What are we doing?

Time for another update:

Don's interview went really well today.  So well that they called him back within an hour of the interview and offered him a job.  The job is as an AME with GippsAero, at Traralgon, VIC. 

This means that we will be moving about 2 hours South.  And Don starts on the 16th April.

That means we are all about to get very busy.

The rest of this week Don will hopefully get some flying done.  While I pack and clean and get the house ready for rental inspections.  As our lease runs out in August, we need to find someone to take over our lease.  It is officially back on the market, as of now.  Anyone looking for a great little house in Yarra Glen?

This Saturday we will drive to Traralgon and find the home God has prepared for us to live in.  If you can believe it, I actually had a dream about it last night!

We have had encouraging communication with MAF recently, and they will make their decision on us continuing our application with them on Thursday. 

Once we have settled in and Don has a grasp of his new job, he will look at continuing his flying, followed by Bible College by distance in the next year.

At least that is the plan....

I only wish I  could explain to you how at peace we are with all of this.  On the outside it looks messy, but nothing could be further from the truth.  We want to thank each one of you for your love and prayers.  We look forward to embracing this new direction God has given us.

Interestingly enough, we have been praying for God to open a door.  And he did, just one. We asked Him to be obvious, because we are not good with hints.  We have only to this date received one job offer and it has been amazing to watch it all just happen with very little effort on our behalf.  Praise God with us for his amazing answer to prayer.

A Missions Update

Don is studying a subject called aircraft performance, with an exam coming up in the next week or so. We have had to realign our thinking in regard to him finishing his flying this year, as his medical still has not come through from CASA. In the end we came to the conclusion that the only time limit there was, was the one we had placed on ourselves, and as we always find out, God's ways and times are well above our ways.  So in light of our prayers, Don is now concentrating completing all of the theory exams he has left (I think there are 5), the remainder of this year, with the odd flying component thrown in.  This will mean that next year he can complete the flying while he is studying the ministry at MST.  The Certificate IV in Ministry means Don will spend three full days at the College next year, and then have a day a week to put into flying if needed.  We are always amazed at God's plans.  Now that Don will complete the course in this manner, he will be current with his flying all the way through to the end of next year, with little need to do extra to remain current.  God truly is awesome.  The difficulty in obtaining Don's medical, has been used for God's purposes, and our good.  GOD IS AWESOME!

In relation to the class 1 medical from CASA, they have cleared Don's heart, and have now sent him off to an ophthalmologist. A what you may say?  My question exactly.  An eye doctor for short.  If we had known that they had wanted this, we would have started the process months ago!  Thankfully, God has provided an appointment this week. So hopefully this will all be sorted out quickly and they will stop trying to delay the issuing of his medical.  We head off to this appointment this afternoon.  Your prayers would be valued highly.

We had an eventful morning Sunday when we turned up for church half way through, as we forgot about changing to daylight saving.  Our meeting was very quick, as we missed all of the worship : (, but we were blessed int he afternoon by spending time with some wonderful new friends. We spent close to seven hours, sharing what God has done in our lives and watching our children play.  It was such a blessing to us, and we look forward to sharing more times like these.

Jack heads back to Kinder on Monday.  This week we have been doing some gardening, playing, cleaning, painting and walking to town and the park.  We always meet plenty of interesting people along the way.  The trees are bursting into new growth, and the floral show is prolific, as the warmer weather meanders it's way into the area. I have read two wonderful books this week, both missions orientated, My Seventh Monsoon by Naomi Reed, and And the Word Came With Power, by Joanne Shelter. They are both equally inspiring if you get the opportunity.

We have also started the MAF application process, which is quite a lengthy and detailed exercise.  I will be sitting a psyche test on Monday.  Don and I are taking turns so that we can look after the boys.  Apparently is runs for about 2 and a half hours.  You prayers for this would also be appreciated.  I am looking forward to find out if I clinically insane, or not.  (That was meant to be funny).

Well I will leave it there, and let you know that we are more in love with God than ever.  There has been so much happen that has been obstructing our path since we have arrived in Melbourne, but in hindsight we see his hand in all of it.  We must keep striding forward, one step at a time, toward Him, in the meantime reaching out, and helping along those who stand along the way.

Bless you all heaps

(¯`v´¯)
`*.¸.*´
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(¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯` Nicole

What We'll Be Doing

 On our way to church this morning, at the Maroondah Resovoir, Healesville.

So now you know where we are, I thought I would let you know a little more about what we are doing.  God has called us collectively, as a family to serve with Mission Aviation Fellowship.  In order to do this, we have moved interstate to Victoria where Don will be studying for the next 18 months.  You can read more about our calling here.


Don will be spending the remainder of 2011 at Coldstream Airport, at the Australian Center of Mission Aviation completing his commercial pilot's licence.  He will be completing both a Certificate IV in Aviation, and then a Diploma of Mission Aviation -Flight.  He has a big workload ahead of him, and needs a whole lot of God's grace to get through the rest of this year.  He is excited and is focused, and I am looking to support him however I can.  He has just organised uniforms, and has spent the last week getting to know everyone, figuring out a plan for his flight course, and waiting on clearance from CASA for his medical.  Next year will be spent at the Melbourne School of Theology, completing a Certificate IV in Ministries and involves such subjects as-Old and New Testaments, Missions, Discipleship, Church History, and Pastoral Care, among others.  At the completion of the course at the end of 2012, we will undertake the step of moving to serve with Mission Aviation Fellowship.  This first involves some introductory work, and meeting with the supporters God is providing for us to do His work.   From what we have discovered here, most of the flight students serve initially in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, accruing flight hours and experience and doing God's work there. 

I will be supporting Don as much as I am able, as well as participating in and helping with any activities and ministries alongside him as he studies.  I will also be at home with Jack and Sam, making this an exciting but also stable part of our journey.  Routine is really important for our little guys.  I also look forward to further promoting Sam's Heart,  and sharing our story with anyone who will listen. There are many Word Bookstores down this way, so I will be contacting them when we settle down, to look for opportunities for book signings etc.  I am also looking forward to continuing my writing, as God has placed a new book in my heart.

Jack will continue with Prep, hopefully at a school (if they will accept him) or at home if that doesn't work out.  I am really praying that they will accept our request for special circumstances. Jack has decided he likes our new home because it has a worm farm.

Sam is enjoying our new home and loves the central heating.  He looks really well and both of the boys are healthy.  He is the talkative one out of the two and is constantly chatting away.  He will be at home with me during this next part of our journey. 

I love that you are sharing this journey with us.  I love that God calls us all to different walks so that we all work together for His glory. 

Bless you all


Nicole xx

W.O.W. Wow

Yesterday was such a strange day.  In the morning we were disappointed to learn that the contract to sell our home had fallen through.  Don and I spent the morning searching God because he had told us both separately that this was the time.  We rallied our friends to pray.  Something just didn't feel right.  We did not have God's peace.  We praised God anyway in the midst of our uneasiness. 

I started to question if I had heard God right, if he really wanted us to go to MAF at all.  I asked him to send a buyer for our home that day, and to not put me to shame when I had faith in His promises. I cried and asked his forgiveness for doubting him but I needed a to know that I wasn't crazy!

An hour before Don left to go to work, we received a phone call from the real estate with another offer from different buyers on our home.  We negotiated over last night and we agreed on a price today.  The contract will be signed over the next few days. WOW.

I really don't know what to say.  God saved me from shame, he was faithful to his promises as he always is.  Why don't I learn, after all we have been through with Him?  I feel just like Israel in the Old testament as they meandered from obedience to unfaithfulness.  I cried more then, and asked God's forgiveness for my human frailty, lack of wisom and lack of faith.  And as I told him how much I loved him he said 'Just as this promise has been fulfilled so will Sam's heart be whole.  So will he testify of my goodness to all men.  So will he be a display of my mercy and power upon the earth.  Just keep your eyes upon me and do not be anxious for anything'  Amen Lord, amen.

So what does this mean for us.  It means a great many things.  It means the time of rest here in Pittsworth is coming to close.  It means that the time of waiting is over and the time of preparation for missionary service has begun.  So now we prepare, pack and move to Melbourne, for Don to begin study.  I don't know what this will all look like yet, but it will likely happen over the next month.

I beg you for prayer. We have experienced fierce opposition in recent weeks from the enemy.  I would ask that you cover us with God's protection and the blood of Jesus.  I would ask that you pray for the  house contract to be finalised without any hitches and hiccups.  I would ask that you pray for peace of mind for us all as we navigate this new path, especially for the boys.  And finally I ask that you praise God with me for the mighty blessings he has bestowed upon us. 

Let the fun and games begin...

Trust Me

"Trust me I have it all in my hands."

 I have heard these words echoed over and over this week in relation to the sale of our home.  The lady who is interested in our home has put forward an offer, which we have accepted, though she must sell her home first. I am not one to sign a contract subject to sale.  However God has been saying the above words to me all week.  And so we have let it go and layed it all once again at his feet.  We are in the midst of signing a 2 month contract subject to the sale of the buyers house. In most people's eyes this would seem like foolishness.  However God has been speaking to me through the following scripture:

"...O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themsleves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.  Yes, Father it pleased you to do it this way!

My Father has entrusted everyting to me.  No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." (Matthew 11:25-27)

It pleases God when we trust in him and his son.  What may seem like wisdom to the world is not always wise in God's eyes.  His timing is perfect.  There is a difference in being childish and childlike.  To be childlike is to trust, without all of the questions and logical reasoning. It is not being naive but relying on the one who holds the bigger picture in his hands. 
This is not easy to do.  I have to lay down all of my ideas, budgets, objections and list of pros and cons.  I have to be willing to resign to the fact that I am not in control.  I have to honest with you, I like to have control. 

And so I ask you to pray for us.  For Don and I to have the patience to wait and be joyful in our waiting.  For God to sell our home according to his plan, so that we may move to Melbourne and study for Mission Aviation Fellowship.  And above all for us to have peace, his perfect peace, so that we may rest in the knowledge that we are walking hand in hand with God.

Winter in Melbourne?

We had an inspection on our home on Tuesday afternoon, and it went very well.  So well in fact that the lady came back for a second look last night!  Wow! The night previous to this Don and I had been asking God for confirmation that we were doing the right thing-selling our home, moving interstate, serving with MAF.  The inspection the next day was his answer for us,we know it without any doubt.  We haven't had anybody through our home since before Christmas.  God definitely has his hand in this one.  The people looking are very interested and are talking to banks etc today.  Could you please pray for God's will to be done here? 
At this rate we could be living in chilly Melbourne this Winter.

We are also sending a shipment of bibles to Nigeria.  Could you please pray that they will get there safely? 

Don's News

Don has been officially accepted to study at the Australian Centre for Mission Aviation, in conjunction with the Melbourne School of Theology.  He is very excited!

It is truly amazing to watch how everything just happens one step after another. 

The study year starts on February 15th February.  We still don't know if we will be there for this year or not.  We have to sign a student agreement to accept his place in the course by December 10.  Part of the agreement is that we will pay the course fees. 

We keep asking the Lord for his provision and we know he is faithful.  He wouldn't call us to something that he is not going to provide for.  He will either sell our home or a great sum of money will miraculously appear in our letterbox.  Perhaps that's why this home has such a big letterbox!  Hahaha. 

Either way, we will either start in 2011 or 2012.  All in God's timing for his glory!

"The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

A Step of Faith

The application for Don to start study at the Bible College of Victoria was sent today.  It was the closing date for applications and so we took a step of faith and posted it, believing that all will work out according to God's plan.  The Certificate IV in Ministry begins on February 7th 2011.  So to be able to start then we will have to sell our home by then. 

It is strange applying for a course knowing full well that we don't know if we will make it on time.  But it can be deferred and other options are also available for starting mid year if need be. 

Walking in faith is like walking along a narrow path up a mountain, with your eyes closed.

Each step is monumental in making sure that you stay on the track.  Instead of walking by what you see and hear, you  listen carefully for God's voice telling you where to tread..."this way to the right, a little to the left, watch that big rock!" 

Occasionally we open our eyes to look around and as we survey the distance we have come, we are astounded by the path behind us.  It is rough, full of potholes, prickles, loose gravel and there are often steep drops on each side.  But as we raise our eyes and look out over the panoramic view, the beauty takes our breath away.  And we know that if we'd taken the easy path, the view would have been much less spectacular.

As we ascend the mountain slowly but surely we can have great confidence that the God who leads us will not let us fall.  He is the only one that can see the hidden holes in the road and the other dangers on the path to come.  I wouldn't want to try and walk the road in this life alone.

Commit everything you do to the Lord.

Trust him, an he will help you.

(Psalm 37:5)

The Lord directs the steps of the godly,

He delights in every detaill of their lives,

Though they stumble, they will never fall,

for the Lord holds them by the hand.

(Psalm 37:23)

The Statistics

Time since God called us to serve with MAF:  1 month 4 days

House on the market for:  9 days

Number of home inspections:  1

Percentage of house cleaned out and sorted:  75%

Size of coming garage sale:  HUGE!!

Bible college in Coldstream Victoria is due to begin on February 7th, 2011.  Whether we start then or later is up to God.  But we must sell our home first.

Trust in God:  100%...97%...100%...97%...100% (I'm being honest here)

Do we need your prayers:  Yes please!

Focus

Yesterday was a day of searching.  As I sat down to try and work out some figures and budget the could be's, should be's and maybe's for our upcoming move and study, doubt began to encroach.  Will the funds made from our home be enough to cover the course costs, are we able to access Centrelink benefits to help us out, with the cost of the courses rising would Don still be able to complete both his engineering and flight components?  So many questions.  As I began to delve into a world of numbers and unanswered questions things began to look a little more grim.  As the course costs have risen quite considerably, I broke the news to Don that we may not be able to do both streams, but I was tormented in my spirit because we know in our hearts he is meant to do both. 

Wait a minute where do torment, insecurity, doubt and unbelief come from?  Yeah you know where!  Not from God hey!

So as Don wrapped his arms about me and prayed, we gave it all back to God and prayed that his grace would be enough and that he look after it all, it is too hard for us.  How do you plan for a course of action when you don't know how long you're going to be there, how much money you're going to need, where you're going to live and whether your house will sell in time to make it all work anyhow?  Do you really want  Don to do both courses Lord, we are unsure?

As we let it all go and rested back in the arms of Jesus, I quickly checked email before heading out the door and saw that we had received an email from the engineer manager at ACMA, the place where Don is to study.  In this email he went on to tell us that although MAF does encourage it's members only to do one or the other, both would be a great asset on the field and is something that may be used more in the future.  He encouraged us by telling Don how much they would love to have his skill at work down there while he studies and gave a brief course of direction for completing the course because of Don's previous experience.

You have to understand that this email was a gift from God.

God answered our concerns as we voiced then to him, even before we voiced them.  We know now without a doubt that Don must do both the engineering and flight components and we just have to trust that he will provided the funds needed for us to do it. 

I'm so glad that he holds the big picture in his hands, I would make such a mess of things if I painted the picture just by looking at the piece I hold in my hands.  It is so easy to get distracted by all of the things laying before us if I focus on them too much.  I know that things like working out the finances have to be done, but they must not overcome me.  When it all becomes too much I have to remember to back off and send it heavenwards. 

So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat?  What will we drink?  What will we wear?'  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything that you need. 

"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring it's own worries.  Today's trouble is enough for today.

(Matthew 6 : 31-34)

One Dearly Loved Home For Sale

As of yesterday, our home is for sale.  It's great how we have such a sense of peace about this and how every time a doubtful thought comes, it is quickly dismissed.  I find the times when doubts come is when we focus on the situation at hand and take our eyes off of God.

You can check it out on here.

One step at a time is the key I think.  It can be all too overwhelming if we look too far forward. Our first step is to sell our home.  While doing this we are in contact with the Bible College of Victoria and MAF to apply for the courses that Don needs to do.  If we are able, it would be good to start college at the beginning of next year (Early Feb).  However it is all in God's timing, as we need to sell our home to fund Don's training.  We know God has planned this timing and so now we just need to keep a listening ear open to him and take our cares and requests to him.

I wonder if you would pray with us for finding the right buyer for our home, the person God has picked out.  I wonder if you could pray that they will offer a fair price.  I wonder if you will pray with us that the application to the College will go smoothly and according to God's timetable.  Pray for our children and for us, as we deal with alot of change.

We are currently going through all of our belongings and selling and giving away many things we don't know need.  It is both an exhilarating and difficult process.  It is quite amazing they way God is using the things no longer need.  People who have real need are being bought to our attention and we know they are meant to have certain things.  It is really quite fun.  Because we will be moving interstate, we are trying to take only the important things with us.

We already have an inspection tomorrow morning, so who knows it could all happen much faster than we think.