« The Eagles Have Landed!! | Home | Our Little Mission’s Kid!! »
“Still Call Australia Home…”
Written by Tamara on May 19, 2009 in News
Some may know Peter Allen’s song… no matter how far or how wide I roam, I still call Australia home. We’ve been in Canada for close to 6 weeks now and I must admit that often…sometimes many times a day, that song makes its way into my head. For Bill it it feels somewhat different. For a large part, Australia is also home to him. Yes, his “roots” are in Calgary, but it it with his wife and 2 children that he also made a home in Australia.
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 chu
rch 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!
May 19th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Love you guys! Happy to hear about the house – can’t wait to see pics! We all want to come visit you. I’ve never been to Calgary…
May 20th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
It’s great to hear from you guys. Congratulations that you found a house – that’s wonderful news!!! We had Lynn and Marti here on the LDC this week for a day and a half. Was great to hear from them and meet them, though unfortunately it was a short visit. Anyway, bless you guys. love from espania, adriel & ryan
August 1st, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Hi guys
Great to hear you’re gradually settling in. The website is very informative and fun! Lots of blessings ahead of you all, gotta luv Banff too!
Blessings
Jill