Growing Up and Hunkering Down
March 2020 Newsletter (Part Three)
Dear Friend,
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Editor's Note: We've had a busy few months, and instead of bogging you down with one enormous newsletter, we thought we'd split our news up amongst 3 separate emails over the next few weeks. If you missed our first 2 instalments, read them here and here.
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Our day-to-day lives have changed a lot since we started writing this part of our newsletter last week. We need not go into the details of the impact of a pandemic. Things have really changed in seven days' time, and we're certain they have for you, too.
The work that I provide in IT for OM can seem distant from the real impact of people's lives. But technology is getting used more and more for collaboration in OM because of the impact of COVID-19. This morning, I helped host a prayer meeting online so those on our team who are self-isolating could attend.
OM uses a virtual conferencing solution from Microsoft called Teams. We are seeing an increase in its usage already in OM. We are communicating with fields that they should leverage Teams to enable them to facilitate collaboration as there are travel bans or even country-wide lockdowns.
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Iris meets Jane Austen.
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Ellis helps Mummy follow the recipe.
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Asher walked out of his swimming lesson a couple weeks ago, frustrated. A boy in his class kept asking him questions about 2 very popular video games he knew nothing about. The boy couldn’t believe Asher had never played them. Asher wondered why these games were a big deal and got hung up on that.
We reminded him he has more important things to learn than video games. He had forgotten that he spent the morning making bread for us and spent the day before baking muffins for Chrysti’s birthday. We told Asher he should have asked the boy if he’d ever made bread or muffins. Not every child gets to (or wants to) learn to bake at almost 8 years old!
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Eva Joy is a big help!
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When Leon went back to work after having five weeks off for the Christmas holidays and paternity leave, it was a change for me and the children. We were still finding our new normal with Iris in our family. One afternoon I quickly attempted to make lunch when Ellis and Iris both decided they were hungry. With a crying baby and hungry toddler underfoot, it was impossible to get lunch on the table. Eva Joy volunteered to hold Iris. I got the two of them comfortable on the sofa. By the time I finished making lunch, Eva Joy comforted her baby sister and got her back to sleep.
We’re amazed how much Asher and Eva Joy have grown up since Iris was born in December. They both have more responsibilities now, and they’ve risen to the challenge… mostly! They enjoy their new responsibilities and roles as big brother and sister. Ellis also continues to grow, and we love seeing his personality shine.
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Learning how to knit on a loom.
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Leon and Iris.
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Leon has been doing the finance for our church. It has been a great educational experience and a way to bless the church. In December I handed over these responsibilities because of time constraints leading from our growing family and leadership roles in OM.
Before all the DIY and Christmas, I travelled to Oxford with a colleague from the Netherlands for a week of Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM) training. This is a product that OM will use to manage our identities across our many IT systems. MIM is a complex product and our needs in OM are complex. We recognise that we need to automate the flow of identity information during the joiners, movers and leavers process as we work to increase capacity to mobilise more workers into missionary work.
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Two months old.
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Mummy's little buddy.
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Prayer Points
- Pray for us as we adjust to being a family of six versus a family of five. Our day-to-day lives are very full (and blessed!).
- Pray for wisdom for Leon and his IT team as they make plans to provide resources for OM in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- With COVID-19 on our doorstep, pray we will know how to reach out to our neighbours and surrounding communities in the coming weeks and months.
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When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
Psalm 94:19
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God Bless,
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