High Days and Holidays

We are now experiencing a rather exaggerated 'start the year' syndrome, combined with the pressing need for some good work plans as we try to be realistic about what should be started, continued or put on hold. The end of last year was marked with graduations and then Christmas. And now the first weeks back have involved interviews for new colleagues here in the central office as the team becomes strengthened for youth work and legal work capabilities and as various teaching and training programmes all get underway.

Just before Christmas and since getting back from holiday we have been letting people know that after June our time in Bangladesh is coming to an end and that our time with BMS will finish in September. For obvious reasons that is not entirely easy. After 8 years together many of the relationships are very deep and we now have a lot of shared history having lived through covid and the political uprising together. Some people have been asking “what is the plan?” The honest answer is that there isn't one except to be available for family and to see what comes next. Perhaps it is time for that extended holiday sometimes called 'retirement'. We value your prayers for the changes ahead.

Just before we left for our holiday we had some fantastic days celebrating (in advance) the “high-day” of Christmas in the village outreach areas. Christmas Day is a holiday in Bangladesh and there is a general awareness that this is a “Big Day” for Christians, in fact the Bangla for Christmas literally translates as “BIG DAY”. Which makes it an opportunity where people of all faiths can be invited to community events and it allows those working there to explain what Christmas is all about. We went to 3 events in different places where BMTC graduates had arranged programmes and it was so exciting to see hundreds and hundreds of people celebrating, listening to music & messages, playing games, receiving winter blankets as gifts, watching dramas and generally having a great time. All of this helps to establish the BBCS workers as people who are bringing joy, blessing and a message of good news to the people.

Last Friday we were invited as guests to the 50 year celebration of one of the churches in Dhaka. It was beautiful to hear the testimonies and to see the honour given to founder members as they were presented with gifts and were able to share why they started this church in a place where there were no Christian believers. The day captured a moment where no one was needing to plan what came next – but were happy to stop, give thanks and honour those senior in age. One of the testimonies beautifully described how the churches growth had been based on a mantra of “visit, visit, visit”. This encapsulated so much of our experience in Bangladesh where people come first and where honour is shown to those who are senior and to give priority to the people who are present with you.

The next big “high-day” for Bangladesh is the national election on February 12th. Electioneering is well under way and has been relatively peaceful so far. We give thanks for this and pray it will continue peacefully. The interim government have been promoting the election as a day of celebration and a new beginning for the nation.

Please pray for us – that the pace of work and our desire to be 'fully present' and to make the most of the time will be both wise and effective. This is God's work and your prayers for our brothers and sisters here and the amazing work they do will be really valuable.

Pray for BBCS as they discuss with BMS how partnership will look in the future and discern God's will for the work.

The last thing to say is that we are available for Home Assignment visits in July-September. 

Please go to the BMS website Request a speaker, if you wish to make a booking.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers. Although as we write this letter it feels a bit over-focused on endings – we are praying that between now and then – and then long after we have gone there will be many, many “high-days” of celebrating to come.

Love

Pete and Louise