Chris writes - has been a busy few weeks but really enjoyed having my parents over with us. Think they really enjoyed their time here and were pleasantly surprised - as it was not what they expected! We visited some of the neighbouring countries and also went to a wedding and were invited out by one of the families in the village for a traditional meal. It was amazing how much we managed to pack in but as usual we ran out of time and did not get it all in. It was encouraging though as everyone told us that we would suddenly be aware how much we have learnt since we came here just over six months ago and also how much we have changed and how accepting we have become to the driving and lack of electricity and so on. Well we are now preparing for a busy few weeks with a medical fortnight and a mission team here for a month. We will then be flying home around mid July for six weeks in the UK so the next few months already look busy! Things are going well generally and getting better at working together as a team, language is growing but very slowly - still practice helps to get better!! Thanks for reading and Zoti ju Bekofte!!

Lorraine writes- seeing the sun set over the day care fills my heart with hope for this village. After a week of emotions running high, and low for the villagers, we long to see them feeling this hope too. It was very humbling for us to see and be there for the 10th anniversary of the killings. To see and hear the tears flowing just made our hearts melt. To see one of our staff members grieving over the body of her brother just returned 10 years on, that was being buried on the anniversary, makes you wonder what is happening in this world we live in. Praying for the people and this land seems all we can do, but boy what an amazing and great opportunuity, we need to do that!!!

Chris writes - Friday and the end of a rollercoaster week of emotions. The daycare has been closed all week for the school holidays so we took the opportunity to get away for a few days and went to Peje which is north from where we are. Had a good time relaxing and reading and practicing our langauge - which is coming along very well - what an answer to prayer! We visited a Serbian historic Church in Peje which is, after ten years, still guarded by NATO. We even had to hand our passports in to visit the place. It made me wonder for how much longer they would be guarding it. One of the locals i spoke to said NATO should leave and just 'let us get on with our lives now'. Sadly it seems that emotions are still strong however. We returned home on Wedneday. The medical team are not coming at the weekend so the pressure for us is off now. Yesterday it was the 10th Anniversary of the massacre in Krushe and our friend and staff members' brother who was killed in the war was buried in the village. After 10 long years the family have only now got an opportunity to see him at rest. The amazing thing is that they are actually the lucky ones. Their pain and grief is only eclipsed by the other families in the village for whom the bodies are still missing. There are 26 people buried in the graveyard but there are still a staggering 90 people still missing. These families cannot move on - everyday living with the hope that their loved one could walk through the door at any moment. It is so easy at times like this to become very anti-Serbian and want to see revenge and justice for these families - our friends and neighbours. Please do pray for us for grace and wisdom in abundance! On more mundane matters - today we have been in Prishtine trying to sort out the path for the medicines to come in. What in UK could be done over the phone or by post has to be done here in person. In addition we have now booked our flight back to the UK in July (we hope to see some of you!!) and our flight back here in August! It seems that 'Kosova is in our hearts' and will continue to play a large part in our lives for the forseeable future! Thanks for reading. Zoti ju Bekofte!!

Chris writes: today I am glad to say is Friday and the end of a busy week! We are looking forward to a weekend relaxing. We have one more week before we get a week off and then the fun starts! Medical teams and my parents staying with us will keep us busy almost until May. The last few weeks have been good - preparing for Dave & Cindy to return from USA - which they did this week. It is good to have them back and hand back the 'mantle' and start preparing for the summer here in Krushe. We are also talking about our return to Krushe which we both feel is right to do. In the midst of us talking about our life and the next few months, our future and our vision for our time here - the pain of the people in the village is still as raw as ever. This week one of the staff very couragously shared with us that the body of her brother would be returning to the village to be buried in two weeks time. She has wrestled with this for sometime and also with oppostion from others in her family as her brother is the only body which will be returning and whether it is right just for one person. Her pain of not being able to see her brother at rest and of trying to think of the feelings of other people in the village must be quite intense. This is our priveldge to be able to support her through these days. This morning we found out that there was a meeting in the village yesterday to discuss bring charges against the people who rioted in the village in 2006 when the UN brought some Serbian people through the village. At times like these it is easy to flare up and protest for justice and mercy. Please pray that we will have wisdom in doing what Jesus would have done. Thanks for reading.

Chris writes - last week was a short one. We were off on Monday for the Independence day holiday so I visited a friend in his new English school in the morning. In the afternoon we visited one of the families of the children - building relationships. Had a party in the evening with some pretty amazing dancing. Tuesday was the big day and we went into Gjakova to celebrate with the guys from the Smile centre. The evening was amazing just walking up and down the main street greeting people. The whole Independance thing is quite strange and it feels a little unsteady - as you might be aware many countries still do not recognise it - hopefully given time they will. But Kosovar people are very patriotic and their flag, and many other countries flags who helped them, were proudly displayed everywhere. We got home to bed very late wishing we had another day off! Wednesday was a regular day with the addition of a volunteer from the UK who brought us some fantastic treats over - thanks Charlie!! Out for coffee to Prizren in the afternoon - Kosova life! On Thursday evening we were invited out to one of the families for a Burek (my favourite!) and some amazing Kosovar hospitality - the life! On Friday we took our volunteer back to Gjakova and went shopping - Joy! Saturday after cleaning the auto went out to Prizren with another couple and home for food. On Sunday we were at our church and after - for coffee - the life! In the evening we caught up with some langauguage and the enevitable three hour power cut - with the invertor only working for one hour this was pretty tough - Kosova! Still battling with my gremlins and find myself having to keep asking for forgiveness! Still struggling with trying to be a loving husband/team-mate. Some days are better than others - sometimes it is silly things which trip me up! Keep on keeping on!! Thanks for reading and praying!!

Lorraine writes- where has the time gone!!! Three months has just flown by. We so love being here, learning how to be part of a different culture. We have started to visit each of the children attending the day care (a long process as we have 45 on the register) Its wonderful to meet the children in their home environment; to see where they live, meet their brothers and sisters. Meeting their parents has been a privilege. Being able to encourage them regarding their child/children has given us a great opportunity to engage in conversation and to begin to establish a relationship with them and to share about what life is like in the day care. Kosova's Independence day is just around the corner (17th Feb) and we are keen to be part of a country celebrating freedom, after experiencing so much pain and oppression. Quite how they will celebrate is yet to be seen, but we are looking forward to it!

Chris writes: we have now been in Kosova for over three months and it is really feeling like home. That is not to say it has been easy. Working and living as a team for me and Rainie is new to us so naturally there have been some adjustments to make and it has not always been easy. This has been particularly hard as we live and work in the same building - often with other people around us so moments together can be precious. This has of course all stretched our relationship - sometimes more than othertimes! I must admit I have not found it easy trying to be a good boss and be a loving husband! We are also still without Dave and Cindy who hopefully will be back in one month. Yippee! We have also had big problems with getting our money - thanks Abbey! We have also struggled with the language and finding the time in the evening has often been a battle for us both. Praise God we are living through it and growing in grace for this new life we have taken on. Last night we had a mains power cut and just got on with what we were doing - sometimes by candlelight sometimes with the generator. We seem to have hit a milestone with the language and are starting to remember some of the words inspite of our dyslexia! Now that is an answer to prayer! At one stage I thought I would never remember a word! I guess our testimony is: it has not always been easy but then we never expected it to be - but we are living and growing through it. Whoever said living any kind of life - living life God's way - was going to be easy? Nobody I know. When people ask where was God my only answer can be He was right there with us all the time - His hand just so clearly seems to be on what we are doing here we have found favour with the staff and children and had some answers to prayer and watched His provision on the way too. It is not to get complacent of course or make you think that we have got it all cracked - we still have much to do and it won't be easy - but all this bodes well as we think and pray about what happens after September but that is for another day! Thanks for reading and I pray that you can know and share something of our relationship with Our Heavenly Father. :)