There, got home from work, threw together a batch of chocolate chip muffins for when the kids get home from school, using my new recipe (the one where the chocolate chips don't sink to the bottom) and now I have 45 minutes to myself to blog....except for the fact that my 
y key is missing thanks to my dear hubby who got a little over-enthusiastic in vacuuming the laptop keyboard! :-0
I love my new job. I'm so happy! Spending the first 43 years of my life immersed in 99% Caucasian society, it has been such a joy to be around people from all over the world and experience living, working and interacting with them. Today a 5 year old cantonese speaking boy came to our office with very sore gums. Ginny, my co-worker, called an older student who also spoke Cantonese to come and interpret for the little boy. The girl then called the boy's mom and explained to her what was happening (all in Cantonese). It was just so cool. I know for those of you who live with multi-ethnicities everyday, it's no big deal, but I am so enthralled to hear the different languages spoken. To see that girl being able to help out that little boy was just great. I love it! (and at our marriage course on the weekend, the hostess prayed for our dinner in Tagalog - also so cool - I've led a very English life!)
Another thing that is bringing me great joy these days is facebook. haha...I know, another internet addiction. Paige thinks I'm crazy. It has been so wonderful to connect with people who we have known throughout our life and just touch base with quick notes, viewing their photos, reading of their lives. If you're not on facebook, you should check it out... and make sure you add me as a friend. :-) www.facebook.com
I've also had a couple of thoughts rumbling around in my brain that I have been wanting to post blogs about. One is 'take every thought captive' and the other is 'don't be afraid, just believe'. Both come from scripture and both have been meaning alot to me and to our family since our move.
2 Corinthians 10:5 says "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ". We have found that we have had to do this repeatedly since our move to fight homesickness. Yes, it's good and natural to think of and miss our home, family and friends. It's when those thoughts take control and we dwell on them and let them stew and build and grow to the point of disabling us in our daily activities and they prevent us from building relationships in our new community, that it is not good. We need to take those thoughts captive and turn them over to Jesus through our prayers and positive thoughts and reading of scripture. We need to choose what we think about that will keep us healthy and happy. So everyone in our family works on this on a daily basis. Some days are obviously better than others, but we're learning and growing and adapting to our new home.
In Luke 8:50 and again in Mark 5:36, Jesus said "Don't be afraid; Just believe". This has recently become my new favorite verse! For those of you who don't know, we are here as missionaries having to raise our own financial support, as the church we are working at is unable to pay my husband for being the pastor. It is small and 90% immigrants from other countries, who themselves struggle financially. We 100% knew that God wanted us to come here and that He will provide. The provisions have been faithful and we are now here. However, our support base is small and each month we are unsure if there will be enough to cover our expenses. Also we have discovered that NZ is in fact, a very expensive place to live. So when I fret and worry and think that God has forgotten us, I need to hold on to His words, "Don't be afraid; Just believe" and know that He will provide for our needs. Our God is faithful. Our God is good!
(muffins are done....kids will be home in 15 minutes....gotta go check my facebook! :-)
y key is missing thanks to my dear hubby who got a little over-enthusiastic in vacuuming the laptop keyboard! :-0I love my new job. I'm so happy! Spending the first 43 years of my life immersed in 99% Caucasian society, it has been such a joy to be around people from all over the world and experience living, working and interacting with them. Today a 5 year old cantonese speaking boy came to our office with very sore gums. Ginny, my co-worker, called an older student who also spoke Cantonese to come and interpret for the little boy. The girl then called the boy's mom and explained to her what was happening (all in Cantonese). It was just so cool. I know for those of you who live with multi-ethnicities everyday, it's no big deal, but I am so enthralled to hear the different languages spoken. To see that girl being able to help out that little boy was just great. I love it! (and at our marriage course on the weekend, the hostess prayed for our dinner in Tagalog - also so cool - I've led a very English life!)
Another thing that is bringing me great joy these days is facebook. haha...I know, another internet addiction. Paige thinks I'm crazy. It has been so wonderful to connect with people who we have known throughout our life and just touch base with quick notes, viewing their photos, reading of their lives. If you're not on facebook, you should check it out... and make sure you add me as a friend. :-) www.facebook.com
I've also had a couple of thoughts rumbling around in my brain that I have been wanting to post blogs about. One is 'take every thought captive' and the other is 'don't be afraid, just believe'. Both come from scripture and both have been meaning alot to me and to our family since our move.
2 Corinthians 10:5 says "we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ". We have found that we have had to do this repeatedly since our move to fight homesickness. Yes, it's good and natural to think of and miss our home, family and friends. It's when those thoughts take control and we dwell on them and let them stew and build and grow to the point of disabling us in our daily activities and they prevent us from building relationships in our new community, that it is not good. We need to take those thoughts captive and turn them over to Jesus through our prayers and positive thoughts and reading of scripture. We need to choose what we think about that will keep us healthy and happy. So everyone in our family works on this on a daily basis. Some days are obviously better than others, but we're learning and growing and adapting to our new home.
In Luke 8:50 and again in Mark 5:36, Jesus said "Don't be afraid; Just believe". This has recently become my new favorite verse! For those of you who don't know, we are here as missionaries having to raise our own financial support, as the church we are working at is unable to pay my husband for being the pastor. It is small and 90% immigrants from other countries, who themselves struggle financially. We 100% knew that God wanted us to come here and that He will provide. The provisions have been faithful and we are now here. However, our support base is small and each month we are unsure if there will be enough to cover our expenses. Also we have discovered that NZ is in fact, a very expensive place to live. So when I fret and worry and think that God has forgotten us, I need to hold on to His words, "Don't be afraid; Just believe" and know that He will provide for our needs. Our God is faithful. Our God is good!
(muffins are done....kids will be home in 15 minutes....gotta go check my facebook! :-)
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