RAISING THE BAR ON LEADERSHIP
It’s now spring with its strong winds and rain which is a welcome relief from the strong winds and rain we’ve had here in Ararimu for most of this year. When I wrote last, I was doing solitude at Curious cove camp. One of the participants got sick at camp and three days later ended up in hospital for a day with pnuemonia before being sent home. The rest of the leadership course went very well with feedback that makes what I do worthwhile. The training team were awesome and a delight to work with. Next year we will be holding the Leadership course in Christchurch which is a first.
A Blenheim veterinarian who owns his own business who would have loved to come to the course but couldn’t afford the time wanted the training. Therefore, I offered to train him for the leadership and management aspects of the Leadership course. He signed up and each fortnight we meet on zoom to do the training. It’s a totally new experience for me to run zoom training and it has been going really well. He is excited by what he is learning and putting the things he’s learnt into immediate practice which is gratifying for me. I will be doing something similar for the guy who got pnuemonia.
I have picked up a couple more pastors to supervise. One is an Anglican priest who is vicar of the church I went to as a boy and where I got God’s call to ministry. So it is a special thing for me.
After the course, I have continued with the supervisons and some preaching. We had Hannah’s 30th birthday just after I got back from Blenheim. It’s so hard to believe Hannah’s 30! Rachel came up for it and then on the Sunday, we invited some friends and our family to a double celebration of both Hannah’s 30th and Rachel’s 40th which was coming up. Then in September Yvonne, Hannah and I went to Ashburton to celebrate Rachel’s real 40th with her southern family. It was a cluedo themed party which Rachel and Jonny had put a lot of work into and was lots of fun.
We came back and two weeks later I flew back to Christchurch and with Barry, who is one of my Bridge Builders trainers, drove across to Greymouth to run the Bridge Builders course there hosted by an Anglican church. The course went very well although the numbers could have been better. I preached at two churches on the Sunday before heading home. At the first service, the soon to be Dean of Christchurch Cathedral was there and we met and talked. He has invited me to come visit him early next year. A divine opportunity I think. Another Anglican minister in Greymouth who couldn’t come to this course may be interested in a Bridge Builders course for her church and for those who couldn’t make this one. I shall be following that up.
The ITA Contexualisation committee have finished our work and now await any further direction. I may be asked to help design an ITA leadership course for pastors.
On Sunday I fly out to Bangkok via Shanghai for four days of the International Training Alliance annual meetings. I know I fly past Thailand but the airfare was cheaper. I fly back Friday night.
If you would like to assist in funding my trip there I would greatly appreciate it. My tickets alone cost $1900. (06-0222-0104470-00)
I come back from Bangkok and then the next two weeks I will be preaching at Connect Baptist. I have another possible preaching appointment at the Anglican church I mentioned earlier. It would be a Sunday evening to young people.
Ada finally had x-rays on her hips and legs. There are pluses and minuses from the results. The plus is that it makes any neurological issues less likely. The minus is that she has a physical condition in which her two hips are partially dislocated. One hip is 50% and the other 66%. It should have been picked up at birth but I suspect that because Ada was one of the first children born in lockdown, it was missed. The Paediatrician has marked Ada urgent to see the Orthopaedic surgeon. It will be sometime in the next three months. We wait and pray to see what will be done. The likelihood is surgery. Please pray for Ada and the family. The treatments what every they will be mean Yvonne, Hannah and I will need to be down with Rachel and family to give support in some way.
Otherwise, the rest of the family are doing ok. Jeremy is struggling with exhaustion please pray for him. Sakura is on practicum for her preschool assistant certificate and enjoying it. I’ve picked up a nasty throat infection which is painful and comes with a hacking cough. Every time I go to speak, I end up coughing so I have to try to stay quiet. I leave on Sunday for Thailand and hope to be better by then. My doc, bless his heart, has given me antibiotics to help clear the infection. Please pray for Yvonne and Hannah while I’m away.
We would love the opportunity to pray for you, so if you have a prayer request, please email me back and we shall pray for you.
Yvonne and I are very grateful for your support. We trust that the Lord is guiding you through these ‘interesting’ times with His peace and joy warming your hearts and giving you the calmness to face all you have to work through in your lives.
Every blessing
Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny, Caleb & Ada, Jeremy, Sakura, Kayla & Chloe, Tim & Aimee & Hannah.