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Dear friends,

It is with some excitement that we are writing to you today.

2012 has been a very different year for us, knowing that God was taking us into a time of transition but not really sure what that meant.
We have thrown ourselves into helping as best we could in Poatina and Matt finished his book and travelled with Daniel to the U.K. for a month to release the book and support churches in outreach around the time of the Olympics. In all that we have been doing though, we have been aware that change was coming.

As we let you know earlier in the year, there seemed to be three possibilities opening up for us, either traveling to Canada or England to continue working with Fusion, or moving back to Victoria to  work with a church that we love a lot. Each option seemed like it could really be right, so it has been a significant journey to work out which way to move.

After working with Fusion for 20 years, and after what has been a complex time, we have been seriously contemplating whether 
our time with the organisation had come to an end.  We wrestled together as a family, and we reached a point where it was clear that whether we were working with Fusion or not was not actually the main question....

Looking back on the last two decades, we are encouraged by the very special people who we have been able to play a part in equipping for leadership and ministry. It was very encouraging last week to have a note from one of the guys that Matt mentored over a number of years. He wrote: "I just wanna tell you... I'm the bloke I am today because of you Matt. You changed my life, you never gave up on me even when you could of...and helped me become a better leader. I'm a school chaplain...they've said i'm in the top 3 in australia... I deal with over 450 young people in my school...and there families... They have someone to go to..in me... and thats because of you."

As we wrestled with what was right, it was clear that empowering people to fulfill God's call on their lives was what we were committed to and what we wanted to spend our lives doing. They were the things that Matt had written about in his book 6 Radical Decisions, that were what we wanted to focus on and it seemed clear that Canada provided both a way to expand our capacity and move more clearly down this path. Canada was also such a big move at so many levels that many things would have to happen in a miraculous way for it to work out. So we asked God to show us the way forward. Having taken the first steps towards the possibility of Canada, door after door has opened, and this morning we heard that our flights from Australia are now booked for the 5th December!

The truth is, although we have a bit of an idea what we will be doing, as you will read below, we have a real sense that God is using this moment to take us into a whole new thing which we don't really fully understand.  
We are both scared and excited about making such a big move. As never before in our lives, we need your prayer as we enter this whole new chapter in our journey. 

Oh... Canada!


At 1pm Wednesday 5th December, we will board a plane in Melbourne that will take our family to the other side of the planet where summer is winter and winter is summer. 

As we have already shared, our sense has been that it was time for a change, but we didn't want to simply leave one place without knowing that we were taking a step forward on the path God has for us. As we have indicated, we have taken some time to name what it is we want our lives to be about,  the heart of which is captured in Matt's book, and as we looked at the options in front of us, prayed and spoke with others, it seemed that Canada was the best option for us to move in that direction.

Fusion in Canada is one of the oldest of Fusion's international teams (they have been going for almost 10 years), and they have been on a real journey to define who they are and where they are going. The team is made up of gifted and mature people who are wanting to explore how the best of what Fusion is can translate into the Canadian context. We are not going to lead the team, but will enjoy being with them in this time of creatively exploring ways forward. We are also looking forward to connecting with the Fusion team in Jamaica and seeing what develops both in the U.S.A and South America. There is a team of leaders from Brazil who have asked for permission to start Fusion there.

One of the real benefits of being in Edmonton is the chance to engage with Taylor Seminary. The Seminary is aligned with the North American Baptists, but also trains Anglicans for ministry and has been in conversation with Fusion ever since the President heard about our grass roots approach to Mission. Several of their professors have been accredited to deliver Fusion's Foundations course, and the hope has always been that the partnership with the seminary might be a foundation for the development of Fusion's training internationally. Matt will be working towards a Masters in Theological Studies with Taylor and is already doing two subjects by distance education. He is loving the engagement with the material and seeing how it will both better equip him, and hopefully also provide a grounding for the further development of Fusion's training.

One reason Matt felt the need to gain a post-tertiary theological qualification, is that our sense is that it will be right for him to continue to write and speak with churches and Christian groups who want to move into effective mission. It is clear that the qualification in some contexts will be useful in opening doors for this to happen. The course will also give Matt a thorough Theological foundation, from which he will be much better equipped for the writing and training he will be doing.

For our family, it was clear that it was time to leave Poatina, and find a way to "re-group" after what has been a challenging few years. Maddi, Josh, Daniel and Sophie are all very excited about the adventure of traveling to a new country and we are planning to make plenty of time to enjoy exploring a new country and enjoy one another's company.  It is likely that we won't have a lot of time left as a family unit before the kids start leaving home, and we know that this last big adventure will be an important time in each of our kids lives.

Madeline will complete her year 12 in the Australian system through flexible learning from Canada. Trinity College in Poatina already uses this style of education and it really suits Maddi who is very self motivated and manages her own time well. She is hoping to get a part time job, help out with some of Fusion's youth programs and also connect with a local youth group in addition to her studies. 

Leeanne has been working in Poatina both in managing accommodation and as a teachers aide at Trinity College. We are exploring whether she might get a part time job in Edmonton, however we know that a major focus for us will be supporting our kids in the transition and in particular helping support Maddi with her studies.

From Matt


One of the biggest sadnesses for us in leaving will be saying goodbye to my Grandmother, Agnes, who is 95 and lives just across the road from us in Poatina. We have loved our daily cuppas with Auntie Anne and Mema (as we call her) and it won't be easy to be so far away. I will also miss Auntie Anne's fellowship and support. She has shared the journey of the last three years and been a real help in my writing. There is something special about four generations of family being able to share life together.

For both Leeanne and I though, we know clearly that this move is a right next step.  A few years ago it would have been unthinkable for us to leave the country as a family, and even now it is a very big thing to be contemplating, but God has steadily been removing our ties here and helping us be ready to go. 

The response to the book has been very encouraging.  One pastor from London who is going to use the book as the basis of his church's small group studies wrote to say "I have been reading your book and have been encouraged to hear God speaking to me through the book. I'd like to use the book to base some of the teaching I want to bring to the congregation as we endeavour to become more missional in the way we try to be church."  Matt has finished a study leaders guide for the book which is now available for free from the Kingdom Cells website (here: http://kingdomcells.org/resources/study-leaders-guide/). As yet 6 Radical Decisions is still only published in the U.K. but it looks like it will be available as an e-book soon and it also looks like being published in Canada. We would love to find a way of getting it published in Australia.

It is great to be able to report that through the course of this year things have improved in our relationship with Fusion Australia's current leadership. We were grateful for choices that meant that Mum and Dad were finally able to stop living out of a suitcase after 2 1/2 years, sell their house in Poatina and begin a new chapter in great little two bedroom unit in Hobart. There are a few other issues which are still a concern, but it is clear that Fusion's trustees and Executive Team Leader want things to move forward. Our sense is that God has used some of this complexity to help us to be ready for this move.  It was a special moment at Fusion's National conference when we were commissioned in prayer as a family for the journey, and Fusion's Executive Team Leader has written a letter to some of Fusion's networks, inviting both prayer and financial support for us in making this step (if you would like a copy of the letter just let us know).



From Leeanne

Wow we're going to Canada!!  Such a rightness in this moment that God is opening this door wide for us. It is blowing my mind as it all unfolds.  

Everyday this past week has had one miracle after another.  

I'm feeling deeply a knowledge that God's got us, and am up for the ride.  Even though daily I'm experiencing stress like I've never known... But God is good, and gently reminds me that life's to short to live in those stresses that threaten to take over.  

So as much as I'm unsure of exactly how life is going to work out in Canada. 

I know it's the right next step for us, and look forward to seeing what this next chapter looks like for me, and us as a family.  I'll just be doing lots of praying!

The Garvin Gang


Our kids are looking forward to the big move.

Maddi just turned 17 and has been providing a real leadership role at Trinity College. Last week she organised a Jamaica Day (they don't always dress like this) for the whole school to raise funds for the work of Fusion in Jamaica.
The experience this year of working at Uluru for a few weeks, along with a trip last year to Albania and Poland, have both had a big impact and she is fairly clear that she wants to make a difference with her life. 

Josh is now the tallest person in the family at age 14, and has enjoyed starting to learn a martial art and Basketball, but his real passion is the computer, and in particular the game Minecraft. He is hoping that he can organise 3000 computer game players around the world to work together in order to break a record for the number of people on a Minecraft server at a single time. He has also used his computer skills to help his grandfather, Mal, get his radio spots on the internet as podcasts.

Daniel is now a teenager and loved his time overseas with Matt. He continues with his drumming and did a very entertaining job of MCing the Childrens concert at Fusion's conference. He can't wait to get to Canada.

Sophie has now reached double figures and loves cooking and will be really sad to say goodbye to her good friend Rachel. 

A sad note for our family will be saying goodbye to our faithful Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bella. We have found a family who have six kids who are going to welcome Bella into their family and have said that they will send us photos from time to time so we can see how she is going. We will be saying goodbye to Bella next weekend.


Please Travel with us....


Its a big moment and we would appreciate your company!

Knowing how to communicate our needs in our newsletter is always a difficult thing for us. We want to communicate honestly with you, as someone who has chosen to receive our newsletter, and we know we need your specific prayer, but we know that ultimately it is God who provides. We also know that the main way (but not the only way) He has done that is through people like you who carry us in prayer and choose to support us financially, so thank you for your support on this journey.

Last time we wrote we said that we needed your prayer. As we write now, we need your prayer more than ever. This is a huge step for our family at all levels and we know that prayer is our greatest need. Again, Can we ask you to consider committing to pray for us either daily or weekly?

When we last wrote, we indicated that Matt needed a new computer and we needed some extra income just to cover our existing expenses. We were so grateful for the response to our last newsletter. We were able to pay off almost all of our bills and a friend who was upgrading his computer offered Matt his old one, which has been great! 

As you might imagine, moving overseas with a family is a very big thing financially, but time and time again we have seen God work miraculously. From the first time we started contemplating the possibility and a friend offered to pay for our passports, to the incredible support of the Canadian team who are providing all our flights, a fully furnished house and a car, to Taylor Seminary providing $2500 towards tuition costs, it seems as though God has been paving the way.

While Leeanne will explore the possibility of paid part-time work in Canada, similar to what she has been doing voluntarily here, and one Bible College has already asked Matt to do some lecturing, we know that this step represents one of the biggest financial challenges we have ever had.

There are significant costs in just getting things tied up in Poatina, travelling with a family and then getting established in Edmonton. The costs of Matt's course will be about $700 a month and our living expenses will be higher than they are now, without the safety net of the Australian Family payment system. Another challenge will be that we need to continue to pay for our house in Poatina and it is unlikely that we will be abe to rent it out, which would almost have covered our mortage and rates.  Can we ask you to prayerfully consider whether it is right to support us financially as we take this step? Either one off gifts, to help with the cost of the move, or regular monthly support would make a big difference for us.

Support can be either given to us directly (either through paypal or direct deposit) or through Fusion's Staff Support Coordinator, Jill, (who can also manage direct debit payments and credit cards). Jill's email address is staff.support@fusion.org.au

A final thought from Matt : It's one step at a time

What helps you feel secure? Leeanne and I have been on a huge journey this year trying our best to trust God but not particularly enjoying the feelings of uncertainty that seemed to come with that.

At the start of the year we really didn't have any idea where we would end up, and the thought of moving overseas seemed pretty far fetched. As we took the journey of this year though, we said that we would take whatever steps were open to us and seemed right and see what happened. 

I can never seem to get from God a long term plan, he usually only makes clear what we need to do today.  For a long time I have been challenged by Isaiah 50:10-11 which seems to be counter-intuitive. It invites us to walk in the dark, and trust God for guidance rather than produce torches to light our own way.

We have learned St. Ignatius wrote "Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to him and if they were to allow his grace to mould them accordingly."  In all honesty we are not at a point where we are abandoning ourselves unreservedly... we have plenty of reserves and our feelings go up and down like a rollercoaster in the face of such dramatic change, but I think we are discovering in a new way that the faith life is a one step at a time thing that fundamentally involves a loss of control as we hand the steering wheel to someone else.

I am enjoying studying Theology, but I keep being reminded that faith isn't a set of ideas... its a choice to trust, even when you can't see the way forward...

Our mailing address is:
Matt and Leeanne Garvin
11 Carmont Court
Howrah, Tasmania 7018
Australia

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