YWAM’s International Chairman’s Team, which Bill is a part of, have just released the new “YWAM International” website. It is fresh, it is newsy and it’s wonderfully easy to navigate. I (Tamara writing here…) have quickly come to appreciate the hard work that often goes unseen when new websites are birthed. We are delivered a plethora of information, stories that are visually captivating through creative design concepts, and tools that can train and equip us via the click of a button right in our homes or work places.

The team laboured for many months, making sure the site looked wonderful, was easy to navigate and truly expressed the heart of Youth With a Mission and it’s wonderful work throughout the nations.  It sure is exciting to be a part of a team that delivers such a useful tool for others to use and enjoy. It’s a fantastic resource for YWAM’ers, alumni, families, supporters, churches or anyone interested in learning more about the wonderful mission we are a part of. Be sure to check it out: www.ywam.org

Bill is also working on the “International YWAM’er” website. This is the YWAM Magazine (called an E-zine) produced once every 2 months that has recently been made available online, opening it up for more people to be able to access around the globe. It is a great tool for YWAM’ers around the world to be kept up to date with the latest news from the mission. You can check it out here: www.internationalywamer.org

An audio version of each edition, called a podcast, will also be produced making the delivery of the news even more accessible to those who prefer to receive news in this format. A wonderful resource we think for commuters or people working out at the gym or even doing housework.

Once these projects are underway a little further, a vision has been birthed to create a website for future, current and past YWAM’ers – a site to deliver relevant teaching, YWAM documents and share stories amongst the many YWAM training centres around the nations. We’re really looking forward to seeing this come to fruition.

Back in December we had a great friend and YWAM colleague (all the way from the UK) come and spend a few days with us here in Calgary. David Couper is also a part of YWAM’s International Chairman’s Team and he and Bill worked late into the evenings on many of these projects. It was so great to have them work together in the same office for a few days instead of on the ‘virtual’ basis the geographical distance throws them. (Thanks Dave for coming all this way. We loved having you here!)

It  is an absolute privilege to be a part of these projects….to bridge the gap between the nations via communications.

Make sure you let us know if you wish to know further about these projects. We love sharing about what God has us doing.

Thanks for dropping by to read about what we’ve been up to.

12 months ago today our Christmas had us sipping “cool” drinks in our air conditioned home down in Townsville, Australia. We wore sleeveless shirts, shorts and flip flops! Palm trees blew during the tropical storms we had outside and rain flooded the streets during the typical tropical downpours. We had green tree frogs croaking from our drain pipes as they sought shelter from the wet, fruit bats flying amongst the mango trees and Christmas parties galore at the Reef to Outback YWAM base.

Caleb and Jessica had Christmas concerts with shiny, sweaty faces and we were reminded of Christ’s birth with a live nativity on the beach.

Amongst these familiar things was also a family who was getting ready to say goodbye to what had filled their previous Christmases. And 12 months later….

We sit in our heated home on the complete opposite side of the world. Our arms are covered, we have material covering our feet (also known as socks!) and we seek out warm drinks and an extra blanket at night. A different type of noise is heard outside. It’s the sound of snow shovels clearing people’s sidewalks. Extra time is spent working out how many layers should be worn in order to keep warm and tyres are swapped on the car in order to provide traction on the icy roads. Faces hurt and breathing is hard as we come in from only a short amount of time spent in the backyard.

This Christmas is different for us in SO many ways. However, the one thing that has remained constant for us is the VERY thing that brings us hope and reassurance when we face all that is unfamiliar to us. It’s JESUS!

As we continue to help our children with the emotional part of our transition from Australia to Canada, we find great affirmation as we tell them…the SAME God who loved us, protected us and provided for us in Australia is the SAME God who will do the same for us here in Canada. Yes, things are different on this side of the world, but God remains the SAME and He is our ALL!!

Wherever you are spending your Christmas this year, however familiar or unfamiliar things are around you, we wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS. May you feel the constant and ever fulfilling love of Christ at this special time of year.

For those who have been keeping up to date with how we’ve been going since making our move from Australia to Canada, you would know that Caleb has not been in a happy place regarding his schooling situation. It has broken our hearts, yet also drawn us closer to God.

School in Australia

We have always felt a strong desire to educate our children in a Christian environment. This has very much been a prompting from the Lord.

In Australia, we were blessed with an incredible opportunity to have Caleb start his formal years of education at a Christian school. It was due to our full-time involvement in missions that prompted the school there to waive a huge proportion of the tuition costs. We could not have done it any other way. A HUGE blessing! Caleb thrived in the environment there, so naturally we wanted to see the same for when we got to Calgary.

Desiring Christian Education

We made enquiries with many of the Christian schools in Calgary before our departure. It was communicated back to us that there was simply no assistance available for those in full-time missions. For us, it also meant a “low-income” level. So, we gave it up…or rather got an attitude, complained a lot and felt sad and miserable. It felt in a big way that God was forgetting about us and our desires.

I (Tamara) spent many a nights crying at the thought of not being able to place our children in a Christian school. After all, it was so strong on our hearts that I knew it was of the Lord, yet why was it not to be? Well, so it seemed…..

Christian schooling is close to double the cost of the same back in Australia, so it felt even more from our reach.

We placed Caleb into our local community school (for Grade 2) at the beginning of the new school year, which is September here in Canada.

Within Caleb’s first week he was told off for mentioning that he went to Church and for asking his class (during a sharing time) “hands up if you go to church?” This upset us greatly. We prayed and asked for even more covering and protection over our dear son.

For the next few months Caleb would share daily with us his sadness over not being able to talk freely about God and what he believed in. Yet, he remained an incredible light to those around him. “Excuse me Miss P., Christmas is actually about Jesus” and telling us, ”It’s just so sad that they don’t believe in God.” He was sowing into that school, however he was also struggling with the lack of freedom it brought.

Bill and I started to get a VERY strong sense that something HAD to change. We knew it was our God-given responsibility to protect Caleb as much as we could from the sadness and struggles he was facing with not being able to share what was so strong on his heart. He had only just turned 7 so it was a LOT for a little person to be faced with.

The Door was Opened

Within a week God had secured a place for Caleb at a Christian school here in Calgary!! It has all happened so quickly, yet has felt like forever all at the same time. It’s a Kindergarten – Grade 12 school.

I cannot recall at this point in time what made us re-contact one of the schools here. From that one afternoon, we have found nothing but favour. It’s like ALL the doors suddenly opened. We have a HUGE testimony in that the school is able to bless us with the same type of assistance we received in Australia.

Caleb got assessed this morning (another miracle there, as we had asked for this at his other school, but were told that it wasn’t needed – he missed more than half of Grade 1 due to our move and different timing of the school calendar). He is doing so well from an academic point of view. He would have only just finished Grade 1 this week if we were back in Australia, yet with some most areas he is sitting at a Grade 2.5 and 3 level. We consider that to be God’s protection on him and his learning.

New Beginning

Our boy will start at his new school on Monday (Nov. 30th). Another miracle (oh yes, there are lots) is that there was only one spot left in the Grade 2 class and he is filling it! Do you think God was holding that place for him?

During the week of processing this new school with Caleb, we asked him to sit with us and spend some time before God to ask if he should attend it. We became speechless. Caleb told us that God was crying. We of course asked him “why?” He went on to tell us…”God is crying because he is sooo happy that I want to go to a Jesus speaking school.” And naturally I started to cry at that point too.

Tamara’s Gets a Song

2 days after receiving confirmation of Caleb’s enrolment, God told me off. He does that right? I was having a ‘quiet time’ when a song I used to sing in primary school came to my mind and thus I started to sing it….This time however, I soaked in the words and got a fresh revelation of what the song was all about.

Seek Ye first the kingdom of God,
And His righteousness,
And all these things, shall be added onto you,
Alleu, alleuia

Ask and it shall be given unto you,
Seek and ye shall find.
Knock and the door shall be opened onto you.
Alleu, Alleuia

(Those were the verses that REALLY spoke to me from the song)

I had a feeling of STUPID, STUPID me!! Why did Bill and I stop seeking God for Christian education for Caleb? Yes, we had received a “no go” on any type of tuition assistance from the schools we had contacted in Calgary while still in Australia, but why did we stop seeking Him? God was telling me…”Seek me Tamara, ask for what you REALLY want. Keep knocking.”

The song, “Seek Ye First” is based on a portion of Matthew chapter 6. Little did I know that the words I felt next were the latter part of that same chapter…

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

A wonderful answer to prayer, a miracle of provision, one very happy boy, a fresh revelation to seek Him more and a God-given opportunity to immerse our child/ren into a Christian education. Thank you Lord!!

And you know what? The older grade levels get sent on YWAM trips to Belize in South America. Yes, we are VERY excited about that!!

We’ve gone through a decrease in income, an increase in expenses, an international move, major house renovations, death of a close family member and major challenges with Caleb and Tamara’s health. All of these rate up there as some of the top stress points in people’s lives, and we’ve been hit will them all this last year.

Since coming to Calgary we have managed to loose income in two ways. We are now receiving less money each month and because of the exchange rate we are finding that the money that we do have isn’t going as far here as it did in Australia. Right now we are about $500 per month short of meeting our monthly budget, which we can’t keep doing for long.

We have also found some things to be a lot costlier here than we expected. Our utility bills are about three to four times in Calgary what they were in Townsville. Despite Canada having socialized medicine we are also finding our medical costs to have gone up, especially the cost of medicine and insurance.

Unfortunately we feel like we are not any closer to finding out what’s going on with Caleb’s health. It’s still a battle and we feel like it is affecting him with his learning at school, as well as socially and with his self esteem. He is also finding the change from a Christian school in Australia to a public school here in Calgary to be a challenge. He has been silenced a few times in class for talking about God and church, which he’s had a hard time understanding. We’ve come to tell him now that he should only share during lunch or recess with his friends, and not in the classroom.

Tamara’s chronic fatigue is probably at the worst level that we have experienced. We were warned by her treating doctor in Australia to expect the move to affect her health, but we really didn’t appreciate the extent to which it would be affected. This has affected Tamara’s ability to adjust to life here in Canada and also how she’s able to spend time with friends and family here.

It’s been a big change moving from a YWAM operating centre of over 100 people to a loosely knit community of YWAMers here in Calgary. I think that we were both surprised how much we miss the people back in Townsville. Some of them are people that we have grown in our faith and walk with God so much in the last 11-years, and now we don’t have anyone around us who has been on that same walk with us. It feels so strange in many ways.

Working remotely with the YWAM International Chairman’s Team out of our home is also a huge change for me. I did not realize how much I would miss having people around that I am working with. There is definitely a sense of disconnect with the team that I have to be very deliberate to try to overcome. It is a new situation for all of us, so we are all having to learn together how to make it work. (You can read about some of the projects I am working at over at my other site, Defining My New Role in YWAM.)

If you get the chance we would appreciate your prayer for God’s grace and wisdom for us during this time of transition. We believe that God called us here for a reason, and that His ways are greater than our own, but in the middle of it we are needing more strength and faith than we have needed before.

It was the BEST feeling ever to see the delight on our children’s faces and a bitter sweet moment for us as this was the last “logistical” part of our big move…other than the settling bit of course which will come.

We had to check over the boxes thoroughly to ensure nothing was damaged for insurance purposes and thanks to God everything arrived in a amazing condition! So much so that we could use the boxes again. But, right now that’s not even funny.

Thank you to those of you that prayed with us for this part of our move. We were rather nervous to say the least due to the nature of goods we  had shipped….special keepsakes and Caleb and Jessica’s favourite toys.

In total it took 102 days and travelled close to 12302.6 Kilometres / 6638.5 Nautical Miles!!

Courier van in Townsville – Shipping company in Townsville – Truck to Brisbane Port – Cargo carrier to Vancouver  Port (passing US waters so thus hiking up the price…GRRR!!) – Customs clearance – Truck to Calgary shipping warehouse – Customs clearance again – Courier truck to our NEW HOME and VERY excited children!!

Check out the delightful photo album filled with beaming little faces…

To paint the picture a little clearer for Australians reading here…the majority of homes in Canada are sold with their major appliances included. This is a rare thing for us Aussies, but  not for Canadian homes. “Initially” we thought this was great.

We did a pre-purchase inspection and ALL our appliances were working FINE!! Upon moving in (only 2 weeks ago) EVERY major appliance has either failed completely or is malfunctioning in some manner. There is no warranty, there is no going back to the realtor. We have to find the funds ourselves to replace these items.

• Fridge/Freezer – Altering temperatures, icing up then thawing out.

• Washing Machine – Detergent is not rinsing out of the clothes!!

• Dryer – Low heat (which one uses to prevent shrinkage of clothes) does not work.

• Dishwasher – Pools water all over the kitchen floor!!

We don’t even know where to begin with which appliance to replace first. Financially we cannot do this on our own as the move from Australia has been hard on us already. Appliances was not something we had budgeted for at all.

HOW COULD YOU HELP?

Being in full-time missions has us doing this not on our own, but with a team of people. Some people pray for us, others give financially on a regular basis, while others give to one time projects.

This is where we ask that you would consider giving to help us meet our need for replacement appliances. Naturally we will focus on one at a time, but until we see God provide, we cannot say what appliance will be getting replaced first.

HOW TO GIVE

Please click on the link below. It will take you to the section on our web site that explains how to give. Thank you so much!!

http://www.billandtamara.com/finances/donate/

For those who have been wondering, check out the lists below. Just a little something for fun!!

At School for Caleb:

Full Stop – Period

Rubber – Eraser

See-Saw – Teeter Totter

Tiggi/Chasey – Tag

Dobber – Tattletale

Mum – Mom

Pop – Grandpa

Mate – Friend

Footpath – Sidewalk

Families have to pay to have their child remain at school for lunch.

Around the Home:

Rubbish – Garbage

Doona – Duvet

Single bed – Twin bed

Pillows in one standard size – Pillows in 3 different sizes

Nappies – Diapers

Toilet Train – Potty Train

Toilet – Bathroom/Washroom

Wee – Pee

Pitcher – Jug

Afternoon Tea – Cup of tea in the afternoon

Tea/Dinner – Supper

Laundry sinks VERY rare!

Ensemble Bed – Box spring bed which needs a frame to sit in (and 3 times as high!)

Toilet water sits sooo much higher (3/4 full) so splashes are FOREVER an occurrence.

Sayings:

Reckon – Means “I think”, but a non-existent word in Canada.

How are you going? – How are you doing?

Can I help you with anything? – How are you making out?

Pay someone out – Tease

Shout you to something – Treat you to something

Have a cuppa – Have a cup of tea or coffee

Arvo – Afternoon

Barbie – Barbeque

Ta – Thanks

Cheers – Thank you

At the Store:

Self Checkouts at most major stores.

Trolley – Cart

Carts only have front wheels that turn, not all 4 (yes, I look the site!)

McCafe – Non existent in the ‘Maccas’ here!

No checking of bags when leaving a store

Soft Drink/Fizzy Drink  – Pop

Chemist – Drug Store

The Bottle-O – Liquor Store

No separate post shops – hidden at the back of drug stores

Aluminium Foil – Aluminum  (spelt different AND pronounced different!)

Sandwich Bags – Baggies

Lollies – Candy

Catalogues – Flyers

On the Road:

License plates on front and rear of car – only on rear in some provinces, including Alberta.

No law for people over 18 to wear bicycle helmets.

Roundabouts – Traffic Circles

Give Way signs – Yield Signs

Miscellaneous:

Mandatory to pay into a pension plan

Solicitor – Lawyer

Door to Door Salesperson – Solicitor

Autumn – Fall

Not too sure how long this stage will be, but praise the Lord that He knows! There is comfort in knowing that our Lord NEVER puts us through things that we cannot handle without HIS help and strength!

Please pray for:

• God’s peace to be felt in our new home.
• God’s direction with prioritising all that needs to be done to set up a home again.
• Caleb and Jessica to make great friends and enjoy this season with us.
• Caleb’s readiness to enter Grade 2 (late August).
• Good, strong health and to recover physically from such a big move.
• Emotions to be strong as we miss things from Australia.
• Special times of ministering with new and old friends in our home.
• New ministry partners to support us in the work we do here in Calgary and abroad.

Many thanks. Prayer is the backbone for our YWAM work and it encourages us immensely to know that people are praying for us. Let us know if you are. We’d love to hear from you.

Caleb came home from school seeming quite troubled when I asked him how his day had been. I wish I had have taped my little conversation with him.

Caleb: Mum, my friend at school says she doesn’t know God and doesn’t want to go to Heaven.

Mum: How do you know that Caleb? Did she just come up to you and tell you that?

Caleb: No! Well, I know God is with me so I just wanted to know if God was with her and if she would also be going to Heaven, so I just went and asked her.

It was as simple as that. There was no fear, no embarrassment, no hesitation. He simply wanted to know if he would be seeing his friend in Heaven one day, so he went and asked her.

WOW!! It really is that easy isn’t it!! Bill and I were humbled to say the least.

It comes with mixed emotions for Bill when people here in Calgary say to him “welcome home”. Bill and I have come to realise that it will take some time before we will be able to call Calgary “home” and that feeling like that IS okay.  We call it God’s grace on us and the transition we are still working our way through.

Let’s share how things have been so far…other than the “missing home” part.

Caleb is settling into school well. He is heading towards the end of Grade 1 here, despite only having done a few weeks of it due to the difference in school years. He has recently been given the nickname, the “Aussie Rocket” due to how fast he runs during his after school Running Club. Yep, proud moment for sure! He still has his Aussie accent which everyone just loves. He doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to want to talk “Canadian” as he often likes to tell his teacher how things are sounded out and spelt differently down there.

Jessica has been finding it quite hard to adapt and to learn that we are here to settle. Often she will be heard telling Bill and I that she is ready to go back on the plane with her bubby to her home in “Stralia”.  Naturally it breaks our heart, but at the same time we understand that at the tender age of 3 all of this has been very hard for her to comprehend.  It’s hard on Bill and I some days, much less a little toddler.

We have found a house….rather, God has found us the house we are to move into sometime in the middle of June. This will be very crucial to us to help with the settling process…especially for the kids who will be able to have their own bedrooms and for Bill and I to be able to get into our own family routine.

Since we sold most of our possessions in Townsville before making the big trip across the Pacific, it has meant that the last few weeks have had us list making like never before. Prioritising what needs to come first as we set up home all over again is easier said than done. We have been garage sale shopping in the hope to re-buy what we had to sell in Australia.  If only Calgary garage sales were as cheaply priced as they are down in Townsville.  Some days are completely overwhelming and that is when we find ourselves missing home the most. It’s a good reminder for us to really focus on WHY we are here and WHO has sent us – GOD!!

From a ministry point of view, we have begun to catch up with the local Calgary leaders. It’s refreshing to be around those who share the same passion and vision. It’s also been refreshing to catch up with many of our supporters and our home church here in Calgary. At the end of this month we have the wonderful privilege of meeting up with Lynn Green (YWAM’s International Chairman) and his wife Marti. We will be picking them up from the airport here in Calgary and driving them to Banff (an hour away) where Lynn will be leading a Base Leadership Training week. What a WONDERFUL opportunity for us to be able to connect with this couple who serve the mission so faithfully and who Bill will be serving with directly as he works with the ICT (International Chairman’s Team) based out of the UK. Stay tuned for more on that as we settle in more to that role…

Blessings to you…

Please drop us a line if you would like to know anything else about our settling in time here in Calgary. Naturally, there is lots to share, so please ask!