Sunday 18 October 2026

The Joy of Family and the Love of God

Over the past two weeks, Felicity and I have been blessed with the precious opportunity to spend time with our two grandchildren, Iosefa, who is 20 months old, and Heaven, who is four. With the family living in Perth, this time together has been especially meaningful.

Getting to know them more closely, sharing their laughter, enjoying their little personalities, and simply being present in their everyday lives has brought us so much joy. Grandchildren are indeed a precious gift from God, and we are thankful for every moment we have shared with them.

During our stay, we have also witnessed something that deeply touched our hearts. As our daughter and her family prepare to move to Georgia to be with her husband, who has a rugby contract there, their church community organised special gatherings and celebrations to farewell them and express their gratitude and love.

It was moving to hear people share words of appreciation for Latafale’s ministry and to offer their encouragement and prayers for the family. Their genuine care was also shown in very practical ways, home-cooked dinners being delivered, offers of babysitting, help with cleaning, and people simply making themselves available. It was God’s love in action.

It reminded us that the church is more than a place of worship. It is a family where people walk alongside one another through life’s important moments. We saw God’s love being lived out in practical ways, something we continually nurture in our own church family here at St Peter’s.

For Felicity and me, this visit has also been a real answer to prayer. We had

asked the Lord for the opportunity to be with our family, spend precious time with our grandchildren, and support them as they prepare for this new chapter. How grateful we are that He made this possible.

As their departure approaches, we hold both gratitude and sadness in our hearts. While we will miss them, we leave them in God’s loving hands, trusting Him to guide and protect them wherever they go.

This experience has reminded us again how precious family is, and how powerful it is when a church community reflects the love of Christ.

As Jesus says in John 13:35:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Enosa