A few family updates to start

Groote Schuur Primary School – the kids have all worked back into the regular rhythm of school life here.  We have moved back in the middle of the SA school year, so AP, Iain, and Mairin have jumped ahead half a year to the middle of 6th, 3rd, and 1st grades.  Academically they are all dong fine, so most of our attention is on making friends, learning new subjects (the Xhosa language, for example), and extracurricular activities like ballet, cricket, and water polo.

House – After much prayer and house-hunting, God has given us the house we have been looking for!  We will move into 2 Devonshire Rd. in Woodstock on 1 September… pics to come then.  We are thankful to have a place in the neighborhood God has put on our hearts, space to have people over, and a place to call home again.

And last – but certainly not least – Arthur Paul turned 12 on 1 August.  He is getting old, and so are we   We love and are so proud of Arthur.  Can’t wait to see what this year has in store for him.

exploring:

As you may remember, we returned to South Africa with several pictures on our hearts, all of which are part of the bigger dream to see an amazing movement of God here in South Africa: living/sharing God’s love in our neighborhood, helping people know and experience God in creative ways (esp. those who are often overlooked), mentoring young leaders to be the people God has created them to be, helping local ministries and NGO’s, and being part of a network of local and global Kingdom practitioners.  And of course, we always want to leave room for whatever else God has in mind!  Quite soon after returning, we felt God confirmed that He (and we) desire us to be here in Cape Town.  Now, we are exploring what that looks like.

Securing a house is key to a neighborhood presence.  We look forward to settling in, getting to know the people around us, and seeing what God is up to in Woodstock.

I have been asked to lecture part time at the Cornerstone Institute – a small Christian college here in Cape Town.  I will teach one class starting in September and it looks like there is opportunity for more in the next year.  This should be an excellent opportunity to help shape young local leaders through teaching and mentoring.  I am especially glad to work with many who come from less advantaged backgrounds who often aren’t able to get quality education and training.

I am also spending time at the Warehouse.  I have come to know this ministry and several of their staff over the past several years in South Africa.  They are a great bunch of people seeking to help the local church address issues of poverty and justice.  Right now, I’m just helping out where I can and asking God if this might be a place for me/us to connect with more deeply.

And finally, I’ve been busy meeting up with all sorts of fantastic people here who are serious about seeking God’s Kingdom.  I think there is a need for more intentional relational connection so that all these faithful servants can share, encourage, and pray for one another as part of the bigger picture.  Wherever two or more are gathered…

who/how?

As you can see, we are busy exploring possibilities and seeing how the pictures on our hearts come into focus or adjust.  Like I said in our last update, staying in Cape Town means leaving CRM.  So, another part of the equation is: who will we be part of as we pursue God’s calling here in Cape Town?  This is important for several reasons – two of which are especially worth mentioning here.  First, we don’t want to do this alone.  We want to work with/for others who have similar heart/values as us.  Also, we want the people who support us (financially and otherwise) to know that we are being cared for and operating as part of a legit organization!

Over the next several months, we will be talking with local and international organizations to find the best fit (and yes, we are open to your suggestions here).  We will end our commitment to CRM on 31 October and need to have something in place before then.  We will let you know as things progress.

If you support us financially, please keep giving through CRM until we have notified you of new arrangements.

For now, a few of the things we are doing to make sure we are covered…

• We have an intercessory prayer team that receives regular email updates and is committed to covering us in prayer.  Thank you to everyone who is part of this team.  And, if you’d like to be part of this group, please email me.
• We are starting a CARE TEAM.  Beyond prayer, we need people who take the initiative to encourage us, communicate with us, and check on the state of our hearts.  If this is something you enjoy doing, would you consider being part of this ministry to us? Feel free to email me your interest, any questions, or suggestions!
• We are plugging into local relationships and communities.  A few are mentioned above and we’re busy discerning what we will be part of here in Cape Town.  We also have an older couple committed to helping us process our ongoing heart journeys.

you (yes, you)-

Please keep praying for us
Please keep supporting us
Please let us know if you are interested in being part of our prayer team or care team
You are loved by us if you are reading/receiving this!

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An update from the Stewart family, intrepid travelers now returned to South Africa’s shores.  What has this past month brought about and revealed?

First, the pragmatics:

• We arrived back to South Africa on 3 June
• We spent a week and a half in Pretoria (where we had lived since 2003 before our recent sabbatical in California) visiting and reconnecting with friends there, saying goodbye to several who are headed different directions.
• We spent a week and a half in Port Elizabeth with our friends Sean and Jean Daly.  This was the beginning of our exploration in South Africa of what “might be” as far as life and ministry on the ground.  We were also able to attend a world cup soccer match!
• We drove to Cape Town on 24 June.  We have been exploring neighborhoods, meeting with people, and seeing if God confirms this as the place we are to settle for now.

When we left California, we went with a sense that Cape Town is where God wanted us to be.  Our picture of how this was going to look has changed significantly enough over the past year and a half that we wanted to put ourselves on the ground, ready to listen to God again.

We have three big questions we are asking in this discernment process:

1. First, is this where we think we should BE – do we hear God’s call, do we feel at home, can we see ourselves flourishing here as a family?  Are we hearing God invite us
2. Second, what is it that God has for us to DO  – what unique opportunities open up, fit well, excite us (especially in light of what we have experienced and learned about ourselves during our recent sabbatical)?  We’ve had lots of ideas and people in mind, and we want to see what changes or materializes once here.  In other words, God has given us pictures – now how will they become more clear?  What things in our hearts will God fan into flames?  So, we are beginning to get together with people and ministries to see what we might be part of, partner with, or start here!
3. And the final question – how is that going to work pragmatically – who will we work with and for, how will we get paid, etc.?  We know that if this is where God wants us, it will mean something new as far as our organizational commitments.

We are stepping into a pretty big unknown for us.  But it’s our best attempt to respond to how we hear God’s Spirit’s leading.  We trust that God will guide, clarify, and provide as we continue to seek Him.  I would also point out that the above questions are in an important order.  They have kept us focused on asking questions of HOME first.  While staying at a wonderful but temporary (and small) house here in Cape Town, we have been spending lots of time looking at houses and neighborhoods.  Place is important as it will be our primary context of love, rest, and ministry.  God wants us to “be” here before we can “do” here.  Also, we have been paying a lot of attention to our family and being healthy and settled before committing to work-related tasks.  We’ve begun to see what life here will be like – places to play, school, and other daily life stuff.  I believe God is pleased with these being our priorities and has graciously allowed us to experience quite a bit in such a short amount of time.

As a result, I can tell you that we think the answer to Big Question #1 is YES, Cape Town is where we think God wants us to be for now. Within the next few weeks we will share more on what exactly that means, and our thoughts and explorations of Questions 2 & 3.  I can say that some great opportunities (both anticipated and unexpected) have already begun to surface and we are excited for what God will continue to invite us to.  In the meantime, we are starting our kids in local school and looking for a house to rent.  We haven’t got it all figured out yet, but we’re really excited!

Please pray for us:

• that God would provide the right house in the right neighborhood and that we can move in by the end of July
• for the process of moving our things from Pretoria, getting settled, meeting new neighbors
• for the kids starting in a new school, new routines, new friends
• that God would open our hearts to the people and things He has for us and discernment as we consider our new roles and how this is all going to work
• for protection – spiritual and physical – as we live and share God’s love and ways here

Please be patient with us.  We’ll keep you in the loop as much as we can, but there are lots of questions that we are still asking – important questions.  With inconsistent internet and unsettled housing, it’s a little hit and miss as far as communication right now, but we’ll do our best to keep you updated as we go.

Please continue contacting, encouraging, supporting, and loving us – all crucially important as we begin something new.  We are thankful that YOU would take time to care for us and believe in what God is doing in and through us.
may we all be amazed with God at work,

Arthur for the Stewart5

Arthur & Arthur Paul at the Ivory Coast v. Portugal world cup match

Mairin and Melissa visited the orphanage where Mariah Breitenberg volunteers.  Mairin has also recently lost her two front teeth but we didn’t seem to have a great pic…next time

The boys attended a 1-week cricket camp.  Both did great and Iain won a special award for his “dedication to the game of cricket”

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As we approach the end of our 10-month sabbatical, you may be wondering, “What’s next for the Stewart family?” Or you may be asking, “What, they’ve been in America for 10 months??” Well friends, let me say a bit about each of those (stay with me, this gets progressively more interesting as it goes). First, our sabbatical has been amazing – restful, memorable, shaping, fun.  We have so much to write about our time that I will start a little “series” tomorrow on sabbatical highlights (in no particular order).  Much of what we have experienced and learned is shaping our sense of what’s next.  And I know that many of you really want those details.  So…

The next 3 weeks

• We are having a goodbye party this Saturday (15th) in Fresno!  It’s on open house, come by whenever, stay as long as you’d like deal 12:00-5:00.  Here’s the event link on fb or contact me if you want details.
• We are speaking at Friends Community Church (Fresno) this Sunday morning, then having a birthday party for the boys in the afternoon (including Arthur Paul’s baptism)
• Next week will be our last week in Fresno
• We are heading down to SoCal May 22-30. We will be at Foothills Community Church (Pasadena) on May 23. We have some people to visit and a few fun things to do during the week, but if you would like to see us, let me know and we might be able to make it happen
• On June 1, we are getting on an airplane and flying back to South Africa

June and July

We will spend two months (June and July) discerning God’s call for our family to be in South Africa. This is what we have felt for some time, and now we need to listen together on the ground. Is Cape Town the right place for us now?  We also want to reconnect with lots of friends and colleagues. By the end of July, we will decide if we are staying in South Africa or if there is a better place for us. If we stay, we will be leaving our current missions agency to partner with local people and ministries.  If we are leaving, we will say goodbye to South Africa and join an existing Church Resource Ministries team outside SA.

That’s the pragmatics.  But what is this Cape Town thing all about?  Very simply, we want to see people – ourselves included -  live the lives we were created to live. We believe the God who created and loves us makes this possible as we follow Jesus and allow his Spirit to continually awaken our deepest hearts and freeing us to become the amazing, beautiful, different, yet TRUE US. We also believe that we need each other to help us be different and together make a difference in our neighborhoods and world. This can take place LOTS of ways, so here’s where praying and exploring and asking God: who God has made us to be + our experiences, skills, and desires + the realities and needs of our family + the people and place we think God is calling us to be with = WHAT?

We think it might look something like this for us:

Living in a diverse neighborhood, loving neighbors, bringing people together. We are feeling the Woodstock neighborhood in Cape Town could be the one because of friendships we have there, its urban/cosmopolitan needs and opportunities, and the way we can picture our family living and flourishing

Helping people (particularly those who are often overlooked or left out) connect with, experience, and grow in God – especially in new, different, and “outside the box” ways that help change lives… one-on-one, ongoing groups, events, etc.

Working with local non-profits, ministries, and churches through teaching, training, and lending a hand – we want to help others who are also making a difference

Encouraging and equipping local leaders to have a reaching and lasting impact on their communities, especially through new and different types of faith communities

Participating in a regular friendship with other local and global practitioners – finding ways to collaborate for greater impact and strengthen one another in our journeys of following and serving Jesus

Oh, I could write so much more here, but this will have to do for now.  This was, after all, supposed to be an update – not a presentation! This is what we are going to explore. We will be in the place. We will be with the people. We will see what what God does and says. We are trusting that the specifics and next steps will become clear in the process.

Here’s where you come in!

1. Pray for us – now as we wrap everything up here (craziness, I tell you) & and as we listen with God there.  We will be updating/reminding you throughout
2. Do it with us – stay in regular conversation, find ways to help, support our family in this ministry with some monthly money, love us.  I feel a little weird asking for these, but know we need them!

More to come, but figured this would give you a little to chew on for now.
with love,
Arthur for the Stewarts

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I have a number of things I have half-written recently.  These include insightful cultural observations, humorous anecdotes, heart-warming family moments, what I’m learning, what we’ve been up to, and updates on what’s next for us.  I really want to get a bunch of these posts/articles/emails finished because they are important to me (and I think to many of you).  But…

• I usually have my best ideas either in the shower or at the gym – both places where I can’t write anything down as it crosses heart or mind
• I have talked about aspects of all of these with enough people that I don’t want to sit down and recap for everyone else
• I can be a bit of an idealist/perfectionist, so I want to consider every angle and put in every thought related to what I am writing about
• I’ve been struggling to sit and write – too many other things to do!
• I only have self-imposed deadlines, so it is easy to keep putting them off

BUT, I  want to get some of these off my to-do list AND really do need to get some of this on paper – for my sake and yours!  So, you can help me, dear reader, by sending me a message/email/comment along the lines of, “I would really like to hear about…” or “what was that thing you mentioned related to…”  Yes, I am asking for a bit of external motivation

thank you!

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In the rush to get our sabbatical started, pack up our entire house, and move from South Africa to California for the year, I haven’t sat down to write in detail about this sabbatical thingy.  But, with a little room to breathe, I wanted to start giving our friends more information on what we are up to.  I am sure this will turn into a multiple-post series, especially as we process and can begin to share what God is doing in us through the process.

In wrapping up our time with NieuCommunities in Pretoria and before starting for something new in Cape Town, we have a unique and precious window of time to let God prepare us in significant ways.  For today, some basics on the PURPOSES of our sabbatical…

1. The first purpose of our sabbatical is rest from several years of cross-cultural living and ministry.  We need to decompress, have time as a couple, and opportunity to do things as a family that we haven’t made as much time for in the last several years as we would have liked to.  We believe this will put us in a better place personally, spiritually, and relationally.

2. A second purpose of our sabbatical is restoration.  This is part of the reason we needed to leave our normal environment so we have time, space, and freedom from our normal obligations that can detract from making growth a top priority.  We are in the middle of a great program at Link Care in Fresno specifically designed for missionaries and their unique needs.  We will continue counseling throughout our time in Fresno as part of the process of continuing to grow into the people God wants us to be.  A big part of what we anticipate is deeper intimacy with God, one another, and all those God brings into our life.

3. A third reason for our sabbatical is reflection on the past several years of life and ministry.  What has taken place in our personal lives, what have we learned about life in community, how has God shaped and used us in South Africa, and what does all this mean for the future?  Expect lots of writing…

4. The final purpose for our sabbatical is preparation for what God has in store for us in this next season of life and ministry.  We have some pretty good ideas about what that will look like, but want God to confirm and clarify.  We expect God to further reveal hopes, details, and specifics.  We also anticipate this leading us to further training and learning to get us ready.  And, we want to use this time to develop the patterns and habits we will need to continue successfully in the next season.  Of course, you will hear more and more as we do, and as we gear up for all that is to come when our sabbatical ends on May 31.

For now, we are settling into life, school for the kids, and soon a new house (renting from friends) in Fresno!  More on all that, and some pics, soon

In the meantime, would appreciate your comments and prayers.

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Tonight is our last night in Pretoria.  Tomorrow, we pack away last things, take care of final details here, and head to the airport.  It’s hard to believe that we are moving and ending our time with the team we have worked with for over 6 years.  Yes, we know this season is done and God has new and exciting things ahead.  Yet we are feeling somewhere between sad and surreal in leaving.

Thanks to all who have made these last years so special.  And here’s to all those we jounrey with in days ahead!

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Most of you probably know that at the end of last year, we decided that 2009 would be our last year leading the NieuCommunities team in Pretoria, South Africa.  We have been part of this ministry for the past 6+ years and feel that God has something new for us.  A recent development in our preparation for what’s next (and the reason we are writing to you now) is that we are going to take a sabbatical from now until June.

This sabbatical will allow several important things to take place.  First, it will provide us a needed opportunity to step out of our normal environment to reflect on and capture what we have learned and experienced over the past several years of life and ministry.  We also need some time to recuperate and be restored from cross-cultural living and the various personal issues this surfaces and magnifies.  With that, we need room to clearly discern and thoroughly prepare for what God is leading us toward next.  We have a sense that this will be something new and big in Cape Town, and we want to prepare as best we can.  Finally, Melissa has been thinking for a while that it would be good to spend an extended period of time in America.  Because we are ending one season and preparing to head into another, we have a unique chance to do so now.

We are currently working with the leadership of CRM (our missions organization) on all the details, but a few things we know and want to let you know:

• Our sabbatical begins August 1
• We arrive in California on August 6 (yes, in 3 weeks!)
• We will be living in Fresno near most of our immediate family
• Our kids will be in school there for the year
• The goal of our time is restoration and development, as we will be diligently pursuing God to prepare us for the new things He is moving us toward.  This will include everything necessary to begin a new ministry.  We remain serving as staff with CRM during this time.
• We plan to return to Cape Town, South Africa, in June 2010

Surprising, you say?  For us too!  All of this has come together rather unexpectedly and quickly.  God is actually stirring a lot of changes in our team, which have allowed us to transition out quicker than we had anticipated.  We are now busy making all the preparations necessary to move our family.  Part of the rush is that we want to land and get our kids into school.  We are also anxious to hear more from God on what He has planned.  It seems that He has things in mind that we don’t know of yet, but we trust are amazing.

Please pray for us.  A few specific needs are to find a place to live in Fresno, transportation, and to get our children enrolled in school.  Would you also keep your eyes, ears, and hearts open for these on our behalf and let us know of anything that might help?  We would also appreciate your prayers for our family to have supernatural peace through this transition.  We know it is good, but change can be difficult.

God has given us an unexpected gift.  We don’t have it all figured out yet, but are excited for what is to come.  Please feel welcome to send us your thoughts, questions, and suggestions.  We are looking forward to sharing this next leg of the journey with all of you.

Arthur for the Stewart5

(Apologies if you are reading this more than once.  In an effort to get this out quickly to as many people as possible, we are using email, our blog, and facebook).

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1. Too many youth pastors and worsip leaders look like either Rob Bell, David Crowder, or both.  Come on guys, get a style of your own.
2. My tattoos and stretched ears don’t get me any attention here – because I seem like a librarian compared to most people walking down the street
3. People freak out about everything too much (the weather in LA right now being a current example)
4. From Iain tonight – why do they make you pump your own gas here?  Then how do people get paid if you pump your own gas?

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We are leaving tomorrow for America!  In the midst of packing and cleaning, wanted to update you on a few things (in a very pragmatic & list-filled fashion):

Schedule:
Dec 1-8    Ohio
Dec 9-13    LA then SD for meetings
Dec 13-17    SoCal.
Dec 18-26    Fresno
Dec 27-Jan 1    SF & Oregon
Jan 2-11    Fresno
Jan 11-15    Arthur & Melissa in SoCal
Jan 16-17    Fresno
Jan 18-20    Ventura
Jan 21-23    Family Fun before we leave
Jan 24        Fly back to South Africa

Events, etc. – take note!
•    Speaking at Foothills Community Church, Pasadena on Dec. 14
•    Arthur Birthday something in Fresno on Dec. 26
•    Speaking at Wesley UM Church, Fresno on Jan. 4
•    Speaking at Friends Community Church, Fresno on Jan 11
•    Goodbye open house or party in Fresno on Jan 17
•    Likely speaking at The Gathering’s Social Justice Night, Ventura on Jan 18
We will also have 2 open houses in Fresno that have yet to be scheduled.
For details on any of the above, please contact us.  Would love to see you.

Still need:
•    A place to stay in SoCal Dec 13-17.  Bear in mind that we are a family of 5
•    Someone to host an open house in SoCal Dec 13-17
•    A car for our family to use during the CA part of our trip (Dec 9-Jan 23), or at least while in SoCal – OR – a little money to help us rent a car.
•    Recommendations for a place to stay by LAX on Jan 23.  We have to be at the airport at 5:00 AM on Jan. 24
•    Extra cash you have sitting around to help with the costs of our family’s trip.  Here
If you can help with any of these, please let us know.

We really are looking forward to seeing you.  Thanks to all who have offered a meal or expressed an interest in getting together.  We will be working out those details once we are in Ohio.  More to come…

Please pray for our family as we travel Sunday into Monday.

See you soon!
Arthur for the Stewart5

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This is a head’s up to let you know that we will be visiting America in December and January and would love to see you!

December 1-8: Ohio visiting family, meeting “Baby Anthony,” and acclimating
December 9 – January 23: California & southern Oregon.

We will send more specific details as we have them – where we will be speaking, when we will be in which cities, etc.  Would be great to see you while we are in the neighborhood.  We have lots to share about what God has been doing here with NieuCommunities South Africa and us. And, we look forward to telling you more about what God is opening up in the near future that you can be part of with us…

For now, we are wondering if you:
•    Have a cell phone we can use?
•    Have a car (for 5 + luggage) we can use?
•    Can get us into Disneyland at a discount?  Will be Mairin’s first time as a non-infant!
•    Can help us stay at the Disneyland Hotel for a discount?
•    Would want to have a meal (Mexican is always a treat), coffee, or visit with us?
•    Have space for us to crash at your place in southern California?
•    Would be willing to get some people together at your house to hear more about our ministry?
•    Can financially help us with this trip ($7000+ for the plane tickets alone).  Click here

I know you have a lot going on today.  Have you voted yet or are you going to tomorrow?
And, in front of all of you, I say HAPPY BIRTHDAY ED!  I love you and we are looking forward to being with you soon!

Please respond to any/all of the questions above.  We’d love to hear from you on these on anything else.  More to come ?

Arthur
for the Stewart5

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