Update

Fall is upon us here on the Sunshine Coast. After surviving the brutal winters of Chicago for nearly four years, we are already losing our cold weather edge. We are a bit ashamed to say, but the past few nights have fallen under 45 degrees (7 degrees Celsius) and we are ready to pull out our heavy-duty winter clothes.

But... it hasn't been all that cold. During the Easter Holidays, we had family come up to celebrate with us on the beach.

Lily Update

Mark and I are plodding along with ministry work at TMIA. Most of our workload has been administrative in nature, paperwork is not the most glamorous thing to report back to you guys on, so I will save you the details. I will say though, this transition has felt like we have been go-go-going and there is grace to be found in settling into the mundane task of administrative work.

I have begun to teach religious instruction in the local public primary schools. This is at a really critical point in Australia at the moment as there has been a push to remove any form of spiritual education in schooling. A wild statistic I recently heard was that 40% of the Australian public does not believe that Jesus was a real historical person. Education is so important. So far I have been a part of a grade 6 workshop day and just started weekly lessons on Tuesday afternoons with grades 2 and 3. They are a lively bunch and a joy to teach. There is a lot of administrative work in ministry that is necessary but it’s interacting with people that is so life-giving. I am so grateful to be in a classroom setting again.

As for our family, Lia and George have completed their first term of school and Kindy. They are thriving and loving school. George is progressing in his reading skills and his favorite day of the week is Thrilling Thursday because it's a drawing day AND his day for show and tell.

Lia was a bit unsure about Kindy for the first couple of weeks, now she cannot wait to go. She has made lots of friends and has mastered the art of getting paint on EVERYTHING.

It seems like a lifetime ago when we found out we were expecting twins and I remember asking God "Please may they have their own identities..." Well God could not have given us more different personalities. Maeva is quick to laugh, very observant and has become very intrigued by all cupboards, cabinets or drawers she can get into.

Simon has developed his stealth crawling and has become quite fast. His focus as of late has been the bathroom door and rubbish bin, taking every and any opportunity to get into cheeky mischief. They are taking on the world together.

Mark's Update

Our homes are not sacred kingdoms meant to shelter us from the world, but rather gifts entrusted to us to reflect the welcoming nature of our savior!

Over the Easter holiday, we also had the opportunity to go camping with some old friends and all of our rambunctious kids.

It was a great time spent hiking, playing games and reminiscing/making new memories around the campfire. As you get older, *vacations* tend to be more work than relaxing, but even though it was hard work, it was an experience that will live on in my memory. Largely because it helped me have a deeper understanding of "home".

So what is a "home" exactly? It's certainly more than a physical space; it's a place where we can build meaningful relationships with the people we love. It's a feeling, a sense of belonging and a source of comfort and security. It's a groundedness to the world and knowing our place in it. When you lose a sense of home, all other things tend to spiral out of control.

You know that feeling you get after a long holiday where you just want to be in your own bed... Well, we left our camping holiday confused about where our home was. Our new home wasn't quite home yet. So...where is our bed? Was it still in Chicago or Mississippi? Had we fully processed the goodbyes to those places, friendships, comforts and feelings of security?

It has been 4 months since we moved across the world and began the new journey of ministry. It certainly hasn't been easy. We knew that it was going to take time to acclimate to a new culture, job and building new relationships, but *knowing* this doesn't make it any easier.

For us, being in a season of transition, we have clung even tighter to our spiritual home, which has provided us with a unique sense of security, belonging and comfort. While God uses things in the world for our good will and his glory, these cannot be the ultimate source of our joy. For the whole world is groaning for restoration, redemption and salvation.

Paul, in 1 Corinthians 5: 6-7 says that even still, "We (Christians) are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight."

To be honest, we are extremely uncomfortable in this season, but God has repurposed our anxiety and doubts. He has shown us what it means afresh to depend on him and to make our homes in Him.

The world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long, but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful, by which we arrive at the ground at our own feet, and learn to be at home - Wendell Berry

In a world of hurry, the journey of faith is slow, challenging, complex and riddled with pain. But God does not leave us as orphans, or homeless. He calls us to remember our adoption into his heavenly home. To cling to his promises for restoration and redemption that aren't just for the afterlife but can be found here and now on this earth.

God, give us eyes to see and ears to hear.

Prayer Requests

Please remember us in your prayers, particularly for

• sleep (moving has really thrown the kids sleeping off)

• wisdom and patience in parenting

• We are also in the process of working on Bible School accreditation. Please pray that God would provide

• contentment in this new season

Support Update

If you are new to our page, our family is financially supported completely by the generosity of others. We cannot do this work without you. If you have supported us in prayer or finances, we are extremely grateful. If you want to learn how you can support us--check out the get involved page on our website!

Thinking of Our Friends and Family in Amory

Lily and I were devastated to hear about the Tornado destruction that happened in Amory, MS. It has made it really difficult to be so far away during such an emotional and challenging time. You all have been constantly on our minds. But we know how strong our home community is. It is a blessing to be formed and shaped by such an amazing place. God is with you.