Work

Well, the recession has hit UK hard and jobs are hard to come by! Gary has spent many hours looking through job sites and praying for direction.
Last year he volunteered for 3 months at Aspire, an organisation that helps long term unemployed - possibly ex-convicts and drug addicts -  young people (ages 18-24) get back into the job market. They do that by "employing" them for 6 months (the govt pays their salaries), teaching them skills through the painting and decorating, gardening and window cleaning divisions and then trying to help them translate that into full time jobs elsewhere.
Gary had an immense influence on the young people there and had the opportunity to speak to them about the Lord and other aspects of their lives. They really allowed him in - at the their Christmas dinner he received a standing ovation when he walked into the hall :)

Gary also spent 2 weeks sorting post at Royal Mail just before Christmas.

This year he is back at Aspire in a paid 3 month position (possibly extended to 6 months). However, now he is in the office organising mainly the admin and window cleaner. He finds it hard as things have been left to slide. They would like for him to stay on permanently, but we are still waiting on the Lord to give us clear guidance.

This has probably been the most trying time of our time here - knowing we have heard the Lord to come, we have been obedient and still believe we are in the right place - but waiting (patiently and often impatiently!!) for Him to show us His will. We have learnt so much from Him - not always pleasant but always necessary and afterwards good (but maybe we can leave the character training till next year again...? - lol

Church

Before we left South Africa I said to Gary that I didn't think we would find a church where we could both be happy - as most of you know we have quite different views on what we like in a church :)

Well, our first Sunday here found us boarding the train at Backwell to Temple Meads in Bristol. We went to an Anglican Church called St Phillips and St Jacobs - or better known as Pip 'n Jay. Wow! What lovely people! They were so welcoming and we were even invited to lunch. We have kept some contact with a couple from Pip'nJay who live in Backwell.
The next Sunday we went with our landlady to her church in Clifton, Bristol - also Anglican called Christ Church. This is a very big church with a wonderful youth programme - 2 weeks after that Alexandra went camping with them in the Forest of Dean (Wales) - she had a ball! But the church is a bit too big for us.

The following week we went with a homeschooling lady we had met (she has become a good friend) to her church. They have an early morning breakfast service - breakfast served at 08h30 and the service from 09h00-10h30. By the end, we knew we had found a church and we were both happy!
See www.woodlandschurch.net

We still prefer the early service and try to attend it at least once a month but mostly we go to the later service at 10h30 as they run a children's programme then.

Sarah, Alexandra and I help out once a month at Cake and Flake - a weekly get together for moms with little children. I help with the tea and the girls play with the babies:)

We have joined a home group, but mostly Gary attends that as they only meet every 2 weeks and from 8 - 10pm (they do everything later here!!).
The group has been involved with an Anglican church in the area, running an Alpha Course - Gary lead a table there.

One of the churches in Long Ashton, Hebron Church, also has Bible studies on a Tuesday evening - I try to go on the alternate evenings when Gary doesn't go to home group himself.

Gary is also involved with the age 9-11 sunday school.

Sarah has found a home at Devotions - Youth group at Woodlands. She has made friends, been to her first ball and going camping mid February. We are so grateful as she really started settling after she joined.

                                                    Sarah ready for her glitter ball

We have met a Slovakian family - he is a doctor, they have 3 little children and they arrived in Bristol last June - because they believe the Lord wants them here...something is about to happen in Bristol!