14 May Newsletter

Greetings everyone!


We trust the Lord is lighting your path and guiding your steps and hope you’re content to walk in His ways! We wanted to send a brief update to let you know how we’re tracking and how you can partner with us in prayer.

The kids are mid-season in soccer and doing well with their teams, Christy and I are really enjoying their games and getting to know many parents in the community. Nina, however, fractured her right arm last week playing rugby with the boys at school. She’ll be in a cast for 4 weeks. Its not a serious break and should heal up fine, the worst for her is not being able to play soccer or sports.

We’re enjoying our new home having been in it for a month now. The accessibility to everything is very convenient…7-8 minutes to the beach, 15 minutes to the kids school and Christy’s work, 15 minutes to my work, etc…the past few days have shifted in weather, strong Westerly winds have brought temperatures down and we’re breaking out winter jackets. Its great sleeping weather though!!

Regarding work, church, and ministry there are a number of things to pray about: though I’d started the new job at ICMS (a business college), they realized they were going about the visa process wrongly and therefore terminated my contract. Meanwhile ICMS has hired an immigration lawyer to work with us to obtain a “business longstay visa.” This is a 4 year work visa. There’s a very good chance we’ll get our answer (approval) this week, once the visa is approved I’ll start working at ICMS immediately. At this stage, there’s no reason why the visa would be rejected…UNLESS God has other plans. Please pray for God’s will to be accomplished in this decision. St Matthews has agreed to keep me employed until the visa is approved with the college and presently I’m on paid holiday, till the end of May. Praise the Lord!

Since I’ll no longer be employed at St Matts we’re considering what to do/where to go for church. To summarize, we have no idea what to do at the moment. I’m still the missions coordinator for Christian Surfers in Manly so we’re needing to re-group and reassess what the Lord would have us do with CS. Honestly, since the surf outreach in February and then the Life to the Full course I produced and lead for 6 weeks, as well as other commitments, CS has been on the back burner and has lost momentum.

We’re at a strange place at the moment; on one hand there’s a sense of peace in that we feel we’re finally getting established in the country…new home, new job, new visa. On the other hand, there’s a sense of uncertainty in the unknown; we haven’t a clue what God would have us do regarding a church home and ministry (whether we should start something new from scratch or plug into a church for now?). Please pray with us and for us on this matter. Having said all that, we’re completely confident God has a plan and will sort it out for His glory and our good.

Lastly, the Henderson’s will be returning to AUS on June 10th, we’re looking forward to their return. However, we’ve been borrowing their vehicle for the year and half they’ve been away and will need to return it to them. We have another car (our own) but really need a second vehicle…with the kids school, soccer practice, Christy and I both working, etc…its really tough only having one vehicle. Please pray for God’s provision.

We appreciate all of you and thank you for supporting us in prayer and financially as well. We know we’re not alone here and often sense that we’re riding on the prayers of the saints. Oh, and one more thing…we’re hoping to visit the States in December-January and trusting God will provide if its His will.

Many blessings,

Brad, Christy, Malena, Jesse, Nina Hall