St Ives Family Church
This is our 3rd home assignment back in Australia. Most people still don't have a good understanding of what missionaries do on home assignment. "It's good that you can have rest back in Australia". While it's true that some of time is allocated for rest, most missionaries find home assignment very tiring and more busy than when they are on the mission field. They don't realise the time and effort in readjusting to life in Australia. Even enrolling children in schools, getting the right uniforms (second hand so it doubles effort and time) and stationary and filling out the forms can takes many days. With 4 kids in tow, that is not easy. There are medical appointments, centrelink, debriefing meetings, visit to supporting churches.
Even though you leave many responsibilities behind on the mission field, there are still emails to answer and phone calls to make. Like when our househelp advised us that a water pipe broke at the back of our house in Thailand and that our kitchen was flooded. For the person who you've been sharing the gospel with and whose started to follow Christ yet has so many questions and you are the one they want to talk with.
We are 2 months into our 8 month home assignment. Today was the first day of school for 2 of our 4 kids. They were still missing a few things they needed - hopefully they could cope with that. It's not easy starting at a new school and making new friends. Forget to get our son's clarinet serviced so had to run around trying to find a shop to do that. The first shop had a 4 week wait! The second shop was another 30 minutes away.
Getting the kids started at school has been one hurdle overcome. We will be spending time this week, preparing for church visits and presentations for small groups. New prayer profiles have been prepared and they were printed this morning. I will be attending a men's biblestudy on Tuesdays nights at one of our supporting churches. On Wednesday morning a tradesman is coming to fix the gutters in our house and advise about a garden shed. There is a prayer letter to send out which is over a month late already. OMF day of prayer on Friday. Prayer points for my region in Thailand need to be sent to the UK for a Thailand prayer letter. Saturday we will be having lunch with some friends and longtime supporters. Sunday we are sharing at Cornerstone Presbyterian Concord and then attending the child protection training at the church. The OMF homeside Ministry Team co-orindator requested a meeting with us this week but with all that is going on this week, we asked if it could be next week.
Cornerstone Homebush Bay
Cultural Learning - Cricket. Great that Grandad is a cricket fan.
Posts
