Taking The Scenic Route

This weekend has seen us face many new challenges, so I thought it must be about time that I share them here.  As most of you know I blog to share our family life, to rally people to pray, and in the process I work things out with God, hoping to help others as well.

Our call to MAF is not going to take the path we originally thought. Over the last month any things have happened to bring about this change.  The two most pertinent being:

• God has brought to Don' and my attention that it is not possible for Don to complete Bible College this year, as well as finishing the flying training.  For us to continue our course of action and do this is would all need to be completed this year, as otherwise we would have no income after that.

• We received news on Friday that the cost of the remaining of the flying course has now increased by $6000-$10000.  This is when the door was finally closed to us following our present course of action.  God has closed the door. 

It is not the enemy.  We feel at peace.  At first we were disappointed, but as we waited on God and he spoke to our hearts we realised, this is His way.  And His way, is ALWAYS better then ours, no matter how it looks at the time.  We know God can miraculously supply the money needed and already we have had offers of people wanting to help. But we cannot, when we know it is not God's will that we do. 
For the last month, God has been talking to us about open doors, and the scripture Jeremiah 29:11 has been ringing out loud.  So we know now that God has closed this door, that another will shortly open. 

So what does this mean...

• It means that we are still moving toward serving with MAF, but at a much slower rate.  WE have asked MAF to give us an indication on our suitability to serve with them, using the information they have (interviews, medical, psyche etc).  If this is favourable, then we will continue to pursue this calling. 

• The open door we are waiting for is a job for Don.  We trust God that he has something ready somewhere, for him to go to.  It may mean that we need to move again. In fact it is highly probable.

• Bible college will be completed by distance at Don's own pace.

• Don will continue to fly now until he achieves his Commercial Pilot's License (CPL).  At this point he will cease flying at ACMA and just continue with Bible College until the end of Semester or until he finds work.

We have been through much this last weekend with all of this; first shock, then disappointment, then humility, then a sense of feeling lost.  So we just both held on tight and sat in God's lap listening to his heartbeat.  No profound sense of revelation came.  Just His steady heartbeat and then finally His amazing peace.  We know we have made the right decisions.  Now we just wait and act patiently for Him to point us in the right direction.

We have not failed.  In God's eyes, we have done all He has asked, and that makes us His obedient children.  He has blessed us here with great friends and an awesome church.  The people we have met have impacted out lives and we have impacted theirs.  That is what missions is all about anyway.  Even if this was the whole purpose to us being called to MAF, that is enough for me. 

We don't pretend to have this altogether, in fact we are more unsure of our future here than we have ever been.  But I know where my future is secure.  Jesus is building us a home in heaven and it is beyond what my mind can ever comprehend.  I know that when I see it, I will crumble at his feet and cry, because He knows me better than I know myself. We may not have much treasure left this side of heaven, but I know Jesus is storing up mine with Him. He sees our future and He knows what is to come.  And so we will trust Him now, as we always have and rest in the fact that he has plans to prosper and bless.

If you think of us, please pray for us in this time of endings and new beginnings. 

xx Nicole

A Chat Over A Cuppa

Don has been back at ACMA (Australian Center for Mission Aviation) now since the 9th of January.  In that time he has been working on doing Commercial Pilot License NAVs (planned trips), his Cessna 206 endorsement, and IFR training.  He is really happy with how it is all progressing.  We have been so blessed that Ian Deed, one of the flight instructors has been down helping out, as he is a very encouraging and supportive man of God.  Don is on target for achieving his Commercial Pilot's Licence before he starts at MST (Melbourne School of Theology) on February 14th (my birthday!).  He is very focused, but much more at ease than he was last semester completing the theory tests.  Praise God for that!

Last week, we all had our medicals for the application to MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship), the kids and I included.  The went extremely well and as a bonus, majority of it was bulk billed by our very sympathetic doctor.  When we rang to collect the results for the blood tests, we were asked to make and appointment with the doctor. OH OH!  Two days later was the earliest we could see her.  We prayed that all would be well, and once again I had to contend with fear.  On the morning we arrived for the appointment to find there was a miscommunication and the tests were excellent, all of them.  She just wanted to advise us that if we were heading overseas we would need injections!   We will think about injections if we are accepted to serve with MAF.

Jack heads off to begin school at Yarra Glen Primary School on the 2nd February.  He is very pleased with his uniform, shoes and lunch box. All else is provided by the school.  I am so very pleased with that.  it is so much simpler.  He is very keen to start, so that he can play with new friends and learn to read.

Sam is growing up more and more.  He sings out loud when I swing him on the swing at the park, at the top of his lungs.  His favourite song is 'This is the sound of a warrior', by Andrew Ironside.  Sam adores music, and we cannot ride in the car without the CD player going.  He makes sure of it. He also goes down the big boy slides by himself now.    He will also be attending Kinder/Kindy (depending where you live), on a Wednesday morning for 2 and half hours.  He has a new lunchbox and is very excited.

I have just started writing again today after taking a months break.  I really needed the head space and rest.  I am so pleased that I did make the effort to stop.  I feel much refreshed and like I can finish what I have started with God on this project.    Below are a photo of some of my favourite things, bits and bobs that have made my life enjoyable over the last few weeks. I love tea. My husband bought me this six place setting tea set from the local antique store for Christmas.  The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers, had me loving God and desiring to serve Him all over again.  And many happy hours of Jane Austen were enjoyed over the Christmas break also.

I wonder, what are you favourite things at the moment?