The Blog is Back

This is the first time I have written a blog update in about five months! Sorry about that! 

Back in February, Amisadai and I rather abruptly left Tanzania with our two small bags, thinking we were coming to England for a few weeks; we have now been away from home for seven months! We were happily reunited with Tim and Louisa two and a half months ago in Canada and now we are together back in England, slightly in limbo once again, waiting for insurance to cover us before we can return to Tanzania.

It is ridiculously difficult to know what to say after five months! It has been wonderful to see so many friends while we have been back ... we have been able to reconnect with many (and make new friends) and it has been strangely familiar sort-of-slotting back into the make-up of life both in Canada and England. Yet there are people we haven't seen, or just had very little time with, and that is always rather sad! It has been particularly rushed for us this time in England; time was shorter with just a month here all together and it quickly became taken up with medical appointments for Amisadai as well as lots of appointments for teeth, eyes and jabs. Then there was the rush to sort out banking and insurance, find school uniforms and shoes, fix computer, sort phone, visa forms... the list goes on! But as we prepare to put all this and some difficult times behind us, I know how much we have to be thankful for!

Fun in the melted ice in Canada!

16 years later ... back to our honeymoon house!

Sandcastles at the seaside in Weston-Super-Mare!

Amisadai attempting to beat gold-winning Greg Rutherford in the long jump at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

First of all, I must start with how thankful we are that Amisadai is so well! It seems we will never really know what caused the respiratory attacks which started a year ago. But she is on medication for colitis and acid reflux and now feeling very healthy! There have been so many tests and appointments and inevitable waiting times, but it does finally look like she is good to go! She has just had the most amazing time at Soul Survivor Camp, and that along with the great times she has had at Taste Youth and with numerous friends in both countries over these months, we are so thankful for!

We are incredibly thankful to Tim's mum for having us stay with her all this time! She has looked after us so well these many months and given us so much. We truly don't know what we would have done without her! Many others in the UK and Canada have helped us out in different ways; being without our own car hasn't been easy and many have helped with lifts. Being without warm clothes and shoes also wasn't easy and many provided those! Being without much extra cash wasn't easy and many have given to us generously! So many friends have reached out in friendship, sharing meals and fun with us. It has been rather a strange and confused year, and in this we are so incredibly thankful for the many wonderful friends we have!

We have been able during our time away to share with many of you about what we are doing in Tanzania. It is always hugely encouraging, especially when things look a little muddled, to look back and see the good things God has done. And that was very true for our Open Days! God has done so much in these past few years, and the way He has used us despite our failings, weakness and uncertainty is such marvellous testimony to Him. It was overwhelming both in Langley and Tadley, to have so many friends with us at those occasions. We are very grateful for the love and support we receive and feel we have a great team behind us!

And so to our great support team ... thank you! We will try to get back into blogging (and be better with newsletters!) as we get back into things in Tanzania. We are excited about being back with much-missed friends there! I am looking forward to getting back with the Mamas group again! We are looking forward to the start of this training and planting season and to harvesting honey with our beekeepers! Amisadai is looking forward to being back at school after a long absence and Louisa is looking forward to starting secondary school. We are excited about this new season working with new teammates doing new things! And we will try to keep you posted on the adventures and challenges that all this entails!

If you would like to receive periodic newsletters or weekly email prayer updates, please email us (rachelmonger@gmail.com) or our link secretary, Ellen, (ellen@thebraithwaites.co.uk) to be added to the list! And if you would like to join in supporting us in any way financially, please drop an email to Ellen or Emmanuel International (UK).  And, please do stay in touch with us when we are away! We will miss you!

And so the blog begins again ... to be continued in Tanzania ...