We’re relieved to finally have our feet on Fijian soil after a long and not-so-hassle-free journey! We arrived to a warm morning sun, big smiles and even some artistic gifts from the kids.

Our time in the UK was fantastically encouraging to us. We were amazed at the generosity and kindness we encountered, blessed by the many talks we had with old and new friends. Distance is always a test of a relationship, yet on many occasions there was a sense of ease and unexpected depth as we shared some of our heart for missions and caught up with what we’d missed. More and more I’m learning how to feel enriched not by what I own or what I’ve achieved, but by the people who have chosen to share a part of their lives with me. One example of a special night was the dessert evening organised by our dear friends Matt and Antasha Coomber where we had the opportunity to show some pictures and tell some tales of God’s work in the Pacific.

Apart from the busy socialising we also had to juggle many tasks and paperwork in a short space of time. It’s incredible what responsibilities build up when you leave the country for a while! We’ve decided that life in the west is certainly rather complicated and marred by far too much administration and deadlines. Life races by and we can’t keep up when we measure it by tasks.  Even in our short time in the UK, the never ending ‘to-do’ list made us forget how ‘to-be’. We admit that in retrospect we should probably have planned for a longer trip.

So although tired, we returned to the nation of Fiji last weekend feeling stronger by the connections we’ve made and re-made. Thank you for everyone who is walking with us from afar.

This week we joined the other YWAM bases in Fiji for a staff development week in Vunayasi. Taught by the national office leader, Adam Atkinson, this week was a great opportunity to connect with our co-workers from different bases and receive some excellent training in preparation for the upcoming DTS.

There is so much room for creativity within YWAM, for new methods of reaching, training and serving people. All of us as staff at Marine Reach have high hopes for our Healthcare DTS 2016. One more week of training and preparations before we welcome 14 students to our base. Ali and I are excited to see what’s in store for them and how God will use us and grow us over the next 5 months!