"Have I not commanded you?"

I'm sure I'm not the only mother to get her children's songs stuck in her head. CBeebies' theme tunes are some of the most annoying tunes on the planet. My children love to listen to the CD from the Bible Camp they attended over the summer in Chicago and this week I have been thankful for the truth that has constantly been in my head - God's promise to Joshua as he stands on the edge of the Promised Land: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

It's getting challenging now as we have started saying goodbyes and various problems are emerging on the front. I went to visit my grandparents, both 88 on Sat and the obvious question that comes to mind is whether or not they will still be alive in 2 years' time, then it was on to Brighton where we heard David's Dad preach at CCK on Sun morning. Not his last preach, but as he retires next year, the last time we will see him in that context and the end of an era for us.

Back in Sidcup, we still do not have any tenants lined up so we are furiously painting in order to make a better impression for both on-line and in-person viewers. As we lifted the bathroom carpet to prepare for new flooring, we discovered a leak which means re tiling and, around the same time, the central heating decided to go on the blink. The good news is that the plumber can come and fix it late next week, the bad news that we get saddled with an enormous bill and don't get to experience the benefits of the improvements as we leave first thing the following Monday! Oh, and did I mention that the container has been delayed due to loading congestion at the port?

Phew! It feels like the rubber is really beginning to hit the road. I think we always realised that such a move would be challenging - and especially where there is a church plant involved there can be real spiritual opposition. I know that God is with us and for us in this move. I certainly have no reason to doubt His faithfulness - we have seen Him sovereignly intervene on the school and house front on the US-side - so I will not be running to hide under my duvet, however much I may want to!! Stepping out on a God-adventure is always going to be stretching but I do believe that the cost is worth it. And it makes me even more passionate to seek God for what He will do in Chicago.

Watch this space.....................

Back by popular demand.......

OK, as promised the blog is back!!!! Somehow it didn't seem right to be writing a blog entitled 'Letter from America' when I was clearly not there but as we are about to return to the US for at least 2 years, I guess it's time to start it up again.............

For those of you who are out of the loop, D has been given a 2 year contract back in Chicago and we are very excited to be going out in advance of the Newfrontiers church to be planted in the spring. It has been amazing really how God has changed my heart towards this move - many readers of this blog may be surprised at my enthusiasm given the many frustrations I have voiced here about our 3 months in the US earlier this year. To be fair, I think we just were not sure what God's plan was for us and we didn't want to commit to such a big move just for the sake of job security (if that exists in the financial sector at the moment). Coming home actually really helped us to view things more objectively (thanks, Dave Holden for your wise counsel!) and we were surprised at just how much we missed the rawness of Fusion. Returning to a large, well-established church it would be so easy just to settle into our seats and relax but we missed the glimpse of church-planting we had seen. And it was the icing on the cake when we heard about the Sweetmans' plans to come and plant in 2009.

The next piece of the jigsaw puzzle was the school. I had been worried about how it would affect our 4 year-old middle child spending the next 2 years in the American school system as the early years' education is so different, but God had that one sorted, too and we were quite miraculously offered 2 places at the British School of Chicago just the same week we had to make a final decision work-wise. The whole ex-pat thing is not really my scene but I had been very impressed by the school when I visited it and the split is actually 85% American v 15% foreign nationals so it's actually a great mix and,hopefully a ready-made community for us to get involved in. Added to this, the provision of a wonderful house (not that I've seen it yet - but I've seen the photos and trust my husband's judgement!) just 15 mins walk from the school and walking distance from the lake. I'm really excited about being downtown and closer to the action of the city - suburban life was just a little bit boring for me when such a great city was not far away!

So, we are now camping in our house and waiting for the off. The furniture went 2 weeks' ago and we leave on Mon 8th Dec. Thus begins a 3-week cycle of goodbyes which will be a bit of an emotional roller-coaster I expect. But though it will be hard, I do want to say goodbye so that we leave without unfinished business here at home. Whilst this is a 2 year contract I want to focus this time more on being in Chicago and seeking God's plan for me there rather than counting the days, weeks, months until we come home.

Please pray for us to find tenants for house and for the children to settle into their new school and make friends. This is a big adventure for all of us and I will try and post regular info to keep you all up to speed with our news - or alternatively you could just come and visit!