First week back

Katy and I have now settled on our modules for this our second term at ANCC. Katy is studying 'The Hebrew Bible', I am looking at 'Bible in Mission' and we are both taking a course on 'Interpersonal Skills' which includes lessons in public speaking and listening to others - the latter being something Katy would love to see me develop.

Worth a read

Our main focus this term will be on the Development module, which is actually part of the MA course at ANCC, but we are able to sit in and 'audit'. We don't officially have to compete the assignment for this module, but we have decided that we'd like to use the  opportunity to research models and principles of development that might specifically apply to Neema, with the objective of arriving at a few proposals for the future of the project. Our first couple of days in this module have been fascinating. We are doubly blessed with knowledgeable and experienced teacher and fellow class-mates from six different nationalities - meaning we are never far from a lively debate.

Pray for Sudan

The college has been praying particularly for the referendum in Sudan this week and while the votes are now being counted we continue to pray for a peaceful outcome. Please join with us in prayer for wise decisions that may have to be made over oil resources and the administration of a new state.  Pray also for the church in northern Sudan as many Christians move south with the desire to build a better future.

Heart to Harts

Susie Hart and someone else 

On Tuesday evening we both travelled down to Kent to meet with Andy and Susie Hart before they flew off to Tanzania for their final term out there. Not surprisingly, we found them in the midst of a hundreds of bags of various states of packing, most filled with useful gadgets an oojamaflips to keep life running in the workshop, internet cafe and award winning restaurant. Both Susie and Andy have an uncanny ability to be utterly captivating in conversation and from the moment we stepped through the door we were drawn in to a world of adventures and tales from their past year or so; of the sort most people would spread out over a life time. During our time we were able to ask lots of questions about what we could expect when we arrive out there later this year. We also spent time together dreaming about the future of the project and where we might aim to take things over the next 5 - 10 years. One thing is for certain, there will be plenty more adventures to be had.

Yorkshire Tales


Friday afternoon we set off up the M1 to visit missionary friends of Katy's from her gap year in 2003. Here we reminisced about life in Tanz and later met Kathy Grace, a designer friend of theirs who had visited Neema recently. Kathy has offered to help us improve the style of our blog and Neema's web presence in the future.

Our stop off in Leeds was the first leg of a long weekend's itinerary that David Macha (an old friend) had planned for us in the Dales. Our first task was to run a craft activity for an unknown number of  kids in the local community hall. We decided to do some T-shirt printing with and African theme, and so using Katy's silk screens and large quantities of ink we set up the hall in hope of people coming. We weren't disappointed and in fact we had a more children than expected, but with the help of parents, some great prints were produced!

Shortly after this we were, driven off around many Postman Pat lanes to meet parishioners from St Michael's church Grassington. This was a lovely occasion and we were able to meet our advocate Cath who had travelled out to Neema earlier this year.

After we'd talked about Neema late into the night, we were back on duty early the following morning to visit two of David's seven churches. Apart from almost setting fire to the place with the projector, our first visit to St Peter's, Hebdon went well. We were then left with 15 minutes to get over to St Michaels (10mins away), leaving us very little time to set up. Nevertheless, the Lord helped everything to work and we really enjoyed speaking to a full church and following the special Kenyan liturgy that David had found for the day. The choir too, treated us to a round of 'There's no-one like Jesus' in Kiswahili - most impressive.

St Michael's Church, Linton

It was great to meet folk after the service and as ever the Neema crafts proved a great hit. David and I were able to run off after the service to watch his son's rugby team Wharfedale see off the opposition with some ease.

At the end of our marathon weekend we were finally treated to time with the Macha family: David, Elaine, Sam, Jess and Jonny. We are so pleased to see that they are enjoying their new lives in Yorkshire having moved back from living in Tanz not too long ago.

We now have the deepest respect for rural C of E vicars who have to juggle the needs of so many churches!

Happy 2011!

We hope you had an enjoyable Christmas. Katy and I have spent the last month travelling around the country and spending good times with family and friends for our last Christmas before heading out to Tanzania (God willing).

Katy Cold Christmas Market Stall

Katy was back at her market stall in Greenwich in the run-up to Christmas and stood for many hours in the freezing cold enduring repetitive Christmas muzak. The snow disrupted what should have been the busiest shopping weekend of the year, but fortunately she didn’t make quite the losses of her competitors John Lewis and Selfridges.  If you are looking to decorate soon, we can give you a good deal on the website price list! Email: Katy@kjray.co.uk

Katy was un-able to join me on our visit to St James Hill, Sutton Coldfield as she had the coughing cold that seems to be going around. Nevertheless, I was given a warm welcome by folk at the church and was encouraged by the friendly conversations over our Neema Crafts stall.

Off sledging in Bradgate Park

This was the first year Katy and I have attempted to cook a family Christmas lunch. After 30+ years of  spending Christmas day in the kitchen we offered my Mum a well earned break. I couldn’t believe quite how much preparation and planning was involved. Fortunately, Katy took care of most of this. I was just careful to obey orders and offer a hand when the enormous turkey needed hoisting out of the oven – it had one of those pop-up timer things embedded in it which helped to ensure no one was poisoned. On reflection, Christmas day isn’t much of a holiday when you’re cooking and I think I’ll give it another 30 years before attempting it again.

Having celebrated Christmas Eve with my family, we headed up the motorway to Katy’s parents in Leicestershire. We were just in time to join John Woolmer (Katy’s Dad) give the midnight communion at the local parish church. I rubbed my inward hands with glee as I saw a few visitors wander in from the pub, quite unaware of the mind-blowing testimonies of angelic visitation and Christian conversion that would be shared later. John referred to his book ‘Encounters’ during a gospel-loaded sermon and we were pleased to see that all of the free copies of this book were taken at the end of the service.

It was so special for us to have a white Chistmas before we head out to Africa. We were able to go tobogganing twice on Christmas day in Bradgate Park. We were all shocked when my Mother-in-law Jane consistently overtook us on every hill….see video for evidence… she’s cutting the straight path down the middle! 

We spent New Year’s Eve with our close friends Pete and Amy who run Pulse Ministries – an organisation that runs childrens’ holiday clubs and events for training and youth and children’s leaders. See http://www.pulseministries.org.uk if your church might be interested,

Since then we have continued to travel across the country visiting friends and family. I have picked up two large boxes of tools in recent weeks that will be greatly appreciated at the Neema Crafts workshop. If you happen to know anyone else who is clearing their workshop we are looking for woodworking tools, specifically: chisels, hand-planes, marking gauges, tenon or dovetail saws and metal rulers. It would also be great to find a wood lathe!

We are now back at All Nations and I have already been persuaded to start training for a half-marathon... I don't know if Katy's committing yet, but watch this space to see which we do!