Booth Broadcast September 2018

Spring is an interesting time. Theres the promise of warmer weather and the fragrances of fresh flowers. But the journey through spring is often turbulent with what the weather office calls significant weather events. But do they ever tells us how fast the grass is growing and the hours needing to be sunk into mowing? Nah. Why? Because they have their heads in the clouds!

Our time away was refreshing once we got to Ashburton. I had to take my son in law's car down to him. Unfortunately, what was going to be a relaxing long drive turned out otherwise. His car decided it didn’t want oil in the engine and sprung a leak at Tirau. From there on it was stop every hour and a half and pour in several litres of oil to keep going. I have left a nice oil slick right down the country.

The meetings I had in Nelson were to help decide on whether we have the Leadership course there or in Christchurch next year. We are fortunate to have one of our graduates from Nelson willing to be our logistics person in Nelson. This will help Jill with the arrangements and communication between us and the church. I also met with the Nelson Christian Trust Board and gave a presentation about Caleb Ministries. I believe it went well. Yvonne and Hannah were at the meeting and contributed to the success of our time with these fine people.

In Christchurch we had meetings with David, one of our team, to look at a Christian Camp and see whether we would be able to have the Leadership course there as a full live in course like we did several years ago in Alexandra. While David negotiated a great price, the facilities and other factors meant that Nelson won out for next year. However, it is my hope that we will run the course in Christchurch in 2020.

The rest of our time in the South was great, spending time with Jonny, Rachel and wee Caleb. Caleb is crawling now and played catch grandpa for ages until my knees ached. We were able to go visit some other friends down south and had a restful couple of weeks. I certainly needed the break and rest.

When we got back it was straight into Caleb work. I began with this month’s round of supervision sessions as well as preaching a two part sermon series at a Northshore church. During that time I met with an Indian Pastor and from that meeting I was asked to do a consultation and training day with his people. It was to help them work out where they are going as a church. I took this consultation day last Saturday. It certainly turned into a different kind of day but the feedback has been positive. I now have to meet with the Elders to help them make the most of what we worked on. I preached there the following day.

Coming up

This Sunday I am working with the Indian Pentecostal Church’s Elders. Early October I will be working with their leaders on planning for ministry. On Sunday week I have to preach at a South Auckland Presbyterian Church. Next week I have my first meeting with my new Supervisor. We have a Bridge Builders course coming up in November plus two other short courses to confirm for a date. Both look likely to be early next year. In mid- October I am off to Bangkok for the Lead Trainers week. I am giving a paper at the conference as I mentioned last letter. I am still praying for the funding to get there. I need to book my tickets this Friday if I am to go. Please pray that the Lord will supply that need and confirm that I should be there.

On the home front

Yvonne has injured her thumb with what is called ‘trigger’ thumb (not from shooting the air rifle at me!). She needs to rest it and isn’t allowed to play the piano, and so has had to come off the worship team for at least two months. Please pray that the Lord will heal her quickly. Rachel and Caleb are coming up to stay for a week and a half arriving Monday (yeah).
Jay and Sakura had an interesting time in Hawaii. Both had the misfortune to swim into a flotilla of Portuguese Man O War Jellyfish and were badly stung. It took a few hours before Jay’s left leg felt right, (I don’t mean that his left leg wanted to become the right leg and visa versa, just that the left leg was numb), and Sakura has had to go on anti-Biotics now she’s home. They also experienced the edge of the hurricane and were shut in their accommodation for a day. Otherwise they had a good restful time.

It’s Aimee’s birthday today so there are celebrations for her.

Hannah has a new Carer Support worker starting tomorrow. She will have two sessions of a couple of hours each. This lady takes over from the young Christian woman that’s done it for 3 years. We hope this works out. In regard to the Family Funded Care. We now have our third case manager who we believe has just sent off the assessment to the Ministry of Health. We hope and pray to hear in a week or two. It always sounds like a Tui ad when you talk to Taikura Trust.

Thank you for your continued support and prayer. We never take it for granted.

Rex, Yvonne, Rachel, Jonny and Caleb, Jeremy and Sakura, Tim and Aimee and Hannah.