in a positive direction in Cote d'Ivoire, but we have known for several weeks that it is most unlikely that any Wycliffe missionaries will be returning to live there before the beginning of the new school year. Having prayerfully considered our personal situation, it doesn't seem like a good idea for us to plan to return 'sometime next year perhaps' knowing we would be leaving in the summer of 2005 so that Christopher can be back in British school for 'year 9'.
So the next question is "what should we do in the UK?" and has God's call to us to serve him in cross-cultural mission come to an end because we have had to leave Africa? Margo is obviously going to be busy with our new baby for a while, so our primary thoughts are concerning where Paul can best use the training and experience God has given him.
As you may know Paul took a degree in Computing Science in the 1980s and worked for 4 years as a computer programmer. Computing moves on quickly so Paul's programming skills are not very current and the computer industry is still quite depressed following the bursting of the '.com bubble'. Paul's experience since joining Wycliffe in 1991 is mostly not very applicable to the secular work environment except for his more recent experience in leadership and management. However, those he has managed have either been of a very different culture or they have been highly motivated people following a long-term vocation. Paul has also had some limited experience of teaching computing to others and enjoyed doing that. Whilst a return to secular employment has definite attractions and would not be an end to Christian service or involvement in mission, we do not think it is the right path for us to pursue at present.
Wycliffe are inviting Paul to work at our mission headquarters in Horsleys Green, managing the training school computer lab and teaching people how to use specialised linguistic and general office applications. Staying with Wycliffe would mean staying with an organisation we know and love, but would mean moving our family to live in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire before the beginning of the new school year. This option presents many practical difficulties in terms of accommodation and schooling especially since Christopher is at the point of starting secondary school. Of course God has seen us through many difficulties in the past and we do not doubt his care.
In recent months we have also been talking to Africa Inland Mission. They are looking for someone to work as an IT Specialist based at their International office here in Bristol. This job would involve supporting the local office systems and coordinating IT more widely including offices in Europe, the United States and Africa. There would be a limited amount of travel each year to train and educate staff to use newly developed systems. This would mean a change to working with an organisation we don't know as well, but one with a good reputation and ministry in Africa. We wouldn't face the same upheaval for the family, since we could remain living in Bristol. We would still need to trust the Lord about schooling for Christopher, since we are very late in applying, which means the 'better' schools in the area are already oversubscribed.
Whether we work with Wycliffe or AIM, we hope to maintain a personal link with the Bhete work in Ivory Coast. We will also continue to trust the Lord for our finances since both missions operate an individual support system. Some people feel uncomfortable about financing 'home' based mission staff, but the reality is that missions simply do not have sources of funds other than the Lord's people to support them. We recognise this as a challenge, but we firmly believe that as we follow his leading the Lord will continue to meet our practical needs, whether that be through our current supporters or through others.
The baby is officially due next Thursday and we would like to make a decision before it is born. We must decide between two options that are both 'good', yet the choice isn't easy because each choice has profound implications. Please would you pray with us as we take this next step of faith in one direction or the other that we would experience the Lord's peace in the consequences that will follow?
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