theforsythes

[theforsythes]

Almost a year...how can that be?

Walking home just now, I had a few minutes to think. That’s not something I have very often. I rarely get to walk just me, by myself. Space and quiet is rare in the life stage we are at. I love it, don’t get me wrong, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. The three children bring joy that makes us overflow and we are so proud of each of them. 

Space and time though is precious…

Next month we will celebrate a whole year back in the UK! We will, amazingly, be back in Mexico next month too! (Something we are SO VERY excited about! Huge thanks to those still supporting us to allow that to be possible!!) 

Reflecting this morning as I walked, what was flowing through my head was some of what this time has felt like. I recalled another one of those moments, just this week, where I felt lost and like I don’t belong again….I wracked my brain to place where I was and what it was that happened. There have been so, so, so many of those moments in this year, that I couldn’t even begin to write them all down. I remembered the one this week…I had been in Asda, looking for a sports drink for Matthew. As I wandered up and down, not quite sure what I was looking for, a man working there asked me, ‘can I help?’. I asked ‘can you tell me where the Gatorade is?’ As I watched his face, I questioned in my mind, ‘Is that from here? Or is that only in Mexico?’ I didn’t even know?! I said ‘like Lucozade’ and he pointed me in the right direction.... I walked on wondering, hmmm, ‘Have I ever seen Gatorade here? Is that just a Mexico thing? I don’t even know but the man clearly had no idea...

Well, those moments are not fun – they remind us that we still don’t fully belong and that in some way, we never will feel we fully belong – not here, and not in Mexico either! Having made two, well three, counties our home, there is an odd reaction within when you can’t make sense completely of your surroundings. It feels like the UK should make sense, should be easy – and sometimes it does make sense and it is easy– but sometimes we can still feel confused, misplaced, lost….

I remember speaking recently about the prospect of doing a days teaching in a primary school here. My words were, “If you asked me to train some Sunday school teachers or teach Sunday school in Spanish, that would scare me less than a day of teaching here…” Teaching is what I spent 8 years doing, but having spent the last 7 doing something very different, fitting back in is far from easy. Jonny has done an amazing job of teaching and getting through that wall of emotion as he’s kept us all alive and eating this year! To think he has done that whilst also journeying through the up’s and down’s of transition, is amazing!

Below are just some of the words that come to mind when I think of what we’ve felt like this year – 

The kids could, without doubt, add a tonne more. They do so well at saying it as it is. They amaze us. They bless us. They make us smile and cry at the same time. They make us feel it’s ok, when they put into words just how we ourselves feel.  

Speaking one day about adjusting to his new surroundings here in the UK, Matthew described some really hard to understand feelings… “I like Mexico because it’s busy and it’s the city that never sleeps and I don’t want to go back to not liking that because it would be like there was no point in us going in the first place. I don’t want to have to become ok with it because then I would lose my Mexico part of me’”… below is how Matthew identifies himself… the wonderful world of a third culture kid! (Matthew will tell you his blend is made up of 5 cultures! At school he’s known as ‘Mexican Matthew’ or ‘American Matthew’!)

Our identity changed somehow when God took us out of our comfort zone and blessed us with a life changing journey. We are still on that journey and I hope HE continues to change us everyday. Our desire is to not just be comfortable – but to use and apply all that He has taught us. To remain connected to those HE has connected us to and to do whatever HE wants, so that HIS Kingdom can increase.

God has blessed us beyond measure with Matthew, Susie and Noah. They don’t fully fit here in this culture. How could they I guess? They spent 6 years of their short lifetime not living here! They stand out, while trying to blend in. They have fire in their belly because they have seen God work so powerfully. They have lived in his grace and walked in his faithfulness. They love him. They depend on him (even though Matthew has realised that the Christian bubble we lived in in Mexico has been popped, and here it’s maybe not seen as ‘cool’ or ‘in’ or ‘sick’ to love Jesus!) He is, however, doing a fantastic job of ‘fitting in whilst also standing out’. He challenges us and excites us. Susie does too. She prays with more conviction and passion than anyone I’ve heard of her age. She prays like a Mexican!…with passion and without fear! We love to hear her and I love how she blows not only us, but Matthew away too. His response to hearing her pray is something like, ‘Woah, Susie, your prayers just like punch me in the stomach!’ I sometimes write down her prayers…or what I can remember when she’s done!

“Jesus, thank you for blessing me with these lovely friends and this lovely school and please let me have some of the best days of my life at the place I love, please help my friends not to shout and get upset and please help them not to get cross at people. Help me to come out of myself and let me come into relationships with other people…..” 

She covers each situation in prayer in the most amazing and beautiful way. One day wrote down her response too after I’d said ‘wow, how beautiful Suz, you pray so powerfully’… She told me, “Sometimes I just go on a float like I’m surfing”.

I just love what our life in missions has taught them and what it’s allowed them to experience. The richness that there is in living life in different cultures, cannot be measured – or put into words, not well anyway! I am so thankful and I feel like we get to see the fruit of that time, daily!

So, while it’s immensely hard, sad, lonely, confusing and uncomfortable some days, it’s also amazing, blessed, new, different and very right for us to be in the place we are in right now.

[theforsythes]

It's a process, a journey and one we can't hurry!!

Well, it’s Happy New Year, first and foremost!

We hope you’ve had a special family time and a restful, refreshing break!

As we step forwards into a new year, we are doing our very best to keep reminding ourselves of where we’re up to!... time seems to move a lot faster than my thoughts seem to process!

At this point we feel so thankful for how much more settled we are each feeling and are praising God for how well both Matthew and Susie have adjusted to school. 

This last couple of weeks though, I've felt reminded on so many occasions, that we are each still transitioning. It's the most strange thing to describe or to really help others understand. I don't feel like I fully understand myself. But, I thought a ‘catch up’ blog post may be a good way to share – and also do some processing myself!

Today as a friend asked about our Christmas and new year, she used the word 'shell shocked' to describe how I seemed...it was funny - she was referring to getting over a busy time, which it was - I immediately described how I do feel shell shocked, but more because of just how often I still need to remind myself, 'we live in England now'. I explained how I feel 'half there' in most situations...like I am there, but not fully. It's like a distant feeling and I'll share a couple of recent goings on, to help put that feeling into context. 

The day we decorated the Christmas tree and I hung the more fragile decorations on (ones we hadn't seen for 6 years!) and again when I was standing Matthew's fragile creations on a shelf in his room one day, the thought went through my head 'I best put these on well, just in case there's an earthquake'. It took a minute or two for my brain to then catch up and help me realise I am now in England. 

I did the same yesterday as I put clothes away, I had to remind myself of where I was and had a very similar, 'oh, wait no, I'm not there anymore' moment.

Susie said the same to me a few days ago, she described how ‘for two minutes, I forgot that we are in England now!’ She had been in the cinema and was confused because she knew a film had already been in and gone out of the cinemas – but that was in Mexico. Here it’s still out. She was so cute describing how her head was all confused for a minute!

Then tonight I showed Noah a video on my phone of him playing in the street in Mexico outside of our house. Noah walked me(!!), almost daily, to the park close t our house. I wondered what his response would be to seeing the video. I’ve wondered often how much he even remembers now, 4 months on. I do want to help him to keep those special memories, but have held off from showing him too many photos etc. since we came back because of not wanting to upset or confuse him.  His immediate response was to head for the front door, saying, 'walk, big park'. Tonight he was intent on going and wasn't happy when I told him, 'it's dark so we can't go walking just now'. Bless him, his memory is still very clear! As soon as he saw that street outside of our old house, he wanted to head to his favourite park! I am quite sure that, even after these 4 months away, he would just as confidently walk me to that park in Mexico if I could just stand him back in that spot he was playing in in our street. Here he is in that spot outside our old house, playing with a friend just a few months ago...

The big kids saw in the new year with us. We obviously talked about this year and the big changes it held for us. When I asked them their hopes for 2019, both said they want to go back to Mexico this year to see everyone!

It's a massively significant place for them both - for all of us. It's our home every bit as much - if not a little bit more still - as our new home here. It's a place we have to remind ourselves we are no longer in. It's those 'oh yes, of course' moments that remind me of just how much we all still have to process and just how much Mexico is still in the forefront of our minds. Tonight Matthew spent ages on Google earth and sat with Susie showing her all sorts of their favourite spots in Mexico - our neighbourhood, their school, church, the seminary, Cody’s house..... It was lovely seeing their excitement as they talked about feeling like they really were there! 

When we left Mexico, Noah was only saying a handful of words - more, milk, daddy, etc. Since coming back he has gradually become a little parrot and can make his every desire understood. It amazed me though a couple of weeks ago, to realise that he knows how to confidently count to 10 in Spanish! He could never have said those words when we lived there, but that vocabulary was clearly learnt while we were there....it's taken these 4 months to come out, but is as clear and normal to him too, as if we were still living immersed in Spanish everyday. 

We are so thankful for the incredible gift that it was, to be able to live and serve and do life in Mexico. We miss it and have a deep love that will never change. God gave us that love - it's HIS own love for his people there. We know that as much as we are growing more and more used to life here, we will always have that call to love Mexico. Nothing will change that and we wouldn't want it to change. We asked God to give us His deep love for that country when we left the UK six years ago and he did. 

This month we will welcome a beautiful little part of our Mexican family here to England. Lorena, Cari's eldest daughter, will arrive in the middle of January and will be here for 3 months. It's amazing to us that it's almost here! When it was first talked about, it was a dream, a pie in the sky idea that they had and something that has just amazingly come together! We can't wait to hug our girlie again, to chat and share and be together! We know she will be a great blessing to many while she's here and we look forward to seeing what God has in store!

 So, there we are, just a little glimpse into a little more of the transition process.....it is a process and not one that will be hurried - whether we would like it to be hurried, or not! We're thankful for those who just love us anyway, even when we seem shell shocked, distant or lost! We love being here and love seeing those who we have missed so much - the truth is, our hearts have expanded though and we now also have a deep love for a whole family that God has placed over there in Mexico! His family is so vast and wide and varied - and that in itself just overwhelms us! God is so good and so beyond our comprehension! His love is so perfect, His plan is just right - even when we don't get it, or maybe don't even like it! He knows us each by name, our situation and all of it's complexities. How thankful we are that our call is to simply let God be our guide! 

[theforsythes]

Chaos?...oh yes!

As I stood tonight, leaning on the side of the cot, rubbing Noah’s back as he went off to sleep, I almost felt like I was back in our home in Mexico. It took me right back there and I was reminded of the hours I spent in that same spot, leaning on his same cot, helping him go off to sleep. 

It’s so hard to take in…in a flash it seems like we’re here, our things are here, we’re doing life here. To those around us who we ‘did life together’ with for the 15 years we lived here, it probably seems normal, just like back to those days that were not all that long ago. To us, it doesn’t feel like that. It feels like the strangest time and every bit as hard as the transition into a foreign culture was.

We have changed. Life here and everything around us has changed. Things look familiar, but are not the same. We look just like us, but are not the same. Transition is hard. It’s a journey. It’s impossible to know how to respond when people say ‘so, are you settled?’… Settled feels like something we may achieve in a year or two, not after 11 or 12 weeks.

We love how surrounded we feel. We are so blessed to have so many on our side, willing us on and loving us in the same amazing way they always have. We feel held up, loved and cared for. We know we’re prayed for too and that means more than you’ll ever know.

But, it’s hard.

We love writing about the joys, sharing the successes and the excitement of the journey with you and so it feels important too to share the challenges. We’ve shared some of this already in the previous post. I’ve shared snippets too of how we really feel with those close to us, who regularly ask and choose to stop and listen.  

Transition was described to Matthew, 6 years ago, as a bridge. He had his own ‘training’ before entering a new culture and the image below shows some of what he was taught. I looked it up the other day, wanting to know ‘what were those words that were used to describe this time?’….’Oh yes! Unsettling, Chaos, Re-settling…’ They sound just about right!

Looking up that image, there were others that grabbed my attention too – and words that seem to be so much a part of this journey… ‘grieving’, ‘belonging’, ‘expectations’, ‘planning’, ‘emotions’, ‘goodbyes’…. The list goes on!

The kids have reminded us regularly throughout these last few weeks, of just how much this is a process – and one we can’t rush. They’ve made comments that just shout about their lack of understanding of UK life and culture. I’ve loved those moments and needed those moments too to reassure me that it’s ok that I myself still feel like I just don’t ‘get it’ at times!

 Matthew, just this evening in Asda : “I think we should have paid that lady who helped us”

Susie, looking out of the car window: “It’s so field-y here and there are loads of trees!”

Noah looked bemused and amazed at mums and tots group to see so many people who all know ‘the wheels on the bus’

For Noah, to say goodbye his automatic reaction (just like our own!) is to hug – coming from him everyone loves that, coming from us, some maybe find that a bit odd!

Matthew talking about paying his fare on the school bus: “I always give him a bit extra, just to be kind”

Matthew describing what he wrote about himself at school: “Well I told them I’m a bit Northern Irish, a bit English, a bit Costa Rican, a bit Mexican and a bit American ….and they always ask about where my accent is from. They like it in Spanish too because I can help. One of the boys said to me,  ‘I like having a Spanish friend’”

Susie talking about playing crocodiles at school, “Well whoever doesn’t say ‘safo’ has to be the crocodile”…. (‘Safo’ means ‘not me’ in Spanish)  I asked her ‘Did you teach them that word?’ she said “Yes, so they just say ‘safo’ fast and then whoever is left is the crocodile!”

Noah has no clue what to make of the cold. He loves playing on the trampoline. He was used to being out on the trampoline in Mexico by 8 a.m and having to be careful by about 2p.m because it was so hot we’d burn our feet! Now we go out and get wet feet and after 3 minutes he has his little arms huddled in close saying ‘chilly’! It made me laugh when I realised he didn’t even know the word ‘cold’ and had no idea of how to put his arms in a coat properly! I remember only one time in the year he spent in Mexico when he wore a coat! And he had learned the word ‘hot’ months before we left, after touching the ground one day when we were out walking!

The list goes on and on…..there have been more ‘moments’ than my fuzzy brain can even remember.

Jonny and I still have them too – from the simple things like stopping in the kitchen to think ‘now, where do I get the water from?’, to saying ‘mucho gusto’ or ‘gracias’ to the person in the shop and while driving, suddenly thinking, ‘did I just drive the right way around that roundabout?!?!?’

It’s a crazy time. It’s a confusing time. It’s a time where it’s easy to question everything and wonder if we did the right thing. It’s a treat and a great sadness. A happy and difficult time. An overwhelming and all consuming time. There seems an abundance of everything, everywhere – from choice in the shops, to toys in Sunday school.

We can love it and feel so happy and we can want to stamp like a toddler and cry too. It’s a journey. It’s a process. It’s chaos. It’s about re-settling and being gentle with ourselves along the way.

Thank you – for accepting us as we come and for walking through every bit of the challenge with us!

[theforsythes]

“Thank you God for giving us a house, so we don’t have to sleep on the street”

Susie’s little prayer before sleeping tonight included this sentence....and she made me really think...

Here I am, so focussed on how much we still have to sort out....boxes to unpack, things to find a home for, trying to just make everything fit, looking ahead to what’s next and seeking to work that all out, etc, etc, etc.... It’s so easy to forget to simply be thankful that we have a house to live in!

Since we arrived back to the UK, just over a month ago, we’ve been reminded in so, so many ways, that our children are used to a very different ‘normal’ now -

- They’re used to drinking water out of a bottle or garafon (We all stood in the middle of the kitchen at various times throughout the first week, looking around for where we were supposed to get the water from!)

- They’re used to switching from English to Spanish and Spanish to English (Matthew was commenting just tonight, that he started speaking to his friend here in Spanish - and Jonny and I have done it too, so many times - in the shop, on the train, on the phone...!)

- They’re used to their surroundings not being quite as well kept and neat around the edges (Matthew was explaining that everything in his school seemed ‘posh and rich’, I’ve found it really strange going into what now seem like very ‘fancy’ restaurants and public toilets!) To anyone else here, what’s just normal, seems all very nice and even too nice to us!

- They’re used to the power regularly cutting out (Susie asked when it was raining this week, why the power hadn’t gone out!) 

- They’re used to the bin men coming daily and to them doing all the sorting out of recycling (Noah LOVED to wait for the bin men and give them their pesos!)

- They’re used to knowing their way around, understanding where they live in relation to school and church, to walking confidently to the park or to the shop, etc. (Susie is now very proud of herself for knowing the way to her school and Noah even recognised ‘Noah’s house’ from the road in front this week too!)

- They’re used to having to ration the portions of baked beans, to washing all the fruit and veg before using it, to eggs that have a bright yellow yolk...)

- They’re used to encountering people who don’t have a house to sleep in and who do live on the streets!

There have been so many moments since we arrived back, where we’ve been reminded that the UK has not been our home for many years. We’ve felt odd as we’ve tried to access a world we are just not used to. Not knowing how to work the ‘contactless’ option on the bank card, asking for ‘black tea’ (when what I wanted was white tea!), because that’s what I had to ask for in Mexico, going to get into the wrong side of the car, having to think hard to drive on the correct side too!, forgetting that you have to switch on the socket, not just plug in the plug!, remembering that we can flush the toilet roll now.....we could go on and on! Poor Noah has not been used to real cold either, so he’s looked really quite put out as he’s sat in the pushchair on the way to school with the cold wind blowing in his face! 

We’ve all had our moments of just missing what was home and feeling quite overwhelmed by all the changes. We’ve learned quickly that we just need to encourage one another and accept that there will be many difficult moments. Change is never easy and so much all at once has been quite a challenge. We really are so impressed with how much the kids have taken on and got-on-with-it, without complaining. Home, school, friends, uniform, routine, church ....everything around them has changed. 

We were intentional about protecting time to say goodbye. They said goodbye and shared special memories of each room in our house in Mexico. They requested time with many, many friends and asked to go back to many special places. We have been so thankful for having taken the time to do that before we left. It really has felt like that has enabled them to be accepting of their new situation now and to have ‘left Mexico well’. Having said that, someone asked me ‘Where do you feel like your heart is?’ My answer was, ‘Somewhere in the middle of the sea most days!’ And at the same time, I feel like my head has barely registered yet that we actually have left Mexico! 

One day last week Susie said: ‘It still seems so strange that we live here now’ (me: ‘I know! How long do you think it will take for it to feel normal?’) ‘Probably until I’m 8 or 9!’ 

So, as we continue to adjust, to embrace what’s before us as we step into each new day, we choose to simply be thankful for our home and for God’s provision for us! 

Thank you so much for your prayers and please do continue to pray for each of us in this time of intense transition. 

[theforsythes]

Finally, a new post! :-)

Tonight, I thought I’d share a little of where things are up to. I’m aware that our blog posts have been few and far between since becoming a family of 5!

As I sit here in the living room, I want to set the scene… it’s 10p.m, very warm and kind of ‘muggy’ here in the house, raining hard outside and there are a few flashes of lightening in the distance. Tonight we’ve had a huge hail storm (pic below) as well as a 5.6 earthquake (the second in a week - which I’m pleased to say we didn’t feel). Jonny is just on the way home from the airport having dropped off a visiting team. I’ve spent the last couple of hours getting the three children sorted and into bed – and I’m tired!

Life is extremely full on just now. With our big boy graduating from 6th grade, our imaginative Susie who constantly wants a Barbie play friend and a busy Noah added into the mix, most days I could happily fall into my own bed by about 6p.m! We’re in the process of packing up our home, furnishing our house in Leeds, as well as doing our best to continue on with life and ministry here.

We love all that’s happening here – we love spending time with the people who we’ve grown to love and who we see as an extension on our family. We continue to feel humbled and amazed when God uses us to serve and meet needs. Just today, Jonny and I did the baby class at church together – unplanned but needed. We had two new little girls who arrived today and so they, along with Noah, formed our little class. We had fun singing and drawing, playing and eating. Next Sunday Jonny will be preaching again – which is just wonderful to see. Neither of us feel able – in any way – to do the things God uses us to do – but IN HIM, we are able!

We’d just love to ask you to pray – this week we have, as usual, got a fairly full week… tomorrow we have a skype meeting and we’ll do more packing up here in the house. I’ll meet up with a lady for some catch up time in the afternoon – a lady I am very much praying for! We’ll give the next session of the Freedom in Christ course on Tuesday as well as organising some more things for a sale. Jonny will teach on Wednesday and I’ll chase Noah about that day 😊 – as well as trying to pack a little more. On Thursday we’ll meet up with a pastor and his wife and in the evening we’ll join with the Bible study group here. Friday will be a Daddy and Noah morning while I join a friend for breakfast and in the afternoon we’ll take care of our friends children to allow them to celebrate their belated anniversary.

The weeks are flying by and we’re aware of how much there is to still pack in! God has blessed us in so many ways throughout this time of preparing for change and we feel extremely thankful. We also find ourselves feeling somewhat overwhelmed some days with all that there is to do and remember. Normal day to day life goes on – children, school, homework, meals, etc and we have to write every extra thing down to make sure it happens!

We thank God for HIS peace and provision, for continuing to speak to us everyday and to reassure us that we are walking in time with Him. Thank you for your prayers for us as we look towards the ‘what’s next’. Thank you for the offers of help. Thank you for the practical help you are giving us. Thank you for making this process that much easier by walking through it – and praying through it – with us!

We look ahead to this next chapter with a sense of nervous excitement. We know that God will pave the way – we’ve seen His faithfulness in doing that so clearly over the last 6 years. We look forward to sharing with you how He continues to lead us and we know that our role is simply to be open and obedient to what He desires to do – even if it feels way outside of our comfort zone!

[theforsythes]

The best plan is to have no plan...!

Good evening from a cool Mexico City, when I say cool it is 17 degrees celcius (so not too cold).

I wanted to share with you two very different days that I have experienced in Mexico City.  I thought I would give you a little glimpse into what life and ministry can be like here.

Since returning back to Mexico City we have been working alongside new churches and new church leadership.  We are very much enjoying getting to know them.  Our passion is to get alongside church leaders and their families and seek to encourage them as best as we can.

Recently one of the leaders of one of the churches contacted me to ask if Gemma and I would be willing to meet with him and his wife, as his family were going through a challenging time. We both continue to see it as a great privilege, as well as feeling extremely humbled that others would allow us to support them in that way. We frequently feel a sense of “who are we to try and give advice to another family”, yet we give thanks for that call.  We arranged to meet with the family yesterday (Sunday). Unfortunately as Matthew was feeling unwell just Susie and I went to the church. Gemma already has contact with the wife and has planned to go to have some time just the two of them, which will be good.

Along with another missionary family (the family who planted the church), we went along to the service. After the church service we went and had some lunch and sat down together to talk. It was a real privilege to be sat alongside this precious Mexican family and talk through some of the challenges they are facing.  As a church leader, it is, of course, a daily challenge to be a good husband and dad too…that alongside working full time isn’t easy…. I have battle with those same ‘pulls’ on a regular basis.  We were able to encourage the family and pray with them.  Today I received a message from the church leader thanking us for meeting with them.  Susie and I left home at 10am yesterday and didn’t get home until 7.45pm (including two and a half hours spent in Mexico’s traffic).  When we say we are spending time with people it means spending many hours together.  Mexico isn’t a place where you meet with someone for an hour. We’re glad about that because it means you can really develop a real relationship.

 Today on the other hand was a day in which I had to keep telling myself, ‘Just because it is different doesn’t mean it is wrong!!’  We learned this phrase during our time cross-cultural training before we went to Costa Rica. So today I had the ambitious aim of trying to do three things!! Firstly, I was taking our car to be serviced, secondly, to talk to the mobile phone provider about our contract and thirdly to speak to a government office about changing the ownership of our car from the previous owner to me. (I recently discovered that some of the documentation isn’t in our name!)

So I will talk you through my day in chronological order.

I took Matthew and Susie to school and then I had to get some photocopies of documents that I would need for the day.  This part was straightforward, although the local authority has decided to resurface the road that the school is on.  This will take 2 – 3 months!!

From having the photocopies done it took me one hour to do a journey that normally takes twenty minutes. They are also working on a road near the garage I needed to go to, so I had thankfully left plenty of time.  I got to the garage at 10am in time for the appointment I had made.  There I met with a friend who was coming to the phone provider with me (he had also arranged to have his car serviced too).  So we walked ten minutes to the phone provider office. I couldn’t do what I’d hoped, as I needed a Mexican credit card.  

We nodded and smiled and set out for the next task. I was thankful for a friend alongside me – who has lived more than 20 years in Mexico City! We had been advised to go to a specific government building that was a bit of a journey away, so we decided to check with a security guard if we could get it done closer. He told us that there was a building just around the corner that could sort it out for us.  We walked another then minutes to the other building, explained why we were there and went in.  We spoke to another person who told us that we needed to go to original building.  We nodded and smiled and set off to the original building.  It was quite a walk, so we got a taxi.  We found the place we needed to go to and were told that we needed to make an appointment online before we could see anyone.  

I had all the documents that we needed and so someone was able to see us. The man we were dealing with checked the documents and found that in the ownership certificate of the car my name was ‘Jonathan Forsythe’ but on my ID my name was ‘Jonathan Ronald Forsythe.’ He explained that the two names needed to match.  He asked us to speak to one of his colleagues who confirmed what we had been told. We were also told that even if we had the correct documents we would have to make an appointment to see another person in -  a different building!  While we were there we called the garage (where the car was being serviced) and tried to explain that the government office needed the car certificate to have the same name as my ID.  They told us it would be best if we went to see them…. Patience, patience!

So, we left the government office and got a taxi back to the garage and explained that we needed them to change the name on the certificate.  The man we dealt with wasn’t in a good mood but said that he would look into it for us. Thirty minutes later he returned and said that they could do it, that there would be a cost, but that it wouldn’t be ready until at least tomorrow.  We nodded and smiled.

I paid the money and we were told to wait there… We waited for another hour and then the man returned with a big smile and our new amended certificate.  Our car was ready, so I drove back to the government office with the amended certificate. One more hour later I was granted an appointment -  to go to a different office, on a different day to complete the process. I got in my car at 2.15pm to drive the hour journey to collect the children from school.

So out of my agenda of three things to achieve today, I achieved one - the car got it’s service.

Two very different, yet typical kind of days in Mexico!

I think I need to be less ambitious in the future!!!

Jonny

[theforsythes]

Light in the darkness...

We wanted to share with you a real prayer need….  

Here in Mexico they celebrate Halloween like they do in most other parts of the world, however there are some big differences.  

Last night Matthew, Susie and I attended a ‘Celebrate Life’ party at a church and Gemma was at home with Noah.  Like in the UK and USA, there are people that like to ‘trick or treat.’  Last night Gemma could hear people outside -they sing very loud! -  but no-one knocked on the door. Probably because Gemma had the front of the house in darkness all evening.  

This evening we had a friend for tea and afterwards I took her home. During the twenty minute drive home, I must have seen 1000’s of people ‘trick or treating.’ I could not believe how many people were taking part. As I drove into our street there were at least 100 people going from door to door!! Our street is very small with only 20 to 25 houses.  

For Gemma and I this is just an illustration of the real darkness there is here and we ask you to pray. The most dark and sad part of this time of year is that today, 1st November, is the ‘Day of the Dead.’ Today is the day that many families here in Mexico prepare a meal, placed on a special table or altar, for any children in their family who have passed away.  The belief is that on 1st November the spirits of the children who have passed away will come and visit the family. On the 2nd November they prepare a meal for any adult family members who have passed away and believe that their spirits will visit the family on that day.

Many Christian families choose, in these days, not to send their children to school because everyone, everywhere, dresses up and celebrates ‘Day of the dead’.

Light, life and hope is what we believe in and celebrate. Please pray for a country where darkness, death and fear is worshipped.  The people around us need to know Jesus and our children – like so many others – need God’s protection over them in these days. The extent of this ‘celebration’ and the visual element is shocking for them - and us -  to see.  

Tomorrow - Thursday - will be the third day of ‘trick or treaters’ coming around the streets. We’re glad that tomorrow evening here in our house, we’ll be taking part in the Bible study -led by one of our youngest members, focussing our attention in the right place!

[theforsythes]

The ministry of a tired Mummy...

Well, it’s 2.a.m and Mr Noah has worked hard to make sure his already tired mum and Dad are nice and wide awake. (Well, Dad was – but can fall asleep again in a heartbeat!) 😊

As I got ready to sleep again, I felt so blessed by a simple, yet special exchange of messages with two beautiful friends in Leeds. It made me reflect on this crazy stage in life and my heart just overflowed with thankfulness. 

My ‘ministry’ has changed completely since we came back to Mexico in February -of course, you already know that! Tomorrow will be another Monday where the focus of my day is Noah – playing, making food, changing nappies, playing some more, training him to sleep well, singing, dancing, enjoying the outdoors and more… It’s very different from what it was. It’s taken time to adjust (especially in another country), but it’s God’s gift to us and His plan for us at this time in life, and we are so thankful. 

Noah is an absolute joy – a go getter, a determined little guy. He walks his legs off throughout the day, barely stops and so neither do I.

We’ve sought from the beginning – even before Noah was born, to nurture a healthy relationship between Matthew, Susie and their baby brother. As I lay, reflecting on this season of life, I just felt so blessed. So many thoughts wooshed through my mind and for me the best way to process them is to write them down...

From the beginning, we’ve ‘fed in positive’ and sought to create a relationship of love between the children – jealousy is so ugly, so destructive, yet sadly, so common at this stage. Simply ‘speaking’ to Matthew and Susie on Noah’s behalf has been extremely powerful… ‘Look, he loves watching you’, ‘He loves his big brother / sister so much’, ‘He can’t wait to play with you’, ‘Show him what you’re playing’, ‘He’s learning by watching what you do’, etc…

Matthew and Susie have such incredible hearts and they overflow with love for Noah. They still – 10 months on, race in the door after school to see who can hug him first! That never fails to make us smile! It was interesting watching them both watch ‘Baby boss’, the new film, this weekend. That sense of extreme jealousy and resentment that the big brother makes clear in the film, is just something I could see them both trying to process – it’s, thankfully, not their experience and it makes for a very negative and sad time for the big brother in the film.

So, this time for us as a family is a different season in life. It’s a fun filled, happy, exhausting, demanding-yet-wonderful time (although, after over a year in my case, of the joy of pregnancy insomnia, night feeds and sleep training, I will be super happy when nights feel ‘normal’ again! After the clocks changed last night, Noah’s usual 5.30 a.m breakfast time, was today at 4.30!!)

Although I sit here, feeling shattered, I just thank God for this stage in our life.  I thank him for the opportunity to minister to these three beautiful characters. I thank him for the privilege of sharing the richness of God’s love with them. I thank Him for Jonny at my side to share the craziness with me.

I thank Him for friends, both on this side of the water and the other side too, who seek out the ways they can encourage, support, help  - who love the three children just as much as we do, who delight in them, encourage them, engage with them, take Noah off for a walk, give him his dinner, sing songs with him, send us an encouraging song or verse, just tell us ‘it’s ok, this stage is normal, the bumps are part of life, the days of sleep will return….’, who hug us (or virtual hug us over skype 😊) and say ‘well done’….. the list goes on and on!

We are blessed. We are thankful. We have a wonderful team here who desire to support us in this demanding stage of life. Just today, we enjoyed time with the team - they played with Noah, helped feed him, kept him busy so we could eat.... a great treat for us! We have a wonderful ‘team’ across the other side of the world too, who lift us up in prayer, who continue to be our ‘family’ in day to day life, who keep up with contact on a day to day basis, who simply ask ‘how is it going?’ ‘How’s Noah sleeping?’ ‘How can we pray?’. We have an amazing blood family too, who delight in the children and do an incredible job – even via skype, of knowing the three of them in a precious and personal way……and, we have an amazing God who IS ‘our strength when we are weak’

So, here I am, ready to sleep, before the fun of tomorrow begins. My body is tired, but my heart is full. We are blessed beyond measure and we thank God for his goodness, for his blessings in abundance, for his faithfulness, for the truth that He never changes and for the gift of a demanding, yet incredible ministry! <3 <3 <3

[theforsythes]

In HIS hands...

Well, you may well know I like to write! I journal, I write our prayer letters, I write down things the children say and do, I write lists / thoughts / prayers / ideas....and I find it very helpful - in all situations. So, as all sorts of thoughts have passed through my mind this afternoon, I thought I’d write them down....

As I sit here, things feel calm and settled. Noah is asleep, the big two are watching a film and Jonny went to buy milk. However, I am so very aware of what the lives of so many around us look like tonight. There’s desperation as the search for survivors continues, mourning as families deal with having lost loved ones, fear as people recognise just how much we are not in control...

We wouldn’t be being honest if we said that an experience like today didn’t scare us. The earthquake this afternoon reminded me right away of the one we experienced in Costa Rica - as you are literally shaken, and the space around you moves, you can do little more but get out into the open space. 

Here where we live, I’m so thankful not only for an open, green space in front of our house, but sweet neighbours who care and want to support each other.  As we left our house this afternoon with Noah, friendly faces were right there ready to greet us. The man who cleans cars, our neighbour Rosa, two ladies from a family who knew missionaries before us. We were cared for and did our best to care for them too. I was even given two big hugs, as I held a wide eyed looking Noah. He was fast asleep in his cot when we felt the earthquake, so I had to go in and lift him. 

The range of emotions that follow a powerful experience like that, are great. Panic, shock, disbelief, fear, sadness...then like most, our mind very quickly goes to family and friends so far away, who we need to communicate with. It’s an intense time and yet so important to calmly recognise, ‘we’re ok’ - for ourselves and others. 

All evening, as things have whizzed around my mind, and as we’ve received so, so many pictures and videos showing the extent of the damage and messages asking for prayer, etc, my thoughts were taken in a different direction... 

It’s easy to become focussed on the panic filled pictures or videos that add to the fear people are already feeling...I remember the same happening in Costa Rica. Whilst we want to be aware of what is happening and what we need to be praying for, it feels very unhelpful at a time that is already frightening, to fill our minds with so many of those images.  As I chose this afternoon to go for a wonder out on the grass with Noah and then take him into the bath, my thoughts became focussed on this verse... 

            Where can I go from your Spirit?...

We are just normal people and after something like today, there’s a thought that runs through your mind....where are we safe?

In the hour after the quake today and before we needed to collect the children from school, we walked to the park near our house. Many, many people did the same - they felt they were safer staying outside...

It’s something we know that our family and friends think about too... ‘we’d just like you back here’... ‘you’re safer here’...and we understand that. But...

In so, so many parts of the world right now, there are problems, things happening that cause fear and shock, things that seem so wrong or so unfair, things that just don’t make sense. That’s when the verse above started to run through my mind... that idea of there being no truly safe place we can run to.

God reminded me of HIS truth...As much as we run, we can’t run from God’s presence...we are safe IN HIS HANDS - and for us as a family, that’s right where we choose to be. In His hands, where there is peace and contentment, hope and comfort. We need to choose to remember that and to share that hope with those around us everyday. 

We are thankful for your prayers for Mexico

[theforsythes]

SO Kay and Steve!

This blog post has been coming together all weekend in my mind. On Saturday when we got home, Jonny voiced what I believe God had been forming in my mind – I had taken a picture on Saturday, with the very same thought that he spoke out – ‘That was SO Kay and Steve!’

Let me explain….

Ever since we got to know this couple, something about how they ‘do’ ministry had grabbed us. Something was different and really great different, from anyone else we’ve met – and in the last 5 years we’ve met a lot of people involved in overseas ministry!

We’ve introduced you to Kay and Steve before. Kay is the CMF Mexico team leader and Steve is her husband. Well, this weekend was Steve’s birthday weekend – a special birthday too!

They invited us to join them for a party – just beside their house on Saturday aftternoon. As we spent time there with their neighbours and friends, Jonny and I were impacted all over again, reminding us of why we so admire how they serve. Kay and Steve just love the Mexican people (which, of course we all do, or else we wouldn’t be here!), but there’s just something, something that’s hard to put into words, that is special.

Steve’s birthday wasn’t about him, it wasn’t a party where he hoped to receive, it wasn’t a time where he wanted to be celebrated or made a fuss of, it was an opportunity to serve their neighbours, to spoil them, to bring them together in fellowship, to show them what the love of God’s family together feels like, to treat them as they deserve, to value them as friends, to introduce them to someone they maybe didn’t know yet, to let the kids have fun!!! The whole party was just ‘SO KAY AND STEVE!’

When we arrived home and, as I said, I’d stood at the entrance to the party tent and taken a picture with those thoughts going through my mind. Jonny then voiced that same thought and so we decided, (embarrassed as they will probably be), that we wanted to celebrate them!

As we’ve celebrated with Steve this last weekend, today we want to celebrate them both...

Kay is a gentle, beautiful, understated, attentive servant of God, Steve is an approachable, caring, funny guy, who makes everyone around him feel as if they’re at home. They value people. They make friendships their priority. They open up their lives and welcome people in. They play games and have fun and make relationships their absolute focus. That’s exactly what they did this weekend. It wasn’t about them – it was ALL about the people God has placed around them!

As team leader, there is of course a lot of pull to spend time on e-mails, plans, assessments…. tasks that are not so people orientated, yet, that’s not the Kay we all get to see – we get to see someone who is always serving, always chatting, always making the people around her the priority. The ‘have to be done tasks’ get done – and get done with great attention to detail too, but that’s not what defines Kay.

Steve’s way with people – especially children - puts them at ease, makes them laugh, ‘welcomes them’ and makes them feel loved…. he’s a big kid himself at heart and he brings such a beautiful joy to each situation he’s in. He cares deeply, he loves with a genuine love and, like Kay, is so outward focussed. He shared with me on Saturday, that he’d had cupcakes made to share early morning on Sunday with the local guys he plays football with in the neighbourhood – another example of the way they value others. Steve’s birthday wasn’t about Steve. He used it – they used it – as an opportunity.

As I said, they will probably be hidden under their chair as they read, with red embarrassed looking faces, at the idea of someone celebrating them for being them – but we both feel they deserve it! They don’t do it themselves. They don’t post their lives on facebook, telling the world how wonderful they are or make a big deal of all that they are doing – they just do it, quietly, gently, humbly, with the focus absolutely on God.

Kay and Steve, we love you, we value you, we admire you and God must overflow with joy as he sees you invest in the people He has blessed you with. Thank you for your example to us – and so many! Thank you for loving the people with a love that comes straight from God!

[theforsythes]

God’s small missionaries...!

You may well have picked up on various elements of what I’m about to share, but it’s been such a special experience, I wanted to record the complete journey...

In July, just as summer break was starting, my name was ‘picked out of the hat’ to plan and lead the Bible study that we host here in our home. We’d decided we would lead in pairs so I needed to choose someone. As I thought about it, I felt that it was right to ask Matthew to lead with me. 

Matthew, along with a number of youngsters, take an active part in the Bible study, leading the way with the memory verse each week and reading, sharing thoughts, etc. I knew Matthew would be great at taking on the leaders role. He happily agreed to co-lead.

So, one afternoon Matthew and I went upstairs into our study and we spent time praying together and then planning the session. It was quite something to see how confidently he chose songs, worked through the teaching notes with me and put together an order for the study. He even chose who would read what, in terms of members of the group and thought about some examples of his own experiences, to share!

Our theme was, ‘Why do we do what we do? Why do we go to church and spend time together as God’s family?’ I had listened earlier in the week to a very good sermon, speaking on that subject and Matthew even sat and listened to that on the afternoon before the study. 

After hearing that message, he decided he was going to write something to give out to everyone. What he made was just beautiful!....an acrostic poem, using ‘The family of God’ / ‘La familia de Dios’, as the title. His ideas showed me just how much he himself understands!

He wrote his poem by hand and then typed up what he has written (after asking a friend to check through the spelling / grammar)...

His poem said:

Slow to anger

Armed with the Spirit

Family of Christ

Love each other

Merciful with each other

Interested in each other

Lies are not part of this family

We go to church and

Accompany each other in difficult times

Devoted to one another

We wait patiently and in

Difficulties we talk together 

Immense love

We pray together

We are one big family

(Written by Matthew!)

Wow! As I read, I thought to myself, ‘I couldn’t do this in English, let alone in Spanish!’ His ideas and understanding just jumped off the page! 

So, what he wanted to do was to give each person a copy. We printed them off and we were set for the study. 

When the study began on the Thursday evening, Matthew ended up taking the lead completely for the first 10-15 minutes. I was caught up feeding Noah and getting him into bed - but felt completely confident that Matthew would get on with opening in prayer, worship, etc, no problem.

When I did join him, he made me smile, whispering to me ‘I changed the order a bit and we’re onto the verses now’ :-) 

He shared, led, gave instruction and did amazingly well with it all! I kind of sat on the sidelines, just sharing in the one or two slots we had planned for me to share! Towards the end, Matthew told the group that he had something to share with them. He gave out his poem and all eyes were on him as he stood before them and read his poem. Wow! Jonny and I just listened, taking in what we could see - the leadership, humility, boldness and knowledge in God’s young missionary! 

The group were so, so encouraging and complimentary of Matthew - they gave him a clap and discussed what he had written for some time afterwards. Matthew then went on to set them a challenge - a ‘homework’, as he said to them! To see if they could write an acrostic of their own, on a theme of their choice.

Well, the group went away for summer break with a task to do and all congratulated Matthew as they left. 

I think in the weeks of no routine, no classes, lazy mornings, days out, etc, we had all forgotten somewhat about the challenge!....well, in our family we had anyway!...

This week was the first Bible study since the break and we - Matthew in particular - were so taken aback when six of the members of the group arrived with their poems - two had even typed them out and made copies for everyone! Wow! As we began to look, we were so blessed to read what they had written!

One lady, before the study began, still stood from coming in, began to hand her poem to each person and explained “A ver Mateo ese dia me dio una seguridad que habia perdida...doy gracias a Dios por su vida” WOW! Hearing her impacted me so much that I even noted down her words.....

"Seeing Matthew that day gave me a security that I had lost...I give thanks to God for his life" Wow!

Well, how blessed we all were this Thursday as that lady along with another member of the group, led the study  - with a real confidence. They had taken a lot of time to prepare. They had each verse that we were going to study typed out on a little piece of paper and given out to different people. They had taken different parts each to lead and shared in a really special way. 

The evening finished with both ladies - along with other members of the group, sharing their poems. It was truly special - particularly to hear the experience of each one as they has chosen their themes and gone through the process of writing them. How special! 

I had discovered just before the study - via Katherine, that some of the group had written a poem. When I told Matthew, he was so surprised! I suggested he bring out some stickers to give out - just as a fun way to say ‘well done’. Matthew said to me “I want to give them something from me instead” so he made some certificates, with a space for each name! The group wanted a photo with their certificates! .... :-) 

We’ll share the videos (that they were happy for us to record :-), of the poems being read out on the next post (they won’t insert within this post for some reason!)....Although you may not understand the words, we wanted to share them with you so you could be a part of the special evening we had! 

. 

[theforsythes]

When your world changes...

I’ve attempted a few times since march to put a blog post together and haven’t got there yet!!! :-)

Jonny having got one sorted made me get back to my draft...so here it is - better late than never! (It’s mostly pictures - more realistic in a house with three lively children!) 

Since coming back we’ve experienced so, so many blessings and we wanted to share just a few with you...

Stepping back first though, our send off was amazing..

Commissioning service @ Lister Hill, Saturday 25th Feb

What a special time for us to treasure! We felt totally surrounded and loved, covered in prayer and overwhelmed by God’s amazing provision!

Noah was blissfully unaware that his whole world was about to change!

Special goodbyes at the airport, Monday 27th Feb

We still felt amazed at that point, that we were actually on our way! After nothing short of a miracle, with the VISA’s reaching us in time, we finished up the IMMENSE pack up (with A LOT of help!), moved out of Brian’s house - (leaving him with twice the amount of space he remembered having I think!!) and were sent on our way with hugs and prayers and loads of love...

Brian, you are one AMAZING, hospitable, generous, open, warm and loving man of God! We LOVED our time with you and we miss you lots! 

Our incredible airport team! <3

The journey back  - Monday 27th Feb

The whole journey was blessed from start to finish - thank you for ALL of your prayers! From checking in the luggage (along with many additional pieces they allowed us to bring for Noah!), getting through security, the one hour flight to London and then eleven hours to Mexico (Noah’s first journeys on a plane!), collecting luggage this end, stacking it all onto trolleys and meeting special friends, God covered our every need and made it an amazingly straight forward journey. We felt thoroughly spoilt to have Sandra travel with us too! She and Matthew enjoyed the flight together and we gave thanks for another pair of hands to help us and encourage us along the way!! 

A special welcome home - Mon 27th Mar

About 19 hours after setting off from Brian’s house, we made it back to ours! The welcome back was so special! Cari and the girls met us at the airport - they were waiting with a huge banner, flowers, big smiles and even bigger hugs! (above) Katherine and Vincent were waiting at our house for us and the house was decorated beautifully! They had our favourite foods in the fridge, and a big cake. Matthew and Susie were straight off playing with Sofia, Lorena and Vincent in their rooms - which they had missed lots. Our lovely friend Karen had a beautiful baby chair left at the house for Noah too, so even he was welcomed into his new home! Beside my bed was a gift bag with a beautiful handmade birthday gift inside! Our friend Yareli is a very talented, creative young lady! I was blessed as I opened my gift in the middle of the night...Noah was wide awake so he joined me in finding out what was inside! What a special welcome back by some very special people! 

In some ways it felt odd - 9 months away from your home is a long time! Yet, very quickly as we began to unpack again, it felt very normal again and great to be home!

Matthew’s school camp - Sat 4th to Tues 7th Mar

While we knew the children were both very keen to get back to school, we weren’t expecting they’d be back within 3 days of us arriving home! We were planning to take things steady, let them get over jet lag, etc ....they were asking by day 2 why they weren’t at school! So....they both went in on Thursday and Friday and did brilliantly! They were excited to see friends and the school welcomed them both back with a real warmth. Matthew then headed off on his camp on the Saturday - he was SO happy to be able to go and had a brilliant time!! What struck me this time was how keen he was to not only tell us about the swimming and football, but the teaching sessions and what they had learnt too! He had lots of notes and little drawings and had really enjoyed what they were being taught. We’re so, so thankful for the amazing series of events that allowed us to get back in time for him to be there! It’s still hard to believe it all came together in time! 

Enjoying Sandra!

We all really enjoyed the opportunity to share our home, our day to day life, friends and familiar places with Sandra. She spent three weeks with us and they just seemed to whizz by so fast! A lot of the time was spent around the house, just being together, unpacking, organising space for Noah and all his things, playing and resting. It was a blessing to have her around and Susie especially loved having an audience everyday as she played in the garden - her favourite spot is the trampoline. Sandra played all kinds of roles in her stories - at the same time as enjoying some Mexican sunshine! We also had chance to visit some favourite spots like the pyramids and Xochimilco, as well as sharing the Bible study group with her and the process of starting to get to know our new church and the CMF team more. Sandra also enjoyed the opportunity to visit MEFI and the computer room that was put together in memory of Stephen. Cari and Katherine and their family were also very keen to bless Sandra while she was here - they continue to speak of how thankful they were to her for hosting them and making them so welcome and comfortable during their visit to N.Ireland. We also got to share Sandra’s birthday with her as well as a very delicious and pretty cake -  thanks to my beautiful friend, Karen! It was a truly special time together and we’re thankful for Sandra’s readiness to join us on the adventure! As the time came to an end - much as we wanted to stretch it out - we were thankful to know that the lovely Tina would be waiting to welcome Sandra back to UK soil. What a gift to share our coming back with family!

So, since then, we have got stuck back into ministry, visited three new churches and become part of one on a weekly basis. We enjoyed the chance to visit La Loma again and we’ve spent some great time with friends from La Loma - even attending the graduation of one of Jonny’s Sunday School pupils this last week. We’re so thankful for how God has covered these last months. It hasn’t all been easy, but we feel very settled to be back. Noah has done brilliantly adjustng to a new life and is the centre of attention in every shopping centre, supermarket and place we visit! His big blue eyes grab the attention of everyone around us - and we are regularly asked ‘Can I hold him?’

We’re very glad to be able to spend time with OMS missionary friends and have enjoyed time catching up with those who we had formed relationships with. We’re also really enjoying getting to know our CMF team mates and little by little we are starting to develop relationships with the leaders of the churches. 

Jonny has had various opportunities to preach already (with quite a few more dates planned) and I’ve had the chance to speak at a ladies breakfast and am also in the process of giving monthly Sunday School training - sharing See and Know and Godly Play with a local church. 

The children are now on Summer holidays and so we’re trying too to do something fun together each week. It’s a busy time - especially with a 7 month old, full-of-bounce, not-too-keen-on-sleep, little man in the middle of it all! 

We’re really thankful of your continued communication and prayers and we’ll look forward to sharing more with you again soon! 

[theforsythes]

To God be the Glory

Yesterday I had the privilege and honour of preaching in Spanish.  Although we have been learning Spanish for five years and are able to communicate fairly well, standing in front of a group of people to teach or preach - in their language -  is still a huge challenge for us.  My biggest fear is that I am not able to fully get across exactly what I want to say - or more importantly what God does!

It was my third time preaching in Spanish, but this time was different.  I felt led to share about ‘The Good Samaritan’ and shared about God’s love for us, how we are to love him and then love other people.

This time was different because I took a risk.  The previous two times I read large chunks of the sermon.  Today the risk I took was to not read any chunks of it but to rely on God to take control of what I was going to say. As I spoke it felt amazing - I felt like words flowed in a way that only God could’ve made happen.  I referred to my notes once or twice, but the majority of the time I was able to make eye contact with people in the congregation and continue on with the message God had placed on my heart.  

I chose to trust God, to give space to what He wanted me to say and although there were a few times when I went off the script, each time I was always able to return to the script.  It was my no means perfect and I know I made many mistakes along the way, but I was so pleased that a number of people shared with me after the service that they got so much from the sermon.  

I do not take any credit for today it was God who worked but I want to encourage you to be willing to take risks for God, a verse that kept coming to mind today was from

2 Corinthians 12 v9, “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”

[theforsythes]

Doing life together…

Since leaving the UK, whenever anyone has asked what we miss about life here, without doubt it’s the people – our family and friends.

Tonight, as I enjoyed the gift of a bath in a precious friend’s home, my mind was filled with so many special moments while we’ve been here. What connected my thoughts was ‘the gift of friendship’ and the idea of ‘doing life together’.

While we were in N.Ireland we heard a message all about friendship. I found my notes whilst packing this week and re-read through them…. Some of the main points:

Friendship is needed, it’s not a sign of weakness but of spiritual strength

We’re made for relationship – with God and with other people

Real friendship and accountability isn’t to be feared

Discover friendship – be intentional about it

Friendship requires work and effort in order for it to be a relationship of trust

I can think of so many occasions over the past 8 months when we have felt blessed beyond measure as our family and friends here have given a part of themselves.

So many people came to mind this evening and so many of the ways they’ve blessed us too…. from allowing us to share their home, to preparing favourite meals, baking with the kids, hosting our friends and family, joining us to pray, caring for the children – and organising a party for them, helping with the packing, even buying us a washing basket, folding our washing and running me a bath!!....to name just a few! They are actions both big and small, details that have been thought about and cared for…and they mean such a lot!

The thought that went through my mind was, ‘that’s just how it’s supposed to be’. I really believe that God’s design was for us to truly ‘do life together’. There’s so much more joy that way than when we plod along on our own. I thought about the idea of ‘receiving’…. somehow we like to do the giving bit, but so often struggle to say ‘yes’ to a kind offer of help…. yet in that receiving, when we learn not to always lead, we are so blessed and God seems to bless the giver too!

What a special moment it was too when a beautiful friend in Mexico asked me last week, ‘Is there anything you need here? Anything you need to leave behind and want me to get?’…. Wow! How intuitive! I shared that Noah’s baby seat will have to be left here – and to my amazement the very next day, there was a gorgeous new one bought and ready and waiting for Noah there in Mexico! We thank God for friends there in Mexico who pray for us as we also pray for them. They’re caring for our home, for the kids pets and they too are blessing us from afar! The gift of friendship truly is priceless!

Jonny and I love to spend time with those we love – and those who love us. In many ways it’s what makes us tick. I believe God made us that way and I also feel that in that – in the place where we will really invest in each other’s lives – we find out so much about Gods richest blessings!

My challenge to you…. next time someone says ‘Can I help you? Is there something you need?’, let them bless you!

[theforsythes]

When our children teach us SO much…

Well, we know these past eight months have been busy....I didn’t quite realise they’d been SO busy that I’ve not written a blog post since the month we arrived back!...I hope you feel ‘up to date’ with us via facebook, prayer letters and e-mails! 

I’ll try to keep the blog better updated!

Tonight, I wanted to share two precious young minds with you...

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Between Jonny and I, we’re having to remind each other daily to stop and rest – to just trust that things will come together and to recognise that we can only do what we can do. (In the midst of the packing/organising/moving-country-again process, that’s easier said than done!)

Tonight, both children challenged me and made me smile too! How beautiful and simple their thinking is. They don’t waste time worrying about details, their simplicity is beautiful!

As I tried to find our bed underneath clothes, teddies and all sorts that it’s accumulated throughout the day, Susie told me “Mummy, you have a baby, tell Daddy to tidy up. You should just do the milk and he can do the rest of the things!” I LOVE it! What a plan! A few minutes later, as I brought clothes in from the bathroom, she said to me “You’re still doing it!” She just challenged me to stop and rest – and be – which I so need by this time of the evening!

I sat with her to pray and her thought process just amazed me – as my brain whizzes between tidying and packing, VISA applications and home schooling, her’s was in a totally amazing place…she said “I think instead of putting them in jail, the police should tell them, ‘You have all the happiness in your heart, you just need to find it”…. I stopped her to ask ‘who?’, she said, “The police, instead of just putting the robbers and bad guys in jail they should tell them, ‘You have all the happiness in your heart, you just need to find it!” She sort of caught me off guard and so I just said ‘What a great thought – do you want to pray for them?’ She prayed that God would tell the police what they need to do, telling God the words they should say and then prayed “and help all the sick people, amen”.

What a treasure! Her heart for others surprises and amazes me. Susie tells me almost daily to ‘rest’, she brushed my hair tonight while I had tea, just because she knows I love it. She was the one who prayed each evening for my back throughout the pregnancy and tonight, she blessed me loads! What a gift.

I left the tidying and went to say goodnight to Matthew. He’s becoming such a teenager, tucked in bed, surrounded with all sorts of things that he’s been playing with! I gathered things and then said ‘Shall we pray?’ After coming home this evening with a cute fruit creation that he made at the youth group at church, he thanked God in his prayer for ‘your creation and all the lovely fruit we can enjoy’ He also thanked God ‘for all the things we can do that so many other people can’t’…..

Wow, tonight, if I needed a reminder to stop, to rest and to be thankful, there it was!

[theforsythes]

Creative minds...

I always remember that my Mum used to take pictures of Lyndsay and I when we were all tucked up in bed – often when we were already asleep. I remember asking her, ‘Why do you take pictures of me sleeping Mum?!’ It was something I never understood….

How different everything becomes when you have your very own precious bundles. Tonight as I’ve just tucked our two into bed, just like my mum, I delight in who they are. (I actually just went back in to get a picture of each cute one…) It’s a good thing I actually charged the camera today!

Matthew with his two front teeth missing

Susie with her much loved torch – and bunny!

Each Thursday in our house it’s what we call ‘no screen day’. The children know that well and sometimes honestly they don’t love us for it. But, I do love it. I love it because it means they are so much more creative, so much more imaginative and we enjoy each other more. It’s something I think we began in Costa Rica and it’s a tradition I’m so glad we’ve stuck with.

This afternoon the children have played so creatively and I just love to watch or be a part of it!

Susie and I had to role play that the trampoline was a hotel

Then I had to be the patient and she was the doctor

Then it was time for a dance show - everyone had to watch

The she did her homework

Then she ran races in the living room

Matthew played football first, out at the front of the house with the neighbour

Then he came and informed me ‘I’m trying to make water shine’ (Yes, my first thought was ‘o…..k….???)

Then he made the water shine in a super creative way, telling me ‘I want to be a cook or an inventor’

Then he played his favourite ball game on the trampoline with Daddy

Then he wrote his Spanish presentation for tomorrow – and seriously impressed me as he shared it with me!

Then he wrote to the tooth mouse! (Just tonight he lost his second front tooth!)

(Matthew explained to me that his invention is his new lamp, but it’s also like the moon - reflecting the light and the water is like the ocean!)

Well I’m ready to drop and now all is quiet……

It’s a much busier afternoon in many ways, than the days when they spend an amount of that time watching programmes, but it’s a much more fun and more family focussed afternoon too!

As I pondered a possible new blog post today, I thought about so many things – school, church, Sunday school, our upcoming home mission assignment, the couple’s we meet up with ….but tonight I just wanted to delight in our very precious ministry right here in our house – with the two lives we have been given responsibility for first and foremost. What a responsibility, what a privilege.

I just wrote down what Matthew prayed tonight too. He challenges me – they both challenge me. They amaze me too and I just thank God that they are growing every day IN HIM – and just as He delights in us, his children, we delight in ours too!

I do happen to love the sleeping pictures too! (And probably now have as big a collection as Mum!)

[theforsythes]

Give thanks in ALL circumstances

Rejoice always, 

Pray without ceasing, 

Give thanks in ALL circumstances, 

THIS is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Those who know our family well, know that the children share the same birthday and also know that their cakes have become an important part of our family traditions....

It’s a tradition that was started by Aunie Lyndsay years ago. Matthew has spoken about his birthdays for a number of years now, by the character that his cake was...  ‘the birthday when I had Thomas / Spencer/ Sonic’ ....etc. It’s something we’ve enjoyed sharing with the children each year. When we first left the UK and I realised that I needed to take over the cake making, I was a bit unsure if we’d keep going, but we have. 

Well this year - going by our plans - would be no different. Apart from the fact  that this year would be the first year the children would have their own individual birthday party, the cake was planned! So I thought....

Susie’s party was organised for this Saturday - we had invites out, a bouncy castle coming, food to buy, a cake to make and all sorts to get in place before Saturday morning. 

We swapped teaching days so I (Gemma) could be at home to make all the preparations. 

Friday morning I woke up in the early hours feeling awful - with pain in my stomach and feeling very sick...not good. The busy day I had planned, shopping, baking, decorating, etc, turned into a day in bed with what I think was food poisoning! 

I felt so bad and so frustrated too. Just getting up at all was a struggle and I quickly realised I had to give in - and sleep! How was I going to prepare everything?!?!

As he day went on, I felt like God was little by little, reminding me the gift of the friends that we have here!! HE took over and HIS plans we a whole lot better than mine! Various friends got in touch saying ‘do you need any help for tomorrow?’ YES! We did!! We really did! 

Although I did struggle to ask for people to help with everything, I also felt hugely blessed and ‘covered’ as they said ‘I can do that’, ‘Let me sort that’! I was reminded of the verse above....  ‘in ALL circumstances, give thanks!’. 

So, I want to choose to give thanks. It wasn’t as I planned - but everything felt more covered that I could have ever achieved on my own! The day went on and I was able to rest and sleep and everything was organised around me! 

How much we thank God for His provision in our lives and for His incredible family! Susie had an amazing day on Saturday, surrounded by her friends and many people who had done all sorts of things to make it special for her. 

Our little lady was able to celebrate turning 5 with her very own, special, pink, Rapunzel birthday party! 

We saw God’s hand on every detail of the day....one friend from school - a little Korean girl who Susie is very close to, had not communicated with us about whether she could come. We were disappointed for her that one of her special friends would not be with her. (Having a class of just three, means that it becomes that much more important for each one to be able to come!) Neither had confirmed either way.

Well, half an hour before the party was due to start, we received a call from a parent at the school, saying that the little girl Susie had so wanted to come - along with her big sister, and another little friend, were all on their way!!

God cares about all of these little details and we’re so thankful for the way He turned round our circumstances - circumstances that seemed so difficult to our eyes - into something so good!! 

I even felt well enough on the morning of the party, to make Susie a quick cake and put her new little doll on the top as a surprise! The children enjoyed time bouncing, decorating beautiful purple cupcakes (Thank you Karen!!), making bracelets, eating together and opening up a big Rapunzel pinata full of sweets! They had great fun together! Daddy even managed to spoil the princess by finding her a beautiful Rapunzel dress to wear too!  

Thank you to each one of our friends who make Saturday happen!!! We’re so thankful for you!