What have we been up to?

Hello all!
Can it really be July already? Where is the summer going? It is actually winter here in New Zealand which means it’s rainy and chilly, compared to winter in Colorado, this isn’t so bad. The difference is that the chilliness gets into your bones and warming my feet on a hot water bottle is the main thing that helps. That water bottle is also a great hand warmer as well!

What have we been up to? School ended in May and we spent roughly half of June in Perth, Australia. Pastor Darryl and Lorelle were awesome hosts! We went there to serve them, but we came away feeling served. It was a blessing to watch this couple minister to their family and church family.

While there we visited Cathy in the hospital twice. She is will soon be greeting Jesus face to face. Please pray for her and Bruce, her husband, as this is a difficult time for them. He has been by her side through all of the trials she has been through. Their son and his wife just had a little baby boy and I am sure this is adding to this amazing time for this precious family.

Andrew had the opportunity to preach at Calvary Perth both Sundays we were there. The first sermon was on Luke 15:11-32 which talks about a father and his two sons. Here is the link to his teaching if you are interested: http://www.calvarychapelperth.com/sermons#290. The second sermon was on Psalm 23 about us as sheep. Here is the in link if you are interested in hearing this sermon: http://www.calvarychapelperth.com/sermons#291. I really enjoyed watching Andrew teach from his perspective and sense of humor.

I had the opportunity to share my testimony at the Calvary Perth ladies Bible study. Being the youngest in the group, I wondered how my life story would connect with these ladies, but God always has a plan. Some of them could relate personally or have a daughter that is going through what I have been through. May they be encouraged that as they or their daughters turn to God and allow Him to have His way, life can be so very different.

Darryl and Lorelle treated us to a few of the beautiful sites in Perth including King’s Park, which is across the river from downtown Perth. This huge park has a few memorials and one that was quite interesting was the whispering wall. Lorelle sat at one end of the half circle and I sat that the other end. She whispered and it sounded like she was right next to me. It was so much fun!

We also went to Caversham Wildlife Park where we had the opportunity to touch a koala and a wombat, plus feed kangaroos. What a great experience to be so up close to these creatures. I even got to see a kookaburra bird that I used to sing about in elementary school. You know the song… kookaburra sits in the old gum tree.. A gum tree is also known as a eucalyptus tree. Too fun to connect the dots!

They took us to one of their favorite spots to see wild dolphins in the canals of a neighborhood. It was such a blessing to see these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat. I even captured some video of them swimming right below me. The pelicans were wise to follow the dolphins as where they were at, so were the fish.

Of course, life isn’t really lived until you’ve had a good barbie! They cooked up snaggers (sausages) and grilled veggies. They made sure we were well fed and watered. :o) Darryl celebrated a milestone birthday while we were there and we were able to treat him and Lorelle to a dinner out. These are special people and we love them dearly! You see, Darryl just finished his radiation treatments and will know more in the coming weeks if the medicine did its work. He was on the go as though he had no troubles at all while we were there. God bless you, dear sir! You are in our prayers!!!

As it is mid-July, we are ramping up for next semester. Andrew will be teaching the Wisdom of Solomon which covers Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. He is also praying about teaching Fundamentals of Worship Leading. I will be team teaching Philippians with the ladies on staff as well as teaching English Composition. I am loving studying Philippians as it reveals Paul’s heart for the church of Philippi. What a great teacher he was and is!

Recently we were notified that Andrew’s dad (Brice) has non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Andrew will be going home to Minnesota in early August for about two weeks. He wants to spend time with his folks and help out where he can. Brice will have just completed his first round of treatment and we would appreciate your prayers. Andrew’s mom is doing a great job taking care of Brice, but as many of you know, it can be exhausting. Please keep her in your prayers as well!

God has been shaking us and continues to chip away those sharp corners so that we can more effectively shine the light and share the love of Jesus to those around us. Sometimes we wonder how God will use us, but He reveals little by little what He is doing in us and through us. There is always work to be done in our hearts as we continually need to lay down things that try to take precedence over Him. I am grateful that He is so patient with me as I am a stinker when I want to hold on to something.

We love you and appreciate you, more than you know! May we all remain open to whatever heart surgery God wants to do in us as He sees the grand picture where we only see a splinter of the image.

Some pictures of some of the people we met: