Catch up

My apologies for taking so long in between blog updates, this might be the case while we are traveling! We have been traveling every few days and meeting with many people. Often times the last thing I want to do is pull out our computer when we are with someone that we don't see enough as it is. 

(one of our partnering churches mission wall...New Zealand was on the map twice!)

We expected our time in America to go by fast, but we truly can't believe how fast it is going. We are thankful for all that we have been able to do and are trying to cherish many of the new memories that we are making with family and friends. 

 (Seeing Joe's little sister at UVA )

The past few weeks have been filled with church meetings as we have five partnering churches in New York. Joe has been preaching on Sundays and then we usually meet up with different members of the church or church leaders during the week for a more in depth talk about New Zealand. When we aren't meeting with churches, we spend time preparing for our next meeting or trying to get new meetings in the area. Part of our objective while we are here is to try to raise funds for the church plant start up costs. So if we aren't meeting with a current partnering church, chances are, we are meeting with a potential partner specifically for the church plant. 

We have also made time to catch up with our family and east coast friends. It has been refreshing and encouraging to reconnect with the people who have played such important parts in our lives. 

The last thing we have spend a lot of time doing is praying. Will you pray with us for the following things: 

 for potential partners to help with the start up costs of the church

 for the city and people of Christchurch, that God will soften their hearts 

 for our team-that God will prepare us for moving into Christchurch & diving into this new community where we know no-one

for each couple to come away from furlough refreshed, not worn down

 for each couple to be fully funded at the end of furlough

for health, energy, and good times of catching up as we travel while we are back in the States