First Days
First Days
Nate and I had just finished an eight-mile loop hike using the footpaths from our doorstep. We walked through sheep fields, woods, and beside a beck (Northern English for creek, or crick if you’re a Yinzer) in wonder of all this natural beauty at our finger tips. It was the first day that all of our kids were in school (George missed the first two days due to a gnarly cold) and we were keen to have a deep exhale after the last couple of weeks of transition. The previous evening, we had purchased a family vehicle. It felt like we had overcome many of the big hurdles—house, school, car--- and we were feeling grand.
It was time to pick up the kids so Nate and I get in our newly acquired car--- and it won’t start. UGH. Nate tries a couple of times to no avail. Panicked, we quickly brainstorm who we can ask to get the kids. We are keenly aware that it is a very short list of people. I quickly call Buffy, the HR manager at CFL and our guide through this whole transition. She’s on it. Now the car—hoping it is the battery, we call the British equivalent of AAA. Unfortunately, we have to have had the policy for 48 hours before it can be used, and we had only been members for 24 hours. Back to Buffy to ask if she had jumper cables (or jumper leads here). She’s already called the maintenance manager at Caring for Life (CFL) to come take a look.
Within an hour, our kids were home (with ice lollies as a special treat from Buffy) and our car was jumped. Nate was able to get a new battery and we were still able to make it to dinner with some colleagues
Our first days have been filled with similar peaks and valleys as this story--- we have experienced some great delight in new experiences along with a deep ache of missing the familiar and loved. We are finding our stride in new relationships and roles, while still tripping over cultural differences. We are grateful for grace. Grace from the Father. Grace from one another. Grace from those who are coming alongside us--- the moms fielding my questions at pickup and drop off, the staff at CFL, the fellow Christians at Otley Parish, the friendly Aldi cashier.
First Days at School---Thank you for your prayers for our kids as they transitioned to school! It was remarkable to watch them bravely walk in to a new place and come out with smiles. We’ve been really grateful for their welcome and connection with other children as well as teachers. They still miss PUCS (Jack says it almost every morning) but we are grateful for their resilience. Nate and Henry are currently watching the Euros with some other dads and students at a local sports club. We are praying for meaningful connections with parents--- there have already been conversations about our call to serve in this context.
First Days at CFL --- Two Saturdays ago we gathered with the staff at Caring for Life for a day of fellowship and fun. It was special to get to be with so many people we had met last year and to share the farm with the kids. But the fun really started for Nate the following Monday when he started work. Only seven days in and it is already such a gift to see Nate’s retail experience coupled with his pastoral gifts. I started work yesterday! We appreciate your prayers as we adjust to the rhythms of this new life and work context.
First Days with the Parish--- We’ve enjoyed worshipping for three Sundays in England. We are beginning to meet people and observe the rhythms of this church’s life. This past weekend we joined 85 others, along with a couple dozen kids, for the Parish’s Weekend Away. It was great opportunity to have longer conversations with folks that we usually just get to say quick hellos to on Sunday mornings. Could you be praying for meaningful connections and the beginnings of community for our family? Sunday mornings can be hard as we miss worshipping with so many of you.
Thank you again for your deep encouragement, continued support, and faithful prayers. We are continually reminded that the Lord has led us here for purposes He knows and we appreciate your part in that leading.
Cheers,
Erika
Have mercy on us
A few weeks ago we received word from our friends in England that the visa situation there was changing rapidly. New legislation was being enacted that would make our move there even more costly than we had anticipated. They needed to know from us if we could expedite our departure forward from our hoped for date of August up to early/mid May. If we said no to May, it would most likely mean not going at all. They contacted us on Thursday and needed an answer by the next Tuesday.
The Thursday we received the message felt like a gut punch. We cried a lot. Okay, I cried a lot. Leaving in May would mean missing out on a summer of goodbyes, time with family, summer camp, and all of the things we told the kids we would do before leaving. It would mean 3 fewer months to prepare our home for rental, find renters, sell our van, and pack to leave. And it would also mean that Erika would not be able to do the internship that is required to finish her Masters in Counseling. This all felt like too much.
We prayed. We asked a few folks to pray with us. I walked...a lot. I had recently heard this song from Paul Zach for the first time, and as I walked miles and miles over the same trails in Riverview Park, I kept crying out for mercy.
We asked ourselves what we really wanted. What was the desire of our hearts? Where did we see God's invitation? It felt like we had to do the last year of discerning all over again. We wanted to say yes, but with everything completed. We wanted to say yes, but with everything situated just so. We wanted to say yes.
So we are saying yes. We've applied for our visas (a harrowing story I'd love to share over coffee). We've cried and grieved with the kids. And we've upped our home goods donation game. We need mercy. We need prayer.
Can you pray:
for a good renter/s for our house in Pittsburgh. If you know anyone who might be looking for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on the city's Northside, please let us know.
for the sale of our van. If you know anyone who might want a very reliable 2014 Toyota Sienna, let us know.
for a home to rent in England. Finding a place with 2 bathrooms seems like a silly prayer, but 6 people and 1 toilet is not a recipe for long-term success.
There will be many more prayer needs in the coming months, but these are some of the things that weight the heaviest on us today.
More Transition
After 7 years of serving with SAMS, we will be transitioning to a new sending organization. Our hearts are heavy with this change as serving with SAMS has been a source of much care, joy, and honor. It feels a bit like leaving family, knowing that we will always be a part of the SAMS family, and that we leave with their blessing. In just a few hours, the final Bridger that we have worked with departs for Uganda. Thank you for supporting us as we supported those serving in short term missions. If you have supported us financially, we will be reaching out to chat about transitioning financial giving to our new org. If you have supported us in prayer, no need to change anything. Maybe up that just a smidge. More details on our ministry in England and the ways you can support us can be found on our website, www.theslowwork.com.
We love you very much,
Nathan and Erika
Almost, Not Yet, Already
When we hit the first Sunday of Advent, we start listening to Rain for Roots’ “Waiting Songs” continuously as we drive to and from school. There’s some beautiful theology caught up in poetry with tunes that keep our twins humming along. Win win win. One chorus that’s lyrics have found their way into our lives this Advent is “Almost, not yet, already…”* Advent is a weird time--- we look back at the prophets, we look forward to Jesus’ return, and we are keenly aware of our present need. Right now, our family feels caught up in this Advent-y sense of time.
Almost--- After a year or so of discernment, we’ve finally been led to God’s next step for us. It came as a surprise to us, but in August 2024, God willing, we will be moving to Leeds, England to work alongside vulnerable adults with a ministry called Caring For Life. But August isn’t now. It’s almost here.
Not Yet--- We look at houses for rent, knowing they won’t be available. Not yet. Nate has become well acquainted with autotrader.uk—lots more Volkswagens than here. We can’t jettison all we own done to twelve checked bags for our family. Not yet. We email schools, asking about placement for our kids but can’t officially apply. Not yet.
Already---We’ve already been surprised by God’s faithfulness. You’d think after 7 years as missionaries, we’d know that God shows up when you step out in obedience—but we are always surprised and humbled. We’ve already received confirmation of God’s leading-- financial provision, words of encouragement, even angels laughing. We are already beginning to grieve leaving our dear family and community that makes Pittsburgh such a sweet spot to call home. Ugh.
Our kids have walked alongside of us in this journey of discernment. They’ve been patient with the process, and shared feelings of excitement, sadness, hope, and disappointment. Jack insists “I only want to go to England to visit—maybe one day or two months.” When asked about moving, George shares “I will feel happy—because I will have new home that’ll be warm… and have a TV!” Henry is concerned about the lack of professional sports teams--- namely baseball and hockey, while also vocalizing fear about how he will find his friends when we come back. Anne, our tenderheart, is quick to ask “If there will be any children there and what do the children do at church?” We pray that God will hear each of their requests and honor the unique ways He has crafted each of them in this next season. While we try to model obedience in following God’s leading for our kids, we hold onto one of the many promises present in this season of Advent--- that God is with us. Here now in our ‘already’. He will hold us close in all the almost-ness of transition. And, Emmanuel will be with us in the ‘not yet’. May Emmanuel be close to you in whatever ‘time’ who find yourself this Advent!
If you’d like to hear more about our discernment, current ministry, and changes coming, we will be posting updates at: www.theslowwork.com. And, we’d just be delighted to keep in touch!!
*Song referenced “Mary Consoles Eve” by Rain for Roots
Prayer Requests and End of Year Giving
Here’s a link to our most recent newsletter. If you would like to receive our updates directly, shoot us an email and we’ll make sure you are on the list.
https://mailchi.mp/76f5c6f51b2e/prayer-needs-and-end-of-year-giving
Hidden Treasure
We’ve been so grateful for your prayers and support these last few months. After our last update, we shared our need to see God multiply the “loaves and fishes”, and we have been humbled by your generosity, your encouragement, and your understanding. While we were in a space of discernment, trying to figure out where and what we should say “yes” to, your response helped us hear God’s “YES” over us as we continue to minister and follow faithfully the steps God has put before us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
When I went to Thailand in January, a friend who had committed to pray me gave me a word: hidden treasure. I held onto that word, as a gift, as I went about serving and discerning. When I returned home, I participated in the women’s retreat at our church--- and the theme was “Finding God’s hidden treasure in your story”. During the course of the retreat, we shared our stories with our small groups. One woman listened intently to where we were in our story of ministry and discernment. She mentioned she may have something to share--- but wanted to pray about it first. The next Sunday, this friend shared that she knew of a ministry who has done some of the most Gospel focused, transformative work that she’s seen, and the Nate and my gifts could be a blessing there. But--- it was in the U.K. --- in Yorkshire. On a farm. Not Southeast Asia.
As we’ve journeyed this year in discerning a call overseas, we’ve described ourselves as being in a ‘lane’ headed toward Southeast Asia--- and if the Lord wanted us to move in a different direction, we prayed He would lead us to merge gently into another lane. When this friend shared this opportunity, we thought it the faithful thing to inquire about the ministry, called “Caring for Life”, but didn’t expect it to amount to much. These last few months, we’ve been continuing conversations with various leaders in the ministry, expecting a stop sign to show up at any moment. There continued to be invitation to explore partnership, which lead us to take a trip to Yorkshire this July where we got to participate in various aspects of the ministry, as well as visit schools and a church, to see if the Lord was indeed merging us into a different lane.
Caring For Life is a Christian charity established in 1987 to "Share the Love of Jesus" with at-risk and hurting people, including those who are homeless and intellectually disabled . Through providing long-term support, homes and friendship, they gradually help people to move on from past heartache and hardship towards a hope-filled future. We were moved by the vision, the place, community, but mostly the time we spent with the vulnerable adults they serve. With them, we felt close to the heart of Jesus. Here’s a short video made by one of their beneficiaries giving a glimpse of the ministry. Oh, and the sermon in the local church that we decided to visit while we were in Yorkshire was on finding the hidden treasure of Christ’s heart for all people throughout Scripture.
After we prayed and sought counsel upon returning home, we felt led to see what hidden treasure might be uncovered if we said “yes” to Caring for Life. This ‘yes’ involves applying for positions within the Charity. There are two positions that seem well suited to Nate and my giftings. Right now, we have submitted our applications and will be interviewed in the next couple of weeks. We had hoped to have a clear plan with definite next steps to share with you--- like a month ago. Instead, we are asking once again for your faith-filled prayers as we continue this process one step at a time. We keep waiting to get to the point where the lane stretches out before us, but it seems like the Lord is growing in us a dependency on Him in the midst of uncertainty.
In the meantime… we are grateful to continue our work with SAMS as Co-Directors of the Bridger program. This was a busy Bridger summer, with trainings for those heading to the field later this year, walking alongside those already on the field through challenging experiences, and debriefing with those coming off of the field. The skills that we gained and honed running Agape Year have really been useful in this role with short term missionaries. We love the opportunity to see Bridgers’ perspectives of the global church expand! If you or someone you know has a desire to partner with the local church in Central or South America, Mexico, Africa, or South East Asia, please let us know!
We’ve also had the opportunity to visit several churches this summer! We’ve been able to worship in a warehouse, a monastery/farm, and a more classic sanctuary. When we entered this discernment process, we felt called to go where the church was small and in need of encouragement. Turns out in the post-Christian U.K., regular church attendance is about on par with most countries in Southeast Asia. Caring For Life holds to only hiring committed Christians, and in a place where Jesus has been worshiped for over a thousand years, this is now a challenge. We pray we would be faithful in serving His Bride as the Lord brings His kingdom through her wherever that may be, in a place where Jesus' name has not yet been proclaimed, or where people have turned from Him.
Again, thank you for the treasure each of you are to us! There’s nothing hidden about you --- you remind us of God’s abundant grace time after time.
With hope,
Erika and Nate
Crossing The Pond
When Erika and I first heard about Caring for Life, a ministry to adults with intellectual disabilities in England, I was not excited. I think my very thoughtful initial response was, "No." We had been thinking about, praying about, and visiting SE Asia for years. Post-Christian Europe was not on my radar, un-reached Asia was.
But God gently softened my heart to the possibility, and opened doors for us to visit the ministry this summer. And as of this week, we have officially said "yes" to moving to England. Our target is to move this coming August, giving our kiddos time to finish the school year here, time to prep our home for renting, time for Erika to finish her Masters in Counseling, and time to say goodbye to a place and people that mean so very much to us.
Erika's role at Caring for Life (CFL) will be as the Expressive Arts Therapeutic Program leader. She will be providing dignity, community, and a place of belonging to vulnerable adults through poetry, drama, and music. Spending her days with these amazing people will also give Erika the opportunity to listen to their lives, pray with them, and study God's word with them.
My role with CFL will be as the manager of the Farm Store. CFL is based on a 125 acre working farm that produces beef, lamb, poultry, and produce. The Farm Store is one of the few places where the general public gets to interact with the ministry, hearing about the work that is done on the farm, and supporting the larger mission of CFL through the purchase of fresh eggs, local cheese, and hand pies. Like Erika's, my role will be considered pastoral, as I will have a small number of vulnerable adults working alongside of me. The store is overwhelming for most of the folks that the ministry serves, but there are a few who love the interaction with the public, and my role will allow me to walk alongside of them.
We will have so much more to share in the coming weeks and months. This will be a massive change for us, for our kids, and for our parents and families. We will have many prayer needs throughout this process, but for now, can you please pray for our kids and for our families as the gravity of this move sinks in?
In the meantime, we continue in our role prepping, mentoring, and training short term missionaries with SAMS. We recently got to accompany one of the short term missionaries we have been working with this year, as she attended SAMS multi-day training for those discerning long term missionary service. To watch this young woman grow in the Lord, and hear His call to give her life in service to others has been a true gift. Thank you for your continued support which has enabled us to do this work for SAMS. We are currently prepping another short term Bridger for service in Uganda!
We appreciate you all so very much, and can't wait to share more soon.