RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
Hope the year has started well for you. Currently we are suffering from Cyclone Gabrielle. The winds up in our exposed situation are gusting upwards of 52 KM/r currently, supposedly getting worse tonight. We are watching the tall old pines on the farm paddock next to us. Some branches have broken already but hopefully none will come down on us.
The consultation with St James Presbyterian church went very well. They were getting on board with what we were working toward. As a result we will be doing a short course with them in May.
On December 6 our new granddaughter Chloe was born. It got rather tense as she stopped breathing twice and had to be given oxygen. She along with her mum where sent to Middlemore Hospital where they spent three nights in ICU. Praise the Lord, she has pulled through her troubles and is growing quickly. She can already cry in English and Cantonese.
I have appreciated the prayers for our grandson Caleb who has started primary school this month. With his autism he is struggling to cope with the pyshic/emotional overload. However, Rachel & Jonny are doing very well with him. Rachel stays with him at school and together with the school staff are gradually getting him to stay longer. Jonny and Rachel took him to the Paediatrician who has confirmed autism. Please continue to pray for Caleb and the family as they go through this challenging time.
Over January I have preached three weeks in a row in three very different churches. I must say, I enjoyed it. Not sure if the congregations did though.
I had a wee mishap on my ride on. Not realising my cell phone had slipped out of my pocket, I rolled back to get out trouble when I heard a loud explosion from underneath the mower then a shower of metal debry shot out the side. My phone was trashed. God is good as I never got hurt. Insurance will cover a bit after the large excess. PTL a faithful servant of God has covered the excess.
Our chairman David Hill his retired from his involvement with the Caleb Ministries Board. We are very grateful for all the time energy and expertise he’s put into not only the board but being part of the Caleb leadership course training team. He has served extrememly faithfully and well. I shall miss his mentoring. Our new Chairperson is Margie Rea. She has been on the board a few years. She is a Presbyterian Pastor from the deep south. She is our first female chairperson. I look forward to continuing to work with her. She is also a senior trainer and associate lead trainer on our Leadership course.
This Wednesday, weather and Air NZ willing, I fly to Christchurch to meet with pastors and to do a two day training retreat for a pentecostal church’s senior leaders. I preach at the same church on Sunday. I would appreciate prayer for safety and actually getting to Christchurch on time.
I come home for a week before heading to Dunedin to meet with the new Principal of Knox Theological College. Then I’ll have meetings with other pastors about the Leadership course. On the Saturday I meet with Margie Rea to discuss Caleb board issues.
I’m home for a week and half before Yvonne, Hannah and I fly to Nelson. I have meetings with the Anglican Bishop and some of his leaders before we head to Blenheim to run the Bridge Builders Course and preach at the church before returning to Nelson to fly home.
A week and a half later we fly off to Christchurch and on to Ashburton to spend Easter with Rachel and her family. We will fly down on our 43 wedding anniversary. Coming back just in time for Yvonne’s birthday.
On 30th April I head up to Whangārei to do three days management training with a mental health mission up there.
I’ve picked up two more supervisions with a couple others being considered.
Yvonne Hannah and I got Covid just before Chloe was born and couldn’t see her for a week after she was born. The boys and their families are doing well. Jeremy who works for water care is on call through this storm. Hopefully he won’t get called out. My neck is doing pretty well although a couple of weeks ago I had bad nerve pain for about four days before I could free it up. PTL that I’m still able to function well and not have the surgery.
As we head into a very busy first half of the year, we are in need of your prayers and love. We appreciate the time you take praying for us. With out it and the Lord’s blessing we couldn’t be as effective in what we are doing in this mission.
Every blessing
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny, Caleb & Ada, Jeremy, Sakura, Kayla & Chloe, Tim & Aimee & Hannah.