Spring 2022 Update

Dear friends and family,

We hope this update finds you safe and well - something none of us should be taking for granted at this time. Thank you for your continued prayer and support of us as a family - it means a lot. Since we last wrote, your support has helped enable the following:

Matt successfully delivered the ‘Healthy Community Engagement’ module at Moorlands College. Despite numerous Covid self-isolations–requiring teaching to be delivered both in person and online–and new staff members teaching for the first time, it was a successful time. The School of Language and Scripture Director (Matt’s supervisor) had this to say in our recent annual report (let us know if you'd like to read the full report!):

“Matt continues to make a considerable and much-valued contribution to the staff team at the School of Language and Scripture at Moorlands College. Students reported very high satisfaction with the Healthy Community Engagement module, which he led in October, and with the Planning for Transformation short course last Easter. These two offerings are a very significant part of our work to equip students to serve minority language communities well, and I am grateful for Matt's leadership in pulling together the staff teams to deliver these modules and his care to be onsite as much as possible to ensure their smooth running.”

The online grant writing training, that took place throughout 2021, finished in December. Teams from across Asia and the Pacific took part and it was encouraging to see how much progress they made over the year. The key goal of the training was for these teams to be in a position to apply for grants by the end of it, and so we are continuing to support teams as they look to do that over the coming months.

Unfortunately, at the beginning of February three of us finally succumbed to Covid (Levi avoided it for some time but is now off school with covid). We are thankful that our symptoms were relatively mild, but it did sadly coincide with Matt’s planned trip to LEAD Asia-Pacific Leadership Team meetings which he had to join online instead. The majority of the rest of the team were still able to meet together in person however, so that was a real encouragement for them and we were able to make some good progress planning for the coming year together.

From the beginning of March, Matt has taken on the role of ‘Acting LEAD Asia-Pacific Director’ while his supervisor stands in for his supervisor who is on study leave for 6 months! Please be praying for all concerned, that this would be a smooth period with lots of good learning opportunity for all! Again, this is a good point to share a comment from the LEAD Asia-Pacific Director from our annual report:

"LEAD Asia-Pacific worked on revising its strategy and setting up priorities in the changing context throughout 2021. It also engages in building a shared vision for Transformational Development together with Language Services Teams in Asia and the Pacific to engage communities. Matt has been a key contributor and a thought leader for both these initiatives. He has also coordinated a team of facilitators to conduct an online Grant Writing Training Event, which was very impactful for the participants. I appreciate having Matt actively engaged in advocating for LEAD impact and initiatives and I pray the Lord will continue to use him and his family to be a channel of blessings to many. I am grateful for the support his church, supporters and Wycliffe UK is providing for him to continue his work for the kingdom of God."

At home we’re doing well, with both of us busy with our contributions to church life in Gloucester. We have successfully made the transition back to in person Sunday mornings, consciously choosing to adopt a rhythm that regularly includes times together outside the building - giving a great opportunity to share favourite family walks together! Liz has spent lots of time developing and setting up the children’s ministry curriculum, with the aim that the groups will be more focused and volunteers leading those groups will have better resources available.

As ever we love to hear your news, so please do write and let us know how you’re doing.

Sending lots of love, Matt, Liz, Levi and Anya