Hello Melbourne!

It's a long flight home! Up early to do the last minute cleaning up of the room, check for stuff that shouldhave been packed, then head out to the airport. Surprisingly SEATAC is uncrowded - school is back in so maybe fewer families are travelling. Say good-byes and "See you in two weeks" to Sue who I will meet up with in Vienna, then onto my comuter flight to LA. Southwest is a great company to fly with...but my flight goes via Sacramento, more time spent sitting on the tarmac and at last into LA. In LA we change gates three times before finally taking off just 30 mins late. By now I have been up 16 hours and have a 13 hour flight to Auckland ahead of me followed by another 3 plus hours on to Melbourne. But God is good - the Air New Zealand plane is a new Boeing 767 and I have a spare seat next to me. The flight is smooth and soon the clouds and cold air of Melbourne greet me, along with my old friend Hilary who has met me EVERY time I return home. And there I am - back in my aging house and feeling as if hadn't left. It's a weird thing. I just left a place in Seattle that also felt like "home". Sets me wondering about heaven. Christians talk about it a lot...but not too many really want to get there 'just yet'. I think it's going to feel just like home...my REAL home....and I have a strong feeling that I won't have jet-lag when I finally make that trip! And speaking of jet-lag, bed sounds awfully good.........zzzzzzz.

Farewell Seattle!

The summer has just about ended in the US...although you wouldn't know it in Seattle as the temperatures are still touching 80 (high for here!) As I farewell friends, the nation is farewelling a much loved Aussie character - Steve Irwin. The TV today is full of the story of his bizarre and premature death (how else would the Crocodile Hunter depart but pursuing the thing he loved most- encounters with the wild). He has done more for tourism than any other Aussie, far outdoing Paul Hogan's "throw a shrimp on the barbie" image. Today every newschannel is covering the story on a half-hourly basis, playing and replaying interviews, comments from John Howard and wildfile experts. It is rivalling airspace for news on the Iraq war.
In an interview with Larry King, Steve talked about his ability with animals as "A gift that God placed inside me". Inspired by his father, who founded the Australian Zoo, he wrestled with snakes before he started school and caught his first croc at nine years of age. He was focused and pursued his goal to educate others on every possible angle of the animal kindgom. In another interview this week Tiger Woods shared on the deep relationship he had with his father, how focused he was from infancy to pursue golfing excellence and be "the best that I can be". His success has enabled him to open the Tiger Woods Learning Centre - a multi-media learning environment that will afford kids from lower income families to have access to a wonderland of educational resources. He says that this achievement is his greatest acheivement. And for recreation? He plays golf! He LOVES what he does, just as Steve LOVED what he did.
Which leads me to ask some important questions: What has God placed in my life to use for others? Do I have a passion to use that gift/s? Am I pursuing my passion? What brings me the greatest joy? Satisfaction? When I leave this world, will my life have been of benefit to others? Because that's what it's all about - using what God has given EACH ONE OF US for the purpose for which He has given it. How about you?

Parents in Seattle!

We just had a great week with Sue's parents, Dale and Bertha (Dad and Mom C to me). Dale faces the daily challenge of MS, and Bertha has the role of major carer, so life is often difficult. Sue and I prayed about bringing them over to Seattle for a change of air and activity and purchased the air tickets. We travelled north of Seattle to book a wheelchair accessible van plus a motorised chair for the week and committed whatever came in the honorarium for the VBS we were doing for New Hope church on Mercer Island. We duly picked up the van and chair and headed to the airport. It was a stressful time for Mom and Dad C to actually get on to the plane, but Sue's sister De Ann was wonderful and saw them on at her end in Boise. Sue got a special Escort Pass to greet them at the gate (this is no longer possible for non-travellers since 9/11) and I manoevered the wheelchair from carpark to waiting area. When Dale was wheeled in by an airlines worker, I stood from my chair to greet him, much to the gasps of onlookers. I should have cried "It's a miracle" but didn't. From then on the week flew by. Each day we made one major trip and atel lunch out, getting back mid-afternoon to allow for rest time and an early night. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the waterfront in Seattle, dining at The Fisherman's Restaurant waterside, visitin Gig Harbour and then the Hawthorn Tea Rooms in Tacoma, and then 'doing' brunch at Salty's at Redondo Beach - an awesome gastronomic experience. I know this was a week that they won't forget and neither will we. And when that honorarium arrived from New Hope it covered all our expenses and more. God is SO GOOD.

Golden Anniversary

In the midst of VBS and Sunday ministry Sue and I tackled the traffic on the "freeway" - at times it took 30 mins to go 10 miles - we drove from Federal Way to Abbotsford, Canada to celebrate Dave and Vi McElhoes fifty years of marriage. It was a great night of reminiscing, laughter, the obligatory (but very good) slideshow and some great items from kids and grandkids. One special joy was seeing the first two great-grandkids of this awesome couple. I have know Dave and Vi since the 70's when David first came to Australia to minister. They are a great couple who always encourage Sue and I whenever we get together (which isn't often enough)! I guess as a single person, it was a real treat to see the extened family joining in honoring their parents and grandparents. There's a verse in Psalms that reminds us that "God sets the solitary (the loners) in families" and Dave and Vi have been one of several close friends who have opened their hearts and home to singles such as me. May the Lord continue to bless them and lead them into great times ahead!

SURE HOPE....

Friday we finished a week of VeBS (Very Exciting Bible School) at New Hope church on Mercer Island. We carried on with the pirate theme (drama and us dressed appropriately) with the Bible Theme "Sure Hope" (using a curriculum developed for Southern Cross Kids' Camps in Australia). I think you will enjoy these kids - they really got into the spirit of the moment! I got a lot out of this theme - with all that is happening in the world, the word "hope" seems anything but "sure". By for those who have experienced the love, forgiveness and redemption of God through Jesus, "hope" is indeed sure. As Hebrews 6:19 puts it "We have hope like an anchor, safe and sure." Hope for today, hope for tomorrow, hope in spite of what we see, hear, or fear - based on Him whose Word never fails.

UPDATE!
For those wondering what has occurred between the last two blog entries a brief summary.
June – I flew across to the US from Melbourne and hit the ground running! Landed in Seattle, then headed to deepest Idaho for a kids’ camp held near Idaho City. Great to have Sue’s new Forrester to go off the beaten track just a little. From there it was back to Seattle, then down to Portland to meet two dear friends Graeme and Angela from Melbourne. We headed to the Oregon coast for four fantastic days with the Hanson family: Doug, Mitzi and Janessa plus cousin Katie. We walked the beach, explored the shops at Cannon Beach, spotted puffins nesting on Haystack Rock, flew kites, ate fab food and played crazy games.














From Cannon Beach we drove in convoy to Boise and a day later headed up to McCall, Idaho to Quaker Hill for the Royal Family Kids’ Camp with Tom and Margaret Tuco, directors extraordinaire!!!!! What a great camp for kids in foster care – it is one of the highlights of our summer each year. It is so good to see what God does in the hearts and lives of these children.



Then it was on to Miracle Mountain in the Grangeville area. This was a really rustic old-time camp setting but we had a tremendous time in God’s presence. Both Sue and I got into Bible costumes and participated in the Bible drama each day. These kids really responded to God’s love, and it was so refreshing to hear one little lad pray his first prayer “Hey God, this is me, Christopher and I am speaking to you. You need to listen and do what I ask you to do….” and he continued asking the Lord to bless Sue and keep us safe. Totally non-churched, he came to experience the reality of a loving Father God.



TIGER LILY….. or Rachael Devore, interned with us this summer for five of our camps. What a great young woman she is! (You can check out her blog at tigerlilyspad)
She is about to enter Northwest College and her dream is to become a medical missionary working with AIDS victims (children) somewhere in Africa. How cool is that?? She was so popular with the kids, and with us! Very easy to travel with and a delight to have on the team! I got to do a bit less up front and worked with the puppets, and audio/visuals more. I enjoyed that immensely. We only did one Rainbow program this summer, but the theme was “Anchor of Hope” with a pirate flavour. A great hit with the kids AND with us. We debuted this theme at the Colfax Nazarene church and pastor and adults all got into it donning pirate costumes and participating in a skit which ran each night. Great to see adults and kids alike responding at altar times too.

As I write this we are preparing to repeat this theme with the kids of New Hope as we drive to Mercer Island each day for a VBS. This time Sue will be in pirate attire – no clown costume and no grease paint! That always makes her happy. We are also working on our pirate riddles and enclose three here (they are endless!) See end of this blog for the answers.

What country do pirates NEVER sail to?

What do pirates like to eat best?

What Bible Story do Pirates like best?



Let me know if and when you read this blog. We are also working on curriculum and programs, and teaching session for our upcoming missions trip back to the Czech Republic. Please do keep us in your prayers.

Answers to pirate riddles: (a) Aaaarrrrrgentina (b) Aaarrrrtichokes (c) Noah and the Aaaarrrrrk.

A Man of Honor

Today (August 4th) is the birthday of one of my 'heroes'. Sue's dad - DALE CARPENTER - is celebrating his 70th-something birthday. He is a godly example of a Christian man. As a loving husband to Bertha, and dad (to Sue and De Ann and her husband John) he lives his faith daily. And this faith is constantly tested - Dad C (my name for him) is challenged with the effects of progressive MS. His mobility is reliant on a wheelchair, his body is becoming increasingly weakened - but his inner strength remains. James writes "Be patient then until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near." James 5: 7,8. NIV
The farmer can be patient because he sees (by faith) what is coming - a good crop.
We too need to allow patience (God's peace in action) when tests and trials come to us, whether it be bad traffic, frustrations in our workplace or simply in our relationships with others. I know Dale or Dad C would love to physically "Stand firm" again - but he has never wavered in 'standing firm' spiritually and what an example he is to me and to many others. Happy Birthday Dad!