Simon & Amy Durrant

It's hard to believe that our first year here at Trinity is almost over. Sorry it's been sometime since an update. We continue to be aware of the value of your support, so here's an update for your information and prayers.

In recent weeks we've both been hard at work completing essays and language exams - thankfully all completed now! Highlights of our studies have included: thinking about ethics, a fantastic course on discipleship, and finally being able to work through passages from the gospels after a year of Greek (Amy). Also learning Hebrew and exploring the breadth of God's mission (Simon). It's also been great to engage with God in a wide range of different worship styles at college chapel, from taize to the book of common prayer to a recent club-style communion service!

The dust has finally settled after our arrival in Bristol last autumn.  We're really glad that we chose 'context-based' training, so Simon is on a permanent placement within the parish in which we live, and we have 3 years here to learn and invest in people living locally. The last few months have seen some significant moments and movements at our church, St Mary's Henbury.  It's a church in transition from 'middle of the road Anglican' to focusing on discipleship and mission - an exciting and challenging journey for us all.

• We're sure God is teaching us about the complex dynamics of church change for a reason, and have much to learn from what we're exposed to here. Changes in music have also meant the flute and trombone have had some airplay recently, and Amy has been helping to develop the growing music team.
• Simon has been working with the curate and another student on a proposal for the PCC exploring growing disciples at St Mary's. Please pray that some of these ideas to be implemented and for someentrenched values of the church to be gradually changed. He's now joined the PCC as a way to engage with the church leadership.
• Part of the draw to this context training was the opportunities for Amy to get involved in the church and community - although this has been harder than expected as she has very much had to 'make her own way', so settling in, friendships, and church involvement have taken longer. Please pray for her as she contemplates commitments and plans for the coming year, particularly within her church small group, among 'context spouses' and in her new role as international rep for 'Connect', Trinity's spouses group.
• Finally, please pray for our community of context families and church members, that we would grow together in love, service and encouragement to one another, and outreach to the community. We've recently started a regular prayer meeting that we hope may become a spiritual hub of the community, particularly providing ways for spouses (like Amy) to become more involved in our spiritual life together.

At Easter we enjoyed a great trip back to Amsterdam, despite a planned visit from other context students being cancelled due to volcanic ash. It was was wonderful to see friends and gain some fresh perspective on our new life in Bristol. Plus we were really encouraged to see how God has been growing some of the seeds we were able to plant while we were ministering there, at a time when we are not yet seeing much fruit of our time here. Besides college and context, we're enjoying being back in England and catching up with old friends. Amy's been enjoying having a garden for the first time, and Simon has been keeping fit with a weekly football outreach project and a couple of10k / 5k runs for fun.

Over the next few weeks Simon's officially still working in the parish. Our summer plans aren't totally certain yet, but we do hope to take a few weeks holiday in Wales, continue some relationships and commitments in Brentry, and catch up with friends in the UK.  If you happen to be down our way, we would love to see you –  do get in touch.

Many thanks for your prayers, Let us know what we can be praying for you.

It's strange to think that exactly 6 months ago we were saying goodbye to life in Amsterdam. Gone are the days of safe cycling on flat ground! Our last months in the Netherlands were precious, especially as Amywas in full health and able to enjoy life and work, though we werealso concerned with making big decisions for the next steps. Thefuture of our work in Amsterdam appeared precarious when we left,with no direct replacement appointed. Yet we're confident that it isin God's safe hands and encouraged to hear stories from friends ofhow He continues to work among international students. As we've looked back, we realise just how much we learnt during our time in Holland, especially, as is so often the case, through some toughstruggles, and also through the community of Christ Church who we dearly miss.

We packed up our belongings at the end of May and began a fantastic summer break: how to summarize an extraordinary 3 months in one paragraph? We were blown away by the history of bustling Egypt (Whatdo you call an angry Egyptian driver? Tootin-car-man); we marveledat the picturesque coasts of Tanzania and Mozambique, and thewildlife of South Africa, from penguins and whales to cheetahs andsnakes. We delighted in the beautiful sights, sounds and tastes of Bali. We saw the power of Christ at work in so many ways: in thesimplicity of a faithful Filipino church in Manila, the affluence of expatriate Christian communities and the wonder of transformed livesamong drug addicts in Hong Kong. We spent a week teaching about Jesus among a rural community of women and children in South India. Above all, we enjoyed the incredible privilege of discovering more of the people and places of God's world, visiting some precious friends around the globe, and enjoying quality time together as we made the transition from Amsterdam to England. You can still see photos by clicking the link above.

It's amazing how life can change within 24 hours. On 1 September we were freely roaming the streets of Bangalore; the next day we were meeting fellow students in a Bristol pub having acquired a house, car, community and church in Brentry. We landed straight into the start of term at Trinity College where Simon will be training for the next three years to be a Church of England vicar; Amy is also taking some courses. As part of the training process we're involved in work around our 'parish' of Brentry and Henbury, alongside ten other students who live close by to the lovely little house we are renting from college. There's plenty of potential to get involved in community and church, e.g. Simon has been playing football each week with bunch of guys from the local coop and pizza delivery shop. We've met some fascinating people from a variety of backgrounds, andenjoyed spending time with internationals from college (especially dragging them to a soggy field to watch good ol' fireworks) though it will take time to build deeper friendships. The college is adynamic place and stimulating environment for learning, we've already found plenty of opportunities to reflect and work on some challenging issues, and are geekily enjoying studying Biblical languages (Amy isdeciphering Greek, Simon is learning to reading backwards for Hebrew). These sixteen weeks have flown by, leaving us both with essays to write in the upcoming holidays!

Overall its good to be back in the UK; we're beginning to catch up with friends and family here and looking forward to an English Christmas. Last week Simon had the opportunity of speaking at the popular Christingle service (involves oranges, sweets and lots of childrenwith naked flames!) at our new church. We were reminded of the Lightof the world who came into our darkness; not only shedding light onour personal spiritual needs but as the One who has power to dispel all the darkness of our world.

Wishing you a light-filled Christmas this year,   Simon & Amy

PS.We would love to hear your news - if you are ever in Bristol please do give us a call and pop in to say hi!

After a three month fun-filled journey from Amsterdam back to the UK, we've finally arrived to begin our new life as students in Bristol. We're glad we chose to live and study 'in context' in Brentry; its great to immediately belong to a community here and live only a few minutes walk from other students. College have provided us with a lovely house and we're working hard to make it our home. There's some lovely places to explore in the area and we're enjoying the Englishness of autumn here, and living closer to our families than we have done in years. Amy's studying part time at Trinity and getting stuck into local activities, Simon is pretty busy with lectures, college and context, now that term is in full swing.  Its pretty exhausting adjusting to everything new, although we like much of we've experienced so far. Please pray for us as we continue to settle into our new house that we will find time to to acquire various bits of furniture and sort things out, and that we will have plenty of energy and good times of rest.

This year Serve the City takes place 29 May til 1 June - our last weekend in Amsterdam - so sadly we won't be taking part or planning bike repairs in the Uilenstede this time! Still, if you're in Amsterdam we encourage you to get involved in other projects - more information here 

this video gets you inside the project that Simon organised last year in the Uilenstede...