Update – April 26, 2012
Howdy!
It would be an understatement to say that life has been crazy around here lately. Makes us miss the “simple” life in the UK.
Update on our Car
My last update was just to inform you that Holly was in a car accident. Holly and Annaleigh walked away unscathed (except for a few burns on Holly’s arms from the airbags). However, we found out a few days later that the car was totaled. We bought the car back in August and absolutely loved it. However, we realize that, when all is said and done, it is just a car. We are grateful that God preserved Holly and Annaleigh through a very stressful and traumatic episode.
With that bad news comes some very good news. Our car was valued by the insurance adjuster at almost the exact same price we bought it for, so we were very pleased with the value. Now comes the hard part of finding a new, safe, reliable car. We have already been to a few dealerships and websites, but we’ve been told by several people that we can borrow one of their cars if we can’t find something by the 23rd (which is when our rental car has to go back).
Family Matters
Over the past few months, we’ve been blessed to be around our family members on a number of occasions. First, we spent my Spring Break over in Swansboro, NC, with Holly’s uncle, Mark. For those who don’t know where Swansboro is, it is not too far from Camp LeJeune, a Marine Corps base. It was a fantastic weekend spent walking through town, exploring shops, picking up seashells on the beach, and eating heartily (not to mention celebrating a Florida State ACC Championship in basketball).
The following week, my parents and brother, Micah, were in town. Part of the weekend was spent constructing a play kitchen for Annaleigh. She loves making us food, especially tea with butter in it. My parents also treated us to an excellent meal at Big Daddy’s Burger Bar. My friends in Scotland will be drooling at the sound of this place, and their oversized burgers and shakes did not disappoint.
On Easter weekend, Holly’s mom, Nancy, visited us. She drove up Friday, and her and Holly visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame as well as the NASCAR race track out in Concord. We enjoyed having her for Easter Sunday, spending time at Christ Covenant in the morning and feasting on ham and all the fixings for lunch.
We are just waiting on our next visitors to arrive (hint to my friends in Scotland).
RTS
Classes are going well for the most part this term. I am struggling mightily through Philosophy, but I have definitely learned a lot. Our professor is British (originally from England, grew up in Glasgow), and (::in a British accent::) he has a sharp wit about him. I completed an online course, Poets, a couple weeks ago, so I only have four classes remaining. This summer I plan to take a course on the Life and Theology of Martin Luther, taught by the esteemed Carl Trueman (another Brit!) of Westminster Seminary, Philadelphia.
My studies are going well, but we’ve also enjoyed the community of families at RTS. There are a number of young families with toddlers, so we have spent some time with them. You’ll be pleased to know that I was elected to the RTS Student Council. Basically, what we do is meet once in a while to discuss the state of the student body. We talk about our needs and what could make the seminary better for students. We also help plan events and set-up/take-down for the events.
Holly and Annaleigh
As I mentioned last update, Holly recently joined a small group Bible study at the church, which is called The Anchor. It is a set time each Tuesday, with one hour of teaching/lecture and one hour of small group discussion. It is pretty intense, as it involves homework each week. Holly is learning to use Greek and Hebrew, of which I am very proud! It has also been instrumental in connecting her with other young moms at the church. They have had play dates with the kids, picnics at the park, and have also celebrated birthdays together. One of Holly’s small group ladies offered her photography services so that she could build her portfolio.
Annaleigh has just turned 2 (on May 27th)! She is hyper and ornery as ever, but she is still a joy to be around. Whenever we pick her up from nursery, the men and women who help out in the nursery always sing her praises, telling us how independent and clever she is. She still loves reading books and putting together puzzles, and we are looking forward to getting her in our local swimming pool very soon.
Thank you!
So many of you have prayed for us and sent financial support throughout the past year, and we truly appreciate your love and gifts. We have nearly made it through one year and have just two to go. However, if you know of anyone who would be willing to give to a seminary family, please direct them to our website. There are a number of ways folks can give, including PayPal gifts, Amazon books for seminary (which will soon be available on our website), and employing me as your graphic and/or web designer.
Prayer Points
1. Pray that we would find another safe, reliable car.
2. I am still looking for work this summer. I have some options, including landscaping and baseball umpiring, but nothing is official yet.
3. Praise God that we’ve made it through the worst of the allergy season with minimal damage so far. For the most part, we are all healthy and happy.
4. Pray that God would be glorified in us, as we continue to minister to those in our church, my seminary, and our community here in Charlotte.
Let us know how we can pray for you!
Much love,
Ethan, Holly, & Annaleigh
Update – February 5, 2012
Howdy!
It has been awhile since our last update, so I wanted to quickly fill you in on what has been going on.
Cranking Back Up
Last week was the first few days of Spring semester at RTS Charlotte. I began on Tuesday with Worship. The other classes I am taking are Poets, Judges-Esther, History of Christianity II, and History of Philosophy of Christian Thought (or “Philosophy” for short). So far I have found all the professors to be excellent, including one who is from Edinburgh. I was very impressed when our Judges-Esther professor, Dr. John Currid, read straight from his Hebrew Bible and translated as he went. It’s nice to know we are in good hands here at RTS!
I ended up taking only one class over the Winter semester, which was Classics of Personal Devotion. In that class, we learned about the history of personal devotion, including practices and writings from Christians like Jonathan Edwards, Bernard of Clairvaux, and William Law. The central question in the class was: “Do I love God?”
I have continued officiating basketball games, mostly Junior Varsity and Middle School, and will begin umpiring baseball in a few weeks. This will be my first year doing baseball, so I am a bit nervous. I’ve been practicing calling balls, strikes, and outs in front of Holly, much to her amusement.x
Holly and Annaleigh
Annaleigh will be two years old on March 27th. She is growing like a weed, though mostly in her intellect. She is still petite (obviously taking after her momma) and weights just 24 lbs. She still loves reading books, especially her Bible, which has been torn and thrown about but is still mostly intact. She has also grown a love for Sesame Street. She’ll watch with Momma either in the morning or after her mid-afternoon nap. Her favorite character is Elmo, and she carries an Elmo stuffed animal with her wherever she goes. Annaleigh has also started watching The Wiggles (who are a bit strange, but she likes the dancing and singing) and Veggie Tales.
Holly has joined a small group at church and has enjoyed getting to know the women in her group. There are six of them altogether, and they are all young moms with small children. Holly recently celebrated her 28th birthday, which means that both of us are just two years away from 30. Life seems to move right along without even knowing it!
Unexpected Blessings
As most of you know, we are raising support to help us out with monthly bills. We are so grateful to those who have already given, either monthly or one-time gifts. It’s amazing how much relying on God for monthly finances can deepen one’s faith. Over Christmas we were surprised and delighted to find a check of over $400 in a Christmas card, which enabled me to pay for most of my medical insurance (which is required for seminary). Then, just this past week, we found out that Christ Covenant is giving us $3600 from an intern fund. This (along with the scholarship I already receive from the church) will pay for almost all of my classes for next year! Praise be!
Prayer Points
1. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! We have received nearly enough to pay for seminary tuition for the 2012-2013 year. This doesn’t mean we can just stop raising support, but it gives us some peace of mind about paying tuition.
2. I am going to be looking for some work for this summer. There are several people I can contact in the church, including a gentleman who runs a landscaping business. Though we did receive $3600 from the church, we still have quite a bit more we need to get through seminary. Getting some full-time work this summer should help us save for future classes.
3. It’s still cold and flu season, and Annaleigh seems to be ill every other week. Pray that we would be able to get through this season in good health.
4. Holly has recently joined a small group at church. Continue to pray that she would find good community here in Charlotte.
5. Pray that God would be glorified in us, as we continue to minister to those in our church, my seminary, and our community here in Charlotte.
Let us know how we can pray for you!
Much love,
Ethan, Holly, & Annaleigh
Update – December 16, 2011
Howdy!
We hope you are enjoying this holiday season. Holly and I love seeing all the Christmas lights and decorations. If you’ve never been to Charlotte, you really need to come and see how beautiful this city is. My Scottish friends are enjoying the snow, but Holly and I are content with our 60˚ weather in December!
One Semester Down, Five to Go!
I am happy to report that I have finished all my final exams for my first semester at RTS Charlotte. Some of them were difficult and strenuous, but I think I did okay. I won’t know my grades for a few weeks, but thanks to those who have been praying for me over this past semester. I have really enjoyed my classes. One of my favorites was History of Christianity, and I even told Holly the other night that I wouldn’t mind getting a PhD in Church History. She was not amused.
Though Spring classes do not start until February, I will be taking two Winter courses: Classics of Personal Devotion and Ministry in a Postmodern Context. For information about these and other classes I am taking, you can visit the RTS website: http://rts.edu/charlotte/academics/upcomingclasses.aspx.
You may remember that I was applying for Naval chaplaincy. I have decided to table that for now, as I have had some very helpful discussions with military veterans who have given me a realistic picture of what being in the Navy would require. The Navy is not totally out of the question and I am also considering reserve chaplaincy, but I am not actively pursuing either at this point. Honestly, I would just love to start out a small church in need of good preaching. I’m looking forward to expanding on my gifts and seeing what God has planned for our family.
Holly and Annaleigh
For those who have kids, you will understand how fast children grow up and change. Annaleigh will be 21 months on December 27, and it is incredible to look back at photos from just months ago and see how much she has changed. She still spends a lot of time reading her books and especially loves the Christmas books her Grammy and Grandpa Smith got her a few weeks ago. They play songs, and she sings along with them.
Last email update I told you that Holly would be interviewing for a nanny position. Though the interview went well and she enjoyed getting to know the couple, they decided to hire a nanny who has 20+ years of experience. Tough to compete with that! But Holly was okay, because where this family lives would require her to spend about two hours driving through early morning and rush hour traffic. Holly is still working hard at her mystery shops, and we are thankful God has continued to see us through financially.
The Holiday Season
Though we were sad to hear the news that my grandmother in Ohio had passed away just before Thanksgiving, we were grateful to be able to spend Thanksgiving in Ohio with my extended family. We got to see my brother, Josh, his wife, Jessica, and my neice, Madeline, whom we do not see very often. We were also glad to spend time with some of my aunts, uncles, and cousins who live all over the States, from California to New Jersey. We carpooled up to Ohio with my parents and brother, Micah, and were pleased to spend so much quality time with them. I’m pretty sure my mom would have taken Annaleigh back with her if we had let her!
For Christmas, we will be spending some time in Florida with Holly’s family, then hosting my family back up here in Charlotte. School is out for a bit, but I’m continuing basketball officiating (though I will be taking the week off in Florida).
Though I may sound like a broken record, we are so thankful that you are praying for us. We have certainly seen God’s comfort and protection over us the past few months, especially considering there have been three deaths in the family. 2011 has not been easy, but we are grateful for family and friends who support and love us. We pray God’s blessings on you this holiday season. May you know the joy of the Saviour, whose birth we celebrate this time each year.
Prayer Points
1. Please continue to remember Holly’s family, as they are still grieving the deaths of Jim Singer (Holly’s brother-in-law) and Dick Swenning (Holly’s maternal grandfather).
2. We have made it four months so far with no full-time job, and that is mostly due to you. Give thanks for the financial assistance that we have received and for those who have prayed for us these past few months.
3. Remember my family, especially my dad, as we grieve the death of my paternal grandmother.
Let us know how we can pray for you!
Much love,
Ethan, Holly, & Annaleigh
Update – November 9
Howdy!
I hope you all are doing well. Things have been going fairly well on our end for the past month. I’ll try to make this email short and sweet.
The Sale of Our House
We are happy to report that we have successfully closed on the sale of our condo in Florida. This is a big weight off our shoulders, and we appreciate your prayers for us. We loved the condo, but we are glad that we are not responsible for its care any longer. For those of you who own a house, you know all that goes into upkeep, e.g. plumbing, air conditioner units, light bulbs, etc. Holly and I would be happy to never own again, but I’m sure we’ll change our minds somewhere down the road.
RTS
The RTS semester is moving right along. I do get a week off classes for Thanksgiving, so that will give me time to catch up on some of my reading and papers that are due the first week of December. Classes will conclude the second week of December, and final exams will be just after that. I have already signed up for Winter Term courses. I am going to take Classics of Personal Devotion, in which we read and study those in history who have produced great works for devotion, e.g. the Puritans, Charles Spurgeon, etc. I will also be taking a class on Postmodern Ministry, in which we will study the causes of postmodernism and its effects on the church.
As I think I mentioned before, there is authentic community here at RTS Charlotte, for both myself and Holly. Holly recently went on an RTS Women’s retreat to Bonclarken, a retreat center near the mountains on the west end of North Carolina.
Odds & Ends
Holly may be taking a nanny position in January. This would allow her to work part-time hours and be able to be with Annaleigh throughout the week. As of now, Holly is still filling her schedule with mystery shops, so this would be a great relief to have something a bit more steady. Holly is meeting with the mom next Wednesday to see if it is a good fit.
I have just finished officiating the football season and even got to officiate my first state playoff game. The football season was enjoyable, and I appreciate that the booking agent game me so many games. The job ended up working out to be part-time pay with only quarter-time hours. I am now on to basketball season, and just in time because the weather is starting to get chilly.
For those who have never been in Charlotte, I would recommend a trip in October or November. The weather here is absolutely stunning, especially with the leaves changing!
I am not quite sure what is going to happen with the Navy, so you’ll have to hang tight and wait for the next update. I have lost almost all of the necessary weight and have submitted almost all of my paperwork (I have to submit security paperwork online and am having difficulty entering foreign addresses). My recruiter doesn’t seem very motivated, but I suppose I have not been as motivated as I need to be due to all the schoolwork and officiating I have been doing. I am still not completely sold on entering the Navy, so I appreciate your prayers.
Annaleigh has been doing well. She is starting to develop more words (she yells, “Mail!!!” when the mail drops through our door). The weather has been great for walks and going to the park. It has been hard getting her back in the car when we go places, because she loves to run around and be independent. She also enjoys her nursery class on Sundays, though she is always so sleepy when we leave church.
Prayer Points
1. Holly’s grandfather died two weeks ago tomorrow (Thursday). Holly flew out with Annaleigh to be with her family and pay her respects. Please remember Holly’s extended family, especially her mom, Nancy, and grandmother, Mary Ann.
2. Please continue to pray that God would see us through financially. So far he has provided us with exactly what we need, but there will be big financial tests soon, including (1) signing up for another semester of classes, (2) tax season, (3) paying for six more months of medical and car insurance.
3. Please pray that God would give wisdom for important decisions, e.g. to enter the Navy or not.
4. Give thanks that we have sold our house!
Let us know how we can pray for you!
Much love,
Ethan, Holly, & Annaleigh
Update – 7 October
Howdy!
We are sorry it has taken so long to send out another update. We want to send at least one per month, but with the move and starting school and work it has been very crazy around here. Holly and Annaleigh joined me in Charlotte at the beginning of August, and Holly quickly turned the house into a home. It is a nice two-bedroom townhouse about eight minutes south of Uptown (in Charlotte there is no “downtown;” it is called “Uptown”).
RTS is just a 10-minute drive (25-minute bike ride), and Christ Covenant is about 25 minutes southeast. I am at Christ Covenant on Mondays, working with Kris Decker, who is the Pastor of Student Families. However, my position is not technically in youth ministry but in parent ministry. We are still working out the kinks of what exactly my role is, but so far I have taught a Sunday school and done a few things with men and small groups.
Going back to school full-time has been a mixture of thoughts and emotions. I have really enjoyed my professors so far, and the classes have been enriching. The work load is more than anything I’ve had before, especially the reading. My classes are History of Christianity 1, Intro to Preaching, Missions, Pastoral Counseling, and Isaiah-Malachi. We have chapel on Tuesdays (we get out of class for an hour, though attendance is not mandatory) and a coffee fellowship on Wednesdays. There is good community at RTS Charlotte, for both students and their families. This has given Holly a chance to meet some new friends and spend time with other young moms. They meet at a park before each Wednesday fellowship to chat and let their children play together.
Holly and I have both done odd jobs here and there to pay the bills. Holly is currently considering taking a nanny position with a family not too far away. They have a daughter about Annaleigh’s age and another baby that is due to be born soon. This position would start in January.
We are both mystery shoppers. That simply means we go to different stores, restaurants, etc. and evaluate the level of their service. We aren’t supposed to say specifically which shops we’ve done, but we have been all over Charlotte doing apartment shops, restaurant shops and audits, and other retail stores. I even did a shop where I had to test drive a car.
Most of our work income has been through me officiating football games. I work with the Metrolina Football Officials Association and officiate Pop Warner, middle school, JV, and varsity football games. It is a flexible job that is done in the afternoons and evenings during the week and any time on Saturdays, so it works with my schedule. Plus it pays better than any part-time job that I could hope to get!
Holly has been keeping herself busy as well. She also gotten involved in a morning Bible study at Christ Covenant and a Saturday-morning book study with other RTS Charlotte ladies. Annaleigh is growing and growing. She is now 18-months-old and as hyper as ever. She has a very easy-going disposition and is a joy to be with. She is still sleeping well and has stayed fairly healthy. Holly and Annaleigh have been to the library for story time and to the previously-mentioned park for play time and fellowship with friends.
Finally, for those who have not heard, I have been training (cycling, running, etc.) in preparation for the Navy. I am going to be applying for a chaplain candidacy, which basically means I will be in the Navy reserves and taking courses until after I have been through seminary and at least two years of pastoral ministry. So there is a good chance I will receive an Active Duty contract around the summer of 2016. Some of you may think this is out of the blue, but I have been considering chaplaincy since high school. I think this will fit my skill set, as I have experience in youth and familiy ministry and will have gained more experience in preaching.
We have enjoyed our first two months here in Charlotte. Please don’t hesitate to write, email, call, or Skype. We’d love to hear from you. If you would like to join our financial support team with a one-time or monthly gift, please contact me as soon as you can.
Prayer Points
1. Continue to remember Holly’s sister, Kelly, who lost her husband back in July.
2. So far we have been able to pay our monthly bills. We praise God that he has blessed us abundantly. Please also pray that we would earn and receive enough to save for my next semester at RTS.
3. Please pray for my preparation for the Navy, that I would continue to seek God’s wisdom in this decision and that all the paperwork and testing would go through successfully.
4. Give thanks that we have found some friends and acquaintances that have made our transition here very pleasant.
5. We are currently in the process of selling our home in Florida. We have accepted a bid and hope to have closed on the house in the next few months. We praise the Lord for how he has been working in this, and we appreciate your prayer for this long process.
Let us know how we can pray for you!
Much love,
Ethan, Holly, & Annaleigh
Update – August 9, 2011
If you are signed up to receive automatic emails, you will have already seen this update. I hope to update more in the next week. Suffice to say, things have been CRAZY the past couple of weeks. Without further ado…
Howdy!
We have officially moved everything back to the United States and are quickly re-adapting to the American culture (and weather!). For the first week, our family was together in Leesburg, Florida, a small city just northwest of Orlando.
It has certainly been stressful for us, as we also had to buy a car. Fortunately, we were able to find a 2006 Chevy Impala in very good shape and with low mileage at an affordable cost. We are thankful to God that he guided us in that difficult decision-making process. For those who have bought a car, you know what we mean by that!
On Monday of this week (July 25th), Ethan’s parents and little brother, Micah, came up to Leesburg to help load up a 24 foot rental truck with all of our “stuff” – clothing, furniture, etc. It took a few hours in the grueling Central Florida heat, but we were able to get everyhing packed and safe in the truck.
On Tuesday, Ethan and his family drove up to Charlotte. Holly and Annaleigh stayed back in Leesburg (more on that soon). It took around 11 hours, so we were happy to arrive safely at around 8pm. On Wednesday, Kris Decker, a pastor at Christ Covenant, and his 11-year-old son, Will, came early in the morning to help us unload the truck. Kris and Will proved to be a big help, as it only took us around an hour to unload everything from the truck. We are now unpacking and sorting through all of the boxes.
Before moving back to the US on July 18th, we received the sad news that Holly’s brother-in-law, Jim Singer, at the young age of 29, had passed away suddenly in the early morning of July 16th. Jim was survived by his wife, Kelly, and their two children. Holly has stayed back in Leesburg to help Kelly with the kids and various errands. She will join me up here in Charlotte next Friday, August 5th.
Financial Giving
Thank you to those who have already given money. We received a lot of financial support from our friends in Scotland, which helped us buy the car outright and not have any monthly auto payments. We are still facing a an uphill battle of paying the bills each month. If you or someone you know would like to support us on a monthly basis, please do not hesitate to contact us. For those who have already pledged to give monthly, you may start your monthly payments at your earliest convenience.
If you are in the United Kingdom, you can visit this PayPal page to safely donate: http://is.gd/2Fzmnq
If you are in the United States, you can visit this PayPal page to safely donate: http://is.gd/Zr8EMY
If you would like to donate via cash/check, you can mail your gift to: Ethan Smith, 3720 Park Road Unit A, Charlotte, NC 28209. Checks should be made payable to “Ethan or Holly Smith.”
If you would like to donate via bank transfer, either in the UK or US, please contact me at ethanandrewsmith@gmail.com to arrange bank details.
Prayer Points
1. Please pray for Holly’s sister, Kelly, and her two children, JR (5 years) and Ashlee (3 years), as they face the difficult task of living without their husband and father. Also think of Kelly’s family, who have all been devastated by what happened.
2. Our main worry is paying the bills each month. Please pray specifically that God would provide what we need, which is around $3500 per month.
3. Give thanks for the support we have received so far, especially from our Scottish friends, who have given so generously.
4. Give thanks that we were able to find a safe, reliable, and affordable car. Pray that it will be a blessing to us for the next few years.
5. Please pray for our transition to Charlotte – the people we meet, the things we do, Ethan’s studies at RTS and internship at Christ Covenant, and our ministry to our neighbors, church, and the city. We are moving from a city that has very few professing Christians to the “city of churches,” but the need to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ is still great.
Much love,
Ethan, Holly, & Annaleigh
Update – 14 June 2011
Howdy!
I hope everyone is doing well. Just wanted to quickly update you on what’s going on with the Smith Family.
We are slowly but surely building our prayer and financial support team. It is never too late to join, so if you have friends or family who would like to support us, please have them email me. I am hoping to have our PayPal electronic donation system ready soon for those who have asked about repetitive or one-time electronic payments. I will update you as soon as that is available. In the past few weeks, we’ve had some very good news on our future in Charlotte.
First, I was formally re-admitted to Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS). This is the number one reason why we are moving to Charlotte, so that is out of the way and taken care of. All I had to do was submit an application and update my pastoral reference.
Second, we found out that I will be working at Christ Covenant Church with Kris Decker. Kris is currently the Pastor of Student Families at CCC. However, he also helps with a wide range of ministries, including men’s groups, small groups, and student ministries. An interesting connection is that Kris was my sister-in-law’s youth minister. Small world!
Third, we found out that I have been awarded a Seminary Scholarship by Christ Covenant Church. What this means is that CCC will pay 1/3 of my tuition, and RTS will match that payment, leaving us to pay only 1/3 of my tuition. Considering the rise in tuition (it is now up to $405 per credit hour), this is a major step toward achieving our financial goal.
Finally, we are happy to to say that we have signed a lease on a two bedroom townhouse in Charlotte. There is a crazy connection that explains how we are able to rent this townhouse. Johnathan Keenan is the man who held my youth ministry job before me here at Smithton Church in Scotland. Johnathan also went to RTS after he worked here. He also interned for Christ Covenant Church. And now we will be living in the same house his parents bought for him in Charlotte. His parents have been very gracious toward us, and we are looking forward to living in, what we’ve been told is, a beautiful location in Charlotte.
Prayer Points
1. We are still a long way off from our financial goal of raising $4000 or £3000 per month. Pray that we would be able to close this gap and/or find suitable work when we arrive in Charlotte to be able to pay the bills.
2. We have just under five weeks to go here in Scotland. Pray that we would finish well in our jobs here and would have a smooth transition back to the States.
3. That we would make wise decisions in purchasing a car and other items that are needed when we move back.
4. Give thanks for the support we have received so far. Also give thanks that we have received a scholarship which will pay 2/3 of my tuition at RTS.
If you have any questions or would like to say “hello,” please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Much love,
Ethan, Holly, & Annaleigh
Update – 21 May 2011
It has been a month to the day since our last update. Not too much has happened since, but I am pleased to report that we are well over $1000 of one-time-gifts so far (that includes UK support). We are so grateful for the generosity we’ve seen from friends and family, even two months before we are due to fly home! Our prayer support list is growing, and we are well aware that we need as many people praying for us as possible.
Holly and I are considering our options for part-time work when we get back. I trained and worked as a contest official for youth sports, basketball and football, before I moved to the UK, so I’m looking to get back into officiating in Charlotte. There is supposed to be some good high school basketball in the Charlotte area, so I’m excited to get a front row seat (and earn a paycheck in the process!).
The number one question we keep getting asked is, “Are you excited to move back to America?” I will first answer this by saying that we will really miss our friends and church family here in Scotland. When we were in Orlando, it seems like it was harder to maintain a support network. But when we moved here, it was like we were instantly welcomed into a family. And we are certainly going to miss living here. We love Inverness and would live here permanently if it were closer to family!
That being said, we are definitely excited to move back to America. There is excitement about seeing our family, who we haven’t seen in a year. There is excitement about moving to a new city, Charlotte. And there is the excitement of continuing my education, interning with Christ Covenant, and starting a new chapter in our family’s life. (Not to mention, we are really excited to get back to American cuisine!)
For now, we are trying to enjoy our final weeks here. It will be sad to leave, but it will great to be back “home.”
Please continue to pray for us as we prepare to leave. Holly will be finishing her work here at the end of June and using her annual leave time to pack in July. My last act as the Smithton Church youth worker is a camping trip to the Isle of Lewis from the 8-11 of July.
If you have any questions for us, we’d love to answer. I am working on a FAQ (frequently asked questions) section for the website. One question that keeps coming up is, “Will my gift be tax deductible?” Unfortunately, the answer is ‘no,’ and I’d be happy to explain why these gifts are not tax deductible to anyone who is concerned.
Thanks once again for your support, and hopefully there will be more updates soon!
- Ethan
Welcome to Our Website!
Thanks for joining us. We are currently preparing to leave the UK and putting together a support team for the next three years. Our plans are to move back to the US in July, where Ethan will continue seminary training at RTS while taking on a pastoral internship in Charlotte, North Carolina.
If you would like more information on joining our team, navigate to this page or contact us.