Preparing to Go

Time for Change

Last November while walking and talking late one afternoon along our favourite beach at Somerset, we realised that we were both ready to begin the journey of returning to full-time missionary work. We have spent the last eleven years in Tasmania, after returning in 1995 from over twelve years involvement with New Tribes Mission, in training at Plumpton Sydney and living in Papua New Guinea, supporting the church planting efforts among tribal people on the island of New Britain.

Reasons for Change

Many years ago as young twenty somethings, which we are no longer by the way, we were inspired by the simple reality that many people throughout the world have absolutely no knowledge that God visited this planet over two thousand years ago. They literally don't know that Jesus came, died and rose again, offering a hope for mankind in this life and the next. It sounded corny and simplistic then and maybe it still does, but that's how it is for us. We want to be part of the team to go and ensure that people from every tribe and tongue hear the 'good news' in their 'heart' language from people who have taken the time to live among them, earning the right to share by their lives and their words that 'Jesus is the way, truth and life' for all people.

Who We Are

• We have explored many options of involvement, aware that there are so many mission organisations out there doing fantastic things. We celebrate this and have over the past years seen God at work in and through many people who have creatively committed to reaching those who are around them.
  We are, who we are, and out of that awareness we know that God makes no mistakes, contrary to what the mirror, media and many would say, but we have to go with what best fits for us, namely:
  We love;
  
  
• Our God and partnering with Him
• Family and friends
• working together as a couple
• People and relationships
• adventure and risk
• change and challenges
• travel and the great outdoors
• learning languages and cultures
• being part of community and team
• impacting others and being impacted by them
• fun, laughter and of course food!

The list could go on, but hopefully you are catching a glimpse of who we are and why we are wanting to become involved in the adventure ahead.

In returning to New Tribes Mission we are under no illusions that this organisation will be 'perfect'. We'll be there for a start, so that blows that theory out of the water! We are very clear that we serve God, not anything or anyone else. We work and partner with organisations and people, but it's God and His Kingdom business that is our concern. We have always seen the importance of expanding our reach to those who would never hear without someone being willing to commit to living among, learning the language and culture and staying until a church is established and functioning using New Testament principles in keeping with the culture and needs of the local people.

First Steps Forward

The next two months will be busy rennovating and landscaping around our house ,making it ready for sale or rent, not sure which yet. We will also be packing and sorting our stuff which accumulates no matter how many times over the years we've cleared and culled. Living the simple life is an ideal, reality is clouded by crazy consumerism perhaps, but with all our boys now having left the nest, we may be able to limit the 'stuff' we need to survive.

Travelling light is the aim.

We will miss family and friends from Tassie very much but are hopeful of opportunities to visit and be visited in this amazingly mobile shrinking world that we live in. We will only be an email, text, phone call and fly/drive away over the next while and hope to remain connected to you all.

Our blog will track and record our journey over the next year. Hope you enjoy travelling with us.