5 Minute Monthly: September

Sometimes, things go just as we plan them. Most times though (espeically in our family), it rarely goes exactly like we plan it. This blog post was supposed to be published in early October, just before we went away on a holiday to Norway. But as it would happen, the final stages of editing were happening in the airport, as the boys took a nap, and unfortunately didn't get finished before they woke up. So here we are, almost at the end of October, sending out a post about September! We'll send out another blog post in about 2-3 weeks all about our October (hopefully on time). So without further ado, here's our September update!

The month of September flew by mainly because it felt rather lowkey. We were back in our normal routine with nothing too special going on. School is back in session, playgroups are back on and all normal church activities have resumed. There have been a few notable events but, for the most part, it was a perfectly ordinary month. Yet now, looking back, I think September was a very special and significant month to be cherished because it was our last month of "simply normal" for a while. Our life is about to get crazy. We will be moving as a family of four across the world, and right when we start to settle into a new routine, we'll be adding a new member to our family and a new dynamic to our lives. It's all wonderful things, but definitely not mundane or normal. October is our soft beginning into our unknown future. So I've realised that September was a very special month, because it was full of beautiful normality and that, in itself, was a gift.

Life Happenings

Getting back into a weekly routine is a nice feeling. I love the predictability and reliability of structured days and planned evenings. Tyler was back to full days in the office and was focused on finishing his paper for his final class. With that complete, he only has a dissertation between him and a Masters in Theology. The boys love their little routine of an outing in the morning and home play and nap after lunch. Their favourite things to do recently involve the "jumping bed" (a spare mattress on the floor in the guest room), outdoor sand, mud, water, reading books, seeing friends and (praise the Lord) playing with each other. As for me, I no longer have to fight through sickness in the morning and exhaustion in the afternoon. My days are much smoother now that I have entered the second trimester of pregnancy and I have found I have more time and energy for baking, gardening, playing with the boys, and just doing general chores around the house.

For the most part that is what the simple days of September held for us. However, there are a few honourable mentions that added some adventure and busyness to our weekends. It was this month that Cornerstone celebrated their 10th anniversary of being an established church. It was a special celebration with many people attending who had been a part of cornerstone through the years. We had a big pizza party and a Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee; in America it'd be called a barn dance). It was loads of fun and showed how the Lord has blessed the church through the years. Cornerstone is a special church with wonderful people who love the Lord and each other. It was a privilege to be a part of such a significant event.

Another enjoyable time this month was our weekend away to Manchester for an AT3 conference (our last one). We just took Josiah on this trip, while Silas stayed with some wonderful friends and had the best time. At the conference we gathered with other apprentices from around the UK, fellowshipped, attended sessions, and swapped stories. It was encouraging in many ways but also heavy and emotional as it turned our thoughts towards leaving the UK in the near future. There were apprentices just arriving on the field and they asked us about our experiences. We had only good things to say and loved sharing but it reminded us that we are now the seasoned apprentices and our time in this country is drawing to a close.

Ministry Update

Life in ministry is going well with all regular activities back in swing. Toddler group has started and it has been wonderful to catch up with friends we haven't seen all summer as well as welcome new faces. Youth group has also begun and Tyler has set up a curriculum for the youth and leaders that will hopefully set them up for success when he leaves. The youth are studying and memorising the New City Catechism and are being taught about foundational truths of their faith. Tyler has also been preaching and teaching a lot this month and continues to grow in confidence in this area. On a solemn note, Tyler had been meeting with a man we had been praying for over the course of this year and he seemed to show genuine interest in becoming a Christian and committing to the church body. But he suddenly stopped coming to everything and asked not to be contacted. We don't know why. This has been difficult for Tyler as he's been praying for him for a better part of the year and was excited by what seemed to be prayers being answered positively. Our prayer now, as it's unlikely we'll see him again, is that there would eventually be a decision made to step back into church and reconnect with the body of believers even if we aren't here to see it.

On that note, as Tyler and I begin to phase out of ministry here, we are thankful for those in the church who will pick up the relationships with those whom we have been talking to and mentoring. It is, in some ways, challenging to hand over our relationships and gospel progress to someone else but we are also confident in our Lord that our friends and fellow believers will carry on with the discipleship of these individuals. We have faith in them, and more importantly, we have faith in God and his sovereign work.

Future Update

Many have been wondering what is next for us as we prepare to leave the UK. We are now in a position where we can give a few more details. In the New Year, Tyler will begin working with Crossroads BFC in Elverson, PA. Crossroads is a recently revitalised church that is part of the BFC (Bible Fellowship Church) denomination. Tyler will be the Associate Pastor there with an emphasis in discipleship and outreach. He will be working under the head pastor of the church who also happens to be his former youth pastor and the man who married us. We are really looking forward to working with him and his family.

Because this church is newly established and small, it does not stand alone financially but relies partly on the denomination and individual supporters to pay its pastors. That means the Mann family will be support raising again. We would appreciate if you would prayerfully consider partnering with us in this new adventure and will be sharing more details on this in the near future. Please do pray for us in this as we support raise again! We greatly appreciate all types of support-- prayer included.

Pray with Us

Requests

• Pray that this man who has left the church would reconnect with the body of believers and that Tyler would have discernment on whether he should reach out to this man or not.

• Pray for our boys as the sense the beginning of a transition and that we would parent them well through it.

• Pray for us as we begin to transition and all that comes with leaving our home, friends, and community.

Praise

• Thanking God for health at the beginning of flu season.

• Praise God for this Norway trip that was gifted to us so generously.

• We are thankful that baby number 3 is happy and healthy-- 20 week scan coming up soon!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. We are blessed in so many ways by you all and continue to thank God for you.

God Bless,

The Manns