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Wow .. our latest news!
Well hopefully this will be the first of many blogs to come to update you and we hope this finds you well!As you may know, we have been seeking to take part in voluntary overseas work since news that Heledd's teaching contract was to finish in the summer. Having been a very busy last few months..the great news is that we have just found out that we will be going to Ethiopia for 6 months in late September or early October with SIM UK!
SIM have confirmed with us that they would like us to go to Mekelle, in Northern Ethiopia to serve in a youth outreach centre. During our visit we will be volunteering, offering support in their work with young people from the Tigrinya regions offering them the chance to learn English, work with computers and to raise awareness of the problems of HIV/AIDS in the area. The centre also places a large emphasis on Biblical teaching, and although there are hurdles to overcome in Ethiopia when relating the Gospel, we will also be working with the SIM team in supporting young people with the Gospel truth, enabling there to be effective evangelism, witness and discipleship, meeting their needs as they emerge.
Although at this stage, we are still finding out more details it looks that we will be leaving the UK at the end of Septemeber, after a weeks orientation training in Suffolk from the 19th -26th. We will travel from the UK to the Capital (Addis Ababa) and then on to Mekele. We will be joining up with a few other volunteers there and will begin work almost immediately.We are both really excited about this opportunity to serve overseas, in what has been in God's good timing. Only having a gap of around 4 months to arrange, through much prayer and many applications later we felt particularly settled and encouraged by SIM and the help they gave us to determine an offer for us to work with them.
So in the next 9 weeks (yes that's all we have..eek!) we will be getting our forms, injections, CRBs and Visas completed, whilst also seeking to raise about £2,500 to support our work whilst we are out there! We will be hoping also to rent our home, sell our car and find a good home for our fish (who will be missed!).
We would like to say a big thank you to all of you for your prayers and support in the last few weeks and months! It has meant so much to us as we have unfolded God's plans for us and in such a short time. We will continue to update you about our latest so please let us know your news too! Our Email addresses are:Matt: [email protected] and Heledd: [email protected] or even leave a message on this Blog!! So No excuses not to get in touch! :-)
A bit of info about SIM (Serving in Mission)
SIM works in Africa, Asia and South America. It was founded in 1893 (under the name Sudan Interior Mission). Over the years it joined with other organisations including AEM, ICF and AEF.It now works in over 40 countries.
SIM's main objectives are to evangelise the lost and minister to human need in these countries. For more info why not check out their website: www.sim.org
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