Mission Partners - Martin & Maria Leake.
Their children - Tomas, Cecilia and Carolina.
Mission Secretaries - John & Denise Neeve.
Latest from Martin & Maria (after this satement)
SAMS & CMS are integrating
Two historic mission agencies are becoming a single mission community in 2010
“It takes a whole world to know the whole Christ,” said Max Warren, former CMS general secretary.
That sums up the vision that’s driving the integration of SAMS and CMS – deepening the cross-cultural connections that help us all discover a greater Jesus.
Cut one part or another off from the rest of the body, those connections are lost. Joining together, those connections are enhanced.
Together, we’re sure our new ‘whole’ will be far more than the sum of its parts – to the glory of God.
Looking to the future
In 2008, the SAMS General Council voted by a clear majority of 84 per cent in favour to integrate with CMS. CMS members – with an overwhelming 99 per cent in favour – agreed in early 2009.
On 1 February 2010, the Church Mission Society and the South American Mission Society will become a single new joint entity known as CMS – a community of mission service that will benefit from the rich history of both societies’ work in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
As we look to a rapidly changing future, this community will work to enable a new generation of God’s people to fulfil their calling in mission wherever they may be across those four continents.
Saturday, November 28th 2009
Nov - Dec update Tomas, Cecilia, Maria and Carolina at Elveden Center Parcs
We write this update four weeks after arriving in a very cold, snowy and icy UK for deputation. Since being here we have done several thousand miles (using a Mercedes Benz loaned by friends Mike and Gabby) gone through a range of feelings, ranging from joy at seeing family, including Tomas who arrived a couple of days after us, and a very strong desire to jump back on a plane and head home.
Getting ready for departure to England was quite a tiring effort, especially for Maria. Andrew had team meetings in the days just prior to leaving, so was not able to be of much help. We also had some details to sort out with the house which meant we had carpenters in the house on departure day, and in fact left builders finishing a patio floor. However, the hardest part was saying bye to the dogs, which tend to get depressed when we leave. We spent a night in Buenos Aires on the way, prior to catching our loooong flight to London.
 Cycling through the Forest
Tomas and Ceci making friends in St. Albans
Our first port of call in the UK was St Albans, staying with Felicity, a friend, whom we are now proposing as a candidate for sainthood. We caught up with other friends and had our mandatory medical checkups with Interhealth (everything OK there). Maria's mother popped over from Mallorca for a short visit, including a memorable evening meal at a restaurant in Rickmansworth in the midst of a heavy snowfall.
 Babes in the woods
We spent Christmas with Andrew's parents and his brother's family in Norwich. The day after Christmas we scooted across to Bath, for our first Church engagement, then back to Norfolk to attend a Robin Hood pantomime (good fun), prior to travelling back to St Albans for new years eve with fiends.
We started 2010 with a 4-night break at the Center Parcs holiday village in Thetford, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Further snow transformed the pine forests into a beautiful Narnia-like landscape. Being able to sit or play around in warm swimming pools in the middle of such a scene is quite a special feeling. We have booked another 4 nights, this time at Longleat, near Bath.
Deputation visits have gone well so far, and the interest and support of many people encourage us. We include a program for the rest of our stay at the end of this post. Things keep busy when we get back. Tomas starts university on the 1st March which will involve driving him down to Cordoba and settling him in there. Andrew and will be recieving visitor from the UK, and will be travelling around the Chaco, and Paraguay. He then takes off to Australia for the last week of March for meetings with Compassion International, prior to fieldwork for them in India, Rwanda and Kenya later in the year.
 Tomas, trying to stay warm and look cool
Prayer pointers:
- Thank God for the provision of housing and the use of a car.
- Pray for safety in all our travel (especially from speed cameras).
- Pray to be able to cope with the stress which comes with deputation.
Our itinerary:
January
17 A 2-minute interview and lunch talk at St Leonards (Exeter)
18 -22 Center Parcs - Longleat (and a couple of meeting in Oxford)
24 Preaching at Felbridge (AM) and Woodmansterne (PM)
27 Talk at Cromer Church
28-30 Andrew attends a training course in St Albans
31 Preaching in Ormskirk
February
2-4 Quick trip to Switzerland to visit Maria’s sister
7-11 Family time in Norfolk (Andrew's sister over from Uganda)
7 Preaching in Lowestoft (AM + PM)
12 Talk in St Albans (PM)
13 One more medical check up!
14 Depart back to ArgentinaTomas, Cecilia, Maria and Carolina at Elveden Center Parcs
We write this update four weeks after arriving in a very cold, snowy and icy UK for deputation. Since being here we have done several thousand miles (using a Mercedes Benz loaned by friends Mike and Gabby) gone through a range of feelings, ranging from joy at seeing family, including Tomas who arrived a couple of days after us, and a very strong desire to jump back on a plane and head home.
Getting ready for departure to England was quite a tiring effort, especially for Maria. Andrew had team meetings in the days just prior to leaving, so was not able to be of much help. We also had some details to sort out with the house which meant we had carpenters in the house on departure day, and in fact left builders finishing a patio floor. However, the hardest part was saying bye to the dogs, which tend to get depressed when we leave. We spent a night in Buenos Aires on the way, prior to catching our loooong flight to London.
Cycling through the Forest
Tomas and Ceci making friends in St. Albans
Our first port of call in the UK was St Albans, staying with Felicity, a friend, whom we are now proposing as a candidate for sainthood. We caught up with other friends and had our mandatory medical checkups with Interhealth (everything OK there). Maria's mother popped over from Mallorca for a short visit, including a memorable evening meal at a restaurant in Rickmansworth in the midst of a heavy snowfall.
Babes in the woods
We spent Christmas with Andrew's parents and his brother's family in Norwich. The day after Christmas we scooted across to Bath, for our first Church engagement, then back to Norfolk to attend a Robin Hood pantomime (good fun), prior to travelling back to St Albans for new years eve with fiends.
We started 2010 with a 4-night break at the Center Parcs holiday village in Thetford, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Further snow transformed the pine forests into a beautiful Narnia-like landscape. Being able to sit or play around in warm swimming pools in the middle of such a scene is quite a special feeling. We have booked another 4 nights, this time at Longleat, near Bath.
Deputation visits have gone well so far, and the interest and support of many people encourage us. We include a program for the rest of our stay at the end of this post. Things keep busy when we get back. Tomas starts university on the 1st March which will involve driving him down to Cordoba and settling him in there. Andrew and will be recieving visitor from the UK, and will be travelling around the Chaco, and Paraguay. He then takes off to Australia for the last week of March for meetings with Compassion International, prior to fieldwork for them in India, Rwanda and Kenya later in the year.
Tomas, trying to stay warm and look cool
Prayer pointers:
- Thank God for the provision of housing and the use of a car.
- Pray for safety in all our travel (especially from speed cameras).
- Pray to be able to cope with the stress which comes with deputation.
Our itinerary:
January
17 A 2-minute interview and lunch talk at St Leonards (Exeter)
18 -22 Center Parcs - Longleat (and a couple of meeting in Oxford)
24 Preaching at Felbridge (AM) and Woodmansterne (PM)
27 Talk at Cromer Church
28-30 Andrew attends a training course in St Albans
31 Preaching in Ormskirk
February
2-4 Quick trip to Switzerland to visit Maria’s sister
7-11 Family time in Norfolk (Andrew's sister over from Uganda)
7 Preaching in Lowestoft (AM + PM)
12 Talk in St Albans (PM)
13 One more medical check up!
14 Depart back to Argentina
|
