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We are Media Missionaries specializing in Training for the field. We run training in Photography, Communication and Design. Developing Skills Training and Community Development in the third world. We have started projects in Nigeria, India and many other countries. Please read on to find out more about our ongoing efforts...
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Dear Friends and Family

So....this year took a bit of a detour...! (Understatement of the year!) 🥴

The year started out fairly normal; In January, Aleck went to Uganda for a University of the Nations training event. It was a really good time, (although he was sick for most of the time he was there with Malaria-like symptoms.) But once again he and the team saw God bring much healing and unity and  renewed vision for and with the UofN. He really enjoyed his time there and loved being back in Africa.
In February Aleck went to Perth, Australia to teach on a communications school. This is one of the highlights of his teaching engagements each year and thoroughly enjoyed it.
In March Aleck and I were both scheduled to go to the UofN leadership meetings in Mexico, but due to Covid-19 it was cancelled, along with all of Alecks' other travel engagements to Colombia, Madagascar, Florida, Brazil, Thailand and England (and many others I can’t remember) over the course of 2020.
However he has not been idle. If anything he has been busier than normal with many, many meetings via zoom and more often than not, late into the night/wee hours of the morning. These meetings have been very productive and he has built relationships and understanding and unity with his fellow leaders that he perhaps would not have been able to do as well in a normal situation, which has been great. However the downside is that he has developed a love/hate relationship with ZOOM. 😉
Currently he is facilitating the Masters in Team-based Communication intensive via ZOOM, for 3 days and then for the next 2 weeks he will be teaching - again via ZOOM - on the communication core course in Perth Australia. One of the weeks is on public speaking. This will be a major challenge as only a handful of the 20+ students are actually in the classroom in Perth. The rest will be logging in from their homes via ZOOM. The challenges and complexities of this new era.....

Mya Shae and Micah have done really well during the lockdown. They were very good about engaging with their online classes and doing all the work that was given to them. I very rarely had to check in with them to make sure the work was done. When not doing work they were able to keep themselves entertained with family walks, exercise, art, gaming, and a bunch of other stuff.
Mya Shae had several GCSE exam modules to write at the time of lockdown but as she could not do those, she will be getting teacher-awarded grades for those modules - which I think she is quite pleased with - the alternative being to have to write them this term.😬
She has also been working very hard on her final Art project which is a comic book on pollution. (It has actually been great that she had the extra time to work on it.) She was also given the opportunity to design a sign for a pet-friendly cafe that was opening up, which she did really well - and was paid for - her first official design job!
Micah has loved being home and being home-schooled. He enjoyed playing football with his dad everyday, and has developed his gaming skills and is now coaching people on a game called Rocketleague on the xbox.
They have been off school for 6 months (including 2 months summer holidays). So it has been an adjustment period for them both going back to school. They have now been back at school for 2 and 1 week respectively and they have both found it challenging in various ways. Besides all the normal changes like PPE and social distancing etc, a lot of the normal routines of school have changed and Micah is in an education bubble. He doesn’t get to move around from class to class (the teachers come to them) - which is difficult for him as he has so much energy. But they are doing well and have handled the whole covid-19 situation really well.

I have been doing well. My work has not been reduced by much as people are still able to finish their degrees and some are still planning to start degrees. I am still giving academic advise and editing (grammar and spelling) our policy guide.
I also took on a small job for a few weeks as a contractor over the summer holidays - the business was starting out and needed help organising their office. That was really great, and I enjoyed the organising. It was a good experience but I am glad it is over. I love my job with the UofN and doing both jobs for the 7 weeks was quite a challenge.😆 
Otherwise, I have been homeschooling, and doing normal mom/wife/daughter stuff. 
With Mya Shae and Micah back at school it has freed up my time a little and I am able to continue working at our church coffee shop and get back into a normal routine - which I have missed.

I have been thinking a lot about how we can get back to a “normal” routine now that the children are at school, but what is “normal”? How do we adjust to the fluidity and constant uncertainty of that, as the circumstances and restrictions etc are constantly changing?
I started reading Ecclesiastes, and the summary of the book (by the BibleProject) is this:
“Ecclesiastes dismantles our simplistic ideas of God and our lives, by showing that death, chance and the passage of time makes it impossible to control life's outcomes. But this unpredictable nature of life actually opens up the way to wisdom and the fear of the Lord.”
It goes on to say,
“Since you can’t control your life, you need to stop trying and learn to hold things with an open hand. The only thing you do have control over is your attitude towards the present moment. Learn to enjoy the simple things in life - the good and the bad - because both are rich gifts from God.”
In summary it says,
“We need humility - life does have meaning even when you can’t make sense of it.”
I was really astounded by how well this applies to our world, especially at the moment. Letting go of control is hard. We want control - at least I do - but even when I think I have control, I am realising it is an illusion. The only person I can truly rely on is God. I need to trust Him and walk in the fear of the Lord, and embrace God in the ups and downs and the good and the bad, of life, because all are gifts from Him - whether to bring joy or to teach us something...
Anyway, that is just what I have been thinking about, and I hope it encourages you in some way.
God has got this. We just need to trust Him and continue walking with Him.

Be blessed.
Hugs
Aleck, Donna-Rae, Mya Shae & Micah
 


Cartwright Spotlight

Northern Ireland

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:21-23


Beauty
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Acc Holder: AI & D Cartwright
Bank: Barclays Bank
Sort Code: 20-23-60
Account Number: 60750581
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We do our work and pay all of our expenses through generous people who believe in us and have seen the measure of our work as Missionaries. If you would like to be part of keeping us active on the mission field we have made it easy for you to donate. We work with Youth With A Mission and The University of the Nations as full-time missionaries, we fund raise our ministry and living costs. For almost two decades we have seen God provide for each and every need miraculously and often through people just like you. Thank you.

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