14th June 2014
Dear All As you know our family has been on an incredible journey of growth and stepping out into new things with Father God this past year. We had a life transforming time studying on the six month Foundations for Counselling Ministry School that we attended at YWAM Perth. While there we earnestly began to seek Father God about our future as a family. As we prayed we felt that a return to the UK to continue working with YWAM was the direction He was taking us in. So we have been preparing to leave Australia to join YWAM Harpenden in Hertfordshire. Their letter accepting our application ended with the line: “We strongly believe that your presence will be a great asset and blessing to this base” Our involvement with YWAM UK will begin with at the beginning of September with a week of orientation in Harpenden, followed by their annual staff conference week. Then, for the first three months or so, we will just serve the base; Chris, putting to use his carpentry skills in the property maintenance department, and Carol probably working with admin, hospitality, kitchen etc while also looking after the kids. Phoebe is due to start school in September so we’ll need to make that transition a happy one for her too. Following this we hope to move into more of a ministry role on the base. The main purpose for which we have felt called to YWAM in the UK is in the area of Pastoral care/counselling. During our 20+ years associated with YWAM in the Asia/Pacific region we have become aware of the many pastoral needs of YWAM’s workers and students, whether in long or short-term mission. YWAM is an incredible organisation that annually has well over 20,000 volunteer workers in more than 1100 locations in over 180 countries all with the focus of Knowing God and making Him known. However, as with any organisation where people are involved there are always issues and needs arising, guidance and counselling required and daily opportunities to listen to, encourage and pray with people. We have several areas of more specific ministry interests that we would like to see developed including grief and trauma counselling, and the sensitive topic that is addiction, specifically to pornography, not only with those in YWAM, but also in our local churches and communities. We also hope to come along side those who are growing in their passion and walk with Father God and disciple them through life issues as He prompts them to go deeper in their relationships with Him. A brief example of where this has already taken place was during our time in YWAM Perth. Carol had the opportunity to spend several hours with a staff member to work though the trauma she experienced from a fatal Jet Ski accident that had taken place 5 years previously. God had begun to highlight for her the need to move on from the accident, but she didn’t know how to begin to process the emotions and memories the accident provoked. During their meetings together God gave Carol keys to bring healing, release and freedom to this beautiful woman. So, why are we sharing all this with you? There are several reasons. Firstly, because we are stepping out into something very new and very exciting for us and we are inviting you to continue journeying with us as you have been doing for some time now. As we have taken these steps of faith forward we have often felt the enemy’s opposition and so have asked people to join with us and pray. This is of primary importance to us we need the rest of the body of believers to stand together with us. So we’d like to ask you to regularly pray for us and send us any words or encouragements that you get. Stand with us daily, weekly or when ever you feel prompted to. Your prayer is vital. Earlier we mentioned that our taking up this role in YWAM Harpenden is conditional. To cover our rent and fees with YWAM, and everyday living costs, and before we can get YWAM sponsorship for Chris’ visa to live in the UK we have to have to have regular financial support of £1200 per month in place. Ideally this needs to be confirmed by a month from now or the end of July at the latest. To this end we are writing to our friends and family throughout the world, asking them to consider supporting us in prayer and with regular monthly or one-off gifts to help us reach this monthly goal. Asking for support is an incredibly humbling experience, but one which Father God is teaching us many things through. So please would you pray about financially supporting us too? An approximate breakdown of the needs of our family of four looks like this: · Rent (2 bedroom YWAM flat) £ 487.22 per month · Council tax £ 100 per month · Food £ 400 · Extras (nappies, clothes, toiletries etc) £200 · Total £1200 (approx) In addition we would like to have a car to visit Carol’s parents regularly and to do the school run and shopping on those cold rainy dark winter days! · Car running costs £200 per month (conservative estimate?) Thank you for taking the time to read through this rather long letter, and thank you in anticipation of your taking the time to pray about and discuss our requests. If you would like to support us financially let us know and we will send you the details of how this can be done. Please contact us with any questions you have, ‘word’s from the Lord’ you get for us, encouragements and anything else. We always love hearing from you. With much love and many blessings, The Hatton Family - Chris, Carol, Phoebe and Jethro Our prayer needs: · That we would continue to hear God through this transitional time. · The kids British Passport applications are caught up in the processing crisis in the UK. We need these before we can apply for Chris’ visa. · Support raising response – We really need to see the total amount pledged monthly · A car for us in the UK and selling our cars in Australia · Chris’ visa process · A school place for Phoebe in the UK · Costs for moving some of our belongings and our flights to the UK |
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