The final chapter - and the beginning of a new story!

I am writing this from our little flat in Kingsbridge, South Devon. After our return from Guyana we entered into the stationing process for Mark and we were invited to come and explore this circuit.  They needed a minister to start as soon as possible and Mark was ready to go so it was a match made in heaven!  Literally! 

We moved here just over a week ago and are already feeling very much at home here.  People have made us very welcome and we have already had two invitations for Sunday lunch, which is amazing!  We are living in a little flat in the town centre while we wait for tenants to move out of the manse, but at the end of March we should be able to collect all our furniture and belongings from various storage points and begin to settle down properly.  It is all so exciting and we are full of hope again. 

These past few months have enabled me to reflect on the past year and all that has happened.   Despite the difficulties we have learned so much from the experience and don’t regret that we went to Guyana.  Here are some of the positives from our time overseas:

• We have met and got to know some amazing people and learned a lot from their faith, perseverance and cheerfulness despite the pressures they face on a day-to-day basis.
• We have both grown in our faith and developed a keen reliance on God for our daily needs.
• We have developed a greater appreciation for every day things that we used to take for granted. 
• We have become adept at adapting, being flexible and finding creative solutions to problems.
• We have learned that with God’s help we can have peace in all situations – waiting in long queues, sitting in long services, in the midst of loss, turmoil and chaos, and when things don’t go our way.
• Living in the developing world for 11 months has given us a keener understanding of some of the issues of oppression and poverty.
• We have learned that we can actually live without many of the things we thought we needed in the UK.
• The enthusiasm of the youth at Mahaica and Mahaicony has given us great encouragement and it has been great to work with them and help disciple them. 
• We have been amazed and uplifted by the constant support of our friends, family and churches back home.
• Some of the stories we have told people back home seem to have made an impact on their lives too. 
• We have loved working with the children in some of the schools and bringing joy and cheer to their day when we visit. 
• We have enjoyed the sense of community and the warm smiles of greeting as we go about our work. 
• We have learned a lot about living in a more relaxed way and not rushing all the time – we have learned that people are more important than completing tasks. 

I was reading the story of Peter walking on water a few weeks ago (Matthew 14 vs 22 – 33) and it struck me that we were a bit like Peter in our travels to Guyana.  We did at least try getting out of the comfort and safety of the boat, then began to sink and cried out to Jesus to save us - and he did!  I feel I’ve at least had a go and have now had an adventure which has taught us so many things.  However, I pray this year will be less dramatic!

As far as the future is concerned, I am currently exploring what my possible role may be here.  I am planning to take a few months to settle in, unpack all our stuff (eventually!), get to know what is going on in the area and find out what I might be able to do.  It has actually been quite refreshing not to rush into a job and to take the time to stop and get to know people and the town where we are living.  One thing is certain I don’t want to sit idly but want to live purposefully and have an impact on this community.  I pray that God will use the past year (and indeed all my past experiences) to prepare me to make a unique contribution in this place and look forward to finding out what that might be! 

This will probably be my final entry as I suspect that writing about life in sleepy Devon won’t be quite as interesting to people as news from South America, but I just want to thank you all for following this blog and for all your support and help in so many different ways.  If you want to stay in touch you can email me on markcarolyn1983@gmail.com  A happy and peaceful 2014 to you all!  J