I am still alive – just.  This week I worked 60 hours in 4 days – including a 1am shift, a 4am shift, a 10.30 shift that felt like getting home early, and not a lot of time to eat. The result … my first professional magazine at the printers. A steep learning curve but I am proud of the results.

I also (thanks to a friend) seemed to have secured graphic design work for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation – which is exciting. Finally, a local real estate company has hired me to give their website a face lift. Life is busy, but if all this comes off, them by the end of September I won’t be too far short of breaking even.

I have had today off to catch up on being a part of my family, but have been hindered by my neck and back being really stiff having been stuck in the same position all week! Now we have to prepare for Hurricane Bill who is dropping by some time Sunday.

This week I confess that my prayer life was reduced to a very regular cry for “help.” I don’t anticipate life being like this regularly, and would appreciate prayer for that. Meanwhile the kids continue to settle in very well, as is Lyn, although I think she is missing her husband.

For those of you following this blog you probably haven’t been overwhelmed by the number of posts. The reason for this is basically that life is very very very busy. This week I (Jonathan) started my new job in graphic design and running a digital print office. The sheer intensity of this environment has proved very challenging – a huge change from the comfort zone I had become accustomed too. I find myself exhausted this Friday evening and wondering when Lyn and I will get the energy to prepare to ‘preach’ at church this Sunday. As my job is full time it appears that my masters is going to have to go on hold for the time being.

Church life has been wonderful. The people have been very encouraging and supportive. We had a house warming at our new home last Friday evening with nearly 40 people. The church organised a gift bowl which went to pay for a new propane gas BBQ for us – essential cookware here in Canada. We’ve really cemented relationships with our new church family and have spent lots of time with people aside from Sundays.

God really blessed us with our new home, but it has needed a lot of work doing. The basement, previously carpeted, was home to a couple of cats who had more than left their mark! I had to scrape the smelly underlay off the concrete floor before turning my hand to laminate floor laying, not to mention dismantling a bar from the 70’s. This has all been challenging for someone who struggles to screw a nail in straight – but all in all it is beginning to feel like home now.

Ben and Grace have settled in to our neighborhood well, and enjoy climbing the maple trees in our garden which has become the social centre of kids all around – it is amazing how many friends they have.

Our main prayer requests continue to be:

• that God fills in the color to the picture of why we’re here.
• financial provision – my full time job is only currently paying about 2/3 of our basic needs.

Thanks everyone for your support.

We miss you all in England.

Love

Jon, Lyn, Ben and Grace

Tonight we are just finishing our final preparation before we head off for Gatwick airport tomorrow morning.
Please pray:

• For safe travel to the airport tomorrow.
• For a smooth, stress free flight.
• A good appointment with the airport immigration official.
• Safe journey to our 1st night hotel.
• For the kids, especially Ben who is very apprehensive.
• For Lyn, who doesn’t like flying.
• For us all, the we seize the day with confidence and faith.
• A good appointment with the Bank in Saint John on Friday.
• For wisdom as we look at houses on the weekend.

So, not many prayers

We are truely thankful for all your love, prayers, best wishes and support.

God bless,

Jon, Lyn, Ben and Grace

We heard this week that there is a mortgage that we meet all the conditions for. The downside is that we need to put 35% down, and that leaves us with some serious decisions to make about contingency cash flow. If I earn enough through the web and graphics work then this won’t matter, but there are so many unknowns.

Only 6 days to fly time now and I have to make a conscious effort to trust God, and not to ponder all the things that could go dramatically wrong. Sometimes Faith is about carrying on and not letting your fears, or even real possibilities divert you.

Well the loft is empty now – and that has to be good. Big farewell with Lyn’s family tomorrow – I would appreciate everyones prayers for them as well as for us.