29^th January, 2003 Issue No 9

Griffin’s Gazette

Welcome to Griffin’s Gazette #9

Ben’s News

I got an instruction book on how to ride a unicycle for Christmas. It’s best bit of advise was to sit on the saddle and launch off into the abyss and see what happens. Well I’ve just finished my penultimate semester at ETCW, and am now contemplating launching off into the abyss. Of course the Christian never actually has an abyss to launch into as the Lord is in control of all our situations. This is an amazing assurance at this time. Yet all the same the present is a time of much tension, trepidation, and I think what the Christian likes to call “excitement” as we wait upon the Lord.

The idea is that before going off to be missionaries, Liz and myself need to get some experience in the ministry back here in the U.K. So we are going through the process of contacting churches with vacancies for assistant pastors, and waiting for them to contact us. We would appreciate much prayer at this time as we have nothing concrete as yet, whilst we only have five months left before joining the real world again.

What’s happened since last time we spoke? The Friday night youth group has continued to be an encouragement and a challenge. It has grown to a regular attendance of 8. Of which 5 are Korean. There are some things that you never expect, and starting a youth group in deepest South Wales, and then finding out that 5/8ths of the youth are from Korea is one of them. We are into our third term of teaching and are currently going through the book of Ruth.

Please pray that all the young people will become Christians, and that a replacement will be found for me when I leave in July.

Liz and myself are currently working our way through the application and doctrinal forms for UFM, the organization that will, God willing, look after us when we are missionaries. The forms are thorough in their content and thus are taking a lot of discipline to complete.

Our much beloved car, a 1987 Vauxhall Astra, which was kindly donated by some friends from home four years ago, with the comment: “You are very welcome to it, but it may fall apart tomorrow”, is living up to that prophecy. We have a pungent smell of petrol whenever we go anywhere in it, a problem that has foxed even the most experienced mechanics for the last year! The agreed verdict of all who have enjoyed spending time under the bonnet of our car, whether it be on the hard shoulder of the M4, M5, or M6, is that she is tired and in need of retirement. If you do have a spare Rolls-Royce Corniche, Bentley, or Ferrari (preferably 4 door with room for a double buggy in the boot), then please let us know.

College has been hard work, I’m not sure I’m an academic and feel now that it’s time to leave the world of academia while we’re still on speaking terms. My time here has been amazingly profitable, but I’m looking forward to actually getting my hands dirty.

By far the hardest part of last semester was the preaching module that was led my Mr Olyott. By far the best part of last semester was the preaching module that was led by Mr Olyott. Maybe hard work is profitable?

The future is in the Lord’s hands, but we will keep you posted as and when things happen. At the moment we continue to try pushing different doors. I thought the problem would be finding open doors, but now I realize that open and shut doors are not the problem; it’s the doors that are slightly ajar that need much prayer over.

Liz’s News

Yes, my life is still very busy. Christmas was great and it was lovely to see so many friends and family. But things are back to normal now (whatever normal is). Josh and Luke are growing fast and we go out somewhere every day now, but sometimes I’m more exhausted than they are by the end of the day! The ladies’ meeting is going well and is still growing in number; we’ve arranged a crèche, which is a great help, especially for me. The youth group is going well too, numbers have gone up from about eight regulars to fifteen being there last week. As with Ben, please pray that the church will find another worker for BBC before the summer.

Josh’s News

I’m nearly two and a half now and I’m full of fun. I love to do jigsaws all the time, but Mum won’t let me because she says it doesn’t wear me out enough. I still don’t say much, but I have started saying Mum! I had a great Christmas and got lots of toys, I got to go to lots of adventure parks too and I love them

Luke’s News

I’m one year old now and I started walking properly just before my birthday, it’s great fun and Mum’s never sure whether to run after me or Josh first. I love to eat books, to disrupt Josh in whatever he’s doing and putting everything in my mouth to see whether it’s worth eating!

Praise

· The Holiday Bible Club went very well. 30 children came along.

· A relaxing Christmas with Ben’s family in Sandbach

· Growing youth groups at Laleston

· For a healthy family as Luke has reached his first year

Prayer

· A replacement for our much beloved Vauxhall Astra

· For wisdom in discerning God’s will for our immediate future in the U.K.

· For replacement workers to be found for the youth groups in Laleston

· For us as a family, as we go through the stresses and strains of contemplating another move, and all the practicalities involved.

· For our application to join UFM

Thank You again for your prayers, letters and support

Ben, Liz, Josh and Luke