We just started the new year a couple weeks ago it seems like, but now we are in the transition period between one group of language learners moving on to another region and a new group of people coming in next month to begin culture and language study. We usually have 2 to 3 new groups of people coming and going every year, so we are used to the cycles, but it does get a little tiring. It’s hard to get to know people when they’re always leaving.
Sometimes we are able to keep in touch with some of the people who have moved on. Last week, I made a trip to another region where we used to live to sit in on some informal meetings with some families who have recently moved there. They will continue language study there and hopefully finish up with that within a year or so. They are part of a recent effort to begin a new outreach on a nearby island. This is exciting because it has been 25 or 30 years since we have had anyone working there.
We have had some coworkers do some survey trips into the interior there and things look hopeful that there may be opportunities for a team to move in there. Nothing is for sure yet and it takes a lot of time, both to learn the national language for those who are studying it and to build relationships with the people who can give you permission to work in a certain area.
Anyways, that is something that is not my main role to be involved in, but I have made 2 trips now to that region to help with orientation for new families and now for these meetings. But this is something that is exciting for us because the families who will be part of that ministry team are people that we have helped with language and different things for about 2 years now. So we feel invested in these families and the ministry that they are moving towards.
Back here at home, though, our kids are having to do school online (which no one likes) because of different reasons. We are hoping maybe this coming week they can be back in person at school. Scout especially has a hard time with some aspects of online school.
Speaking of Scout, we made our trip to the capital last month for the testing for her. We are still waiting to hear the results, but it should be any day. When we get those results, they should be able to help her teachers know how to better teach her and communicate with her. Scout oftentimes misunderstands what her homework is about or doesn’t fully understand the concepts she is learning in class. So we are praying this will help us know how to help her better.
Rainy season should be coming to an end in the next month or two. We look forward to dry season because we can go out without our rain jackets, but the heat also takes a toll on you if you are out for long at all. It is hard to keep track of what season it is at home, because we only have 2 here, and both seasons are hot.
Praise:
-a good trip to the capital for Scout’s testing
-a good trip for me to another to meet with families there
-an old group being able to move on and continue language study
-a new group coming next month
Prayer:
-results from Scout’s testing that will make it clear how to help her in school
-preparations for the new group
-the kids to be able to do school in person again soon
As always, thanks for your prayer and support!!
The McIlroys
