As I am sure many of you have heard, back in May Tommy was trying to leave South Africa for a two-week trip to Zambia and he was pulled into immigration for issues with his South Africa visa. It’s been a long, complicated and frustrating process trying to get the issues resolved. We have had to get an immigration lawyer involved. Tommy had to leave South Africa and return to the UK so we could launch an appeal. We are still waiting on the results of that but he is allowed to travel anywhere but South Africa.
It has not been an easy few months. But in spite of all of this we have seen God’s hand in many ways. One way in which we saw God’s hand was in Tommy’s visit to Zambia. It came at a time exactly when the Zambian Regional Support Team needed it. He was able to provide help to our Services Centres at a time when that extra pair of hands was needed.
Back in June, Morgan had the chance to go to Malawi with a group of Nurses from the US. Her time was spent between a mix of Holy Home Visits and days involving a mobile clinic in the communities. It’s a country that we love, and it was great for her to be back and reconnect with the Hands team in Malawi. To learn more about Hands at Work’s work in Malawi visit www.handsatwork.org/malawi
We have also seen much growth in our communities this year. A number of our communities that we serve in have been able to increase their number of children supported this year. Other communities, that we have been identifying for a few years have been able to begin 3 essentials services for the first time. This means that children in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland will for the first time have access to consistent food, education and health care and a special person in their lives who is looking out and caring for them.
Jordan and Chad came to visit in Zambia. Morgan’s mom and dad are spending a year serving with Hands at Work in Zambia, and with Tommy not able to be in SA, Zambia became the location of our time together. It’s rare that Morgan’s family is all in one place, so we treasure the times it does happen. The visit was full of laughter, bus adventures, food and quality time with the family.
In the beginning of August we headed for Canada, we spent most of our time in and around Ontario where most of Morgan’s family and friends live. We have not had much time here in the past few years, usually just passing though for a week or so. We got to spend quality time with friends and family we have missed so much. The longer we are away from Canada and the UK the more we miss the important milestones in the lives of those we love, and we were blessed to be a part of some of those while in Canada and the UK. We also miss the everyday life stuff the cups of coffee, walks, beach days, camping trips, summer nights, deep discussions and the not so deep ones, the laughs the tears and everything else in between. And that stuff is important to us as well. We went back to Canada wanting to honor that in the people we spent time with. We left Canada after a quick little trip to visit a dear friends in NYC, full of love and gratitude for the people in our life.
On the Sunday before we left Canada we heard a sermon on waiting, it was perfect timing for us.
How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me. - Psalm 13
We are still waiting in His timing and even though it is beyond our understanding, we know God has a plan for this time. He has shown his faithfulness many times throughout our lives and we continue to trust in Him during this process.
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.
Much Love T + M
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