Saturday Post -- 02/04/16

Not every day you come home to this.

A busy few weeks are upon us. On Thursday, I’m due to travel to Virginia for a family wedding; sadly, Amanda and Sam will be unable to accompany me due to his adoption not yet being finalised. Meanwhile, Amanda’s mother is due to arrive next Sunday afternoon to lend a hand with his lordship. I’m due back in Trinidad the following Saturday (following an overnight journey from the USA), and then we’re off to Santa Cruz for a break for a few days the following Tuesday, dropping Amanda’s mother off at the airport before returning to Trinidad on Monday the 25th of April.

Chances of any prayer updates between now and then: slim to none.

So, I’ve done my best to remember all the things that will be going on between now and the month’s end, as well as mentioning the week’s highlight as usual.

Boo!

Praise

• The English class was great this week. The group are really getting used to both the format of the lessons and each other’s company. In many ways, it’s a shame we have to break up for a few weeks after this Tuesday’s lesson. Still, much to be excited about.
• Craig is just back from the monthly Langham early-morning escuelita, where it was his turn to preach to the group. Give thanks for continued enthusiasm there.

Prayer

• Amanda is speaking at the youth group tonight on the small topic of making wise decisions.
• Pray for safety for all of us in our various travels over the next few weeks. Pray for an encouraging time for Craig with family in the US, and for some much needed R&R in Santa Cruz later in the month.
• Sam and Amanda were a little off towards the end of the week with a suspected stomach bug, though you’d hardly guess from his lordship’s general demeanour. They’re gradually getting over it now; pray for continued recovery.
• Craig would also appreciate your prayers for wisdom for himself and the other leaders with regard to some challenging situations we are facing among attendees of the church, including a family whose parents have not been around for a couple of weeks and a youth group member who was caught stealing at the Foundation yesterday.
• The 17th of April (Sunday) is a big date for two reasons. Firstly, in the morning, we’re hoping to have a special event for the church’s anniversary. The hope is to stage our usual service in a neighbouring street, and to include a meal for all attendees post-service. Please pray for wisdom as we plan this event, and for the necessary finances. Pray, too, for all those who attend and who will hear the gospel preached.
• Later on the 17th, God-willing, we’re hoping to host our own little celebration for Sam, who will have turned one year old on the 14th (alas, Craig will still be in the US on the day itself). Birthday parties here tend to be fairly uniform, with much birthday boy/girl-glorification at the centre! So it’s a great opportunity to publicly give thanks for Sam, and above all, give the glory to God alone; pray that this would indeed be the case.
• And speaking of Sam, of course, we value your continued prayers for the adoption process. We are very tentatively looking into going on a short home assignment in Canada and Scotland early next year, so in order to get the ball rolling on visas etc., it would be a help to have the adoption confirmed sooner rather than later. Pray that God’s plan would prevail and that we would gladly submit to it.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda