Dear Friends and Family

Again this update is long overdue, and we apologise for that. However we have been in a significant process regarding our future and as a result it has made it difficult to send updates. But here it is, finally…….

Aleck….

…is currently leading the School of Design. (It started the beginning of July so we are about half way through.) He is loving it - most of the time! It is a fascinating school in that most of the students are from 3rd world nations - South America and Africa, mainly. Of course this adds a totally new dynamic to the base as well as the class as these cultures become much more obvious and as they are very relational it makes class a lot of fun.

Aleck has already taught on the school for 2 weeks, on design principles and the theology of design, and has another couple of weeks coming up, teaching web design.

Besides leading the school and teaching on the school, he has also been busy doing design projects. He recently finished doing a promotional package (website, brochure, flyer, poster) for a sculpture project called “invitation - decalogue” here in Geneva. (For more info visit: http://invitationsculpture.com) He is also in the middle of designing a website for an international 5 star hotel in Africa. He has also done a number of other print projects for various organisations.

Donna-Rae….

….I am juggling looking after kids and home, work and starting to organise things for moving (see “future” section below for more details.) This time of year is a particularly busy time for me with my job as the University of the Nations has a major conference at the beginning of September. During this conference they have a graduation ceremony for people who are eligible to graduate. This year the ceremony is being held in 4 locations. That means I have tons of work to do in order to get diplomas and students ready to graduate. But I enjoy it anyway.

Other things I have been involved in include teaching on the design school on Colour Theory, helping Aleck do some of the design projects and potato picking with a local farmer. (I really enjoyed that as I could just be by myself and think without interruption - it was so nice.)

Mya….

Mya is doing well. She starts going to school in 2 weeks and is very excited. I have noticed that when she is playing by herself, she talks to herself in french and english - she doesn’t know a lot of french but what she does know she uses. It is very cute. It is certainly putting my mind at ease for when she goes to school =:0) She also has a particular phrase that she uses whenever she is playing or pretending to read etc, it is a profound statement, although she doesn’t know it, it is: “We know what we know!”

Micah….

Micah is getting so big. (He is 15 months now.) He is walking and trying to run, and tries to do everything his big sister does. He has quite a sense of humour, and a very distinctive personality. He still hasn’t said a single word but nonetheless manages to communicate exactly what he wants with grunts and noises. And it amazes me how much he actually understands.

Future…..

So, we have been thinking about the future and what is next for us. In the last 4.5 years in Switzerland we have been able to develop the design schools, create locations and leaders for multiplying the schools and train up people to take over the schools here in Switzerland. This basically means that for Aleck, as a pioneer, he has reached the end of what he feels called to do here in Switzerland. (My jobs with the UofN I still love and enjoy doing, but they are “portable”.) We also feel that it is time to focus on my degree and try and finish it as this will free us up for the next chapter of our lives. (I have the Video school and internship, and the humanities/worldview school left to do.)

So in light of all this, we feel we are to go to South Africa for 8 months (May to Dec) in order for me to do the Video school and internship. immediately prior to this Aleck will be going to Colombia for 1 month in April to help set up the design school there (as this was a prior commitment) and we will take a few months sabbatical at the beginning of next year to spend an extended time with family and to process what is next as there are a number of opportunities open to us. Opportunities so far include multiplying the design schools in Africa, for example in Nigeria; Another option is to work with the International Communications office in YWAM Harpenden; Another option is to work with either Africom or Eurocom (communication offices for Africa or Europe); We could get jobs for a few years; or one of the things we would like to do (at some point in the future) is start our own Media company, a business as missions setup - this option fits well with my degree and Aleck’s experience in Design. But the bottom line is we don’t know exactly what is next and where it will be and hopefully during the sabbatical we will get some more clarity in that.

In the meantime however, a lot of things need to fall into place for us. We need God to provide somewhere to live in Northern Ireland, a car as this will make visiting family and friends a little easier (unless we find a place with close/easy access to public transport) and a way for us to get our belongings back to the UK - even though we will try and sell most stuff, there are some things we would like to keep. Visas and plane tickets etc…….

Prayer Requests…..

- for Aleck over the next few months that he will be able to hand over his responsibilities smoothly and quickly without too much trouble.

- for Aleck that he can continue to enjoy the school and finish well

- as we process what is next and that God’s direction will be very clear

- for me that I will be able to prioritise and organise my time while doing the schools

- grace and wisdom for aleck while he home-school’s Mya and looks after the kids

- God would provide a way (incl finances) to get our stuff back to the UK

- a house and a car while in the UK

- finances to get ready for the school - visas, passports, tickets etc and all the other logistics around traveling with a  family

So as you can see next year will be very different for us - it is a little scary as there are a lot of unknowns still, but taking one step at a time, and trusting God in each decision is the way that we will move forward.

It is also hard for us to leave Switzerland as we have loved it here - especially in Spring through Autumn (Fall). We have been released in what we do and have got some good friends here. But it is time to move on to the next thing that God has for us. Exciting times!

Well, that is all for now. thank you for your ongoing prayers and support. We are blessed by your friendship and commitment to us. Please feel free to email us and ask us about our process and our plans. We would love to hear from you personally, as to how you are doing. thank you to those of you who have sent us your newsletters and emails. We appreciate being part of your lives in this big wide world we live in!

God bless you all in this next season of your lives.

Aleck, Donna-Rae, Mya & Micah Cartwright