Here is our winter update.

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Gibbons Family Winter 2017 Update

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While visiting Tri-City Baptist in Westminster, Colorado, the kids received a great object lesson on what means to be "whiter than snow."

End of the Road!!!!!

We are praising the Lord for bringing us to the end of our deputation! We hope you can rejoice with us as we celebrate the finishing of the raising of our support. Over the past couple of weeks we had one individual and two churches take us on for support (Harvest Baptist Church in Rock Hill, SC and Hickory Corners Bible Church in Hickory Corners, MI). We want to thank all of our supporters for the many prayers made on our behalf and all the money given to help us on our way to England. Since our last update we have had two final deputation meetings one in Greenville, SC and one in snowy Westminster, CO. It was in snowy Colorado where we had our first car accident. We thank the Lord that it was minor and that no one was hurt; and that it was not our fault. We really enjoyed our time at both of these churches. We are not scheduling anymore meetings to raise monthly support but please pray with us as a few churches are still deciding about supporting us. However we are scheduling meetings to help with our setup fund. The past three and half years have been a privilege and at times a challenge but the Lord has taught us so much and now we are excited to turn our attention to ministry in England.

We welcome two new churches and one individual to our support team!

Hickory Corners Bible Church,
Hickory Corners, MI
Harvest Baptist Church,
Rock Hill, SC

Prayers Needed!!!!

Last fall we had hoped to depart in March if the visa situation was rectified. The schedule that was given to us estimated that this process would finish last December, but this date was not met. We have been waiting for some indication when we could expect this process to be finished. We received news last week that although significant progress has been made it could be another two months or probably more before the sponsorship license is granted to GFA. Until GFA has its license we cannot apply for a missionary visa. Since we have to enter the UK within a few weeks of a successful visa application we can’t buy tickets or make definitive plans for departure. Immigration is a hot topic all over the world today and doing it legally is not quick or easy! While we may feel a little discouraged at this delay we are confident and trusting in the Lord’s timing. However, we are exploring another option that may allow us to move sooner under a temporary visa, but we do not know if it possible. So please pray with us for two things: that the Lord would allow the sponsorship process to finish smoothly and quickly or allow us to enter on a temporary visa, and while we are in this waiting period the Lord would give us opportunities to serve. (If you would like us to come and serve with you our schedule has recently opened up, 😄 so please contact us. )

We also need prayers for the Lord to provide the remainder of our setup fund. We Praise the Lord for Cleveland Park Bible Church and Missouri Avenue Baptist Church who gave very generously towards our setup fund. The Lord has thus far provided $18,500. This is enough to pay for the visa fees and airfare and about a third of our home setup. Please pray with us that the Lord would bring in the rest!

-Visas, Application Fees, Healthcare Surcharges - $10,250
-Airfare- 4,000
In Progress- Home Setup- $4,000/12,000
-Vehicle(s) - $25,000
- Shipping costs - $2000

Top: While in Colorado we tried a bit of snow tubing in the zero degree weather....burrr......
Bottom: We are so thankful to have spent a little time with our family. Here are our three children with Clay’s parents and all their cousins! There are 9 grandkids all 5 and under.

Praises

We praise and thank the Lord:

For the Lord bringing us to the end our deputation.
For three new supporters who have partnered with us.
For time spent with family over the holidays.
For the progress of the sponsorship .process.
For progress in our setup fund.
For safety in our car accident.
For GFA working to become our sponsor in the UK

Prayer Requests

Please Pray:

For the Lord to complete our setup fund.
For the sponsorship process to finish quickly and/or for the Lord to open another option.
For rest for our family and progress in packing and preparing for our move.
For the transition for our family to a new place and our reception in England.
For Brimpton Baptist Church as they prepare for us to arrive.