MONTHLY FOCUS

Each month we focus on a different mission partner, bringing you up to date news and a prayer you can use at home.

For the month of February we will be focussing on:

The Latham Family

How things change! Two years ago, Amelie, Simon, Zara, Heloise and Sophie were planning and packing up for a two-year term on board Mercy Ships. The family left that Easter for onboarding training in the USA before serving for a two-year term aboard the Mercy Ships vessel, Global Mercy.

The family are now coming to the end of their two-year term having had a rich, multicultural experience in which they have seen God work in countless ways.

Their roles onboard the ship have changed significantly. Whilst the girls continue to progress through the onboard school, Simon is now working with the Education, Training and Advocacy team and Amelie now leads the Low Care Unit. There are usually around 80 patients in the unit and her hours are long. It is an exceptionally busy unit but one which is thriving as a result of her incredible people and organisational skills.

Amelie is thrilled to be seeing some patients return for their one year check up as she remembers them from last year. Renewing relationships has given her real joy. She enjoys her work and, although working very long hours, is thriving.

Zara, Heloise and Sophie continue to enjoy being onboard. They operate on the American semester system and so the girls are now returning back into education having had their long break over Christmas and January. They have had loads of fun learning new skills such as surfing and carpentry!

Over Christmas, the family were able to return to the UK, including a short stay in Sale, and also visit Amelie's family in France. The whole family were buoyed having renewed such important family relationships.

As they look ahead, Simon, Amelie, Zara, Heloise and Sophie are now planning their return to the UK. This is by no means straight forward as both Simon and Amelie need to sort jobs and school places for the girls are being applied for. Zara will be starting study for A levels, Heloise for her GCSEs and Sophie will be into secondary school too.

The areas of prayer which they have highlighted include:

Protection for the whole family – Sierra Leone is not always a stable country and so they have asked for prayer regarding protection for the whole family but also as they deal with some challenging situations in the Low Care Unit working with local staff and seeing such a volume of patients.
Strength for Amelie – as she works long hours, the job is tiring but also deeply satisfying. She has managed the team to an excellent standard and would appreciate prayer as she continues to manage them into July this year.
Simon is working in the Education, Training and Advocacy team on board – he would value prayer for that role to continue to grow, to deepen and for it to have a really positive impact on the crew onboard.
For the girls as they go to serve for the final 5 months on the ship – that they would remain fully motivated, work hard at school and continue to grow friendships.
Return plans! Coming back to the UK is a massive undertaking in terms of physical belongings, obtaining school places for all three girls, jobs for Simon and Amelie as well as the incredible cultural shift having served in Sierra Leone for two years. Please pray for provision for the family in terms of school places and employment but also peace as they manage their return.

For more information about about our other mission partners go to the Mission Partners page