## **East Mountain UK Director’s Report May 2020-May 2021** The period of May of 2020 to May of 2021 saw great global challenges that affected the course of the work and ministry of East Mountain UK and yet allowed us to refocus on the core of our mission and to adapt in a ruthlessly changing world. The East Mountain UK community gives thanks to God for His hand on us during this time and for the advances we have been able to make! **Spring and Summer 2020:** As this reporting period begins two months after the official designation of the Pandemic and the lockdowns in the UK, there is a definite lack of content in terms of physical gatherings for much of 2020. In February of 2020 we hosted our last large monthly gathering of partners and friends of the East Mountain UK community. These may be reinstated at a later date, but with Covid restrictions, we thought it better to put them on an indefinite hold. The spiritual formation cohort led by East Mountain for pastors and church leaders (started in summer 2019) moved from a fortnightly physical gathering to a once a week Zoom gathering. This actual increase of meeting space (albeit virtual) was a great blessing and encouragement to all the men involved. Several said that it was truly a lifeline in a very difficult time. This group concluded in June, 2020 with a small “pilgrimage walk” around a reservoir in East Lothian. From this group, several relationships and ministry possibilities for future engagement by the charity haver remained. Covid also forced the cancellation of our first US intern who was planning on a summer 2020 engagement. This was unfortunate, but unavoidable. Despite this disappointment, East Mountain has moved forward with consideration for what internship will look like in the future (2022 and beyond) and how we should handle hosting an intern going forward. During this summer lockdown period, God opened our eyes to a new and potentially exciting way to engage church leaders, pastors and others in the “new normal” of the Covid and post-Covid world. We began to make plans to transform a portion of the Wall End property into a prayer garden and place of retreat. The proposed location on the Furr’s property would serve as a “Covid compliant” way to invite others to a place of rest, restoration and retreat. Plans were made to begin the work of development in 2021. **Autumn and Winter 2020** : During the autumn, East Mountain UK saw significant changes in the makeup of our community. Together with the East Mountain UK Board of Trustees, we oversaw the transition of the Scott family (an American family here on a Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa) from our charity to another UK charity. The Scott family officially made this transition on December 31, 2020. Though this involved some difficulty and a good deal of discernment, the end result was one of benefit for everyone. During October of 2020, Fiona Maclaughlin (a local leader with whom Kirsten Furr had a discipling relationship), began to engage the community by attending regular meetings (on Zoom and outdoors!). By late autumn, she asked to formally join the community and to regularly help the work of the charity. We were so very encouraged to expand our core group to UK nationals and to see the previous ministry of East Mountain affect a leader so much so that they wished to have a closer connection. Fiona has been a wonderful addition to the East Mountain community! We worked closely with Fiona to re-establish the community rhythms and to begin the process of welcoming the King family in 2021. During October of 2020, East Mountain also helped another American migrant worker family (with another UK Christian charity) make the transition from a different European country to Scotland. East Mountain hosted this family and helped them to settle in. From this relationship have developed many mutually beneficial ministry opportunities and relational connections in the Edinburgh area. It was during this period as well that East Mountain UK decided officially to build a “Shepherd’s Hut” in the proposed Prayer Garden at Wall End as an enclosed space of retreat. Information gathering and a budget were prepared and the process of seeking donations from US donors (run through the Furrs’ sending agency, Paraclete in the USA) was begun. **Winter and Spring 2021** : In February of 2021, we began the official groundbreaking of the Prayer Garden and Shepherd Hut. Throughout the spring season, teams of local volunteers helped us to dig up the overgrown front garden space on the River Tyne, landscape it and prepare it for the eventual building of the Shepherd Hut on the space. This project was a wonderful way to engage partners and friends in the work of East Mountain and to give them a taste of the ministry work of the community and the hope and dream of what the Prayer Garden might become. Finally, at the end of April, 2021, East Mountain UK welcomed the King family as migrant workers on a Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa. Arriving from the US, the Kings immediately were thrown into the chaos of trying to adapt to a new country in the middle of a pandemic! They spent the time covered by the end of this report period looking for housing, getting life set up and learning how to function within their roles in the charity. I am pleased to say that they have made the transition and have settled well. Their coming brought new energy and enhanced the vision and mission of East Mountain UK. In conclusion, the year period of May 2020 to May 2021 was filled with significant upheaval and challenges, refocusing and then marked forward momentum. Although I would not choose to go through this particular year again, it did serve the purpose to narrow our focus, clarify our ministry endeavours and to welcome new and well-suited members to our charity community. Chris Furr Director, East Mountain UK Signed on behalf of trustees Gary B Seithel Chair 1 April 2022 ## **East Mountain UK** ## **Registered Charity number 1174595 Accounts 6 May 2020-5 May 2021** |Date:|Details:|In:|Out:|Bank Balance:| |---|---|---|---|---| |||**beginning 2020 Balance in Bank**||356.10| |||||| |1 Mar 21|Reimburse G&P Seithel for
Access Insurance||£298.96|57.14| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |Totals|||£ 298.96|57.14| **£356.10 Income/ Receipts £298.96 Expenditure in fiscal year 2018-2019 year ending 5 May 2019** **There are no loans, or outstanding bills due. Signed by Chair of Trustees** **Trustees expenses-** £ **0.00 Employers insurance** £ **298.96 UKVI Certificate of Sponsorship** £ **0.00** **Rev Gary B Seithel 1 April 2022**