From our correspondent
Transition fills all of our lives – transition in jobs, family dynamics, churches, friendships, locations. Transition offers new possibilities, as well as plenty of challenges. That’s very much the case for our family as we start to settle into life in northern Europe.
Our whole family has been here for about six weeks, and in some ways our days are taking on new rhythms and routines. The children are in school and pre-school, and they have started to make new friends. We’ve learned where to buy food and how to navigate the local cycle paths, explored several second-hand shops, and found out how to access a doctor and dentist. These are all part of adjusting to a new place, along with dozens of other practicalities.
We’re so grateful for the many ways God has provided: car, sofa, rental home, bikes, green spaces in which to walk, and much more.
We’ve had the opportunity to visit three churches in the city, all of which are different and would warmly welcome us. We’re going to keep visiting them over the coming months and discern which one God may have for our family. We’re considering things like where we and the children would have space to grow and serve, what aligns with our values and giftings, and how much of our energy and time should be spent on local ministry, when our primary ministry role is providing leadership across northern Europe.
We are keen to get plugged into a church family, as we desire to build and deepen friendships. It hasn’t been so easy to meet people outside of church, but we continue to take opportunities for conversations when we’re able.
Often when we have new people arrive to serve on the field, we encourage them to take several months (or even a year or more) to learn the language and culture before they dive into active ministry. Because we are already involved in an organisational leadership role with Pioneers, we are instead needing to juggle learning the language as a family, adapting to a new culture, sorting logistical details, and carrying out our responsibilities with Pioneers from the start.
We’re grateful for the grace Pioneers gives us to transition. At the same time, we have a desire to be connecting with the people whom we oversee, engaging in various strategic organisational conversations, and networking with leaders in the region to consider future possibilities for Pioneers workers to serve here.
We are incredibly thankful for faithful prayer and financial supporters who have backed us up at every stage. Maintaining partnership with us during this long season of transition is quite a challenge at their end! We are grateful that God has made a way for us to move to this country especially as nine months ago it wasn’t guaranteed that a door would open.
As you can expect, there are days we look at each other as a couple and ask, ‘What are we doing here?’ ‘Why did we leave all that was familiar to us again?’
We are grateful that God has made a way for us to move to this country especially as nine months ago it wasn’t guaranteed that a door would open.
Yet in the midst of feeling unsettled, we also know God is faithful. He is present with us. And we remind ourselves that whatever happens with relationships, church, ministry, and more, we trust He is drawing us into deeper friendship with Himself throughout the process.
*Names have been changed to protect identities and stock images have been used. This update was initially shared with their personal prayer supporters in 2021 and has been edited with permission to share with LINK readers.
Do you currently receive our prayer diary?Martin and Jean have shared specific prayer points for how we can be interceding for their family as they continue to settle into ministry and a new culture. They are featured as part of a special focus in the current edition of prayerlink.
Contact Marie, our Prayer Co-ordinator, on mariep@awm-pioneers.org to sign up to receive your copy and join 1,000 other prayer supporters. Each quarter, you’ll receive updates to fuel your prayers as you intercede for ministry teams, people of the Arab world and workers in the Pioneers family.
