Hi all,
I thought that I would follow Albert & Hanneke's lead, and share with you the Mid-America Information videos that have been put up on Youtube. You might even spot us Kiwis in them! ;)
These videos are really nicely put together and give a little glimpse into life at seminary for the students, and even the wives. : )
Like Albert & Hanneke said though - you are always more then welcome to come visit us and see for yourselves! :D
Saturday, 20 September 2014
Sunday, 14 September 2014
And we're back!
So it has been a long while since our last post. So much has been going on it has been hard to get the time to sit down to write an update - and the unfortunate thing is, the more days that go past the more there is to update you all on!
It has already been just over a month since we returned from our wonderful summer in Canada. It was very hard to leave that wonderful church - the people were just an amazing encouragement to us in the short time we were blessed to spend with them. It's a big deal for people to welcome strangers into their lives and homes, but they did! And it was an amazing example to us and we only hope that we can repay the favour in the future! We told lots of people to come visit us in NZ - so are anticipating there being an influx of Canadians flying into NZ in the coming years! ;)
Josh was able to preach every week, and found it to be a really valuable experience. Both in gaining some confidence, and also in learning more about what he needs to learn more about! It was also a valuable experience for me to be a part of another new congregation, built new relationships and learn from others (there was a lot to be learnt and plenty of people to learn from in Abbotsford who were excellent examples) so that was a massive blessing.
Another blessing from our trip to BC was the opportunity we had to catch up with 4 friends from New Zealand!!!! It was just amazing. I spent time with my friend Charlotte, we caught up for the weekend with our buddy Hugo, and I also was very blessed to have a coffee and lovely afternoon with two (or technically at the time 3 ;)) lovely ladies - Sharon, Nicola & technically, gorgeous wee Caitlin - I just didn't get to meet her face to face. ;) It was very very special to see friends from home. :)
Our trip back was busy but very enjoyable. Each day we drove on average 8 hours, and it took us 5 days to get back to Chicago. Just an incredible trip - something that we never imagined that we would get to do, and something that even a lot of Americans don't get to do. This country is HUGE! We came down from Canada into Washington state, popped in for the day in Seattle, then drove across the top of Idaho, into Montana, then down into Wyoming and through Yellowstone National Park. Again, this park is massive, and to really appreciate it I could see that you would need to spend at least 3 days traveling around it - however we didn't have that luxury, so did the best we could with one day, which was still amazing. We got to see wild bison, and even a grizzly bear!
After our trip through Wyoming we were on the home stretch, heading through Nebraska, Iowa and then finally back in Illinois.
Providentially the trip was incredibly smooth, and we enjoyed each other's company to boot. ;)
Once home it was a great blessing for Josh to have two weeks off before school started up again, his first proper 'holiday' since January. So it was a great time to catch up with some local friends and get prepped for the new school year.
We had the seminary retreat day where we were able to meet a lot of the new students which was really nice. Josh has now been back at his studies for the past two weeks, and it's full steam ahead.
We are also facing winter again now. Just this past week, on Wednesday 10th, I was out in the evening wearing shorts and a singlet - the temperature being about 27 degrees. The very next morning we woke up, and it had dropped to 12 degrees, warming up to about 16 during the day! Talk about extremes! So since then, we have been in sweaters, jeans and pulling out the jackets. Autumn is definitely here. There is also talk of another very cold winter like we experienced last year - the words 'polar vortex' are being thrown around again - so we shall see. At least we know what to expect a little bit now!
I have been able to spend some lovely time with some of the other seminary families, and get to know some of the new ones which has been great. All the other activities are starting up again - with the Bible study, Sem-Wives meetings and I have been starting nannying again.
The other week I got to go and watch a softball game where two of the girls who I taught art to last year were playing in opposing teams! It was very fun to be able to watch them play and support them.
We also were blessed to be taken out for the day to the Chicago Air Show by some generous friends from church. It was a very fun day spent lakeside, with beautiful weather and some pretty amazing stunts performed by the pilots.
Josh has a new job for the seminary this year (last year he opened up each day), this time managing the book store three afternoons a week, so we are very thankful for this opportunity that the school provides to earn some extra money. This year Josh also will have opportunity to preach at various churches around the area (and potentially further afield) and is booked in two weeks time to preach in Iowa where we will be for the weekend.
We have both learnt so much over the past year. It has been amazing to see how much Josh is loving his studies, and just soaking in every opportunity to learn from very gifted professors and fellow students. It is very intensive study, and yet knowing the depth of meaning that the study of God's Word brings with it makes the opportunity a very real privilege, and not a burden. Josh works really hard, but also has set aside Friday afternoons where we can go for a walk and spend some quality time together, and we have also kept up going to the gym together as well. This has really helped his energy levels, and coming in to the winter will be even more valuable.
I have been keeping up my quilting - with lots of my friends having babies at the moment I have a lovely excuse to keep sewing! Also will be involved in the Bible study this year and have continued on as a Crossroad Bible Institute Instructor (a very good prison ministry). I've also been trying to read more and build up a better reference library (although I won't be able to compete with Josh!) so if anyone has any book recommendations let me know! I was able to read a very good one over the summer called 'Partners in Ministry' by Christine Hoover. Found it to be very encouraging even if you aren't a ministry wife!
Well that is where we are at for now - we really very much appreciate all your prayers and support. Without the support of you God's people we wouldn't be here. It's an immense blessing and very humbling.
If you are praying for us, we would very much appreciate your prayers specifically in regards to the following:
It has already been just over a month since we returned from our wonderful summer in Canada. It was very hard to leave that wonderful church - the people were just an amazing encouragement to us in the short time we were blessed to spend with them. It's a big deal for people to welcome strangers into their lives and homes, but they did! And it was an amazing example to us and we only hope that we can repay the favour in the future! We told lots of people to come visit us in NZ - so are anticipating there being an influx of Canadians flying into NZ in the coming years! ;)
Josh was able to preach every week, and found it to be a really valuable experience. Both in gaining some confidence, and also in learning more about what he needs to learn more about! It was also a valuable experience for me to be a part of another new congregation, built new relationships and learn from others (there was a lot to be learnt and plenty of people to learn from in Abbotsford who were excellent examples) so that was a massive blessing.
Another blessing from our trip to BC was the opportunity we had to catch up with 4 friends from New Zealand!!!! It was just amazing. I spent time with my friend Charlotte, we caught up for the weekend with our buddy Hugo, and I also was very blessed to have a coffee and lovely afternoon with two (or technically at the time 3 ;)) lovely ladies - Sharon, Nicola & technically, gorgeous wee Caitlin - I just didn't get to meet her face to face. ;) It was very very special to see friends from home. :)
Our trip back was busy but very enjoyable. Each day we drove on average 8 hours, and it took us 5 days to get back to Chicago. Just an incredible trip - something that we never imagined that we would get to do, and something that even a lot of Americans don't get to do. This country is HUGE! We came down from Canada into Washington state, popped in for the day in Seattle, then drove across the top of Idaho, into Montana, then down into Wyoming and through Yellowstone National Park. Again, this park is massive, and to really appreciate it I could see that you would need to spend at least 3 days traveling around it - however we didn't have that luxury, so did the best we could with one day, which was still amazing. We got to see wild bison, and even a grizzly bear!
After our trip through Wyoming we were on the home stretch, heading through Nebraska, Iowa and then finally back in Illinois.
 |
| Wyoming |
Providentially the trip was incredibly smooth, and we enjoyed each other's company to boot. ;)
Once home it was a great blessing for Josh to have two weeks off before school started up again, his first proper 'holiday' since January. So it was a great time to catch up with some local friends and get prepped for the new school year.
We had the seminary retreat day where we were able to meet a lot of the new students which was really nice. Josh has now been back at his studies for the past two weeks, and it's full steam ahead.
We are also facing winter again now. Just this past week, on Wednesday 10th, I was out in the evening wearing shorts and a singlet - the temperature being about 27 degrees. The very next morning we woke up, and it had dropped to 12 degrees, warming up to about 16 during the day! Talk about extremes! So since then, we have been in sweaters, jeans and pulling out the jackets. Autumn is definitely here. There is also talk of another very cold winter like we experienced last year - the words 'polar vortex' are being thrown around again - so we shall see. At least we know what to expect a little bit now!
I have been able to spend some lovely time with some of the other seminary families, and get to know some of the new ones which has been great. All the other activities are starting up again - with the Bible study, Sem-Wives meetings and I have been starting nannying again.
The other week I got to go and watch a softball game where two of the girls who I taught art to last year were playing in opposing teams! It was very fun to be able to watch them play and support them.
 |
| Leah batting & Emma as catcher! |
 |
| The beach before it got even busier, and Chicago city in the distance. |
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| Parachuters (I guess that's what you call them in plural...) |
 |
| They also took us into the city and we visited Bloomingdales |
 |
| Trying to blend in with the wall art |
Josh has a new job for the seminary this year (last year he opened up each day), this time managing the book store three afternoons a week, so we are very thankful for this opportunity that the school provides to earn some extra money. This year Josh also will have opportunity to preach at various churches around the area (and potentially further afield) and is booked in two weeks time to preach in Iowa where we will be for the weekend.
We have both learnt so much over the past year. It has been amazing to see how much Josh is loving his studies, and just soaking in every opportunity to learn from very gifted professors and fellow students. It is very intensive study, and yet knowing the depth of meaning that the study of God's Word brings with it makes the opportunity a very real privilege, and not a burden. Josh works really hard, but also has set aside Friday afternoons where we can go for a walk and spend some quality time together, and we have also kept up going to the gym together as well. This has really helped his energy levels, and coming in to the winter will be even more valuable.
I have been keeping up my quilting - with lots of my friends having babies at the moment I have a lovely excuse to keep sewing! Also will be involved in the Bible study this year and have continued on as a Crossroad Bible Institute Instructor (a very good prison ministry). I've also been trying to read more and build up a better reference library (although I won't be able to compete with Josh!) so if anyone has any book recommendations let me know! I was able to read a very good one over the summer called 'Partners in Ministry' by Christine Hoover. Found it to be very encouraging even if you aren't a ministry wife!
Well that is where we are at for now - we really very much appreciate all your prayers and support. Without the support of you God's people we wouldn't be here. It's an immense blessing and very humbling.
 |
| They do have beautiful sunsets in Autumn in Illinois |
If you are praying for us, we would very much appreciate your prayers specifically in regards to the following:
- That the Lord will continue to equip us for (in His providence) a future in ministry - in Josh's ability to preach God's Word faithfully and truthfully, and for my willingness to support him in doing so.
- Tying in to the above request - that we will remember Who we are doing this for, and why - for God's glory. That we will never lose sight of that.
- Thanksgiving for all God's provision for us - that God has moved so many people to be so willingly generous of their time, money, wisdom and all the support we receive. And this from many people, from many parts of the world. Some who have known us our whole lives, and others who have only known us for a short time! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
- That the Lord will also give us contentment (for all the seminary families) - it is no small sacrifice to leave all our families, friends and the comfort of home - and travel a long distance to seek to follow God's call for our lives. There are students at the seminary from Egypt, South Korea, the Netherlands, England, Canada, the other side of the United States - and of course we Kiwis - and it is hard not to feel home-sick at times. Please pray that we will be content. Especially for the wives who may struggle with loneliness and with the fact that they may not see their husbands so much during term time. That God will provide us all with peace. And that we will be able to be a support and 'family' to each other while we are here.
Thank you so much again for all your prayers and support!
Much love,
Josh & Hannah
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
Summer Internship Update
Well it is hard to believe that we are already halfway through our time in Abbotsford! Our experience so far on this internship has been amazing. Not only have we been blessed enough to experience an incredible part of God's creation - but the opportunity for Josh to preach and write sermons has been a very valuable one.
Josh has been preaching every week since we have been here - and for him to practice writing sermons and delivering them has been excellent. The people in the congregation have been really encouraging and he has received some good constructive feedback. It's a huge deal that they would allow for a student to come in and preach - especially when they already have a very excellent minister - but we are very thankful that we have been able to come here.
I love this congregation in Abbotsford. The people are wonderful - they have shown us a lot of hospitality, generosity and love - even in the short time that we have been here. Every Sunday, and during the week, we seem to be able to get to know more people from the church who we hadn't known so well previously - it's very cool.
Josh works really hard during the week, and has chosen to work from Tuesday through to Saturday in sermon prep and some visitation. Some days he will go into church to work, but most days now he works from home - that way I can use the car if need be, and it saves an almost hour long round trip (not to mention gas) to get there. Then he usually preaches in one or sometimes both services on the Sunday. So Mondays have been really valuable in regards to him being able to have a bit of breather, and also an opportunity for us to go out together and do some exploring of the area.
On the first Monday that Josh and I had off together we drove in to Vancouver to visit Stanley Park - which was amazing. :) Some people from church loaned us some bikes and so we took them in and rode around the park for the day. I think in total it was about 10k that we rode around the park, and then we biked further out around the coast of the city too - so in total we were biking for about four hours which was fun - and all we had to pay for was some gas and parking (and some ice-cream) - it was well worth it.
The next Monday Josh had free we were able to explore a little closer to where we are staying in Abbotsford. We drove up to the Bridal Veil Falls just east of Abbotsford - and then further north to Harrison. It is apparently famous for sightings of the sasquatch (from what we could make out, like a Canadian version of Big Foot). We didn't see any while we were there (apart from the ones carved from wood). :)
We got some lunch and a coffee each and walked around the lake which was really nice. There was a really cool big inflatable fun park floating in the middle of the lake which was pretty neat. Josh and I were tempted to go and play on it - but the water looked really cold, and it cost about $30 each to go on it. :P
After visiting Harrison we drove up around the lake to Hick's Lake, and hiked all the way around it. It was beautiful, and so great to be able to get out into creation and see amazing trees, lakes and mountains pretty much everywhere you looked.
This past Monday we were really blessed to be able to travel into Whistler with Pastor Swets and his wife Rachel. They drove us up there (it's about 2 hours drive, north of Vancouver) and we got to visit Lost Lake and hike around it, then Josh and I traveled the gondola and went up Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. This was something that did cost a bit of money - but we had set aside some of my babysitting money from earlier in the year so that we could use it for an opportunity like this and we were so thankful that were able to do so. God is so good in providing us with the means to do things that are special and an opportunity to experience His awesome creation!
Last week while Josh was working hard, I was also blessed to be able to go on a couple of day trips with some new friends from church. We visited White Rock beach which was gorgeous, and it was so great to eat fish and chips on the beach again!
On Thursday I was able to help out with some preparation for VBS (Vacation Bible School) which starts up next week. That was a lot of fun, and it was another good opportunity to get to know some more people from church.
On Saturday another group of friends took me along to the Science Museum in Vancouver - they even gave me a free entry ticket! It was a lot of fun playing with the kids in all the different activities - and we also were given free entry into the IMAX theatre where they showed a movie set in West Papua about the coral reefs and sea life there - it was very cool.
We had some more opportunities to spend some time visiting with some more families in the church last week as well - the hospitality we have been shown here has been an amazing example to us.
So all in all time is flying by. It is hard to believe that we are over halfway through our time here, and soon will be making our way back to Chicago. However in the meantime we are really enjoying the opportunity to be here - meet new people and enjoy another part of the world. We are very blessed!
If anyone has any other questions about Josh's internship or our time in Canada you are welcome to contact us directly, we would be happy to catch up with you! If you are interested you can also listen to Josh's sermons here. So you can check up on what he is preaching about. ;)
Josh has been preaching every week since we have been here - and for him to practice writing sermons and delivering them has been excellent. The people in the congregation have been really encouraging and he has received some good constructive feedback. It's a huge deal that they would allow for a student to come in and preach - especially when they already have a very excellent minister - but we are very thankful that we have been able to come here.
I love this congregation in Abbotsford. The people are wonderful - they have shown us a lot of hospitality, generosity and love - even in the short time that we have been here. Every Sunday, and during the week, we seem to be able to get to know more people from the church who we hadn't known so well previously - it's very cool.
Josh works really hard during the week, and has chosen to work from Tuesday through to Saturday in sermon prep and some visitation. Some days he will go into church to work, but most days now he works from home - that way I can use the car if need be, and it saves an almost hour long round trip (not to mention gas) to get there. Then he usually preaches in one or sometimes both services on the Sunday. So Mondays have been really valuable in regards to him being able to have a bit of breather, and also an opportunity for us to go out together and do some exploring of the area.
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| The view from church |
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| Looking across from Stanley Park to Vancouver city |
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| The bridge that goes through the middle of Stanley Park and heads to north Vancouver |
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| The other side of the bridge mentioned above |
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| We did shout ourselves some ice-creams at the top of the hill :) |
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| Along the walk to Bridal Veil Falls |
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| Bridal Veil Falls |
We got some lunch and a coffee each and walked around the lake which was really nice. There was a really cool big inflatable fun park floating in the middle of the lake which was pretty neat. Josh and I were tempted to go and play on it - but the water looked really cold, and it cost about $30 each to go on it. :P
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| Harrison |
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| Hicks Lake |
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| The hike around Hicks Lake - it was so incredibly green! |
This past Monday we were really blessed to be able to travel into Whistler with Pastor Swets and his wife Rachel. They drove us up there (it's about 2 hours drive, north of Vancouver) and we got to visit Lost Lake and hike around it, then Josh and I traveled the gondola and went up Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. This was something that did cost a bit of money - but we had set aside some of my babysitting money from earlier in the year so that we could use it for an opportunity like this and we were so thankful that were able to do so. God is so good in providing us with the means to do things that are special and an opportunity to experience His awesome creation!
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| Lost Lake |
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| The beach you see in the middle distance is where the last two photos were taken |
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| Whistler village - the architecture was really cool |
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| The gondola ride up the mountain |
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| Getting higher all the time! |
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| Whistler Mountain (and Josh's arm) |
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| On the Peak to Peak gondola heading to Blackcomb mountain |
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| The view on the way home out the window - driving along the coast of BC and the edge of Canada. It was beautiful! |
Last week while Josh was working hard, I was also blessed to be able to go on a couple of day trips with some new friends from church. We visited White Rock beach which was gorgeous, and it was so great to eat fish and chips on the beach again!
 |
| The view off the end of the pier |
On Thursday I was able to help out with some preparation for VBS (Vacation Bible School) which starts up next week. That was a lot of fun, and it was another good opportunity to get to know some more people from church.
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| Immanuel United Reformed Church where we are privileged to be serving this summer! |
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| The view out the back of the church and across the car park |
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| Across the street from church |
We had some more opportunities to spend some time visiting with some more families in the church last week as well - the hospitality we have been shown here has been an amazing example to us.
So all in all time is flying by. It is hard to believe that we are over halfway through our time here, and soon will be making our way back to Chicago. However in the meantime we are really enjoying the opportunity to be here - meet new people and enjoy another part of the world. We are very blessed!
If anyone has any other questions about Josh's internship or our time in Canada you are welcome to contact us directly, we would be happy to catch up with you! If you are interested you can also listen to Josh's sermons here. So you can check up on what he is preaching about. ;)
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