What's happening with us?

Hi everyone,

Hope you are all well. Just thought that I would give you an update as to what is happening with us !!

So, as many of you will know - we have been praying and seeking God about what is next for us - God is, as always, amazing and has made the way ahead really clear.

Phil has had to look for work as his contract ends in August! We looked pretty much everywhere and altho' there are teaching posts in Bristol -Phil was looking to do a job similar to the one he is currently doing.

An excellent opportunity was in the paper for a job in Rugby - Rugby, for those of you who don't know, is in Warwickshire (about 1hour and a half from Bristol) not far from Coventry and Birmingham. So, Phil applied for the job and after some time... got an interview and after even more time he got the job! It is a real promotion for Phil and he is really excited about it.

So, what about me? Well in the meantime I was casually looking at jobs and decided that Phil (being the main earner) should take priority and that really my job was not so important and that I would find something - it didn't really matter what. However, God had other plans... He is so good! He reminded me that He loves me and asked me what I would like to do. I said that I would really love to do a job where I could use my dramatic and creative skills - as in my current job I rarely get to... I prayed a little half-heartedly as I realised that there was no way I could go for a job as, for example, a drama teacher, as I have no teaching qualification!

Phil and I began looking at places to live in Leamington Spa - Leamington Spa is a bit like Bath... very pretty and an old spa town. It is very close to Coventry (about 15 mins) where my brother and his wife live and not far from Birmingham where my sister lives. When we looked at it we decided that we would love to live there and prayed that if this was right God would make it clear...

A short time later I saw a teaching assistant post job advertised at a secondary school in Leamington and glanced my eyes over it - simply because it was based in Leamington - It was for a drama post - working as a primary liaison worker. I phoned the school to find out more and discovered that the job was fantastic. It is working in all the local primary schools, teaching drama and creative arts - planning and using my own ideas - working independantly and with (as I discovered at my interview) a vast scope for my development. I could not have made up a job for myself that I think I would love more - isn't God awesome! I am so thankful that He cares about every tiny detail.

We have just found a flat to live in - in Leamington - which is lovely and again has it's own miraculous story... God is interested in every finite detail of our lives.

So, how am I feeling? honestly? Very happy. I am obviously very sad about the thought of leaving Bristol, in particular the church - there are people here that I will miss inexplicably... you know who you are! My parents also live here - and it is where I have grown up, so no doubt it will be a wrench.

However, I am certain of God's timing and his plan for us and this means that it is hard not to be happy. He has done so much for us. I am so excited about the future.

I wanted to write down the testimony of God's faithfulness and also to let everyone know how thankful I am for your friendship, love and support over the last ...years.

We both start our new jobs in September so we will be moving in the next few weeks. Our last Sunday at Church will be in three Sundays' time and I wanted to give you a heads up - so it does not come as a shocker.

We love you all so very much,

Katie XX