RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
Its great to be travelling on an aircraft with out a mask!
Yvonne Hannah and I were able to go on a two week holiday down to the South Island to visit our daughter Rachel and her family. Part of the time was to support Rachel as our grandson Caleb has been diagnosed as high functioning autistic. We have been praying about this and asking for healing. Our time with the family was so valuable and Caleb and his sister Ada responsed very well to us. Caleb wanted to play with us a lot and that was an answer to prayer. We went and saw Rachel working for St David’s Presbyterian Church doing a weekly session for parents and toddlers. She is employed 3-4 hours a week. She also ran a Teddy Bears picnic which went very well. I had to play the part of the grumpy bear found at the end of the bear hunt. People thought my performance was up to Oscar nomination standard. Others thought I’d been type cast.
Part way through our time with Rachel, Yvonne and I took Hannah to Queenstown and Milford Sounds for some special time with her. We did three different boat trips in four days. Hannah seemed to enjoy each one and the food that came with it. We returned to Rachel and family for a few more days before flying home. For no extra charge Air NZ provided us with a good amount of exciting turbulence climbing out of Christchurch.
I continue to do the coaching/supervision with 13 people. I have a businessman I’m working with to see how we can bring some leadership training to him and his team. I am also working on getting people to sign up for next years leadership course. As part of that process I spent two valuable days in Tauranga with four potential participants.
I will be planning some short trips to lower North Island places to meet up with Pastors.
Saturday week I’m taking a consultation with the leaders of St James Presbyterian Church. I’ll preach there early next year. The following day I’ll be preaching at Pakuranga Baptist Church.
Next year I have one definite Bridge Builders course lined up and two very possible.
Tomorrow is the ITA International Council meeting at which I am up for re-election to the ITA Board of Directors. I won’t be attending the zoom meeting as my dear friend and milestone person David McBride passed away and his funeral will be tomorrow. He has been a huge influence on my life. First, he brought me into the youth pastor’s role then later David was responsible for bringing Caleb Leadership Course to NZ. He will be missed by so many. Because of his foresight and courage over 400 Kiwi leaders have been through the Caleb course and with my involvement with ITA and the Leadership Matters course, he’s enabled Caleb NZ to assist the learning of over 3000 mission and pastoral leaders globally.
I will continue working with my team on the curriculum review and cultural relevance of the Leadership Matters course. The Pastors LMC for Canada has sadly been put on hold for now.
I have done a little more work on my book(let) and need to put more time aside.
Tim finally got Covid and Aimee picked up a very mild dose. So only Yvonne, Hannah and I haven’t had it yet. It’s all the clean living.
Jeremy and Sakura are expecting their second child sometime in the next three weeks. Yvonne has begun practicing getting Kayla (Jeremy’s first child) to go to sleep at our place. Apparently, this weekend Jeremy, Sakura and Kayla are staying over so we can practice.
Our son in law Jonny arrives very late this Thursday. He’s coming for a wedding of a friend of his. We will get to spend a couple of days with him which I’m looking forward to.
Thank you for your wonderful support both financially and prayerfully. We are exceedingly grateful.
As we approach Christmas, may the Lord give you peace through the ‘rush’ and joy because of what Jesus has done for us all.
Every blessing
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny, Caleb & Ada, Jeremy, Sakura & Kayla, Tim & Aimee & Hannah.