Moulding Chronicles March 2015

Dear Friends, 

Over the last few months I (Ed) have been reading a very good book called ‘Serving Without Sinking’ by John Hindley. It has been a challenging read and has taught me a lot about having a right view of God, others and self as I consider what serving God really means. Towards the end of the book it focuses on Matthew 11:28-30, about taking the ‘easy’ yoke that God has prepared for us. 

Cooking lessons

Recently I have been beginning to understand more of what this means. In biblical times two Ox where yoked together to plough a field, one older and more experienced, and a younger less experienced one with the elder of the two taking most of the weight. With us, God is the older experienced Ox taking most of the weight and leading the way, we are the younger Ox and only have to carry what God asks us to carry. Hindley says that when we realise this and begin to trust God, i.e. only feeling the weight He puts on our shoulders as opposed to what we load ourselves up with, then we can find joy in serving Him, and can serve him for longer and harder than ever before. 

He'll make a great Dad one day

So God has been challenging me about taking up his yoke, but when I hear God saying do this for me or lead that for me, fears and doubts fill my mind, questioning where it will  lead, what I might have to give up and if I have the skills and abilities to do it. So instead of standing up straight and taking the strain of the yoke WITH God, I shrink away from the yoke, fearing and worrying about things that God is not asking me to worry about. When I do this I am not able to serve God as best as I can, because I have not understood how he wants me to serve him. I have not understood that God is an intentional God who puts us in different situations with a clear purpose of helping us to grow, to know Him more, to be able to reflect His likeness and be reminded again that He is God and He knows what is best for us. 

So as I look at the challenges we are facing with getting our new visas under time pressure, and as I look at the challenges and changes I am facing in my HR role within FH, God is challenging me to look away from the fears and doubts and to trust in Him, and stand up to take the strain of the yoke to find that when I do I find that His yoke is easy and his burden is light, because I am carrying what He wants me to carry whilst leaving all the other stuff for God to carry and provide the answers for in His perfect timing.

New glasses

Thank God for: 

• Celebrating Isaiah’s 4th birthday
• Couples within the families group taking the lead in organising social events

Ask God for:

• Documents to be processed quickly and returned
• The FH lawyer to be on the ball with all the papers we need 
• Faith to trust God for his perfect timing 
• Energy and good health

Ed, Sarah, Alana, Isaiah and Lucas

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’

Matthew 11:29-30

Fierce Moulding pirates

The birthday boy

Moulding Chronicle January 2015

Dear Friends,

A very Happy New year to one and all.  We hope that you were able to enjoy the festive season with friends and family and that the new year has gotten off to a positive start.

We find ourselves starting out this new year in a much more positive frame of mind. The two week Christmas break, which enabled us to step away from all normal routines, has done us all good and has given us a fresh perspective on the year that lies ahead.  The one word which is at the forefront of our minds as we face this new year is THRIVE.  2014 was a difficult year, we felt weighed down by so much, however, we wouldn’t want to go back and change it as despite the difficulties we have learnt so much through it. living in survival mode is ok for a time but certainly not sustainable and so it seemed important that this year we walked this journey learning how to really thrive.  We are still in the process of working out what it looks like on a day to day basis for each of us to be thriving, but feel that we are already making a start in the right direction in a number of different areas. 

Making the time for key relationships  outside of the home is a part of this, as is the need for exercise, to which end we now have an exercise bike and are keeping each other accountable in using it, even Alana is getting involved with this.  We also recognise our need to take regular breaks from the norm.  Some of that will mean getting away for a change of scenery, in other ways it means a change of routine and stepping away from technology.  In line with this we have been more intentional about setting aside a regular sabbath rest having been challenged and inspired by a book Sarah read last year.  For Sarah this has not been an easy thing to do and has taken some time to figure out, however she is now reaping the benefits of giving herself the permission to stop and rest.

Mid January began our new normal with school re starting and daily use of the new bike. Lucas now goes along to kinder with his big brother, who is doing a great job of encouraging him.  So now our mornings are girls only, and Sarah looks forward to the opportunities now opened up to us to travel further a field and experience a little more of the culture.

Meanwhile Ed has returned to the office in his new role of HR Co-ordinator.  At present he is spending much time staffing new positions but has new opportunities opened up to further grow and develop in new ways.

So we have a lot to look forward to this year as well as a lot more to learn.

Thank God for: 

• A refreshing and relaxing Christmas break
• A good start to the new school year

Ask God for:

• Lucas to adjust to kindergarten
• A year learning to thrive
• Help for Ed in balancing his work load in his new role as HR Co-ordinator
• For our visas to be renewed this time without any problems. 

Ed, Sarah, Alana, Isaiah and Lucas

Moulding Chronicles christmas 2014

Dear Friends,

A very Merry christmas to one and all and a Happy New Year.

As we move into the season of christmas , we move closer not only to the end of the calendar year but also to the end of our second year of homeschool. As we look back on the year passing by I am amazed at how much we have learnt in the course of the year, not so much perhaps on the academics side of things though we have covered a lot, but more about who we are and how we work best.  

It has been fun to follow some of Alana’s interests throughout this year and so we have learnt how a car works and moves, the ins and outs of an engine, levers and pulleys, boats and birds. It looks like next year will be kicking off with a project on clocks - so maybe we have a little scientist or inventor in the making!

Throughout the year we have also noticed areas where we have been lacking particularly in term of friendships and so have much to praise God for in the provision of a playmate, who lives close by and who is of the same age with similar interests, and with being able to join a regular Saturday club at a local church which is a little like scouts.

We still of course have much to learn and moving into the new year we will be trying out some new methods and slightly different approaches. Both boys will be attending the local nursery in the new year so that in itself will change the dynamics somewhat but will also give us a little more freedom to explore some of the other places around the city.

At the end of November we were all able to take part in the FH national retreat in Cochabamba which provided a refreshing (though rather tiring) break away from the concrete city.  We all relished being able to be outside all day every day for the 4 days we were there playing in the open grassy spaces. During the retreat we were involved with leading the games sessions, then later on Ed was involved with sharing ideas on the new discipleship program due to launch in the new year.

As well as a time of relaxation and fun the retreat was also good for building up relationships, putting names to faces and building momentum and motivation for moving ahead into the new year.

 It has not been an easy ride this year with lots of additional stressors on all levels but as we look to the new year we look to it with a fresh hope of what God has in store for us all including another job change for Ed, but more of that to follow in the new year.

Thank God for: 

• Documents all present and correct
• Being a part of the FH retreat in Cochabamba as a family
• All that has been learnt through homeschool for both Alana and Sarah

Ask God for:

• Guidance in planning out next year and what to get involved with
• Clarity for Ed as he transitions into another new role with HR
• A fun and relaxing holiday period as we celebrate the birth of our wonderful Saviour

Ed, Sarah, Alana, Isaiah and Lucas

Moulding Chronicles September 2014

Dear Friends,

In the last couple of weeks we have received both our visas and our ID cards so after what felt like a very long 7 months we finally escaped the city and spent a long weekend enjoying the cleaner air and beautiful views of lake Titicaca. Earlier this month we also had the privilege of celebrating Alana’s 8th birthday and enjoyed a fun afternoon of games and much laughter with friends.

Back in July Ed started an internet course with other members of FH called Coram Deo (Latin for ‘Before the face of God’).  The promotion video begins with an interesting and challenging question. ‘Do we see more and more of the Kingdom of God coming into our communities and our nations, or do we see more and more of our societies coming into our Churches?’ How would you answer the question? 

The reality I think is that for a large part we see more of the church influenced by society rather than society influenced by the church. However, there are places where we can see this happening in reverse, where individuals and communities of Christians are living out biblical truth in the situations where they find themselves, which often is nothing more complicated than being a good neighbour or genuine friend to those around them, who through their words and actions are able to share the truth about God’s love and saving grace.

The 12 lesson course challenges people to remove the glasses (worldview or paradigms) through which they see the world and to read the Bible, asking the following: 

• Are we seeing the world and the Bible as God wants to see it or just as we want to see it? 
• Are we using the whole Bible to understand life and how we are living it or just a part of it? 

They are difficult questions to answer because our worldviews are such an intrinsic part of our subconscious, formed from childhood and influenced by the cultures in which we live.

Darrow Miller, the course presenter gave an example of the effects of worldview from his own life. He was a born again Christian for 13 years before he realized that he was reading and interpreting the Bible from a materialistic and atheistic worldview that his culture had brought him up believing. His heart had been born again, but his mind had not. He had not taken off the glasses through which he saw the world. He had never questioned why he did the things that he did, or if what he did was glorifying God? If we then consider that if the chief aim of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever, then how important is it to be asking ourselves these same questions. Our minds are very powerful and determine what we can and cannot do. In Romans   12:2 it talks about how important it is for us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Therefore, we need to be putting our minds into action as well as our hearts.  

So as we move forward into the later part of the year we have much to be thinking about and chewing over as we try to take off our own tinted glasses. 

Praise for:

• Visas and ID cards :o)
• A fun and restful holiday at the lake
• Improvements to attitudes towards homeschool
• Really great kindergarten report for Isaiah

Pray for:

• Swift and easy renewal of passports
• For Ed as he plans his work for the next fiscal year with FH Bolivia
• New Global president of FH that he’ll settle into his role quickly and be able to hear God’s will.

Ed, Sarah, Alana, Isaiah and Lucas

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Romans 12:2

Happy Birthdays

It doesn't seem possible that our baby girl has turned 8 this month, how the time has flown and what a young lady she is turning into, quite the social queen.  She decided this year that she wanted to have a party at home with a frozen theme, which was no bad thing being as its seems to be the theme of the year if the parties at Isaiah's kinder are anything to go by so I was able to pull plenty of ideas together to pull of a fun and interactive party.

Making crowns and snowflakes

Pin the nose on Olaf

Cut the flour cake - but don't let the sweet fall

Snowman biscuits that were eaten quicker than the real thing could have melted

We also took advantage of being able to make a frozen mint cheese cake in place of a traditional cake.

OK so I cheated on the figures, but it tasted scrummy

Musical statues of course

It took a little while to get everybody warmed up so to speak but once they got going I think they all really enjoyed our slightly different approach compared with the traditional Bolivian birthday party.

Moulding Chronicles July 2014

Dear friends,

These last few months have continued to be hard on all of us, but we are beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. As we look back we can see how God has been working and so want to share some of that journey through a journal entry in the hope that it will also bring encouragement to others.

“Iʼm in an uncomfortable position, something needs to change but what. Iʼm grasping hold of whatever idea comes my way to have something to hold onto - to grasp a hold of it to give me a sense of security - so what am I putting my security in? My own feelings of control, I know whatʼs best, I can put it into play, I can meet my own needs, I know what a perfect solution will look like - Do I? - Iʼm playing God, thinking that I can do it all on my own-and yet look at what is going on, so much is out of my control, big things are out of my control! Who am I kidding that I am in control.

ʻHe makes me listen in a way I couldnʼt beforeʼ Heʼs amplified it with a megaphone - look you canʼt control or make anything happen - only I can do that.

Why do I find it so difficult to trust Him with all that we need right now and all that we will need in the future, He knows what we will need upon re- entry - how equipped we will need to be, what opportunities of processing we will need, he also knows what struggles we will need to pass through in order to be stronger to face what lies ahead of us.

So what does that mean for me now - Let it go! Yes a song of utmost annoyance to so many a parent in this year and yet it resonates with me so much - I do need to let it go - that perfect girl I kept and still do keep trying to be, because that is not the person who God wants me to be.

Its time for me to stop straining to see the horizon and to focus upon what is in front of me in the now,so that I donʼt miss out on the beauty that God has given me now in this moment.

As I ponder these things I am reminded of what God told me back at the beginning of the year, messages that I so quickly forgot. To live in the moment I am living, to enjoy the moment and itʼs blessings. Reflection and looking back has its place - but I donʼt live there. Planning and forward thinking has its place, but I donʼt live there either. Focus on what He has given me for the now and enjoy it.”

THANK GOD FOR:

• Encouragement 

• A refining of our vision 

• Three beautiful children who are such a blessing to us

ASK GOD FOR:

• Open ears and hearts to learn the lessons God wants us to learn

• Wisdom to learn how to work from a place of rest

Ed, Sarah, Alana, Isaiah & Lucas

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

Matthew 11:28

The bus tour

Now that we are scheduling in regular school breaks, it gives us time to do a little more exploring of the city in which we live and to learn a bit more about Bolivian culture. During our break this week we decided that we were going to do the city tour on the big red double decker bus.  It turned out that we had the whole tour to ourselves.

As we were getting ready to set off, the local police all dressed up in tracksuits appeared on the road in front of us and proceeded to close off the road and have a game of football. Since living here we have come to expect random events, though as we approached the main centre we saw more roads closed off and groups of people gathered for volley ball, football, aerobics.  It turned out to be 'el dia del desafio'(the day of the challenge). That was a new one to me, but added to the views as we went along.

Second breakfast, or early lunch at 9:45?

The markets

One or two rolls of toilet paper with your potatoes!

The view, with the football stadium in the centre

Somewhere over there is our house

Just a few cables to dodge on the way through the streets

It was good to learn new things and to go places where we hadn't yet been too, and to feel at ease being a tourist for the morning and taking lots of photos.

The ever friendly herd of zebras that waved and blew kisses as we passed