We are trying to involve the kids as much as possible in our decision making and getting them to pray and give us ideas. We also allow them to be open and honest about their feelings.
The three girls have mixed emotions. They are excited about a huge change and the adventure of starting out in a whole new culture but they are also anticipating leaving friends and family. It's tough for them but they are all being so brave about it.
The boys are just excited about going on an airplane. They don't really seem to have the understanding of what is going on.
Practically, we have been introducing a change in their diet. We have curry nights that I have been slowly adding more chillies. All but one of the kids are doing well with trying new foods. Our second daughter struggles a bit though, she can be a fuss pot anyway. I have even been adding spices to our 10 month old's food. He loves the cardamon flavour and mild spices.
We have also been learning the basic Hindi language. We have a DVD for kids. It's fun to spend time as a family practicing. The young boys are amazing with the accent. I have even noticed them integrating the odd Hindi word into their every day talking. Our Indian friends have also lent us some Hindi movies to watch.
I think overall, the children have accepted the fact that we are going and know that it is a clear calling from God for all of us. Who knows how God is going to use them in this amazing country.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
To sell or not to sell, that is the question
We have not fully decided yet but we have been thinking about what to do with our house.
We originally thought it would be wise to rent it out and that way we would be getting some income from it to help us out in India. It seems like the good thing to do practically.
While we have been thinking about this a very interesting thing happened. Please bear with me as I try to bring you up to speed.
David had been to his aunties funeral. That week in church a friend of ours asked how it had gone. David replied that it was very Lutheren. Our friend Steve replied that he had a lot of time for the lutherens because when he first became a christian a Lutheren girl had helped him out.
It turns out that this girl had boarded with David's family and that Steve had been to David's house about 17 years ago. He then realised that it must have been David that gave him his first bible. It was so exciting to find out this connection after 7 years of knowing Steve.
A few days later, David went to prayer meeting while I stayed at home with a sick kid. Steve came and gave David the bible that had David's name written in the front.
Meanwhile, I was at home reading the book "Through gates of splendor" I came across one part when one of the characters was telling of how he came to move to Equador, he talked about the verse in the bible that says
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
I sat thinking over this verse and really began to feel God is wanting us to sell our house. I feel we need to make a complete breaking off from the things back here. I do not beleive this verse says either way but as I was pondering on this verse that was my thought process.
Not long after David arrived home. He was so excited because he had just been given his old bible back. I took the bible and looked inside. There was his name but even more, there was a page of verses David had jotted down some 17 years ago. Then right at the bottom something caught my eye. It said my name and Mark 10:29. I had a wee laugh with David and we decided to see what the verse was and of course it was the verse I had just been pondering on in regards to our house. Mmmm, coincidence? I think not.
We originally thought it would be wise to rent it out and that way we would be getting some income from it to help us out in India. It seems like the good thing to do practically.
While we have been thinking about this a very interesting thing happened. Please bear with me as I try to bring you up to speed.
David had been to his aunties funeral. That week in church a friend of ours asked how it had gone. David replied that it was very Lutheren. Our friend Steve replied that he had a lot of time for the lutherens because when he first became a christian a Lutheren girl had helped him out.
It turns out that this girl had boarded with David's family and that Steve had been to David's house about 17 years ago. He then realised that it must have been David that gave him his first bible. It was so exciting to find out this connection after 7 years of knowing Steve.
A few days later, David went to prayer meeting while I stayed at home with a sick kid. Steve came and gave David the bible that had David's name written in the front.
Meanwhile, I was at home reading the book "Through gates of splendor" I came across one part when one of the characters was telling of how he came to move to Equador, he talked about the verse in the bible that says
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
I sat thinking over this verse and really began to feel God is wanting us to sell our house. I feel we need to make a complete breaking off from the things back here. I do not beleive this verse says either way but as I was pondering on this verse that was my thought process.
Not long after David arrived home. He was so excited because he had just been given his old bible back. I took the bible and looked inside. There was his name but even more, there was a page of verses David had jotted down some 17 years ago. Then right at the bottom something caught my eye. It said my name and Mark 10:29. I had a wee laugh with David and we decided to see what the verse was and of course it was the verse I had just been pondering on in regards to our house. Mmmm, coincidence? I think not.
The shower of contemplation
I have always found the shower a great place to think, contemplate, pray and also waste a lot of water as I lose track of time. It is the one place in our house that I can be alone. Even our bedroom is a mezzanine floor so I can't shut myself away quite so easily.
So that said, I was having one of my contemplative showers when the thoughts/words came into my head, "paint your house." Now I know our house needs a paint so that was not news to me but the way the words cut through everything I was thinking took me by surprise. I then also got the feeling I needed to go onto trade me (N.Z equivalent to Ebay) because there would be a house lot of paint for us.
I grabbed my laptop and sat back on my bed. David was still sleeping as it was a Saturday and I did not want to wake him before I looked on trade me or he may think I was a bit of a loony.
I started up the site and entered in my search for paint. The very first listing read, " House lot of paint." There was nineteen, 10lt pots of paint for sale. That was 190lt of paint for N.Z $400. Even if thy had been at a cheap price they would have been over N.Z $1140. The people had bought a whole lot of paint second hand from various places, painted their house and still had all this paint left. Some of the paint has had a very small bit used but most is untouched.
It is now sitting in our garage waiting for summer to hit so we can get stuck in.
So that said, I was having one of my contemplative showers when the thoughts/words came into my head, "paint your house." Now I know our house needs a paint so that was not news to me but the way the words cut through everything I was thinking took me by surprise. I then also got the feeling I needed to go onto trade me (N.Z equivalent to Ebay) because there would be a house lot of paint for us.
I grabbed my laptop and sat back on my bed. David was still sleeping as it was a Saturday and I did not want to wake him before I looked on trade me or he may think I was a bit of a loony.
I started up the site and entered in my search for paint. The very first listing read, " House lot of paint." There was nineteen, 10lt pots of paint for sale. That was 190lt of paint for N.Z $400. Even if thy had been at a cheap price they would have been over N.Z $1140. The people had bought a whole lot of paint second hand from various places, painted their house and still had all this paint left. Some of the paint has had a very small bit used but most is untouched.
It is now sitting in our garage waiting for summer to hit so we can get stuck in.
Passport stuff
After I had all the kids photos taken it took me a while to get the paper work printed out and begin the not so small task of labouring through screeds of paper work. I did all I could until I got to the part that needed someone with a New Zealand passport to be a witness. It kept playing on my mind because I just wanted to get the job done and send them away.
One Sunday after church, our friend Zoe came over. I happened to mention that I needed a witness to complete our pass port application. She suddenly jumped up and ran to her bag. She had her passport with her. She had woken up that morning feeling that she should bring her passport with her. She then put it back again because she could see no logical reason to bring it. On her way out the door she grabbed it anyway.
We had not arranged for her to come that day and had definitely not even thought about asking her to be a witness as she had not even been born in N.Z. Her Dad is a New Zealander though so she had managed to get a Kiwi passport.
It was so wonderful to be able to get the Job done and we now have all our passports ready to go.
That's the first thing to cross off the list on our Yatra to India. How cool is that!!!
One Sunday after church, our friend Zoe came over. I happened to mention that I needed a witness to complete our pass port application. She suddenly jumped up and ran to her bag. She had her passport with her. She had woken up that morning feeling that she should bring her passport with her. She then put it back again because she could see no logical reason to bring it. On her way out the door she grabbed it anyway.
We had not arranged for her to come that day and had definitely not even thought about asking her to be a witness as she had not even been born in N.Z. Her Dad is a New Zealander though so she had managed to get a Kiwi passport.
It was so wonderful to be able to get the Job done and we now have all our passports ready to go.
That's the first thing to cross off the list on our Yatra to India. How cool is that!!!
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