So
after accepting the post in Chad we starting making plans of how we were going
to get there and when. Sam was still the Finance Manager in Uganda, we needed
to learn French (!) and we were required to start raising our own support for
our role. So with all that in mind the departure date was tentatively set for
August 2014! At the time it seemed an age away and we couldn't work out why it
would all take so long, now we realise why and have been grateful to MAF for
such great preparation time.
Sam handed the finance role over to Margaret in June 2013 after a year in the role. He then became acting programme manager for the Uganda programme in order to help out the current programme manager who was juggling multiple roles at the time as well as to gain vital experience for his new role in Chad. We also started learning French at this time and attempted to have 2.5hrs a day of lessons. For Abby, who had given up her job in February and was busy being pregnant with daughter number 2, this wasn't to hard to manage but for Sam who was working full time plus was on a number of boards and leadership teams this was quite hectic.
But we tried and by October we had some basic understanding of how hard learning French was going to be, how involved and complex Sam's new role would be and how completely exhausting it was to try and pack up a whole house with an almost two year old and a baby on the way. At this point we were grateful that we still had time!
So by November 2013 we had sold or packed all our belongings in Uganda, moved to the UK temporarily and baby number 2 was on her way. As Rebecca made her grand "spinning breach upside down wrong way round emergency caesarean" entrance on 19th November we were again grateful that we were together, in the UK with amazing loving helpful family and friends around us and that we still had time!
Once the shock of a new baby settled into some sort of semi conscious routine, we headed for the road to continue our training and support raising. So armed with a 2 year old and a 10 week old we began our travels; first stop a Holiday Inn in Ashford for two weeks of learning how to live in Africa (aka MAF pre field orientation). Great time meeting other new (or not so new) MAF families, learning more about MAF, understanding the theology behind mission, and learning more about what life would be like in Chad. Although at the end of the two weeks I think the stress alone of coping with a new-born and a beautifully independent toddler in a hotel was enough of a preparation for life in Africa!!!
Once this was completed we then hit the road on our grand tour of the UK visiting churches, potential supporters and friends and family along the way. We spent a great week in the lakes speaking at two different churches in Kendal, St Thomas and Parr Street, and having some special time with special friends. We also had a great lunch with the relatives of one of the current pilots in Chad.
From there we headed across the seas (literally) to the Isle of Man and had a great time seeing a bit of the island and meeting some local Christian friends of a very good friend of ours. Back on British soil we headed for Bolton where we spent some great time with Abby's sister and established an exciting link with her church, St Pauls. After Bolton it was time to head back to Abby's parents in Tunbridge Wells and from there we continued with day visits to churches and friends and many days of role related inductions and training for Sam.
We enjoyed a beautiful sunny day in Staines speaking at Staines congregational church and established a really interesting link with the church. The following Sunday we again enjoyed a beautiful sunny day but this time in Weald, Sevenoaks with St Georges Church.
Alongside the church visit we also had some great days out with friends and family visiting Berkhamsted, Oxford and London. At the end of our time in the UK we then spent a few days in Biddeford, Devon before visiting Bristol, Sam's old home town!
In all our travels and visits to the various churches, friends, families and individuals, we were overwhelmed by the warm welcome, the amazing hospitality, the generosity of so many and the commitment of so many to support us in mission with MAF.
Sam handed the finance role over to Margaret in June 2013 after a year in the role. He then became acting programme manager for the Uganda programme in order to help out the current programme manager who was juggling multiple roles at the time as well as to gain vital experience for his new role in Chad. We also started learning French at this time and attempted to have 2.5hrs a day of lessons. For Abby, who had given up her job in February and was busy being pregnant with daughter number 2, this wasn't to hard to manage but for Sam who was working full time plus was on a number of boards and leadership teams this was quite hectic.
But we tried and by October we had some basic understanding of how hard learning French was going to be, how involved and complex Sam's new role would be and how completely exhausting it was to try and pack up a whole house with an almost two year old and a baby on the way. At this point we were grateful that we still had time!
So by November 2013 we had sold or packed all our belongings in Uganda, moved to the UK temporarily and baby number 2 was on her way. As Rebecca made her grand "spinning breach upside down wrong way round emergency caesarean" entrance on 19th November we were again grateful that we were together, in the UK with amazing loving helpful family and friends around us and that we still had time!
Once the shock of a new baby settled into some sort of semi conscious routine, we headed for the road to continue our training and support raising. So armed with a 2 year old and a 10 week old we began our travels; first stop a Holiday Inn in Ashford for two weeks of learning how to live in Africa (aka MAF pre field orientation). Great time meeting other new (or not so new) MAF families, learning more about MAF, understanding the theology behind mission, and learning more about what life would be like in Chad. Although at the end of the two weeks I think the stress alone of coping with a new-born and a beautifully independent toddler in a hotel was enough of a preparation for life in Africa!!!
Once this was completed we then hit the road on our grand tour of the UK visiting churches, potential supporters and friends and family along the way. We spent a great week in the lakes speaking at two different churches in Kendal, St Thomas and Parr Street, and having some special time with special friends. We also had a great lunch with the relatives of one of the current pilots in Chad.
From there we headed across the seas (literally) to the Isle of Man and had a great time seeing a bit of the island and meeting some local Christian friends of a very good friend of ours. Back on British soil we headed for Bolton where we spent some great time with Abby's sister and established an exciting link with her church, St Pauls. After Bolton it was time to head back to Abby's parents in Tunbridge Wells and from there we continued with day visits to churches and friends and many days of role related inductions and training for Sam.
We enjoyed a beautiful sunny day in Staines speaking at Staines congregational church and established a really interesting link with the church. The following Sunday we again enjoyed a beautiful sunny day but this time in Weald, Sevenoaks with St Georges Church.
Alongside the church visit we also had some great days out with friends and family visiting Berkhamsted, Oxford and London. At the end of our time in the UK we then spent a few days in Biddeford, Devon before visiting Bristol, Sam's old home town!
In all our travels and visits to the various churches, friends, families and individuals, we were overwhelmed by the warm welcome, the amazing hospitality, the generosity of so many and the commitment of so many to support us in mission with MAF.
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