DO YOU WORK?

Our blog is later than normal this week.  Monday and Tuesday were holidays here and William and I had two lovely days together.  We also had a great day away last Saturday so all in all it was a great few days.  The week has felt a little topsy turvy since and we hardly know what day it is.

Work has continued as normal in Kenya and Uganda.  Pray on for our team there.  Because of the holidays we haven't quite finalised where the Bibles will be distributed but we are hoping to have this all confirmed quite soon.

We've been spending quite a bit of time this week trying to sort insurance for FML here in the UK to include some new activities we are hoping to introduce over the coming months.  We think we have finally found a company able to meet all our need. 

We have had good news from a publishing/printing company regarding our materials.  We are still discussing a few things and deciding what is best, but we are hopeful that we will soon be able to print a sample of our first teaching pack of visuals and resources.  Making these available to Chidren's Workers feels a step closer.

Yesterday we were contacted by a Christian worker in Africa with whom we have a good friendship and working relationship.  They were putting an idea to us and in many ways it ties in with how William and I have been feeling led as well.  Please pray with us as we all pray regarding this possibility of ministry.  This is really only the beginning of praying about a long term project so we are just taking it a day at a time and seeking the Lord's will.

Finally, over the past few weeks and over the holidays we have been meeting various people and I have been asked a number of times the slightly strange question "Do you work?"  We've realised that quite a lot of people don't really understand our set up or are clear on what we do and perhaps think FML only operates when we are in Africa.  So, here, in a nutshell is a little explanation.

FML operates daily in Kenya and Uganda.  We have local people there, a few who receive allowances and a large number of volunteers.  There are those who work in our offices and those who mark and distribute lessons.   Lessons are distributed, marked.  Records kept in offices.  The Gospel is taught to boys and girls and we train children's workers.  We have a small library in Nairobi also.  This is ongoing every day.

The question "Do you work?" is usually directed to me!  My work is mostly FML work.  There was a time when I looked after my nephews while their parents were at work.  The oldest no longer needs a babysitter!  The younger is now 11 and he comes to our home before and after school and in school holidays.  While he is at school my work is in the office for Feed my Lambs.  In school holidays I work FML work around the hours he is with me.   I am in daily contact with Africa, emails, administration work, accounts, writing new materials, keeping the website and Facebook pages running, planning for next trips, going through reports from workers in Africa, organising materials, Bibles, preparing to speak at meetings here, planning for future activities here. 

William is very much called to the work of the Lord and to Feed my Lambs.  We make the decisions together.  On a daily basis I will have things to share with him when he returns from work and we have decisions to make.  The responsibility sometimes could overwhelm us.  As things stand, most of the FML work here in UK is office based.  Therefore William works in a secular job on a farm.  This does provide some income for us but we still have to trust the Lord for our needs as my income is minimal. 

Many Pastors look after their flock while their wives work.  They are both considered to be in the work of God.  Somehow with us, people see William as a farmer and me staying at home all day doing nothing except keeping my nephew for a couple of hours.  This is certainly not the case.  We are both called of God, we are both in His work, we are both doing His will and we both eat, sleep and breath Feed my Lambs.  We may be farmers and childminders for some hours of the week but we are also evangelists/missionaries or whatever title you wish to use for even more.

Of course we are also a husband and wife with a home and all of the responsibilities which go with these roles.   We are both thankful to God for the privilege he has given us of serving Him.  I am also thankful to my husband who works so hard in order to bring in some income for us and therefore frees up FML funds; and who supports and encourages me so much in my everyday work.

I realise I have been quite direct in how I have tried to explain this.  Time and space limits me in going into too much detail, so it does come across quite blunt but our aim is simply to answer the question that we are often asked.   We hope this helps.