Greetings once again from the Botkin family, we hope that February has been a safe and fruitful month for you. Temperatures are unseasonably rising as we have experienced a great deal of sunlight in January and February, in contrast to much of the rest of the States as snow is falling right now on the east coast. There are pink and white blossoms appearing on some of the previously slumbering trees around Port Townsend and even some rhododendron bushes beginning to flower. The Olympics in Vancouver, BC are about wrapped up and with them the Discipleship Training School here at YWAM Discovery Bay. The team arrived last Wednesday pretty wiped out but full of exciting stories and experiences from their travels in Asia. All are safe and have deeply grown in their walk with the Lord as they watched Him move powerfully both in and through them. It was a joyful time Saturday as many friends and relatives packed into the chapel classroom to celebrate the graduation and commission of the students and many tears were shed as we listened to their stories and testimonies of how God met them on farms, in schools, orphanages, and leper villages. I must admit that as I watched the slide shows and video, I wished we had been able to go with them, but our outreach is yet to come. It was bittersweet seeing all of our fellow students and friends again after these months apart and then having to let them go again into whatever future God has prepared for them. But, we take consolation knowing that He’s good and will continue the work that He has already begun in and through them and that we will see them again soon whether here or there or in “the air”, as they say.
We continue to abide here in Discovery Bay as we wait for word from the YWAM base in Townsville as to whether our visa has been approved. In the meantime we’re busy homeschooling the kids and transporting them between gymnastic and swim practices. Aubry’s getting more and more limber and can almost do the splits sideways and front and back…Ouch! Also, Ryan, Aubry, and Sean are all getting really comfortable in the water and progressing well through their class levels, a really good thing considering how much water is around Townsville. We’re helping out here at the base as well and are navigating our way through the process of filling out the piles of government travel paperwork and visiting churches to share the vision and grow support. God has been speaking to us more clearly through His word as to what we shall be doing in Australia and encouraging us in this waiting period. We have also been blessed with many visitors. We’ve enjoyed time with family as Cameron’s brother and sister-in-law and two boys visited. Also, Cameron’s Mom, Lois and step-Dad, Ron have visited on a few occasions and just this last weekend we joyously celebrating Sean’s 5th birthday with many friends and family. It seems clear that this waiting period is, in many ways, an opportunity to rest and connect with loved ones from here in the States since when we move those visits will be much more infrequent.
All in all, we are doing quite well and are very optimistic that God is going to continue to open doors for us to travel down under soon. Our most recent departure date has been the first week in April, but with the visa process going as slow as it seems to be it may be a few weeks longer. We would ask that you would continue to pray for us, for Townsville, and for Australia as a nation, especially the youth. God is at work and through your prayers and support I’m certain great things are going to continue to happen in and through us.
Pastor Jeremy and Family
Prayer Requests:
Provision for our trip to Townsville; airfare, missionary health insurance, visa fees, etc.
Government acceptance of our visa agreement
God’s will and direction with the house in Forks. It continues to be listed for sale and has been shown multiple times but no leads as of yet.
Homeschooling help in Townsville
Wisdom and diligence in preparing to move
We continue to abide here in Discovery Bay as we wait for word from the YWAM base in Townsville as to whether our visa has been approved. In the meantime we’re busy homeschooling the kids and transporting them between gymnastic and swim practices. Aubry’s getting more and more limber and can almost do the splits sideways and front and back…Ouch! Also, Ryan, Aubry, and Sean are all getting really comfortable in the water and progressing well through their class levels, a really good thing considering how much water is around Townsville. We’re helping out here at the base as well and are navigating our way through the process of filling out the piles of government travel paperwork and visiting churches to share the vision and grow support. God has been speaking to us more clearly through His word as to what we shall be doing in Australia and encouraging us in this waiting period. We have also been blessed with many visitors. We’ve enjoyed time with family as Cameron’s brother and sister-in-law and two boys visited. Also, Cameron’s Mom, Lois and step-Dad, Ron have visited on a few occasions and just this last weekend we joyously celebrating Sean’s 5th birthday with many friends and family. It seems clear that this waiting period is, in many ways, an opportunity to rest and connect with loved ones from here in the States since when we move those visits will be much more infrequent.
All in all, we are doing quite well and are very optimistic that God is going to continue to open doors for us to travel down under soon. Our most recent departure date has been the first week in April, but with the visa process going as slow as it seems to be it may be a few weeks longer. We would ask that you would continue to pray for us, for Townsville, and for Australia as a nation, especially the youth. God is at work and through your prayers and support I’m certain great things are going to continue to happen in and through us.
Pastor Jeremy and Family
Prayer Requests:
Provision for our trip to Townsville; airfare, missionary health insurance, visa fees, etc.
Government acceptance of our visa agreement
God’s will and direction with the house in Forks. It continues to be listed for sale and has been shown multiple times but no leads as of yet.
Homeschooling help in Townsville
Wisdom and diligence in preparing to move
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