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Barry in Indonesia - Update February 2008

Dear friends and family,

As I write this I’m just realising how long it’s been since our last letter, especially when I remember our second daughter Gisell is now ten months old. Gisell was born in Kupang on the 11th March 2007 and Rebecca is so pleased to have a little sister. Mum and Dad of course are every bit as pleased and thankful to God for a safe delivery and healthy mum and baby.

' We really thank all of you who continue to remember us in prayer'

Rebecca is almost 4 and now attends an English language nursery three mornings a week and it’s been really helping her English. Everyone is in good health although the weather at the moment is really hot and humid. Elsye continues to lecture in New Testament at the Theology Faculty and has just been appointed Vice-Dean of the faculty. This will involve management of the academic curriculum, time-tabling, library management as well as representing the faculty at various events.

Back at the end of September on the spectacular island of Alor I took part in the 31st Synod Assembly of GMIT. This Assembly takes place every four years and is important for setting the agenda for the next four year period and for electing a new leadership team. The welcome we received as delegates from the people of Alor was amazing.

With the new leadership team appointed in Church House where I work it’s all change. It’s a younger team with a lot of vision but also with valuable and varied experience. There’s an atmosphere of expectation as they begin their four year period of service and implement the new set of ministry programs agreed in Alor. I’ll be staying on in my role in the mission and ecumenical partnerships commission. Part of the vision for this new period is to open up as many channels of communication as possible including with congregations, other churches, local government, healthcare sector, education etc. and to develop sustained partnership in as far as the witness of the church is not compromised. Government is only too willing and recognises the important role the Church has to play, and is playing, in ministering to spiritual as well as practical needs. We’re beginning this process by having an open house coffee morning in Church House every month and inviting people from different areas of life in our wider community to share about their work, hopes, challenges etc. as well as asking how we can better support one another. So far the response from these has been very encouraging.

' All these improvements have made a big difference for the students!'

Over the past year the congregations of Harmony Hill, Lambeg and West Church Bangor have generously contributed to improving residential facilities on campus for ministry students. It came to our attention that the lack of clean drinking water was the cause of a high proportion of students becoming ill due to kidney infections and kidney stones. Water for the campus is taken from an underground source but it must be boiled and even then the lime content is extremely high. With funds raised by Harmony Hill and West Church a new filtration system has been installed to provide purified drinking water.

Also the kitchen has been refurbished and a small computer room opened for use by residential students to type assignments and dissertations. All these improvements have made a big difference for the students!

We really thank all of you who continue to remember us in prayer, and all who send us cards and letters.

God Bless.

Barry, Elsye, Rebecca and Gisell

Please pray:

• For Elsye as she takes on extra responsibilities in the Theology Faculty.

• For the new GMIT leadership team and Barry’s role in the Synod office as well as GMIT’s witness in the wider community.

• For Rebecca in her new school and Gisell, that both would know God’s blessing and protection.

• That God would also use Barry and Elsye as they preach in various congregations.