September 2010
Greetings from Estonia! We are gearing up for a busy fall with work and conferences in Serbia, Bulgaria and of course Estonia, but more on that in a later email.
What we really want to let you know about is the expansion of our family. We are expecting our third child to arrive early in January. Emily and Mattias are excited about the new baby. Emily is praying that the baby is a girl and has asked us if she could name the baby “Emily” after her. We are super excited about the baby’s arrival.
This news definitely has affected our ability to travel this year but we are hoping to get back to Canada in the new year! Thank-you for your faithfulness in support and relationship despite our absence this year. We look forward to our next opportunity to be with you.
This email is coming a bit late due to computer issues, my laptop is completely out of commission (as well as all of the valuable data on it). I am praying that the issue will be resolved but I do need to send the computer back to Canada to be serviced.
On another announcement we have started a blog in which we will post pictures, store our updates for those of you who are interested. We have posted pictures of our renovations and a bit of the renovation story. The blog address is http://www.corcoranlife.blogspot.com/.
It is a work in progress and hopefully it will be a good tool. If you are interested drop by for a quick visit on your next trip to the web.
Out of the Boat
“
Rod, Kaja, Emily, Mattias & “the one on the way”
August 2010
Greetings from Estonia! We have fully enjoyed our beautiful summer weather. This has been the first real hot summer in years. We trust that you have been enjoying your summer to take time to relax, reflect and to get away from the daily pressures of life. We wanted to send you a very brief update on the happenings here in Estonia and our work with NLI.
Bulgaria YLTC
In June I (Rod) was in Bulgaria for the planning of our last YLTC (Youth Leaders Training Conference) which will take place in November. The results of the conference have been good as many young leaders have taken on leadership roles in established youth ministries and in planting new ministries. While meeting with Traycho and Ina (Bulgarian nation youth directors for the Pentecostal Union) in June they shared with me some of the leadership transitions that are happening in the Pentecostal Union. Traycho and Ina are hoping that at the YLTC in November they will be able to arrange a meeting with the new leader of the Union. This would be a chance to partner with the Pentecostal Union with the challenges that they face.
Serbia
In October I (Rod) will be going back to Serbia to meet with one of our NLI partners in Serbia. Two years ago we were together for training the emerging leaders in the Pentecostal church. Our meeting in October will be about further partnership and projects in Serbia as we discuss the needs and challenges in Serbia. One of the major challenges that the Serbian Pentecostals face is public alienation, as the Pentecostals are considered a cult by the general public. This has made it very challenging for the church to meet in public and to own property. By partnering with the Serbians we want to bring encouragement, resources and the power of developing collective solutions to the problems.
Personal
As mentioned before this has been a beautiful summer in terms of the weather. We have fully enjoyed most of the benefits of the summer weather. This summer though our personal focal point has been fixing the house. We hope to have the 1st floor somewhat ready by the end of September, this will give us an additional 700 square feet, which will be great even if all of it is not ready. It will be nice for the 4 of us to not be squished in 500 square feet. We are very excited for this development.
Emily and Mattias are enjoying the summer as well, both of the kids love to be outside. This year Emily is riding her bike up and down the street and begging Kaja and I on a regular basis to take her out on the bike or to the park so she can go on the swings.
We hope that you enjoy the rest of the summer, we greatly appreciate your prayers and support.
Out of the Boat
Rod, Kaja, Emily & Mattias
Prayer Requests
1. Bulgaria YLTC: most of the key details are finished, but I am in need of recruiting a another trainer
2. Serbia meetings: That Jesus would give us wisdom on how to partner further in the nation of Serbia
3. Kivisilla church: for the people that we are working with to come to faith in Jesus
Travel Schedule
1. September 12-18 UK (Next Level International meetings)
2. October 8-11 (Serbia)
3. October 24-29 (Israel: PAOC missionaries retreat)
June 2010
Greetings from Bulgaria! That’s right I am in Bulgaria for a couple of days preparing for this year’s YLTC (Youth Leaders Training Conference) with NLI (Next Level International). NLI has had a long history in Bulgaria and I am excited to be a part of our ongoing partnership with the Pentecostal Union here in Bulgaria. This year marks the third and final of the YLTCs in Bulgaria.
Last night while meeting with Traycho and Ina (the national youth directors for the Pentecostal Union) and discussing the details of the conference, we took some time to discuss the fruit of our co-labor. I was greatly encourage to hear of how the conference has been used as a springboard for leaders to enter into ministry. As well Traycho and Ina talked especially about one young man who they saw great potential in, but he had taken very little initiative with the opportunities that were presented to him. During last year’s conference God stirred his heart and challenged him to step up. Since the conference he has been active in leading a youth ministry in a new church plant. It is stories like his that make these conferences a success.
Praise God that the details are getting worked out, but more importantly Praise God that young leaders are being raised up to lead the youth in the nation of Bulgaria.
April 2010
Greetings from Estonia! We trust that you are all well and enjoying a beautiful spring. After the long winter that seemed to never end we are fully enjoying the spring that is upon us. Kaja has been trying to spend as much time in the yard as possible cleaning up after the vicious winter. We hope that you enjoy this brief update on some of the happenings in our lives.
Bulgaria
In the beginning of June I will be travelling to Bulgaria to meet with some of the leaders that we are working with there. The primary reason for the trip is to prepare for the final YLTC this November with Traycho and Ina (national Pentecostal youth directors). During my trip we will be discussing the details of the next conference and reviewing the outcomes of the previous two conferences. As well I look forward to meeting a number of the leaders that have benefited from the YLTC and what their response is.
Kivisilla Church�
As a leadership team we have been discussing how to represent Jesus in our city. For our small church plant we feel that our mandate is to represent Jesus to youth and young adults. We have decided to reach out to this age demographic over coffee. Earlier this week we had our first coffee connect meeting. It was a good connection time, but most of the people that we invited didn’t come. We feel as a leadership group this meeting is important and we need to fight for the people that Jesus is bringing into our lives. Next week we will have our next coffee connect meeting and we are asking for people to consider praying that Jesus would use us to represent Jesus to the people who come. As well tomorrow Kaja and I will be hosting an informal lunch, please pray that Jesus would use us in a greater capacity for His glory.
Personal
It is always exciting when people come to visit us in the context in which we live and work, the most recent visitor was Courtney Zerk from Rosetown, SK. Thanks to a rather large volcano my parents trip to Estonia was postponed a few weeks. Now thankfully they will be joining us in Estonia next week. Emily and Mattias are looking forward to having their Grandparents around for 10 days, and Kaja and I are looking forward to enjoying a date night or two!