Hi, How Are Ya?
Hello dear friends,
I am happy to report we are alive and well. The last few weeks have been exhausting and overwhelming but we’re making it through and so praise God for that. He’s seen us through the farthest move, keeping us all in one piece (including our sweet pup, Lady!) Though we are tired from our head to our toes, you’ve all faithfully prayed for us, supported us, and loved us well. And so through sleepy eyes, we lovingly write how the last few weeks have been.
Starting with our goodbyes… so bittersweet and such a beautiful representation of God’s love for us through our community. We were showered with prayers and charges that left us in joyful tears. This came in forms of an early birthday celebration/goodbye party with all the lovely ladies in my life and a soup soiree that left us encouraged to the max. The cherry on top was our church commissioning at West Hills (home church shout out!) that left us with peace, and was a full-circle moment for Jeremy. West Hills has been missions minded for years. Jeremy remembers the church-sending services fondly, leaving a big impact on his heart & seeing as it was our turn was surreal for him. On the more lighthearted side, lots of Chic Fil-A and Super Taq was consumed, a few special rounds of golf were played, and lots of family time was spent. It left our cup overflowing and ready to be sent off well.
On the other side of the ocean, we have had a warm welcome from our team at EdenGate and our congregation at St. Donard’s Community Church. It was encouraging to see familiar faces and remembered by many on Sunday service. We’ve met with Colin, the pastor of St. Donard’s, and have a path moving forward of how to integrate into ministry in a way that will be natural. Please pray for where the Lord has us in these roles and that we don’t move too quickly - the potential for burnout when we aren’t ready is very real. Being settled with so much change is first priority.
We’re slowly familiarizing ourselves with Newcastle (where church and school is located) and Kilkeel (where we’re currently living). There is a bit of fun finding new places to enjoy a coffee, to sit and work for a bit while the kids are at school, having to sift through the local shops to find our needs, big or small. The hardest part of running amuck in town is just the blustery cold. We’ve had lots and lots of poor weather, which everyone is saying is particularly bad. Quite the contrast to all the beautiful weather we encountered over the last few years during our visits but we knew all that sunshine luck would run out eventually. So even though the windy cold has been rough, it’s actually nice to see the change and to know there’s only up from here!! We’ll bundle up in the meantime.
Our temporary housing situation has been a huge blessing. The pastor we will be in ministry with at our church was able to offer us housing until we are able to find something more permanent. This housing isn’t the best fit permanently since it’s about thirty minutes from church and school. Regardless, this has been so helpful with so much transition and things that needed to happen that were time-sensitive. Like finding a car. We’ll only have one car for the family so we needed to make sure we made a wise decision in choosing a reliable one. After having a rental for two weeks, we found one! Now for Jeremy to teach me how to drive manual and be comfortable on the other side of the road…
The kids have started school and this has been such a sweet answer to prayer. Emery has been loving it which is absolutely no surprise at all. RJ had little to say in the beginning and that is also no surprise, but through his stories and his new frienships, we’re seeing his enjoyment. They were nervous to start but we knew that once they got going, it would be just fine and they are going to thrive there. I’m particularly excited about this part of the transition and happy to be done homeschooling. :)
A map of where you can find us!
With the kids in school, having time freed up to be able to step into our roles at Edengate has been great. It’s been a slow move in but we’re ready to jump in to our roles. It’s been an adjustment for me most, as I’ve been my own boss & employee for 9 years so integrating with a team and how they do things will all be new to me. All the while, Jeremy is making himself right at home no problem (sounds about right, am I right? ;P)
There’s lots of everyday aspects and life chores we’re still checking off the list (never enough hours in the day!!) like finding new doctors, getting car insurance, learning trash schedules and how to recycle properly, how electricity bills work, fixing a boiler to heat the home, switching phones to UK services and the list goes on… These are the things that took no mental effort when we lived back in the states because they become second nature! But now having to relearn and figure them ALL out in the midst of starting new jobs, making a house a home, starting school, creating a new day to day schedule, and buying the right coat for the weather, and grocery shopping multiple times a week because food goes bad quicker and the portions are smaller, and trying to build relationships while trying to make sure you get alone time, and trying to stay in the Word, and get over jet lag, and trying to figure out how to dress for weather that changes five times a day, but also making sure the kids are doing okay, and trying to stay in contact with friends and family, and more and more and more, it can be overwhelming…
But God…
Psalm 37:3 says “trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness..”
If you’re watching our social media, this verse will look familiar. It was a kind reminder to practice faithfulness and confidence in God’s provisions for all our needs. And so we are comforted in this during a very high-demand season.
We need only to be overwhelmed by God. And in the midst of all these things that are demanding attention, I remember to stop and praise God for how far He has brought us. This has been a five year long journey and none of it would have come to fruition if it weren’t for Him and all that He put in place to bring us to this point. We did not force His hand and it is because of His hand, that we stand in this moment of time, in this place. These things require doing but not at the expense of forgetting what the Lord has done in our life. So instead, I say thank you God that You have been faithful in Your promises, The One who called us to this island, to serve these people, not ourselves. We are not here for our own gain but for Your name to be proclaimed. If I don’t find praises in that, in the mundane day to day tasks that are truly blessings, then the bigger things will become self-seeking pleasures.
So in Summary
Prayers:
opportunities to share the gospel & wisdom as we step into ministry with our local partners
for relationships to form and deepen
someone hit our car a couple days after we got it… pray that the insurance & such is an simple and effortless process
enmeshing with the congregation, our roles within ministry & discernment for when we should step into it
Praises:
all our belongings and persons arriving safely
a car purchased!
being received with love and care & the continued love and care from our families, friends, church body, and supporters
settling into work and finding a rhythm
smooth transition into school & the children enjoying it - Jeremy got to share at their weekly assembly why our family is here & a bit of the great commission :)
our boiler for heat was fixed swiftly
endured some of the worst weather the island’s had
This was a hefty update so thanks for sticking it out with us. Until next time…
The Kastles