Craig and Debbie Rayner

June has seen us have a break from the a very busy and tiring schedule. We have enjoyed the time of meeting people, connecting with new family and new friends that we have inherited by our marriage. We were asked by our club in Hong Kong to take this time to share our vision with each others family and friends, as well as do any necessary training for our extended stay in Kazakhstan. So this year has not been a holiday, but rather a year of introduction, of sharing the vision, and asking people who have supported us individually, once having met both of us, to continue to support both of us.

Last month, we had a change of plans. The Y.W.A.M. base we were planning on doing training at had asked us to consider doing the entire 6 month course, instead of leaving them after the lecture phase ( 3 months) and heading back to Kazakhstan in December, which is what had been originally agreed to. We did bring that to Dad and felt sure we were to head back at the end of this year. When we did the formal application process we added a letter explaining this. The leadership of the base then came back to us and let us know they no longer felt that we should do the course with them and suggested we apply to another course at another base. I was more than a bit upset, thinking of all the other possible ways we would have planned the year if we had known. I was upset with the MD, as he obviously knew this was coming and yet did not share it with us until it felt like it would be impossible to find another way back with Y.W.A.M.. We did let the Y.W.A.M. team in Kazakhstan know, and they responded right away, letting us know how much they valued having us on the team and gave us some other bases to talk to. We were at a B&B in Scotland and they happened to have broadband for free, good timing! Craig looked up one of the bases, and it happened to have some former Kazakhstan team members at it, also happened to be running a course starting 5 days later than the other course. The focus of the course is Justice. I was still a bit upset, angry. I was really looking forward to having the three months of study before heading back to Kazakhstan. During our four days in Scotland we spent a night on an island called Iona, there was a healing service at the abbey that night. We lifted up need for restored relationships between individuals and the MD, people to people, nations to nations. I felt ready to have a really good chat with the MD, so the next morning we walked across the island (about a mile) and sat on a beautiful beach, where I left my upset and my plans for September in the MD's hands. It was such a glorious feeling heading to the ferry to be right with the MD again. Less than a week later we had the news that the new base in Colorado Springs was happy to have us join them for the lecture phase, the other base kindly gave our application over and was even able to cash the money order and issue a check to the other base. So we will finish visits and head off to Colorado, as planned beginning of September.

This was my first trip to the United Kingdom. I had seen the delights of the M25 travelling from Heathrow to Gatwick and back, but had not had the opportunity to experience the tube or ride the red double decker buses. (Yes Hong Kong has double deck, but it is not London.) After last months newsletter, we travelled north to Liverpool, and spent a week meeting Debbie's family, including the matriarch of the family, Aunty Margy. (Debbie's grandmother's sister.) After a little less than a week, we travelled to Silsdon, in York, to meet more of Debbie's family. We then moved into Scotland. We had a time as tourists, seeing Ben Nevis, Loch Lomond, Loch Ness, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh, as well as some special time with the MD on Iona.

One of the highlights for me was to meet the Smith family. Debbie speaks of this family as a key part of her relationship with the MD; of how their actions moulded her understanding of communication with the MD. Having now met this family, I can easily see how their gentle influence moved Debbie into a place of acceptance of the MD's voice in her life. What a blessing she has received from this family. I look forward to see how that multiplied blessing is to be poured out on others in the future, as it has been poured out for so many years as Debbie worked at Crossroads.

Points to Ponder, Speak Out and Thank Dad

• That the plans made for us have come to pass, even when they looked to have failed completely.
• Final round of doctors visits for Debbie starts 22nd July.
• Craig is sick with the flu.
• Safety during internal travels.