RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
Today Auckland moves to Level 3 step two which means we can mask up, social distance, line up in massive queues and go inside retail stores for the first time in three months. I think I’ll wait until tomorrow. I’m reading through the gospel of Mark and again I’m drawn to the way Jesus had compassion on the sick, often the long term ones. He would engage with them, touch them and heal them from some pretty horrible diseases. With the pandemic sweeping the world, my reading reminded me not to be afraid, nor forget those who suffer and take opportunity to pray for the Lord to touch them and set them free.
On November 3rd Yvonne Hannah and I began our 19th year living by faith working with Caleb Leadership Ministries as we serve leaders in NZ and globally. It is only with your continued support over the time that we can continue. We are extrememly grateful to all of our prayer and financial supporters who have faithfully supported us in our mission. It has been an amazing ride so far with some interesting challenges ahead with exciting possibilities.
I’m a bit over lockdown I must say. With Auckland staying at level 3 and the traffic light system still being clarified, I have once again, in discussion with the CEO of Northern Presyberians, postponed the second half of the leadership course out to May next year. This is a dissappointment but that’s the way it is. It does make a dent in the finances of Caleb Ministries but the Lord knows our situation.
A consultation with a Baptist Church in Blenheim was to happen late November. Apart from sneaking through the border, the consultation can’t happen. It is now being considered for early 2022.
Some of my training team and I have been rewriting and tightening up the Caleb Leadership Course. It is exciting to see the changes and the freshness it brings. It’s a slow process as we consider the ramificatioins of each change.
I’ve continue to do supervisions on zoom and once we were able to have picnics, have begun having coffee and walks with a couple of my supervisees. It’s a welcome relief.
A Kiwi missionary from Singapore, has been in contact about working with her and the Cambodian pastors she links with. Once lockdown and the border open, we will get together to see in what way Caleb can help. I will also reconnect with the Christian Camping Association to continue working toward a course for them.
I continue to work with ITA and the Canadian Christian and Mission Alliance Pastors Leadership Matters Course. I am also heading up the ITA curriculum committee as we look at the various cultural context the LMC is run and how to be culturally appropriate in illustrations and models used. The team I’m working with are amazing and I’m thankful for their depth of experience. I have the ITA Council annual meeting on zoom this Saturday followed by the ITA Board meeting to approve budgets. Should be fun. They were to be face to face somewhere in the world but will be on zoom.
A faithful supporter has given Caleb a new car to replace the Hyundai we’ve had for many years. I am grateful for his generosity. It is a 2016 Mazda and it has low K’s which is great. As a result, we are selling our own car. A Peugeot 207 2005 diesel model. It’s a pocket rocket. If you would like to buy it, give me a call. It got amazing fuel economy.
Once the Traffic Light system gets properly mandated, Caleb is going to have to decide whether to register as a double vac organisation. Please pray as we work through that mine field.
We are all looking forward to getting out of lockdown. We hope Rachel and her family are able to come up here to stay over Christmas. We’re not holding our breath as the statements from government seem to change every other day. The boys continue their studies on line which is not easy. Tim is doing an industry project and is nearing the end of his degree. He achieved another top mark for a paper last term. Now the shops are open, Aimee will be fully back to work. Sakura continues to work mostly from home. Rachel, Caleb and Ada have all had horrible colds. PTL they are recovering and getting their strength back. Ada is now walking and talking heaps.
All of us have had our second vaccination. Most of us haven’t had side effects. However, it appears from the timing that my current bought of diarrhoea is a reaction to my vaccine. Hopefully it will settle soon. I’ve lost 2 kg in the last few days. Mind you, I’d not recommend it as a weight loss regime. My neck is doing ok mostly although it doesn’t take much to set the muscles into spasm and the accompanying pain. I do still have to be careful with computer time and how I do work outside.
Christmas is only six weeks away. Here’s hoping we will all have a little more freedom to catch up with family. We hope and pray you will have a good Christmas celebrating the birth of our saviour and Lord knowing that while we work through this unusual time in history, God is with us and our future with Him is sure.
Thank you for your continued support and love. May the Lord pour His love and joy into your life.
Every blessing
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny, Caleb & Ada, Jeremy, Sakura & Kayla, Tim & Aimee & Hannah.