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Finding our wayMaking the decision to move to Spain for the next season - at least until Keziah finishes high school - was the result of a lengthy process. This involved several visits to the YWAM locations in that area; much processing with close friends, family and leaders; and a good amount of prayer.

We are grateful that this step has been so clear, that there is such a high degree of agreement among all those closest to us, and that the children are comfortable with this direction.

Transition is, by nature, unsettling ... and we made it!

June 2013

AND SO, ANOTHER SEASON COMES TO AN END ...It is almost exactly 2 years since we returned to the UK for a season of ‘transition’. As we head out to Spain and further connections with Africa, we reflect on answers to prayer over the last 24 months.

Although we didn’t have much idea what this 2 year stretch would look like when it started, we did have some very specific hopes. It had been 15 years since we’d lived in the UK - a whole lot of water under the bridge - so we really wanted this to be a time for us to renew old friendships and to see new ones established. We especially wanted to have time with family, some of whom were going through their own big changes. All in all, we were at a crossroads in our lives and hoped that we would either find a fresh sense of vision and calling, or else we would find ourselves drawn to something new. Here’s what happened:

We have a fresh sense of vision and calling ...When we arrived, we wondered whether our time in missions was drawing to a close. Two

years on, we are certain that our ministry life is not over and we are excited at what is ahead. Thanks to time spent with encouraging friends, as well as to the rich material available to us through our studies, we have a fresh appreciation for the breadth of God’s purposes for us and for our world, and a renewed vision of God himself. We are very grateful.

We renewed old friendships and established new ones ...We have had a good amount of time to spend with old friends, to pick up our stories

together. We haven’t necessarily had masses of time with everyone, but we have managed to

see most people around the country at least once☺

We have loved being part of South Hill Community Church in Hemel Hempstead. We couldn’t attend every week, given our other commitments, which didn’t stop the church taking us to their hearts and making us feel part of the family. We are looking forward to what’s in store as we all explore opportunities for teaming up in the future.

Becoming mission partners with Church Mission Society is an amazing answer to prayer, and all the more incredible because of the way the opportunity came to us. We feel certain that this connection is part of the answer to our desire for life as a family in missions to be sustainable for the long term.

We have had time with family ...We have not had as much time with everyone in the family as we had hoped, but happily

we have shared Christmas celebrations or big birthday parties with everyone! As well as times to reconnect with extended family, we have had lots of very special times with Miranda’s sister and her family (who are joining us for the first 3 weeks in Spain). Also, it was a special treat to spend a few days with Miranda’s niece who lives in New Zealand. Rich times with the clan!

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Like any family, we have each had different needs from this season. Here we tell you what’s been important for us personally:

Tim“Most of my highlights are from time

spent in the great outdoors! The UK is truly beautiful - if cold and wet - and I have had some fantastic opportunities to go hiking in places like Scotland and the Lake District. Doing the 3 peaks with a great friend in under 24 hours was the icing on the cake!

“This has been the perfect time for me to complete my MA at All Nations - made possible by a break in ministry commitments and something I’d hoped for for a long time. Studying again has been a very rich experience for me.

“Finally, I’d have to say the house we’ve stayed in has been a real gift because it meant we had few practical things to worry about. A special thanks to Phil at Pilgrim’s Friend housing for always bending over backwards to help!”

Keziah“I have really enjoyed being part of a

bigger YWAM campus with more kids because there was lots of space and fun activities to join in, especially over the Olympics. I will miss

Alanah and Abigal : we laughed a lot☺

“I wasn’t sure about my new school at first but I ended up loving my teacher. Miss Smith made all the school plays we did so fun and she really looked after me. (I did well in my SATs too.)

“It was fun to be able to visit new places, like Scotland, Switzerland and of course Spain. It’s very cool that the flights here are so short!

“I am really, really glad I got to spend so much time with my Auntie Hanna - I’m glad she’s coming with us to Spain, as well as my friend Ellie!”

Emmanuelle“I learned a lot in England: I learned to

ride a bike, and to whistle, and to do both together. I learned that I don’t like to be cold, so snow is only fun in small doses. I learned to read and write (and now I have to learn all over again in Spanish, can you believe it?). I learned that I love tennis, and football, and cricket. Oh, and I learned that I need glasses, and that it’s not so bad.

“I have had the most awesome friends. I love Alex, Georgia and Edith who are my best buddies at school. And our nearly-next-door neighbours are my great friends, Zack and Levi. We have had lots of fun together and we built a den.

“I’m glad my cousins Eden-Joy and Levi are coming with us to Spain. They can be my friends until I make new ones that speak Spanish.”

Miranda“From my 40th bash to hiking in the

Brecon Beacons; from concerts in London to running along snowy lanes; from a marriage weekend in Devon to a wedding anniversary in

Budapest; there have been so many special and unexpected gifts during this season.

“The chance to take part in the Master’s Program has been wonderful, opening up connections and content that I feel privileged to enjoy. This has been refreshing, strengthening and enriching in ways I hadn’t expected.

“Successfully navigating through a major shift in the way we approach our internal communications as a mission was challenging and, looking back, extremely worthwhile. Our time in the UK has truly prepared us for a new season in ways we could not have anticipated - in terms of ministry, as individuals and as a family.”

Thanks to each of you for

making the journey with us - we

couldn’t do it without you cheering

us on.

With fond appreciation,

Miranda, Tim, Keziah & Manu

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME AMAZING HIGHLIGHTS DURING THIS TIME ...

We LOVE to be in touch!

Many of you have expressed interest in visiting us in Spain and you’d be welcome, although we might not have any furniture for quite a while!

In the meantime, follow us on social media and we’d also love to hear your news via email or phone ♥

Our website/bloghttp://www.heathcotesafari.org/

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HEATHCOTE FAMILYCalle de la Lágrima 33,

29130 Alhaurin de la TorreAndalusiaSpain<timandmiranda@yahoo.com>