Dear <<First Name>>,

Wow, it's November already!  Where did the past few months go?  It's time for us to update you on how life and ministry are going for us. 

FAMILY - Joel is eagerly anticipating turning 6 years old on the 18th of November! He's been counting down the months for most of the year and birthday month is finally here! We're taking him on a special "Daddy, Mummy and Joel" outing to the aquarium and we'll have a little party with Peter's parents. Kaylah just turned 9 months old and is (in our very biased opinion!) exceedingly cute! She's waving, dancing to any music she hears and has started to mimic sounds. Today she said "mama" when we asked her to, which was music to this Mummy's heart!

The older girls are keeping very occupied with their schoolwork and preparing for Christmas. Let's just say they're miles ahead of me on their Christmas shopping! I would like to ask special prayer for wisdom as we parent . . . it seems we have been dealing with a lot of arguing and bad attitudes among the children - normal family struggles but draining. We need God's wisdom as we teach and train them and try to set a joyful and peaceful tone in our home.

MINISTRY - Starting tomorrow (Monday, the 5th) Peter and Ron will be teaching a week-long Cor Deo intensive. There are 19 people signed up, including quite a few from our church, and it promises to be a great week! I (Melanie) am very blessed to be able to participate this time! We have friends and family lined up to take care of the children so it will be a very different week for me. I could really use some encouragement at the moment, so please pray that God will speak to me through His Word. It should also be really good for me to be able to see up close what Peter spends much of his time doing.  Please pray for Peter and Ron as they teach and for the participants to come with soft hearts to the Lord. Peter is just getting over a nasty cold so pray especially that his voice will hold out. We are really pleased that our brother-in-law, Andy, is coming from Norwich to stay with us and participate in the intensive.

On Saturday, Peter teaches all day at the Pillars training course in Bristol and then goes up to Leeds to speak at a student missions gathering where they are expecting around 500 students. He speaks Sat. night and Sunday afternoon. Again, pray for eternal fruit and for Peter to have the stamina he needs for the weekend.

The following weekend, 16th-18th November, Peter is speaking at a church weekend in Gloucestershire. We have great connections with this church so pray for the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts and for Him to speak through Peter.

As always, please pray for Peter and I to be close to our Father and to let His love flow through us to others as we serve Him.