New Beginnings

This year has certainly been a year of big decisions and major changes in our lives. We praise the Lord for his faithful care and direction.

No going back

When we wrote in April, we were beginning to face the possibility that we might not be able to return to Africa and we asked you to pray that the Lord would guide us clearly. Not long after writing, we heard that SIL had decided not to return to Côte d'Ivoire this year.

Based on advice from other missionaries, we had always been planning to leave Africa in mid 2005 for Christopher to begin year nine in Britain. We now knew that it would be at least 2004 before we could get back to Africa. As we reflected on our situation we concluded that returning to Africa for such a short period would not be a wise use of our resources and energy. So with a mixture of relief and disappointment we took the decision that we should stay in the UK for the next few years at least.

Was our time of full- time missions work now over, or should we continue working with Wycliffe but based in Britain? Earlier in the year Paul was able to get some career counseling within Wycliffe. The conclusion was that he should move towards a role where his computing skills could be more fully used. In the light of this he was asked to consider a computer related role at the Wycliffe Centre. Around the same time we learned that Africa Inland Mission was looking for someone to be responsible for Information Technology (IT) at their International office in Bristol.

Where next?

As we reflected we reached a firm conviction that God had not called us to move out of full-time mission work, but we still had to decide whether to move up to the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire border and remain working with Wycliffe or to join the work of AIM and continue living in Bristol. The decision was made harder by the recognition that either choice would have profound implications in many areas. We sought advice from Christian friends, thought deeply and prayed that God would show us which way to go. We concluded that God was ready to bless us in either path and had left the decision to us. Finally, just days before Luke was born, we decided to join AIM and remain in Bristol.

Luke arrives

Luke Samuel Shaddick arrived on May 15th - exactly the day he was due - weighing 6lb 9oz (2980g). Although Margo wouldn't say it was easy, he did conveniently wait just long enough to let us drop Christopher and Emma at school on the way to the hospital! Thank you to all who sent gifts and cards after his birth.

Like his brother and sister before him, Luke hasn't been a very good sleeper, but he does seem to be a very happy baby most of the time and is bringing us all a lot of joy. He was a little slow to begin gaining weight at first, but has certainly made up for it since. We hope you enjoy the pictures on the front page. If you would like to see them in colour take a look at the versions of this newsletter on our web site: www.shaddick.net There are '.pdf' format files there too, which you can use to print a colour version of this newsletter, perhaps for your church notice board.

New Work

I (Paul) began working at the AIM International office in June. It is quite a small office with only a dozen people working there, but it coordinates the whole mission's work in more than a dozen African countries and eleven sending countries worldwide. I am the first person the mission has had in this role so there is plenty to do. Last week I presented my first set of recommendations to the International IT committee. These were discussed and mostly adopted as resolutions which will form the basis of our IT strategy over the coming year.

In February I will be travelling to Kenya for a couple of weeks to attend the African Executive Officers' Forum and probably to carry out an IT audit of one of the offices there.

Another important part of my job is developing systems for use internationally. Currently I am working on an international web site, an organisational intranet and a system to match up available personnel with personnel needs throughout the organisation.

Sometimes people express the view that missions should commit the fewest possible resources to administration and support roles, particularly in 'home' countries. Someone suggested to me that such people should think about how effective the British armed forces would be if all personnel were sent to the front line and there was no such thing as the Ministry of Defence.

House Headaches

Just to add a little more to our cumulative stress levels we are trying to move house! We have been living in rented houses since 1991 and with the decision to stay in Bristol, we were looking forward to moving in to our own place. The first step was to sell the house in Bridgend that we began buying when we got married. Unfortunately our tenants refused to move out and only finally left when we threatened legal action. Finally in August, we were able to begin applying all Margo had learned from watching House Doctor on television. Over about six weeks, with lots of help from parents and friends, we fitted a new kitchen, painted every room and replaced all the carpets. By the time we had finished we almost wished we were moving in ourselves. Within a week of putting it on the market in mid September, we had a buyer and soon afterwards we found a house to buy in Bradley Stoke and agreed a price, so we hoped that we might be in our own home by Christmas. In mid-October the sale fell through, but within a couple of weeks we had a new buyer. As we write, it looks like that sale should be completed before Christmas, but unfortunately the people we are hoping to buy from have still not found a house to buy. We have begun looking again, but still hope that we can buy the first house. How long should we be willing to wait? Please pray with us that this might be resolved soon.

Bhete News

Carlos is continuing work to complete his Doctoral thesis in Bhete phonology. The major need before he can start Bible translation is a suitable speaker of the Gbadi dialect to work with him.

If you get our e-mail news you will know that Carlos and Mariam's little son David has had problems with properly controlling his foot ever since being given an injection in his bottom for a high fever. When I visited they were already seeing some improvement from physiotherapy.

Eliezer is taking an eight week course in computer maintenance. He already has some skills in using computers, but -A "Zo "De feels it is important to have someone with more understanding of how to fix computer problems. We promised to help them find funds to cover this course and would be happy to pass on any gifts. The total cost including accommodation and course materials is about £500.

Christopher & Emma: We are sure you will agree with us that Luke is the cutest baby ever! He is also the cleverest so we decided to let him write the ShadKids bit this time. Over to you Luke. . .

Luke: aawaawooo

Emma: Wow, Luke speaks Bhete! But perhaps we still need to do this bit for those people who don't understand Bhete baby talk. Let's tell people what we've been up to since last time.

Chris - to my friends but Christopher to my parents:
Well, we both had fun at camp in Wales during the summer with our cousins. Then I started at Patchway High School in September. I enjoy having lots of different lessons and teachers. I'm learning German because I already know French, and I'm also learning to play steel drums.

Emma: I am in my last year at Holy Trinity primary school. I am house captain and my house is called Luke! Can you guess what the other three houses are called? This term I've been busy with rehearsals for our school play: 'Oliver!' I played one of Fagin's gang and Bet who is Nancy's friend. If you don't know who Nancy is, then you need to rent the video! I've got my SATs coming up and hope I can do as well as Christopher.

Travelling Home

I've ticked off almost everything now... Emma's roller blades that she's hardly used yet; Christopher's Lego; some of their first books - Luke will enjoy them soon; Margo's food processor; a special table cloth; a carved wooden elephant; Emma's sparkly top. But what is really precious to me? What can I fit within my luggage allowance? A few computer books - not exactly pre- cious but expensive to replace - and ah yes, the little copy of Pilgrim's Progress which I won as a Sunday School prize for the FIEC Scripture Exam when I was 9 years old.

John Bunyan

During a 10 day trip to Abidjan at the beginning of October I sold or gave away almost all the furniture, appliances, books, toys and clothes that we'd had to leave behind when we evacuated from Abidjan a year ago. It was painful at times - sorting the toys even brought me to tears one day. Saying goodbye to good friends is a recurring sadness of missionary life, but this time I was the one leaving and I wondered just who I might meet again before we all reach the end of this life's journey.

It was a real blessing to see how God is at work amongst the Bhete people stirring them up to support the ongoing work of literacy and Bible Translation. I was astonished when they organised a reception to bid me farewell and 150 people turned up from all over Abidjan as well as from Gagnoa. It was moving and humbling to hear many people speak of their commitment to seeing God's translated Word in Bhete changing their society for good. "We have spent enough on our dead," said one man referring to the huge amounts of money spent on elaborate funerals, "it's time we Bhete used our money for the benefit of the living!" Although we are now based in the UK we shall be continuing to follow and support the Bhete work and will keep you updated on how things are going.

We had expected that our path would lead us back to live and work again in Africa this Autumn, but the Lord has led us down a different road. We have learned that some of our supporters don't feel they can continue to accompany us. In some cases we can fully understand the reasons, but in some very significant cases we have been painfully surprised. It is tempting to dwell on the cost and to worry about where we will find the means to continue along the path of mission whilst based in the UK, but just as through prayer Christian found the key called promise which enabled him to break out of Doubting Castle, so we will continue to trust in God's promise to supply all our needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Côte d'Ivoire is still a divided country. Two days ago 19 people were killed when masked men tried to take over the TV station in Abidjan, but as we write today it appears that rebel and government forces have finally begun to disarm. Please keep praying.

The Bottom £ine

Some have been asking how we are financed within AIM. Although AIM pays us a salary as members we must have individual support to cover that salary and a contribution towards the mission's other costs. Like Wycliffe, AIM is a 'faith mission' which means that we each look to the Lord to provide our finances through churches and individuals, but agree not to ask for money. Some who gave us financial support when we were with Wycliffe are now supporting us through AIM, but overall we appear to have lost a lot of support. As a consequence we are building up an increasing debt to AIM each month.

We firmly believe that the Lord wants us where we are, serving in the AIM International office, and will provide for our needs, but on a human level we are discouraged that our support is currently falling so short. We know that we cannot continue with AIM unless gifts come in to cover the red balance we have built up and meet our future costs. So please pray with us that the Lord will move churches and individuals to commit themselves to regular giving.

Gifts towards our support can be sent to the AIM UK Office:

AIM UK, Halifax Place, Nottingham NG1 1QN
Tel: 0115 9838120

Please indicate who your gift is for. Note that, if you are a UK taxpayer, a simple gift aid declaration can greatly increase its value to us.

Pray with us...

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