An update is way overdue so here goes! Life has taken some unexpected turns over the last few weeks but we are thankful that God is completely in control of where and how He is taking us. What an amazing wonder it is that He cares so much about every tiny detail of our lives.

One piece of excitement is that Ben begins his new job on Monday with the Wokingham News, enjoying the luxury of a company car after a series of old bangers! If you need more details of the work involved then get in touch with Ben, suffice to say that he still cannot believe he has landed this job!

Steve is still in Pakistan, due home on Monday after 2 weeks in the middle of the desert! He is working on a gas terminal that supplies all the gas to Karachi. Yesterday's temperature was 43 degrees! One day he went to look at a wellhead and hopefully took some pics. Next on the agenda is renting out his house so we have all had to attack the garden, while the laminate flooring and fresh paintwork really do make Grandma's former home look much more light and airy. She wouldn't recognise it.

Saturday club is going great! We had the privilege of having Evie and Lillie come along to teach us a lovely harvest song, and the girls managed the miracle of the month and learned the words, actions and tune overnight so they could perform to a packed church at our harvest service on the Sunday morning. They did so well that a Christmas play should be next on the agenda. To my utter delight my next door neighbour accepted the invitation to come along and enjoyed it so much that she suggested her sister-in-law come last Sunday morning! The sister-in-law actually attended the church 50 years ago when it was a gospel hall and has jumped on the bandwagon to find out as much as she can on the history of the building. More info will appear on the website, although thorough research may take some time!

Daniel is all set to travel down to Sussex tomorrow to help out at the holiday bible club at Horam Chapel. They are setting up the church as a desert island on Sunday, in readiness for the theme of 'pirates' throughout the week. Much prayer is needed as the youngsters file through the doors to hear about the Lord Jesus, that young lives will be receptive to the sound of the gospel, and that new contacts will be made from the village. We are thrilled that Daniel is settling so well into his new church, and the way opening up for him in differing spheres of service and learning.

Friday evenings with Susie continue to be a real source of blessing. Last week Lea was able to join us so there wasn't much bible study done as we had to catch up on several weeks worth of activities! Tonight we hope to begin a study on the book of Ruth as that is next on the programme for Saturday club. Last week we all enjoyed a lesson on the fruits of the Spirit, with the visual aids of two pumpkins! One was opened up to reveal the mess inside which Lydia scooped out into a bowl, the floor and her jeans, and in the other we placed a candle to show how our lights can shine for Jesus. Singing in the dark by candlelight was a delight! We should do it more often!

Well I don't want this to get too long so I think that covers a main chunk of what has been happening in our family.
May God bless each one who is reading along.

What a day we had on Saturday! Julian and I arrived at the church to find Elsie, Joni and Lydia dragging trees down the road and into the car park! The skip was filling rapidly within the first 15 minutes! Julie was working wonders with a bow saw and I don't think I shall forget the sight of Jeanne manoeuvring a tree on a wheelbarrow through the gate and round the corner. I mean there was a whole fence to creosote. Why begin with the gate Simon???!!! The entrance hall was looking great until it started raining and a muddy tribe of Bancroft kids trailed in! And Kerry did a first class job of tidying all the crèche toys and the Sunday School room. The Saturday club kids were thrilled to see the room unearthed from layers of books and crayons. So now we have discovered we have an official craft room for our club and a video room too. How cool is that! Lydia and I have planned to have a preview and decide which video to show.

And so straight on to Saturday club. What a terrific time it was. The same seven girls, so it is a good indication that they are enjoying themselves! Another two have asked to come along and that is without the invites even prepared! We had the story of the fiery furnace, with a quiz and memory verse and singing. I looked at my watch and realised 50 minutes had gone in no time! What good kids they were to listen so well! And a huge thankyou to Susie for agreeing to study the passage together the evening before. That definitely helps. And what better person to help than Susie. What precious times we have on Friday evenings. The Lord's Presence is tangible. He is True to His Word and blesses us in ways unspeakable.

Thursday bible study at Carl and Penny's was very good. Charles gave a really helpful talk on 'Guidance' particularly with Miranda in mind, but applicable to us all. It was lovely that Daniel could take me, and wonderful that he is finding his niche in his new church. Our God is so Great. I am utterly amazed at how and where He has led us over the last few months. How He has answered our prayers and the prayers of other people previously unknown to us, and brought everything together as only He can.