Early April Update

Early April update

Yes, it’s been quiet on the Christison blog, since in fact the early days of my trip to the UK in March. This is Dominic’s take on what happened, what I perhaps learned and where we are right now…

I’m really glad I made the trip. Three weeks, one funeral, two interviews (with a third by phone just after I got back), over 1,200 road miles, staying in and visiting Arran (my Mum and Dad), Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cambridge (staying with my brother Donald), Oxford and London. A close up chance to imagine us living, working and doing ministry in Britain.

It was an eye-opening trip for me in a couple of ways. First, I experienced a much stronger sense of reverse culture shock that I’d expected. It was unsettling to contemplate moving back to British life and society. It felt very alien, and the people I met very different to myself. I guess I shouldn't have felt so surprised, since it’s been going 18 years since I lived full-time in the country, but it was still a jolt. It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't done it themselves!

The second eye-opener was how expensive living there is compared to what I’m used to in the States. This especially came home to me when researching the price of homes to rent in the Oxford area and what you get for your money in terms of the size of houses. It became clear to me that I’d need to apply for higher-paying jobs than I’d been doing. A lot of families in the UK have to have two full-time incomes coming in to make it work.

So, this was a valuable trip, even if it sounds like I had a negative reaction. It was good to have a clear understanding of what we’d face financially and in terms of unsettledness for all of us if God called us over there by opening a clear, viable job and an opportunity to be involved in church-planting. It can feel overwhelming!

God is certainly at work in the British Isles, I have no doubt of that. The question for Kathryn and I right now is if He’s wanting us to be there and a part of that work right now or not. We’ll keep knocking on doors in applying for jobs, knowing that His plan is best and He will close or open in His good wisdom. That’s liberating in the midst of uncertainty!

In the meantime, there’s plenty of ministry going on right where we are with Trinity and worship, a new church plant in Chesapeake and friends and colleagues to catch up with and have over for dinner!

On a less cerebral note, some photos from the UK trip to come soon and also on Facebook….