Busy Days

Since starting full time work two weeks ago, things have been non-stop!

• I LOVE MY JOB!  I’m continually amazed at how faithful God is to provide above and beyond what I can ask or imagine.  Everything about Kuring-Gai Vascular Ultrasound is wonderful: my employers, my co-workers, my commute (I go against traffic), the location (Hornsby, where we hope to start the church and right on the train line), the actual job (dictating Dr’s notes and reception…I’m always busy, which I love).  Even my lunch break is amazing (I’ve never gotten an hour break where the office/business closes and you’re right across the street from the mall!).
• The same week I started, Mike received his Real Estate License and Burns and Burns offered a full time position!  He is really enjoying real estate and everyone there is so helpful in including him in what they are doing to teach him.  His schedule is a bit different to mine.  He works most of the day on  Saturdays at open homes and has Thursday’s off.  It’s a bit of a transition but hasn’t been difficult.
• We’re still in the market for cars.  It’s gotten a lot harder now that we’re both driving and need to be at different places.  One of the family cars also broke down this week so we’re in the process of getting that fixed.  I took the train for the first time yesterday and really enjoyed it.  I can read and get to work at the same time!  Please pray that we would find the right cars soon.  Cars (like everything else in oz) are much more expensive than in the States so it’s another area to trust God in all the more!
• September first was the first day of spring here…it’s caused a bit of homesickness to creep in.
• Father’s Day in Australia is on the first Sunday in September so we went for a picnic with the family to Curl Curl beach…the weather was amazing and Julie made delicious sandwiches and I made an apple tart (in the spirit of fall/autumn:)

Well, here you are…another picture-less update.  I’m not offended if you don’t read it:)

Miss everyone tons!

workin’ 9 to 5

Well, as of last night I am back to being a working girl!  The Lord has provided a full time job working as a receptionist/typist for a small vascular ultrasound clinic in Hornsby (the suburb where we hope to plant a church!).  I start a few days of training this week and then dive in head first next week when the current receptionist leaves for a holiday/vacation…yikes!  I’m so excited to be given this opportunity and have full faith that regardless of how long the Lord has me there He’s only proven His faithfulness to me again.  I have NO reason to doubt him!

Thank you so much for your faithfulness to pray!  If you could continue to pray now that we would find a car soon…It’s become much more urgent now that we both have jobs we need to get to.

thank you janis shank

On Joy in Trials…

James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

…I am learning (again and again!) that what God wants to produce in me differs from the results I so often seek, which tend to center on happiness now. God desires my faith to be tested and produce steadfastness that won’t fail in the long run. Steadfastness can also be translated endurance or patience. Eugene Peterson calls endurance “a long obedience in the same direction”. Long obedience, that sounds hard! I am more often like the child that is motivated to obey for the promised candy! Yet, when I draw near to God, I see Him working in me a desire to endure with my Savior. Most importantly, I see the gospel and all He endured: His incarnation, His sinless life, His substitutionary death, His resurrection, His ascension, to secure my steadfastness! I find a growing desire to center my hope on the ultimate happiness of eternity with my Creator. I want to grow strong in this hope and encourage others with it too. Trials are what produce this patience, this endurance, this steadfast hope in me.

Have you ever stopped to realize that our entire lives we are waiting, which is often at the center of our trials? My daughter recently shared this quote with me: “Trusting God is the reliance of the soul upon God in Christ for something that is out of sight.” (William Bridge; Hope for the Downcast) There is always something beyond us or just out of sight that we are anticipating, a season of life, a provision, a fulfillment of a promise, our own character development, and these things in the ones we love. Until the day God has ordained to bring us to His side, we are waiting. So are the dear saints God has called us to love and serve. He has ordained the waiting to teach and test our faith so that we realize that He is what we are waiting for! To think that I will be rewarded in the end with perfect completion and being like my Savior! I will count joy in the trial, not the candy.

In closing, I recommend the following sermon on this passage by Charles Spurgeon http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/1704.htm and encourage you with his words:

“Mr. Greatheart, (from Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress ) who led the band of pilgrims up to the celestial city, was a man of many trials, or he would not have been fit to lead so many to their heavenly rest; and you, dear brother (or sister), if ever you are to be a leader and a helper, as you would wish to be, in the church of God, it must be by such means as this that you must be prepared for it. Do you not wish to have every virtue developed? Do you not wish to become a perfect man (woman) in Christ Jesus? If so, welcome with all joy divers trials and temptations; fly to God with them; bless Him for having sent them: ask Him to help you to bear them with patience, and then let that patience have its perfect work, and so by the Spirit of God you shall become “perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.” May the Comforter bless this word to your hearts, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.”

He’s always been…

Morning by morning I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine
Season by season I watch Him, amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.

I can’t remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can’t remember one single regret
In serving God only, and trusting His hand
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful, He’s always been faithful
He’s always been faithful to me.

2.

2 years of lovin’!

Boy time flies…over the past two years we’ve lived in 3 countries, 3 homes, driven 3 cars and worked 3 different jobs.  So much has happened over the past 24 months.  Our wedding seems like yesterday but an eternity ago at the same time.  I’m so happy to FINALLY settle down and enjoy my boy in a new, and hopfully more permanent season.

I still can’t believe this guy wanted to marry me (and still be married to me)!  Mike is the most amazing husband (not perfect but amazing!), he’s so loving and caring and puts up with my imperfections so graciously.  I love him more today than yesterday and certainly more than two years ago!  Praise God for hott hubbys!

Anniversary’s are happy days!

He left the house with a suit on!

Praise reports on the job front are in order!  Mike was offered a part time position at Burns and Burns (the family run real estate agent he wanted to work for) in the hopes that at the beginning of Spring (that would be mid September here) they could take him on full time.  Praise God!  We are so excited about this opportunity and are trusting that while I’m still unemployed He’s only got our best in mind, and will be faithful to provied all we need.

THANK YOU so much for faithfully praying for us!

It’s here!

Check out the Sovereign Grace Australia website!  One step closer to a church plant!  God is SO good!

www.sovgraceoz.org

wallabies and what not.

Mike and I have had a busy week!  Thank you so much for praying!  Just to catch you up on the lastest…

I was offered a job as a AIN (assistant in nursing) the equivelent to a Nurse’s Aide in the States (something I’ve done for two years while in nursing school).  Although an answer to prayer I didn’t end up accepting due to the fact it required me driving to different hospitals all over Sydney every shift…on top of shift work.  It just wasn’t going to serve our family.  Since then I’ve been in contact with a few medical reception options and another static AIN in a local hospital.

Mike’s meeting back with Burns and Burns (the family run real estate agency) was very encouraging.  They pretty much told him that although they don’t have work for him currently, they want him to work for them so they’ll make a postion for him!  He’s meeting with them again next week once they are able to work out a job for him!  We were both super excited about the possibilities!  Mike is almost done with his real estate course.  He’s working so hard!

We would continue to ask you to pray that we would FULLY trust the Lord’s will in all our current circumstances and we would be content with whatever the results were given.

On a totally different note….

I am absolutely LOVING living here!  Yesterday while taking a walk in the ‘bush’ across from the Pasalich home my new friend Kate and I stumbled across a wallabie!  It hopped away and then stopped and stared at us.  I loved it!  No snakes or spiders yet…I’m keeping my fingers crossed:)

I’ve not been taken any pictures since arriving but here are some I’ve taken from previous trips of some of the reasons I love Australia.

lunch with a rock wallabie!

don't ask me why, but I've never tasted coffee so good anywhere else!

cockatoos are everywhere! So beautiful!

quickie.

Just a quickie to thank everyone for their prayers.

Within 10 minutes of eachother, both Mike and I recieved phone calls/emails about promising job opportunites…On Monday I’m meeting with the private hospital system on the North Shore about a nursing assistant job (something I’ve done for two years in Charlotte).  On Friday, Mike is meeting back with the same real estate company he’d like a job with!

Of course, both could lead to nothing but we were so excited to see God so quickly provide proof of his constant love and provision for us!

Thank you so much for your prayers…we will continue to need them!

just wishing’ and thinkin’ and hopin’ and prayin’…

It’s so hard to believe that Mike and I have been in Australia for a week now (yet it feels like so much longer)!  The beginning of forever (maybe:).

So far we’ve settled in well.  Jet lag isn’t as painful and most of our clothes are hanging in the closet or folded in drawers (I’ve been SO over living in a suitcase for the past 5 weeks!).  Homesickness hasn’t been as much of a struggle (thank you for praying) and I am constantly finding new things to love about the country (even though winter is in July:).

Living with Mike’s family has been a wonderful experience.  Julie and Monch (Mike’s parents) are so welcoming and generous, so it’s been great to come in and do what I can to help Julie out with meals and cleaning….some of my favorite things:)  That said we would LOVE to get into our own place as soon as possible.  We are very reliant on them (cars, food, housing etc.) so it would serve both them and us if we could be a little more independent.

Most of our time has been spent applying for jobs.  Mike has been a powerhouse of initiation…applying for and calling up different companies, requesting interviews, then donning his super hott suit and following up.  He had a great interview with a family run real estate company he’d love to work for.  The fact they prioritize family and integrity was wonderful and the flexible hours would enable him to serve Dave Taylor with church related work as well.  We’re praying they have an opening for him (please pray too)!  Even if he doesn’t get the job they were so helpful in providing council on how Mike should obtain his real estate license and confirmed that he would fit into real estate well.  Mike has started a week long course for real estate licensing.

I’ve applied for several reception jobs at local health care offices and a mall (which have already found out I was declined).  Yesterday we found a position as a ‘Pathology Collector’ which looks very similar to a Phlebotomist.  I would be able to obtain a certificate while learning on the job.  So far it’s the most exciting and appealing thing to me.  Please pray that the Lord would give us wisdom as to what I should pursue and that he would give me grace to work hard for His glory!

News about Sovereign Grace continues to spread!  The website is almost done and there have been over 500 members added on the facebook page!  Today Mike is meeting with some guys that have shown a huge amount of intrest.  We are overwhelmed at how many people are excitied and supporting the plant.  Prayers are being answered!

A few things to pray for:

1. That we would trust God’s perfect timing for jobs, cars, home, etc.
2. Provision of jobs, cars and home!
3. Strong relationships would be formed in the core group of families preping for the church plant.

Thank you again for your faithfulness to to pray, encourage and support us!