Just over 2 weeks to go......

I can't believe that we have just over 2 weeks to go until we move to Chad. I can't wait. We are really enjoying seeing family and friends and feel very loved by all, but after so much preparation, and there is still a lot to do, including Andrew having to do a  bit of flying and renew his class one medical in South England, all 4 of us Mumfords are getting excited about our new lives ahead of us in Chad!

6 days left in France

With only 6 more days left in France, time is going so fast.  As we prepare for our final tests this coming week, to clean the flat we are currently living in, repack our suitcases and say goodbye to some wonderful friends that we have made over the past 4 months,  I am feeling truely blessed and excited that a month tomorrow we fly to Chad! ( we even have our visas now too!) The last few weeks have been difficult for me spreading my time between some difficult French studies and my family -  including a very strong willed 2 year old daughter! God has certainly been testing me and pushing me to my limits.

On Friday evening we went to a Christmas event at Zacks school and it was wonderful to see him playing with his friends and he was so proud to introduce them to Andrew and I and 'show' Esther his school -  even though she goes there most days with Andrew or myself to collect him at the end of his school day. Then, for him, and us, the realisation struck, that he only has 4 more days at school left with his friends before he says goodbye! That is when it is tough moving and seeing the effects, in the short term, it has on  Zack and Esther. Again, I hold on to the graciousness of Gods love and how prviledged we are to be called to serve Him in Chad and how He uses every opportunity. Praise the Lord that God has given Zack the excitement of moving to Africa too.

Only 5 weeks left in France.

Hannah update........

We have been back in France now for 10 days after our half term holidays to England seeing family and some friends. We had a great time but on returning back to France I was surprised to find myself pleased to be 'home!'. Yes, home! The past 10 days have gone very quickly getting back into a routine of lessons, going back to school -  of which Zack has had no trouble, and little Esther adoring playing with her chums again in nursery. Of course also fitting in family time and seeing  a bit more of Paris. We were also thrilled to spend a couple of days with our friends (granny) Isobel and (grandpa) Ian from Aberdeen who were here on holiday. Now as I write this we are awaiting for Sandra, another friend from Aberdeen, to arrive to see us for a few days.  There are mixed emotions as I hear about friends from Aberdeen and realise I miss them so much. This weekend when a very good friend had another little baby boy I am so thrilled but it is hard  when I am not to be able to see them, have a wee cuddle with the new bunble of joy and be there for a wonderful friend, and family, on such a special occasion. Friendships so special and easy to be taken for granted. 

With only 5 weeks left here, we are preparing to submit our application for our Chadian visas and now counting down the weeks until we fly to Chad on 16th January. ( eight and a half weeks!). With the excitement, comes more unsettling times, the reality of what we have to do in the final preparations, inbetween the study, but also saying goodbye to family and the realisation that when I become an auntie again  next February, and my best friend is due to have her next baby in March, I wonder just how far away I will feel from them.  It is then that I ask God for his arms of love to surround me and become thankful for family and friends, however far away, for their constant blessings and joy to me.

God knows best - by Hannah

Moving from Aberdeen and now living in France hasn't been, and isn't, easy but I am learning that God gives me the strength that I need every day to fulfill the tasks He gives me to do. The times I have felt lonely and wandering what I am doing, ( mostly when I feel lost in my French lesson!) God  reassures me of His constant love and dependency on Him. I do not just need to rest on the Sabbath but to find my 'rest' in Him daily 'for nothing is impossible with God! ( Luke 1v37).  If somebody had told me 15 years ago that in my mid thirties, I would move with my young family to France to learn French and then to Chad I would have  not only asked where Chad was in the world but I would have laughed at them. That would have been one of my worst nightmares back then, but now, it is a joy ( most of the time), as I seek His will in my life and am obedient to Him.

Our first 6 weeks in France



Leaving England to begin our new adventure

God has really blessed us with some lovely people here and the children are settling into a routine of school for Zack and creche for Esther. There is a lovely garden for them to play in and there are a couple of other children living on the school site with us and Zack and Esther play with them most days.  

We have been at Les Cedres language school, just south of Paris, for 6 weeks and  it seems a long time since we were leaving England to come here.We are beginning to feel that this is home -  although of course we miss Aberdeen, our friends and family. 

 The days are busy studying in the day for Andrew and I whilst Zack attends a french school about 10 mins walk away, which he seems to enjoy, and Esther goes to creche on the Les Cedres site. Andrew and I have homework to do in the evenings after the children are in bed. Our studies are progessing -  some quicker than others! - and the children both seem to enjoy speaking a bit of French now and then. 

 We have also been making the most of the weather going around Paris -  it is just a 15 minute walk to the train station and then about 30 mins by train into Paris. Zack especially likes the Eiffel Tower and we went to the top for his birthday last week.  We have started to go into Paris to Hillsong church where the service is in both French and English in an attempt to learn as much as we can -  language wise and spiritually. The children enjoy Sunday school there too thankfully.

God is blessing our time here with the opportunity of learning a new language and making new friends and to trust Him more on the more challenging and difficult days. It is exciting what He is doing in our lives as we walk with Him daily

Esthers mustard experience.....

 

When Andrew was little, and I mean little(!) his mum, Hazel, found that Andrew liked to eat mustard until his eyes started watering. Well, this week, Andrew thought that he would try the same with Esther..... However, Esther decided that even 3 tea spoonfuls were not enough and wanted more. Andrew and I decided though that that was enough. There must be something in the Mumford genes with a taste for mustard!

Les Cedres - the first 2 weeks

Hi, So we have been at language school, Les Cedres, just south of Paris,  now for two weeks and so far so good! The days are busy with creche for Esther and school for Andrew, Zack and myself. The children are doing  great, most of the time -  Esther is loving creche during the day and Zack seems to be enjoying school -  even though he tells us he cant understand a word that is said at school. Andrew is enjoying getting back into learning French especially when a man asked him the way to somewhere in French and Andrew understood and was able to tell him the answer in French too. I am beginning to pick up the language, please with my efforts this weekend of asking for some bread in French! Andrew seems surprised when I speak French to people. Languages is not my strong point but I try.