Praise God that Malachi and Arielle did well on their placement exams. They are very encouraged and thankful. We are all very conscious of the centrality of prayer in this.
Malachi is now attending the University of Edinburgh. He's excited (as we are for him). Pray that the Lord would continue to be faithful to him as he takes this next step.
Arielle is now at her preferred "sixth form college" for her last two years of high school. She will now begin the two-year process that Malachi has just been through leading to big exams coming up in May of 2023 & May 2024. Pray for her to meet some new friends and settle in well.
Luke recently started school after a good summer rest. He doesn't seem particularly worried at the moment about some of the classroom environmental difficulties that seemed to build up last year. We did ask for prayer in July about a new school we are trying to swap him to. It will probably be mid-September before we hear anything. The chances aren't high. If he got in it would mean change and more travel. We still think it's good to have applied, but are trusting and asking the Lord to work what is best - either to keep him where he is at or swap him. And whatever the outcome, pray for Luke's heart in it, especially as he is especially feeling the impact of the departure of his older brother.
Thanks to God for a marriage renewal/retreat time Jenn and I had while the three kids were at a Scottish Young Life Camp. We are so very grateful! We were refreshed by this and also by some subsequent family holiday time we all had together in mid-August.
In late July NLSS (the church plant) managed to do our first summer kids’ club since before covid. It was on a slightly smaller scale but still well attended.
Pray for healing and comfort for a couple of our teammates and church family who have various health issues.
Pray for follow-up from summer outreach and direction concerning various autumn outreach possibilities.
Please pray for the Lord to direct our steps this autumn in the coming days and weeks as we begin to ask Him, per the words of one of the local leaders, "God, what are you doing right now in our midst as NLSS? God, what do you want to do in our midst? Are we still passionate about seeing this kind of church start? Do we still believe God can do it? Are we still "in this" together? Are we willing to take risks together as a church?" Pray for the Lord to help us pray along these lines. Pray for us to listen well. Pray for patience & perseverance to continue to walk step by step and to not do things in our own strength but to keep taking risks.
Keep praying for the good news of Jesus to run in the lives of our friends and neighbors.
with love in Jesus,
Matt for the Irvines