March 2022 Update

Hola from Mexico.

We have now been in Mexico just a bit over five weeks and it has been a massive transition as we adjust to a new city, culture and ministry. We want to take the time to firstly thank you for all your support, love, communication and provision. Most of all for believing in us as we have stepped into this new season together.

We have had our moments when doubts about being here have plagued us and anxiety has threatened to overwhelm us. Adjusting to the fact that half our family is back in Australia has been hard. It’s strange and tiring to always be on high alert as we navigate a new city. Feeling like the odd ones out as we walk down the street. Interpreting packaging on supermarket products. Learning our way around. All the different sights, sounds, smells and faces and the language of a new community that we are so keen to get to know. One of the biggest bumps in the road so far was Annie’s brush with salmonella. We are very thankful for a good hospital and antibiotics which allowed her to recover quickly.

We are excited to have some growing clarity around our roles at the YWAM base, in coming alongside those who have been working here in Mexico over many years. Our hearts are to encourage, and to bring some reinforcement, to use our time and gifts to the best of our abilities with God’s help.
Whilst Matt has been serving in the kitchen, he is looking at joining a team that will use some of his partnership development experience and community development. He has been booked to teach at the WISE School. (Worship, Intercession, Spiritual warfare and Evangelism) in the first week of May. His teaching will focus on prayer, fasting and spiritual disciplines. He is loving exploring Mazatlán on foot whenever he can.
Annie has been studying her “graphic design innovation” university degree. The YWAM base has a homeschool co-op attached to it, where students of all ages from the families on the base, can come together and do their work. This is a great opportunity for Annie to study in a different environment and she has already been able to integrate her cross-cultural experience into some of her assignments. She’s excited to be working in the YWAM café (following in her brother’s footsteps). She’s made a lot of frappes and coffees for the students so far. It is a great way to get to know people as she’s not involved in a particular YWAM training school. She can also be heard at home playing a guitar as she’s practicing to join the worship team. This will be quite a feat as she’ll be singing half the songs in Spanish. Annie is an expert in ordering Ubers and has shown great deal of courage and fortitude as homesickness sometimes threatens to overwhelm. She is my right-hand girl!

For me, life is very different having left three of our "adult children" back in Australia. It’s an adjustment to being just the three of us here. I’ve had it on my heart (as most of you would’ve heard), for a while to be able to teach somehow in Mexico. With this in mind, I'm lending learning support at the YWAM base school with the younger primary school kids. I have also joined the worship team which is super exciting. Getting my game on once again.  I’m also going to help run a connect group for the mums at the base, many of whom have small children. It will be an opportunity to connect, read the Bible, pray and generally support each other. Apart from that, I’m supporting Annie and continuing my psychology studies, this trimester is all about bio-psychology which is a daunting topic to say the least, for an artist and a musician. I'm also going to be teaching at the WISE school. Matt and I will share a week in early June teaching on Intimacy with the Lord. I’m so glad we still have plenty of opportunities via FaceTime to connect with our beautiful kids back home, our family and friends. Please feel free to tee up a chat!  

It's been good to catch up with some of our overseas family and friends as well while we're on this side of the planet. Spending time with my niece Amelia, who normally resides in Colorado but is currently doing a DTS here in Mazatlán has been lovely.  It has also been wonderful to catch up with my brother and his family. Seeing our old mate Andy Davis from our church in Sydney, who is now married with three sweet boys was so encouraging during Carnaval. 

Overall, we have been enjoying getting to know people and the culture. We have found a dentist, hairdresser, chiropractor, some favourite cafes and  supermarkets. We have had some great days and some really challenging ones.

We are so proud of our Olivia, Jesse and Elijah back at home. It was hard for them to say goodbye but they each knew it was where God wanted us so they sent us with their blessing. Liv is renting our house with some friends from church. She has done so well in her first term of teaching year 6 at Maitland Christian School. She has an amazing supportive staff and she has been digging in deep in her faith. Its been challenging to learn the ropes with COVID testing thrown in as well. Her graduation is coming up on the 30th of March. It is super sad not to be there for it. Thankfully she has invited Grandma, the boys, Uncle Stu and Katie and my dear longtime friend Jenny. We're also thankful it will be recorded. After so much hard work it is worth celebrating in style our beautiful Liv's graduation. 

Jesse has been working hard to get his second album released and it is coming together. I've seen the cover and I've heard some of the songs! They are incredible and I can't wait to see the finished product. Recording in Sydney around COVID lockdowns and mixing it in Melbourne with some of the best in the industry has been a brilliant experience. He's enjoying living in Tighes Hill but will soon move in with Stu and Kate to save up for a trip to Bali to film a surfing video. He has three jobs which is keeping him busy and he loves his surfing which he can fit in around work. If you need a good coffee head down to Frothers! Hopefully in the middle of all of this he will be able to secure some live gig's to release his album. We'll keep you posted. 

Elijah has been putting in a massive effort in his new job as an apprentice mechanic with Bridgestone, at Beresford. He is on a mobile team called Lube Mobile (like NRMA). He's enjoying learning the ins and outs of motors and cars in general. He has bought a car to work on himself as a project. He has been struggling with his health since COVID in January, jumping into full time work. We would love prayers for him to feel better and to get on top of his cough. He's bach'ing with the intern pastor from Belair Baptist in Garden Suburb. Unfortunately one of the people pulled out as they were signing the lease so he's been carrying a huge amount of rent. We're praying for a third person to join them. Its a great house with a nice view from his bedroom window, in a convenient location so that's helpful.  

We are so thankful to my Mum, brother Stu and fam, and all our friends who have been able to have our guys over for dinner and just generally lend a hand. 

Thanks so much for taking an interest in all our news. We love you guys. 

God bless, 

Kate

Praise points:
A house to live in with comfy beds.
Friendly people around us.
Provision and support from those back home.
Opportunities to minister.
Moments of adventure.
New friends.

Prayer points:
Accommodation near the base so we can be part of the YWAM community.
A third flat mate for Elijah, (his rent is high because they haven’t found a third person yet).
Continued good health.
A church with a youth group.
Breakthrough with my headaches that are still hanging around.