2 Months in Australia

It had been my intention to update this blog every week while we are in Australia but as usual life has gotten a little chaotic. "Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up." (10 Points if anyone, other than a Woodard, can cite that quote) It's winter time here. It's not a harsh winter like northern Michigan but it is definitely not summer. This has probably been our biggest adjustment. Not the jet lag, different foods, interesting colloquialisms, or driving on the left hand side of the road. No winter has been our great foe. Why? you may ask. Because when we left the states it was spring time and we were just getting use to the warm weather. Now we are back to cool nights and rainy days that can sometimes leave you feeling a little blah. That was last week. This week we've seen the signs that spring is around the corner. The wildflowers are blooming (they are incredible here) and the days are just a little warmer and it's daylight just a little bit longer. Needless to say we're getting very excited! Winter time has also kept the kids inside a little more than they (and their parents)like. So Amanda and I decided that they needed a little structured recreation. Say hello to the PCYC (Police and Community Youth Centers similar to the YMCA). AJ and Isabella have signed up for the gymnastics class and Brandon and Mikayla are taking an intro to boxing class. They love it! (and so do Amanda and I) Isabella has been busy making a best friend. She has become best buddies with a sweet little girl named Hannah. We have been so thankful for her and thrilled that her grandparents allow her to come to our house for weekly play dates. While the kids are busy with their activities, church ministry has kept me very busy. We have had a couple of church members in the hospital down in Perth which means that I have been making regular visits to Perth. Perth is an awesome city and I have been thoroughly impressed with their traffic management. I do my best to avoid rush hour traffic periods but I have yet to caught in an dreadfully long traffic jam or witnessed anyone driving with their knees while texting. All in all driving here has not been as scary as I had believed it would be. Additionally, getting back into preaching weekly has been refreshing. I can't say that it has been great preaching but I have certainly enjoyed having the opportunity to share the messages that God brings to light in my heart and mind. The people here have been so encouraging and I can say that I have been truly blessed to teach and preach to them. Amanda has been leading a ladies Bible study on Thursday afternoons and the results of that are awesome to see. First off, the ladies that she meets with are such an encouragement to her. One of the ladies has four children in her home, two of which are from foster care. Watching Amanda pour into her and help her with the transition has been good for our friend and beneficial for Amanda. I admire my wife so much. She has such a tender heart for this lady and all moms. It is a blessing to watch her take the greatest challenges from her own life and use them to minister to others. She is truly a help meet and partner in ministry. One of the greatest blessings of this experience is the opportunities to make new friends. We have been honored to be in the homes of these wonderful people. They have gone out of their way to help us feel welcome and at home. If love is the testimony of true discipleship then these dear people walk closely with their God. While most of them are unlikely to read this, I want to take this opportunity to publically thank God and to thank them for helping us get here and get settled in our temporary home.