The Big News

If you haven’t already heard, our big news is that we decided to stay in France. Home is a relative term for each member of our family, but for the foreseeable future, France will be our place of residence, where we leave from and come back to. You might remember from our letter last year that the plan was to be in Kona, then North America, then Europe, and then head back to Aotearoa NZ at the end of 2025. However, shortly after arriving in France, it became increasingly clear that God was stirring a change of plans. Cheeky. Watch the video below for a little insight into how the conversation unfolded within our family and what our plans are now. 

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As they say, all change is loss and experienced as grief. As beautiful and exciting as the move has been, it has also come with significant sorrow as well. A major point of grief for me personally has been the distance this creates in our connection with our Ngati Ruahine whānau, who have so radically and generously embraced us into their lives. For weeks I felt as though my heart had been ripped from my chest. But life is long, and who can say what seasons lie ahead. What can we do but hold all things openly and trust completely in the love and care of our Heavenly Father, whose every thought, intention, and ambition towards His children is total, and absolute love. Each season brings death, and life, and there is so much to be grateful for as we immerse ourselves in the incredibly rich relationships God has surrounded us with here in Coulommiers, France.