The last couple of months have been pretty full-on in ways we could never have imagined. The leadership in the church is going through a huge transition as the Shaw family, who currently lead the team here, are moving back to the UK and we have largely been helping the Church to walk through this and the leadership team to prepare for the next season.
Initially, when this news was delivered to us we struggled a bit to understand why God had held off making a way for us to be here until this point however the last couple of months have shown us he really does have purpose in his timings.
Being here through this season has meant that we have really been able to grow deeper and more intentional friendships as we have been able to share in the processing of the next season with members of the Church here. It has also enabled us to really lean into the things God has grown in us over the last 5 years in terms of Church knowledge, wisdom and other gifting's he has been building within us both as we help the core team build a plan and a vision for the coming months.
We love this Church and the people in it and feel blessed to be able to really dig into seeking what God has for them in the coming months. San Francisco needs the Church more than ever and we are confident that God will use Sanctuary in so many wonderful ways.
In May we had to come home briefly to sort out our VISAs and, what should have been an easyish process, turned into a real 'God this is in your hands' time for us.
The original VISA we were here on was a visitor VISA and we needed to apply for a volunteer VISA. We were told by legal advisors that the wait time for that was only 21 days so we didn't need to rush, HOWEVER, when we applied, the next interview date was the 24th July – Jordan returns to work on the 7th August so we would not have been able to get back here at all.
In faith, I sent an appeal to the embassy, we did not even slightly meet the criteria for expedition but God is bigger than the criteria!. Around a week later we received confirmation that our interview would take place on the 4th May!!
So, we got home. had the interview, and were approved!! We were told we would have VISAs in a week so booked our flights back. Sorted! So we thought...
The day before our flight we still had no VISA and were faced with having to forfeit our flights, book new ones and miss a lot in SF. We just made the call to try and change the flight when I received the email that our VISA was ready to collect! So, we headed to Heathrow that evening and Jordan rushed into London at 6am the next morning to collect them before our flight! God kept us on our toes but really did remain faithful!
Prayer Request
The Church here - that we will be able to support them and build them up in the best possible ways to be ready for what God has next for this Church.
Sending the Shaws - that as a Church we are able to support and send the Shaw family well and that they are able to enjoy their last 6 weeks in San Francisco with a smooth landing once they are back in the UK
Future Plans - for God to make clear to us what he wants us to dig into for the future, we do not feel that our time here is done yet but we need some clarity and firm answers on this so we would love some prayer for guidance and wisdom on this
Accommodation back home - there have been a few changes in what our plans had been meaning that when we land in July, we currently don't have anywhere to live. Our house is rented out until December so we need somewhere to live for around 4 months.
Finances - As mentioned above, we are a little stretched as we come into the last few weeks of our time here. God has kept us going so far and we know he will sustain us but we could do with some prayer in this area.
May / June Highlights
Experiencing Gods blessings andprovision whilst back in the UK getting VISAs
Increasingly deepening friendships with people here enabling bigger and more challenging conversations
Both helping to run, and being able to attend Alpha Marriage Course
Growth in the Worship leaders that we are spending time alongside
Celebration California Camp with other NF churches in California
Yosemite trip with friends
Adventures
Whilst the majority of our time here is spent helping with the running of the Church and volunteering with the homeless, we have been so blessed to be able to experience some amazing things while we've been here.
We've been to Ice Hockey Games and Baseball Games, visited Alcatraz and Angel Island, watched adults roll down hills on kids tricycles and eaten ALOT of food!
Also, most recently, we got a chanced to visit Yosemite National Park with some friends from the Church and WOW what an incredible example of Gods INCREDIBLE creation!
Bekka is also still enjoying her times with the homeless community here, spending time making pancakes in the park for them and also working with food banks to help them put together grocery bags for people to collect. Getting to speak to them and support them in their journeys has been a real privilege.
Final Months
We are looking ahead now at what is the last 6 weeks out here and whilst we are very much looking forward to what God will do in this time, we are incredibly sad that our time here is coming to an end. God is really at work here and we are loving watching him move and grow in the Church, having to say goodbye to that feels very heavy on our hearts right now.