Seriously, I can't believe how quickly time flies!! We arrived in the peak of Redding's 45 degree summer and over the weeks we have observed the weather cool down, the leaves turn fiery red and the snow form on Mount Shasta.
We have been in the USA for 12 weeks now, and in some ways it feels like we are still these wide-eyed little Africans wandering around lost in the grocery store. Yet in other aspects we feel totally American; greeting people with a "hey there" instead of a "howzit."
We are so happy and at peace here, loving and appreciating every second!
Patterns...
After writing each of my blogs, I have been noticing a pattern forming: I write about something, and it gets established or confirmed afterward. After I wrote about the Puzzle Pieces, the pieces fell into place; and when I wrote about Rejoicing in the trials, all the trials resolved. I am not sure why this is happening but hey, let the blogs roll baby!! :)
My last blog was about Provision and how we surrendered our finances, and the stress of living off our savings, to God. After I wrote that blog I felt God challenge me even more about entrusting this journey to Him and allowing Him to provide and bring it through to completion.
Since the day I financially surrendered everything to God; I have seen His hand so evidently in the area of my greatest stress: grocery shopping :) He is in the little things like finding $10 grocery coupons in the mail to random half price specials on meat. We have also discovered that every week the girls get $4 tokens to buy fresh homegrown veggies from the farmers market as a part of a Kids Farmers Market Club. Every bit helps and it has been so encouraging for us; fun actually :).
Amy turned 4!
Last weekend was Amy's birthday. We wanted to buy her something special, not only because we love her but also to let her know that we see the sacrifices she has had to make in order for this dream to come alive. We want to bless her and reward her for it.
When we packed up for America, she had to give away most of her toys and put some very special ones in a box and say goodbye to them. Not once did she cry or complain, in fact she loved giving toys to under privileged children or to other friends. One of those special items was her dollhouse. She knew we couldn't take it with us and she understood why. She even cleaned it before we took it away. My hearts desire was to find her a dollhouse here for her birthday. And we did....boy did we find a special dollhouse!!! We bought it second hand and its a real beauty! Amy was absolutely thrilled when she saw it. She just gasped and said, "Wow its so beautiful, thank you for getting this for me!"
Something happened during her birthday that made me realise how much God cares about us and knows our desires and wants. Even the things that we may think are silly to ask for, God actually cares about them. He is a father, and a father loves what His children loves.
Amy had a little birthday ring at school and when Amy's teacher asked her what she would like for her birthday she said, "a blue barbie doll!!" (yes, a strange request) so her little friend prayed that God would bless her with a blue Barbie. Lo and behold, while Amy was at school I was shopping at Target for a present from Amy's granny. I saw these two little ballerina Barbies and got them for her. One of them had a blue dress on - she opened it and shouted, "My blue Barbie! Thank you Jesus!"
It was such a testimony to her friends at school that God hears their prayers.
Her faith has exploded and now, whenever she hears Pete and I talk about something we would like, she comes over and asks if she can pray for us and she simply asks God to give us the things that we we desire. Faith like a child :)
I thought that this blog should include some finer details about Pete's experience at school and how we are managing life here on a day to day basis.
What does a students week at BSSM look like...
Pete has been at school for 2 months now. His school hours are from 10:30am to 3:45pm Monday through to Thursday. There are 1200 first year students and so, in order to develop relationships and accountability, the students are divided into smaller groups, called Revival groups, of around 60 people. In each Revival group there are approximately 10 small groups consisting of about 5 or 6 people.
Pete's Revival group meets once a week to share testimonies, encourage and pray for each other. His small group also meets once a week to do the same but on a more personal level. The whole object of these groups is to "do life with each other".
The students have AMT classes (Advance Ministry Training) on Tuesdays and they are also involved in City Service projects which, for Pete, is currently weekly treasure hunts (street ministry). Yesterday he did his treasure hunt and led a man to the Lord!
The first year at BSSM is very intense because the students deal with a lot of character and heart issues as they learn about the truth of who God is as a Father and who we are as sons. Pete says it feels like he has been in open heart surgery for 2 months! In addition to everything I have mentioned above; he has homework :) So far he has read four books and has written four book reviews along with reading the Bible daily and going through text books on various subjects with many accompanying assignments.
Looking back, his full time job at a corporate company was easy man! But definitely not as rewarding.
What does a stay-at-home wife of a BSSM student's week look like...
Pretty busy :) Pete takes Amy to school at 7:45am and then he comes home to do homework. I sort out the housework in that time and get ready to take Pete to school at 10am. I hang around town until I fetch Amy at 11:45am after which we return home for lunch and a rest. At 3:30pm the girls and I go the Civic Centre field (BSSM first year site) for a walk and a play while we wait for Pete to finish at 3:45pm.
During the week I attend some evening courses at Bethel; one of which is SOZO training on Wednesday nights. I have also joined a ladies group on Tuesday nights and I attend church on Sunday night, which is my favourite! Friday and Saturdays we have "off" to enjoy time together as a family.
That is the "nutshell" version :)
Halloween is over (thank God) and the Christmas music and decorations are coming out. I will hopefully manage another blog before the holidays season starts...(and it will be a bit shorter)
;)
