~
Unfortunately I experienced travel sickness on the way home
so I was very glad when the plane finally hit the runway and I was standing on
solid ground again. As we exited
customs, our wonderful friend Laura and her girls greeted us. It was a joyous
reunion with lots of laughter and chatter as we lugged suitcases and joked
about how hot we all were, still dressed in our winter clothes. We were really
looking forward to showers and bed by this stage.
It was only as we were preparing to leave in Laura’s car that
our spirits were suddenly dampened. We realized that her bag containing her
wallet, phone, passport, bankbook and i-pad had been stolen from the front
seat of her car while we’d been loading the suitcases into the back.
Dave, Laura and I took turns to stay at the car with the
children and rotated who would go off praying and searching nearby bushes, in
the backs of trucks and rubbish piles. Laura
managed to get the attention of the police and we searched anywhere and everywhere
in the hope that the thieves would just take the cash and then dump the rest of
the contents.
… 3 and a half hours after arriving at the airport, sweaty,
tired and thirsty, we began thanking God for His faithfulness. The phone ‘find
me’ service was able to help police to locate her bag, which, as we had prayed,
was dumped with everything still in it, apart from the money and the i-pad.
With mixed emotions of thankfulness and shock, Laura finally
dropped us off. After a sleepless night
on the plane, the travel sickness and the strain of the airport incident, I can
assure you, my head was very happy to hit the pillow that night!
The past few weeks have not been quite so dramatic,
thankfully.
After finding the adjustment back a little more difficult
this time, I feel like we are finally settling into a good routine now. Our children are back at school and are
enjoying their new teachers, classes and being around their friends.
 |
| Rock climbing at a friend's party. |
I recently posted on Facebook:
I love seeing how God faithfully answers my prayers and continues to
provide and supply all my needs but when He answers my children’s big,
important requests with abundance… it makes my heart so very, very happy!
I was reminded recently that the way God can show us He’s in
control is when we are in situations that we
can’t control.
When I see the way my children’s faith is growing; I praise
God for his presence in their lives.
~
Shortly after arriving home, one of the young ladies who was
living with us at the transitional house was preparing to move to her
university dorm. We know that we will
not see her as often now because her university is a long way away so it was
with both excitement and sadness that we had to farewell such a wonderful
girl. It was fun to celebrate her out,
encourage her with our words and pray blessing on her. We look forward to seeing how she blossoms, grows and
changes even more this year. We believe
she has an amazing future ahead of her.
~
With the children back at school, I thought about all the
many things that I have wanted to do but somehow the first 2 weeks of school just
slipped by very quickly.
I am learning some new cooking skills at the moment, trying
to incorporate wheat free, dairy free and low sugar alongside some homemade
probiotics to help a few members of our family. Just think a few months ago, I’d
never even heard of kefir, fermenting SCOBYs or kombucha, let alone thought
about making bone both soup. And my
friend’s text message the other day as we chatted about our soups read something like, “and
the more chicken feet the better”.
When did my life start incorporating chicken feet
conversations relating to food?
Hmmm!
~
We feel ready for this next season. We know there will be
obstacles and trials but we know our God is good. He is able and He is in control.
 |
| Visiting the zoo with friends from Australia here. |
As you sit and read this, please take a moment to pray for
the precious children at ZOE Children’s Home, for our family, the other
volunteers and for your family too… for all us… that we will continue to acknowledge
when God faithfully answers our prayers and provides with His amazing abundance.
From our home (of fermenting SCOBYs and chicken feet) to
yours with love!!
 |
| Choosing bones for our soup! |
