| A very happy Christmas to you! Last
year we talked about change and challenge. It is a
theme that seems to have continued through 2007. Victor
is now on his fourth job in two years. He started
this year as the Executive Secretary (Vice president) of
the South England Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists. While the job was a real challenge and
included much more overtime than was good for the family
it also had its satisfactions in helping the church in
Southern England move forward under the slogan,
"Tell Southern England". However, a
surprise was in store in the summer when at elections
for the leadership of the Adventist Church in Britain
and Ireland he was asked if he would be willing to serve
as Communication director. Would he?!
Despite some areas of sorrow at leaving South England
you will now find Victor with a much bigger smile on his
face working in an area that he loves. |
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| Since October he has been responsible for
the weekly newsletter, BUC News, and for updating all
areas of the Churches
website. He has also started running media workshops
and in the new year will be launching a new series of
the half hour programme, "In
Conversation" on the Hope Channel. He also was
part of the production team for the latest satellite
link up on the Hope Channel, "Time to
Talk". See
pictures. This was broadcast live from Maryland USA but
with satellite studios in London and South Africa.
Apart from work related travel within the UK Victor was
also able to attend a fascinating Adventist-Jewish
Friendship Conference in Jerusalem, which included, as
you can see, the full mud therapy treatment in the dead
sea. He also attended media advisories and
leadership training in Slovenia. He is looking
forward to 2007 with enthusiasm and has exciting plans
for the next five years. |
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| Luisa
continues to work in a children's nursery and has been
commended for her skill in caring for the children. That
is, I guess, what comes naturally to her. The highlight
of her year (and Victor's) was a holiday in Scotland to
celebrate 25 years of marriage. It all seems to have
gone by very quickly but Luisa
and Victor can assure you that they are both still in
love. The holiday was in the Fort William area of the
highlands and included a climb of Scotland's highest mountain,
Ben Nevis. The views were stunning and Victor said,
"we need to do it again on our Golden
Wedding". Luisa said, "It was
fantastic. Never again." Luisa continues with
her crafts and developing the most expensive postage stamp
garden in Bracknell. |
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| Steven
sees light at the end of the tunnel with his Bachelor of Divinity
degree. He should graduate this summer and hope to
continue with an MA. He continues with his love of music and now
regularly worship leads in the Contemporary Service at
Newbold Church. He heads up the Youth Leadership team at
Newbold Church and has put his primary energies into
developing "FOCUS", a Friday night get
together where Newbold teens can bring their school
friends. It is early days but the programme seems to be
developing a good audience. See
pictures. |
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| He also took the Youth to an ecumenical
conference, "Soul Survivor" in the summer as well as
helping at the Trans-European Pathfinder Camporee in
Denmark. Amy joined him at both these events and it was particularly
nice that in Denmark they got to know their Danish cousins a
lot better. Steven and Jena have now been
going out for five years as you can see in this picture of
last years Christmas celebration.. We are hoping for progress
sometime in the future . .
. . but there are degrees for both of them to complete first.
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| It
has also be a year of change for Tim.
Over the winter he was enrolled at
Truro college studying outdoor activities. He was also
part of the Youth Task Force at the St. Austell
Church. In the spring he moved to the Isle of Wight and
then to Hayling Island where he had great fun learning and
putting his outdoor skills into practice with a new group of
school children under his care each week. He made some
very good friends there and is currently waiting for a job
interview and assessment for a similar firm near Padstow in
Cornwall. |
|
 Amy
is continuing to study History, Philosophy & Religion, and Psychology.
However, her career plans are modifying a bit. We'll let
you know in next years update! She continues to be very
good friends with John Ainsworth. They have now been
going out for over a year. He is studying chemical
engineering at Surrey University but seems to appear at our
house most weekends. |
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| Kalie
has just celebrated her second birthday. She is still as
mad as ever
and has all the energy and bounce that comes when you cross
a Collie with a Spaniel. She still believes that
the whole world loves her and will play up for as much
attention as she can get. Very often it works. |
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| The
main Holiday
this year for Luisa and Victor was their two weeks hiking in
the highlands of Scotland. There are very keen to get
back there and explore some more. In addition to the hiking
they also has the opportunity to visit Fingal's cave on the
island of Staffa and Iona, the home of Celtic
Christianity. As
usual the whole family (and a lot of friends) went to Brecon
family camp in Wales at the end of May, and this Christmas the
whole family is flying out to Portugal. This will be the
first Christmas celebration in Portugal since the children
were small. It will be lovely to see all the family and
to get some winter sunshine. |
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| As
we close this Christmas edition and wish you happiness and blessings
for the New Year just note that our patio table on the left
looks empty and that Luisa likes cooking and
company! We always enjoy hearing from you so
please do not hesitate to call, write or visit -- we'd love to hear from you.
Thank you once again for your prayers and
friendship, and we
continue to look for God's leading in our lives as we head
into a new year. |
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| With Christmas greetings,
Victor, Luisa, Steven, Tim & Amy. |
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| Nostalgia:
2003
Christmas letter, 2005
Christmas letter |
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