Embracing transition

Over the years as William and I surrendered our lives to God, we knew life would be an adventure and not ‘planned’ or determined by us, but yielded to following His leading and going wherever He wanted us to go. That journey lead us from Florida to England in 2019 and for the past four years we have been planted in Bromley (south London). We’ve known for the last year that William’s contract here would end this summer and have been seeking to hear God’s will for what’s next for us.

There’s a joy in journeying with God… an excitement about adventure into unknown and the discovery of how He is going to lead and speak and make known His ways to us. Our move to England was made abundantly clear to us through Him speaking in many ways (if you haven’t read that story you can read it here) and so faith has been built to believe that He will again make clear to us where we are to be. Sometimes the signs are maybe not so loud and clear, but there is new learning, new trusting, new ways of hearing and seeing as we continue to journey. And here we now stand with another real transition in sight.

I don’t think transition is easy. We get comfortable, find rhythm and patterns, friends and recognizable faces, become familiar with life as it is and have a tendency to not want change, even if at the same time we do want change! There’s a tension, and navigating through that to trust and peace can be a challenge. Especially with four girls in the mix too! But we’re embracing it and walking through the ups and downs and ins and outs of change.

So, where are we going and how did God lead? Not too long before we moved to England, a friend of mine encouraged William to apply for a job as pastor of a church in a village on the Hampshire/Berkshire border. We were pretty sure we were coming to Bromley Town Church but since God hadn’t specifically said that, we thought we’d just make sure by pushing the door with this interview. It closed, and we’ve gratefully known that these last 4 years we’ve been exactly where we were supposed to be. Over the last 18 months or so as we’ve prayed for God’s leading we’ve been looking for any leading or open doors. The friend who encouraged William to apply for the job four and a half years ago, has a number of times (along with his family) said that he’s really felt we would be a good fit for their church. It’s been a gentle journey of discovery in some senses… a pushing on the door and it opening a little, pushing a little more and it opening some more… discussions and dreams, shared thoughts and ponderings… until an agreed sense all round that this is God’s idea and plan for us. So in August, once the girls finish their school year, we will move from the busyness of Bromley and jump into rural life to be a part of Mortimer West End Chapel.

When you’ve made friends and been part of a church, school and local community for a number of years, leaving pulls at the heart. The girls are sad with the idea of leaving the school they have been so happy at these last years… they love their teachers and friends and it has been a wonderfully nurturing school. For me it also feels like a loss because Katherine particularly, has been so loved and included and celebrated there. We’ve been encouraged though, by a good friend, who on hearing about the move and knowing our current school situation, felt such stirring of faith and a leap of joy, believing that God was saying what’s ahead is going to be even better! We’re clinging on to that and it’s a comfort to us as we begin to face the upheaval of a school and house move.

There is much that is exciting about the move, which helps bring balance amidst the swings between the thoughts of leaving and loss, and the adventures of the new ahead. Having more space and the possibility of keeping chickens, riding bikes and climbing trees is high on the list for the girls! And for us there is beauty in a smaller community of believers who are seeking to follow God into a new season and we look forward to becoming a part of the church family there.

We would be grateful for your prayers in these few months ahead as we prepare to pack up the house (it’s amazing how much stuff we’ve accumulated in 4 years of being here in England!), seek a new school for the girls, begin new phases of relationships here and build new relationships there. We’re thankful for the time of transition and that, in some ways, it is a little more gradual and gentle than the move from America to England!

And we will endeavor to keep you updated!