RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
This year is starting to sound like a Shakespeare play – “To lockdown or not to lockdown, that is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer shutdown in Auckland alone or to take arms againt the slings and arrows of Covid 19 by shutting the whole country to oppose and end it.” Meanwhile, it’s dust off the mask and hold onto the hope that is in Christ alone.
I took a two day team building conference for the OAC evangelists. They are an amazing bunch of people. The feedback was good and I hope to have one or two come to next year’s leadership course.
Praise the Lord, we now have an agreement with the Northern Presbytery to run a Leadership Development course for their ministers and Lay Leaders next year. The course will be based on the Caleb Leadership Course but shortened to 9 days in two blocks. It willhave an ongoing small group coaching component plus individual coaching/supervision.
It means it will be a first for Caleb NZ in having two Caleb Leadership courses in one year. I will be working on building two training teams. Please pray that those I ask to be on that team will say yes.
We are still working on the online Caleb Course. With the busy schedules of the team, progress is slow. Pray we can get the trial management unit running early next year.
Currently all my ITA work with the curriculum committee is making good progress. The team are a delight to work with. I’m also on the ITA team developing a course for Canadian Pastors which will be part face to face and part online.
I’ve had to lead worship at our church a couple of times. The response has been amazing. Many in the congregation, knowing we are missionaries have responded generously by throwing fruit and vege’s at me. I must say some of the tomato’s have made excellent soup. I’m leading a couple of times in January so it should help with our food supply!
On the run up to Christmas, I have a few preaching assignments and will continue with the supervision of pastors and a couple of business people. I’ll be working on developing the 9 day Leadership course. The ITA committees will continue up to Christmas.
We had Rachel and Ada come and stay for a week. It was a precious time to get to know our newish granddaughter. Rachel has had her MRI and awaits the results. PTL initial sneak previews would suggest the tumour is not growing and the likelihood is that they will hold off treatment but have regular MRI’s to keep an eye on it.
Jeremy is working hard with both work and study. So far he seems to be enjoying the study. Tim is also doing very well with his study. He may be doing summer school and extra papers next year to finish the degree by Oct 2021.
Hannah is having an ultrasound tomorrow on her liver. The count is up and the doc wants to investigate. Hannah’s compulsive calling out is intense and stressful. We are praying God will remove it and bring her peace; and us. She has had a hidden adult tooth cut off a baby tooth and cut off another adult tooth. The adult tooth is hanging on but fortunately the hidden tooth will come down in its place. She finds the wiggly tooth uncomfortable. The psychiatrist visit was a little disappointing. However, Hannah’s been put on a new medication and we will see what difference it may make. We appreciate so much your prayers for Hannah’s life and journey.
Yvonne is feeling the stress of Hannah’s calling out but otherwise doing well. She’s only had a couple of guests for the BnB and we hope this picks up a bit. I have strained my neck and back through lousy posture at the computer. Unfortunately, it’s kicked up the prolapsed disc at C 5 vertebrae and the main nerve is being touched which is causing pain and dizziness. I hope to get physio to relax the muscles and let the disc move away from the nerve. Otherwise I’m good.
We hope and pray that your end of year build -up to Christmas goes smoothly and you are able to allow the Lord to give you strength and peace.
Every blessing
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny, Caleb & Ada, Jeremy, Sakura & Kayla, Tim & Aimee & Hannah.