Last time we wrote, we told you that we were having long service leave – 10 weeks away from ministry in Australia. This didn’t work out at all as we had planned, but Proverbs 16:9 was powerfully in evidence!

We arrived in England the same day that David’s father, John, became ill. He was in hospital for four weeks and died on 12 June. We held his funeral and thanksgiving service two days before we left England. Our sense that this has been God’s timing is powerfully strong. It was such a privilege for David to be able to care for his Dad in hospital for 26 out of the 27 day admission. These were not easy days – John was on three different wards and initially it was very unclear what was wrong and whether he might get better. David was sitting on John’s bed with him when he died. We are usually a long way away, so it was a joy to be in the right place at the right time. We might have had other plans for our long service leave, but God knows what is best for us, for John and Gill, and for our family. We are thankful beyond words for how this has unfolded. At the same time, we are sad, continue to grieve, and have arrived back in Australia weary and tired.