Join Us...As A Teacher or Spreading The Word!

Hello,

We're busy recruiting for September, so we'd really appreciate one of two things from you...pretty please!

1. Are you a teacher with a passion for teaching and serving Christ? If so, consider joining us in September. New opportunities are always available for English-speaking teachers with experience teaching in a western environment; but we have particular needs for the following:
• Secondary school English Language and Literature teachers
• Junior school teachers
• Female, secondary school bible group leaders/youth worker
2. If you're not a teacher, please help us by spreading the word online and in your churches.

CV's and cover letters can be sent to me at jeremy.wisdom@thekingsschool.edu.bi

God Bless,

Jeremy

SHOULD I EVER GO TO THE GYM WHEN PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY? [written late Jan]

Life here...life as a missionary is full of confusion and challenges. So much is unclear.

I may have written on this before; but, without wishing to undermine God's work through us here or attempting to fully answer this question, it is an awkward thought that I continue to have.

I like to take lots of regular exercise; it's certainly good for my mind and body. So I was at the gym the other day. It's not LA Fitness, and is certainly much cheaper, but is a well equipped gym at KCC (a Scripture Union conference centre in our neighbourhood). The gym is on the second floor with the running machines in front of the windows, overlooking the street.

I was running and saw, out of the window, a man in the street looking up at me. His clothes were brown, his feet bare and his face had that roughness that comes from a hard life; and he was looking at me curiously. I don't know what he thought as he went on his way...but for me it was a familiar, uncomfortable, conscience-pricking moment. Well fed westerner in his sealed environment trying to optimise his fitness. Barefooted Burundian walking down the road; maybe with purpose, maybe not.

I think people at home assume that we know how to deal with this. That we know what the balance is...what the spiritually sound response is. That I know how to respond to the street children outside the fancy bakery.

The divide between the 'haves' and 'have nots' is impossible to get away from. I'm white, so I'm automatically let in, served first and sat at the front. I'm white, so I'm not asked to pay deposits, don't get stopped at the check points and am never asked to lift anything. Even the rain's not allowed to get me wet!

We talk too about living by faith financially...which we do in some sense. But I'll never forget someone saying to me that '...muzungus (white people) print money...'. Initially I dismissed this. But what would happen if we needed to fly to the UK tomorrow, get specialist healthcare or replace a computer? We'd pray...but we'd also make a call or send an email. The money would come. Mostly, the money always comes. I wonder how many Burundians could 'print' money like that?

I get preferential treatment, have the opportunity to optimise my lifestyle, have the same social circle as the UK and can 'print' money. Is this what being a missionary is?

'But life as a missionary is difficult, living overseas expensive and cross culture living stressfull'. Absolutely. It's the hardest thing I've done. It seems impossibly hard at times. But don't others have hard lives too?

'But you can't help if you're broken'. Definitely. But where do I find my strength?

I pray, I trust (sort of) and the Lord provides. But why do I get more?

We gave the workers in our house hampers and bonuses for Christmas...but we got more.

I'm simplifying the complex and making the difficult seem easy. God is doing amazing things through us and all of the missionaries here.

And please don't stop supporting us...we have big funding needs for May - August.

But I still struggle with the wealth gap.

Should I go to the gym when people are hungry? I think so...but I'm not always sure.

Waxey Hugs and Hamlet's Socks

It was half term when I started this, I was at the pool with the kids and they were jumping off this...

...so I thought it would be a good, and rare, time to write. Though perhaps more copy and paste rather than write; most of this is excerpts from blogs I never finished. My great unfinished works?

As usual, some prayer points up front:

- Please pray for violence free elections

- Please pray for successful English courses with the British Council

- Thank the Lord for all His blessings...

- ...and pray that we may better see them

- Please pray for our summer funding

WASHING HAMLET'S SOCKS

Life here is often surreal and last night was no exception. The Globe Theatre, London, are on a two year tour to perform Hamlet in every country in the world.

Recently it was Burundi's turn.

For two weeks, work and family life were supplemented by technical riders, conference calls and ticket sales. And, one Sunday, washing costumes.

Hamlet is barely mainstream in the UK...and it's distinctly niche here. So one evening, a mainly expat audience of about 240 (I haven't seen that many white people in one place for long time!) enjoyed some of the best theatre in the world. It was wonderful!

Not sure it had anything to do with our mission, but a real treat for those living along way from home.

CANDLELIT BREAKFASTS [written early Jan]

Over Christmas the power situation was awesome! 24 hour power...pretty much. This week we came back to earth with a BUMP. Getting back into the swing of things is hard enough...but getting up in the dark, with no power, can be pretty grim. Especially on a grey morning.

We have a generator, but it's too noisy for 5am. We have batteries, but I keep them to power our security lights and guard's station at night. So we started this morning with lamps; but soon it was obvious that this was not going to work. So I got out the candles; normally used for dark evenings when the generator is being serviced.

And wow! Such warm, friendly light. Much better than harsh glow of the electric lights. What a lovely way to start the day. A big waxy hug.

Candlelit breakfasts. Thank you God!

REGISTERING [written early Jan]

A definite source of anxiety continues to be the uncertainty that the elections bring. Up until now, it has been theoretical. But recently events have begun to turn...perhaps sooner than expected.

So we're planning, registering with embassies, putting in contingencies and having a lot of meetings.

It's hard to find a positive with this. As a family, and as a school, there are so many scenarios that create a lot of doubt. When will we be back in the UK? How long for? What will Term 3 look like? Will I be separated from the family? Will we make the right decisions? This list could really go on....

...but I should be grateful for wisdom (no pun intended). For all the uncertainty, we have been given the resources and support to prepare. And so, in the midst of this, although there are a number of 'futures', and we do not know which to expect, we're pretty ready for them all.

DISCIPLING

The Pastoral and Student support teams that Allie set up are fully self-managing and so she has, for now, stepped out of the school. So how are we discipling? Are we?

For now, one of the biggest ways that we try to disciple is to model Godly behaviour. Through hard work and servant leadership.

One Friday the staff and I received some strange looks. Inspired by the ways YWAM teams have blessed us in the past, we picked up shovels and paint brushes and set about sprucing the school up. To glorify God through hard work and stewardship of resources...and to set an example to the students. I was on a team removing piles of rubble from the front of the Infant School and using it to repair the roads. Back-breaking work in searing heat...but rewarding, bonding and a conspicuous example of hard work and service....even by a white man!

And every day my job, and our lives here, give me huge and complex challenges. How I respond to them, how I'm seen to respond to them, is one of the most important roles I have here. Leading consistently, with patience, grace, good humour, diligence, high standards, urgency, integrity, fun, planning, flexibility, perspective, a work/life balance, humility, authority, responsibility and wisdom is exhausting. But I know that all 750+ staff and students, and some parents too, are influenced by how I lead. How I lead sets the standard for how they should behave now and how they will lead in the future. And Godly leadership is so vital to this country's future.

I make mistakes...often...but how I admit them and deal with them, is one of the most important things to teach. 

EDUCATING

The staff at the school continue to look for ways to improve standards in the school. IGCSE and A-level exams loom.

We had a a visiting humanities teacher, from the UK, who, amongst other things, spent some time with our candidate students. And we hope God will make clear whether she should join the school next year!

One thing that still challenges us is English. We are an English school in a francophone country. Most staff and students are second language English speakers. Our students tend to be orally fluent, but their written English lets them down in exams. However, a meeting with the British Council recently raised the possibility of a partnership that would provide support for our students and begin offering English language learning to locals. This is a very exciting possibility, but would come at a cost to parents. Much prayer needed.

BILLS, BLESSINGS AND THE SUMMER

So far, this year, we have enjoyed relative financial security. Our daily bread has been provided and we've been able to deal with some unexpected costs. The roads here are brutal on cars, security upgrades significantly costly and our 'new' house in the UK is now less new and needing repairs. But we have been so blessed by God's provision, peoples' response and the way our support grows.

But as we look to the summer break, we still have a lot of costs to cover including:

- Food

- Fuel

- Medical Insurance

- A year's worth of clothes

- A year's worth of medicine

- A year's worth of toiletries 

- Christmas and birthdays

- Vaccinations

- Opticians

- Dentists 

- Extra education material for the kids

- Debriefing

- And maybe a day out or two

Please pray that our support will grow ahead of the summer.

SO...

...life remains challenging and rewarding. We regularly feel like giving up and getting on a plane...but so far we haven't. We know that this is where God wants us, so we are obedient...though sometimes without good grace. Sorry. So every day I try to focus on the blessings and His faithfulness

God Bless,

Jeremy

Christmas Blog 1 of 3 - A New Chapter

There's a distinct sense that God is moving our mission and the school into a new chapter. A period where we can grow and mature. Where we can invest and reach out. It's new and unfamiliar, but so exciting.

Please Pray:

- That we will be able to balance the books this year

- For a successful supporter campaign

- That the way we work will be a witness to parents

- For us make God central as we look to the future

SCHOOL FINANCES are better. This year sees some investment and a determination to finally, completely, once and for all put the 2012 financial crisis behind us. Is also frees us up to think about our...

...THREE YEAR STRATEGY which will give us a clear plan of growth and development. It's structured around the the key elements of the school. We are:

Christian - So we want to increase scholarships, invest in pastoral care and reach out to others. This week I am working with our parent organisation, ARM, to build permanent , long-term links between their healthcare, social development and evangelistic programmes and each of the school's four 'Houses'.

English-Speaking - We want to guarantee levels of student and staff fluency and be a leader in the promotion of English language eduction.

International - Moving to better than UK exam results, international facilities and standards. The first step towards this is our...

...2014/15 SUPPORTER CAMPAIGN. In the new year we are launching an appeal for three needs:

1) £15,000 to complete our final, unfinished building so that we can provide the Secondary School with a much needed Library. Libraries do not really exist in Burundi, but is an essential resource for our future leaders who want to progress to university.

2) Library books. A library needs books. We are trying to get donations of everything from teenage fiction, classic fiction and research books.

3) Filling our container. Through a relationship with another NGO, we have been able to secure very reasonable shipping rates for a container which can ship to us in March. But we need to fill it, so we will be approaching schools and organisations for school resources that can be donated and put in the container.

The campaign is ambitious, and not like anything we've done before, but we are hopeful that this will be a new way in which we can generate support for the school. Also, to help how we operate, I recently isolated myself for a week to write new...

...POLICIES AND GOVERNANCE. Writing does not come easy or naturally to me. I don't have the patience. But as I wrote these policies I became so aware of how the school is maturing and the staff have a desire to adopt best practices. The big ones were operational processes (how we work together), security policies (how we keep everyone safe and calm over the next year) and financial governance (how we can be good stewards of our financial resources). All of which will help our...

...NEW ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF manage the school. Due to some departures and new roles, we have a great new Admin Team, but it's been a tough and busy time for them; trying to understand the school, what needs changing and how to work together as the school has...

...CONTINUED GROWTH. Despite increased competition, the school is fuller than ever, particularly for A-levels. We don't seek to be competative, but parents vote with their feet and wouldn't be bringing their children if were letting them down. And many are excited by the unique...

...GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES we offer. My relationship manager, Maya, is working tirelessly to build relationships, partnerships and scholarship opportunities at English-speaking universities in Africa, Europe, America and the Pacific. If we are to truly equip Burundi with a new generation of Godly leaders we must find opportunities for our students to get quality degrees.

NEXT?

I'm working with our student leaders to role out our values and changes in the Secondary School.

We prepare for exams.

And we pray and prepare for an uncertain year where political events may disrupt school life, our work and our iGCSE and A-Level exams.

God Bless,

Jeremy

THE KING'S SCHOOL NEEDS YOUR HELP!

THE KING'S SCHOOL NEEDS YOUR HELP!

We're about to launch our 2015 support campaign and would love someone to help with awareness and logistics in the UK.

Do you (or someone you know) have a passion for discipleship and the development of education in Africa and 1 or 2 days to volunteer each week?

God Bless,

Jez

(Please share this with your friends)

Ditches, flags, buzzing and resting...and it's all ok!

I have a ditch, some new flags and a buzz about next year... I'm very excited!

PRAYER POINTS:

- Give thanks for all of the ways we have been blessed this year.

- Pray for our graduates as they move onto to universities

- Pray for next year's developments: sports facilities, tougher academic expectations and better pastoral care for students

- Give thanks for the summer we have planned and that we will be rested

- Pray that current and new supporters will catch our vision as we raise financial support for the coming year.

My Ditch

I have a big ditch. It's long, wide and empty; and runs next to the Secondary School wall. It used to be blocked and broken. I'm very excited...let me explain.

I was walking back to the Secondray School the other day and noticed a tunnel under the road which the Secondary School is on. The tunnel runs from a drainage system, fed by most of our neighbourhood and a busy road, to our side of the road. Hmm? Is our neighbourhood draining into the land we'd like to develop for sports? A development requiring very expensive ground works and drainage. I was pacing the dimensions for a football field the other day, in the dry season, and it was water logged. Why? There had only been a little rain the other day.

We walked round our neighbourhood and stomped through undergrowth. Not very pleasant given the absence of public toilets. I did misstep once, but it's amazing what you learn to shrug off. But it was worth it. Linked to a shiny new drainage system, was an old, blocked system that was supposed to drain the neighbourhood water under the road and down to the lake.

And not only was it blocked, but it was broken too...right by our boundary wall...draining the contents of the neighbourhood onto our compound.

Sponsorship deals, surveyor visits and fundraising options were instantly stopped and some of our workers were wellied-up before taking on the ditches.

Two days later, I have a long, wide and empty ditch. I'm very excited...let me explain.

This development represents such a significant development for the coming academic year. 

- By December, I hope, sports lessons for the Primary and Secondary School will be held on school premises...simply by allowing the ground to dry over the summer, being de-stoned and then flattened. Then we lay concrete for basket ball and volley ball too. All affordably. (Grass etc...can come later)

- This will reduce costs and increase the quality and supervision of sports in the school.

- Onsite sports means that most Secondary students will remain at the school for a full day. This creates exciting opportunities for lunch time clubs and sports teams. A great way to develop our extra curricular programme.

- Secondary students will have space to play games at breaktimes...helping them to let off steam and reduce damage to school property.

- We can host sports competitions with other schools.

But most excitingly, it helps us in our core mission...to disciple our students. Next year we are really increasing the amount of spiritual, pastoral and life skills input we have with our students. We are determined to produce not only academically excellent students, but disciplined, Godly young men and women who can shape the future of this country. And every extra hour they are in school, under our supervision and being mentored, is an amazing opportunity to nurture them spiritually and shape their characters. Wow!

Seriously, this is a big deal. I'm very excited!

Previously all our options were very expensive and time consuming.

It's amazing what a ditch can do.

My Flags

As well as my ditch, I have two new flags. Flags with poles and right colour rope to fly them from. I have a shiny, new Burndian flag and a shiny, new Union Jack!

We put them both up in preparation for last week's graduation. A proud symbol of a UK initiative, working in Burundi. Educating and discipling for a better future.

It was fantastic to have parents, students, staff and VIP'S together to celebrate the achievements of our senior students. A wonderful day put together by an amazing support team. Though, despite our best efforts, we started late...some things never change.

This was the school's second senior graduation and is an event that creates real hope. Many of last year's graduates are returning from overseas scholarships and the feedback is great. They have found that the education they got at the school has well equipped them for their degree studies. And many are volunteering whilst they are back.

Such an affirmation for the staff and a real sense of the school's vision coming to fruition.

Some of this year's graduates are beginning a time of preparation before applying for comprehensive US scholarships. I had my first meeting with them last week...setting out my expectations. We will work with them over the coming months to mentor and disciple them. To help them grow into high-performing, credible, interesting, reliable young adults. Godly individuals that scholarship programmes will be desperate for. Well that's the plan.

But whilst we see the culmination if 16+ years of hard work and faithfulness from the those who have gone before...in many respects we feel like we are now just ready to begin...

The Buzz

I have a real buzz about next year...for three reasons...none of which involve ditches...or flags.

STAFF

Almost all staff are returing, again, for another year. So I assume that they're happy here. And, now that everybody is familiar and settled, I'm seeing a real desire for progress and an understanding of the school's values.

Two examples:

1) At a staff training day a month or two ago, we had some departmental sessions to come up with ways we can continue improve. Everyone was tired and, I thought, just thinking about the end of the year. My expectations were low. But the output was amazing. So many creative ideas; many involving longer hours or more effort, for the staff. Sophisticated ideas to radically improve the pastoral and educational standards in the school.

I have seen such growth in the spiritual life and love for the students in all our staff. It's amazing.

2) Secondary staff who, additionally, support sports are now eligible for an extra allowance. Which was turned down. Because it was too low. Why?

Not because the staff felt they deserved more or we're being greedy. But because they understand the expectations. They know that, if they step up for this, we will be expecting very high levels of reliability, standards and hard work. Apparently what I was offering was not worth it because 'Mr Jeremy will be on the phone' checking and pushing.

Too right!

We'll work something out, but the staff understand that excellence is the norm. Wonderful! This is how organisations move forward...high standards and creativity. God has really blessed me with a staff that have a real, faithful, heart for this school.

We have had some staff turnover in our Administrative functions...solid people who will be sorely missed. But they are being replaced by a new team of young professionals who are determined to prove themselves. I strongly suspect that they will give all of us, especially me, a run for our money next year!

STUDENTS

We are, and always will be, a mixed ability school. But the time for students failing to reach their potential is over.

Earlier in the year there was a lot of discussion around students dropping subjects at GCSE. It was too easy. So rather than dropping subjects, why not increase the expectations?

From September there will be a minimum standard for Secondary School students to automatically remain in the school at the end of the academic year. The entry standards we require for entry to A-levels will become the norm. Anyone falling bellow this standard will require interviews with parents to discuss the student's future. Of course we aren't going to remove students who aren't academically gifted...but the option of not being bothered is being removed.

To support this we are:

- increasing the pastoral responsibilities of form tutors

- expanding the student support teams

- introducing standardised testing for years 7-9

- cracking down on absences

- increasing parental engagement

- introducing leadership development

- having career conversations earlier

We want grades to go up. Not because we are proud, but because we want these students to realise the gifts God has given them and to be well equipped to serve their country.

FINANCES

As always, though it doesn't always feel like it, God has been faithful in His provision. We have a difficult and austere summer ahead of us...but after that we break even. In fact, next year, we will have a modest surplus that will allow us to invest in the school, invest in our staff and, perhaps, provide a small amount of support to our mission.

There is so much hope...and so much more that we can still do. God is good!

Being Able To Be Here

Our life and work here is not easy. I think we might've mentioned that before.

But I realised something today. Right now I'm rested and happy. Now I realise that I'm sitting by a pool right now, in the sun, and that, without my family, life is much simpler...but it made me see that I don't need to leave Burundi to recharge.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to coming back to the UK and seeing friends and family (see my last blog) and we all need a break and a rest. But that's life, work and families. It's not all because of being here.

And I'm grateful to God for showing me that. I don't want to be one of those people who are resentful about being here. (Feel free to remind me of this when I'm moaning next year). If I couldn't go back this summer I'd survive. I'd rather go back, but I'd survive.

Finances and the complications of living here continue to frustrate and cause sleepless nights...but I'm glad God called me here.

God Bless (from the pool),

Jeremy

Pros and Cons

I wrote this to go in the blog I'm writing, but I was worried the blog would be too long.

I was reflecting on another time of transition. What I'll miss, what I really won't miss. What I'm looking forward to and what I'm dreading.

So here's the list as a separate post...please give thanks for the positives and pray us through the negatives.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT BUJUMBURA!!

- Gifts (someone just shipped a great big generator to us!)

- My accountability partner (he's an awesome Kenyan pastor)

- A big house (we'd never live somewhere like this in the UK)

- Our church and cell group (great worship, solid teaching, social action and a supportive, multicultural family)

- Frisbee (I love frisbee...shame I'm rubbish)

- Adventures upcountry (loading the car with supplies for a bumpy trip outside of the city)

- Pool parties and BBQ's (nice weather + little entertainment + some dimplomats = BBQ's and pool parties)

- Warm weather (every...single...day)

- A simpler diet (healthier and low calorie)

- An impactful work life (what I do makes a difference and we get to see that every day)

- Giving my children the opportunity to have broad perspectives (they get some really unique experiences here)

- Movie nights (Back To The Future on the projector...awesome!)

- Students (I love them...and I love watching them respond to our guidance)

- Singing in the Nursery (I have such fun singing 'Old MacDonald Has A Jungle!' with them...jungle noises are better than farm noises)

- Progress (we are making progress...great progress...producing well educated disciples of Christ)

- Standing on top of my car as I pack it (it's just cool)

- Wifi (we are very blessed to have it here)

- Maltis (a very scrummy, fizzy apple drink)

- Wonderful guards and workers (at school and at home we have a wonderful small army of Burundians who keep everything running smoothly)

- Expat community (it's small, diverse and looks out for each other)

- Fruit trees in the garden (fresh oranges and lemons anyone?)

- House guests (new friendships made with guests using our spare rooms)

- My staff (who are awesome and are hungry to help the schoo progress)

- Living near the school (commutes are easy)

- Extra 'uncles and aunts' for the children (the kids have so many adult friends that adore them)

WHAT I REALLY DON'T LIKE ABOUT BUJUMBURA

- Utilities (power and water are off more than on...it's rubbish)

- Barking guard dogs (most nights a call of the wild will go up, setting off all the neighbourhood dogs...including ours)

- Political unrest (elections next year and no one knows what will happen...hope for the best, prepare for the worst)

- Illnesses (lots of nasty tummy bugs etc...)

- Bucket washes (no one likes a cold bucket wash...ever)

- Unmade roads (a novelty at first...a hassle now)

- Mosquitos (the kids eat breakfast in their pj's and socks so they don't get nibbled)

- Uncertain finances (never knowing how the next bill is going to be paid is stressful)

- Suncream (slapping it on everytime we go out...I think my blood type is now Factor 50)

- Terrible wifi (predictive text tried to change that to 'wife'...Ha! Ha!...but she's wonderful but the wifi isn't...we have it but it is soooo slow)

- Noon-day sun (a super-squinty, roasting time of the day...the shade feels glorious)

- Missing good TV (you hear it's happening, but you can't get it...though we do get Dowton :) )

- Poverty (everywhere, every day...and when you get used to it, you feel guilty for getting used to it)

- Langauge barriers (I wistfully dream of living somewhere where I understand everyone and everyone understands me...it would be so much easier)

- Mobile reception (see Utilities and Wifi)

- Scarcity of supplies (sometimes there's butter, sometimes there isn't...and never any Frazzles, unless Becky brings some out)

- Electric shocks (nothing's earthed properly, so frequently we perform that function)

- Ants (tiny, weeny ones that can get everywhere and into everything...including tea bags)

- Living near the school (hard to switch off and get away)

- Not walking at night (wouldn't it be nice to walk around in the evenings?)

- Checkpoints (barbed wire and guns...nice)

- Filtering water (if you don't do this daily chore, no one drinks)

- Getting up at 5am (sunrise are great...occasionally)

- Responsibility (it can be pretty heavy being responsible for so many)

- Pegging bed sheets to the windows (no curtains yet...another daily bore/chore)

WHAT I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SUMMER

- Moving around (7+ beds this summer)

- A busy schedule (furlough doesn't always feel like a holiday)

- Putting on weight (less exercise + insane calories in a western diet)

- Less exercise (it's good for me and miss it)

- Coffee (you do not have coffee in the UK...you have something, but I promise you that it's not coffee)

- Quiet time routines (always go out of the window during the holidays)

- Shopping for supplies (boring and expensive)

- The dentist (she's lovely, but I fear dental work)

- Vaccinations (one the reasons I fear dental work is the needles...)

- Being on 'tour' (we love sharing our mission and vision, but it's kinda hard work)

- Being away form the school during the summer (there's still work to be done and great people needing encouragement)

- Materialism/excess (there's definitely nothing wrong with affluence...but excess?)

- Long drives (the most I normally do here is 20mins...though my American friends don't see the problem)

- Packing and unpacking (starts neat...then gets sloppier)

- Drizzle (yuck)

- Hayfever (yuck)

- Motorways (yuck)

- Dog poo (yuck)

- The Highway Code (so much more fun without one!)

- Mobile phone music on trains (how did we let this happen?)

- Wasps (though having just found out about the wolf spiders living in our lawn, this one now seems less of an issue)

- High class problems (including my own)

- World Cup (managing to avoid it here)

- Short sermons (quite enjoy an hour from the pulpit...as long as it's good)

- Getting comfortable (going back to Burundi doesn't always seem very appealing)

WHAT I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SUMMER!!

- Light evenings (just glorious)

- New Wine (wow!)

- Short break with Allie...but with out the kids (bliss)

- McDonalds (sorry)

- KFC (sorry)

- Dominos Pizza (sorry)

- Kebabs (sorry)

- Superfast Internet (no need to make cups of tea while a page loads)

- Proper chocolate (oh yes!)

- Seeing treasured and much missed friends and family (we think of you often)

- Cricket (a gentle highlight of the summer with Dad)

- Smooth roads (I'm easily pleased)

- Efficient shops and banks (I never go to the bank here without a good book)

- Choice (both overwhelming and refreshing)

- Leisure centres (everybody loves a flume and wave machines)

- Trains (one of my favourite ways to travel)

- Geocaching (look it up...it's awesome!)

- Fishing villages (our Doc Martin box set made me very homesick this year)

- Bike rides (such fun)

- London (I love London!)

- Evening walks (and just being safe at night)

- Duvets (snuggly)

- Mosinet free bed (weird at first, but so nice not to be cooped up)

- Anonyminity (it's really nice to blend in)

- Sharing the highs and lows of this crazy, rewarding, draining, uplifting, challenging, blessing journey good has us on with friends, family, supporters, churches...in fact anyone who pauses for breath.

God Bless,

Jez

P.S. A blog about ditches coming up ;)