the tickets arrived in the post today!

We've been waiting for the tickets knowing they would come, but now bring with them the realisation that we're going on our reconnaissance trip and its only 10 days away. There's only packing left to do, insurance and money etc are finalised, just choosing which clothes to wear so as to appear British, but not too over the top (I'm leaving the union jack undies at home).

This trip is really exciting for us. We'll get to see first hand what we're planning to do in July. We'll stay at the school where we'll work and meet the students; it'll be an eye opener.
We'll see a lot and have a lot to talk about when we return, so stay tuned to the blog while we're away and when we get back (10th Feb).
We're expecting God to talk to us while we're away, to clarify and confirm the calling he's placed within us and to prepare us for starting in July. Please pray that God will be very real to us and that he will keep us safe, but most of all that he will be with the Boys as they are staying at home.

that's it for know from me, Paul.

A few Christmas pics of the boys enjoying the festive period.

Isaac indulges in too much chocolate!

Several games of table football were won and lost. (Emily and Paul lost 2 games, got a bit better then lost the third, oh well)

Christmas was busy; we managed to juggle friends and family and had great fun with all. We really enjoyed catching up with family we'd not seen for a while. The boys enjoyed themselves, especially the food and present (Luke's still thanking God for presents and chocolates at prayer time).

Christmas will be like no other next year, we're looking forward to it, especially the snow (only joking).

Happy new year('s resolutions)

Well, I was thinking about my new year's resolutions - I usually make some - but i kinda get the feeling that there is just not going to be time this year. Maybe I'll settle for learning a bit of Indonesian, raising some ridiculous sum of money and settling our family into life on the other side of the world. Hmmm...that sounds a little more ambitious than shifting that last 7 lbs...
Good thing that God has a vested interest in this year's plan.
Well, since the last post...
1. Our church have got excited (hurrah) about our plans.
2. We're planning a whistle stop tour of java in February - check out where we're going, see some friends, meet some new ones, and get a feel for the culture.

Pray
1. life is getting busy juggling home, work, fundraising, writing prayer letters and keeping it all normal for the boys. pray for extra time in the day and for efficient use of the time we have (resist ER on dvd...resist!).
2. thank you to all those who are supporting us, but we're still some way off our target. We need to have 90% pledged by June. Pray that God will prompt those who he wants to be involved in his work in Indonesia.
3. The boys - big change is a'coming - for wisdom to help them prepare and adjust.
4. For the provision of money for our reconnaisance trip. We need a further £400 to make it happen. Thank you to all who have supported the trip so far.
5. that the cat is let out of the bag at work at the right time and in the right way...

for now...until then