Family Break to Dodoma

Dear family and friends

It has been rather busy for us over the past few weeks. Edith arrived safely back to Dar with her new passport which was great news and one step closer to sorting out her visa. On Edith's return we then had to make four trips to town to sort out further things required for her visa which are now also all complete. We are now waiting for a few items to arrive by post from the UK as the immigration authorities want originals and not copies of certain things. Please pray for us as we have one final item to sort out and this is hanging on a decision by MAF UK, which will either mean we will be able to get the visa or not, if we can not get it we have a big problem and we will not all be able to settle back into the UK.

During the last few weeks we have also received from MAFI the decision about the future of the work in Tanzania. It has been decided that the Dodoma and Dar bases will be closed as at 31st May. We would continue to operate from Arusha and with the SIL plane based in Mbeya. Paul has been involved in reviewing figures for the new operation and come up with figures for some adjustments which we are waiting to here on. Unfortunately the closure of the bases will mean a significant number of the national staff will be made redundant so please pray for them as they come to terms with this and have to look for new work.

Around a week after Edith returned Paul travelled to Dodoma for another week to work on his monthly work there and also to deal with some additional things as well, he returned to Dar on Saturday.

This week it is the end of term holiday so the children are off so Paul has taken a week of holiday as well as it may be the last chance for several months. We have decided to travel up to Dodoma tomorrow with the Ayling family (Stewart is the Dar base manager). This will be a chance for the family to say goodbye to those in Dodoma as it may be there last chance before leaving Tanzania as well as the base being closed at the end of May. We will come back on Saturday.

Please pray for safe travels for us all and also for the a good decision from MAF UK so we will be able to apply for the visa.

God Bless you all and thanks for your prayers and support.

With love from Paul, Edith, John-Luke and Gabriella.