6th February, 2012 - 7th February, 2012

(Sorry you had to wait for this, we've been very busy the last couple days.)

6th February, 2012
I didn't do much for school today since Dad was home (public holiday). I did do a little, though, but it was mostly life skills.

What I did:

1. Bible
2. Helped butcher 10 chickens
3. Got dress about 1/2 way done

Not much, but some. No book work today (which was nice!!!), probably will start that Wednesday. Well I should go to bed--it's late. G'night!

7th February, 2012

I hardly did anything for school today. We went to writing group, and I took How God Has Worked in Our Lives, a story about how He's helped us to get our residency. Here it is:

How God Has Worked in Our Lives

When I first heard that we might be moving to New Zealand, I had no idea that it would turn out to be such an adventurous life. I had no idea that four months into our stay here, our friends—the only people we really knew—would move back to the States. It wasn't even a possibility. But, that happened, and looking back now I can see why God allowed that to happen. If they would have stayed here, we never would have gotten to know the people of the area near as much. We would have lived in our own secluded world, not needing to get to know our neighbours because we had company. The reason why we came to New Zealand (to share the love of Jesus with the people here) would never have taken place because we never needed friends. We wouldn't have been involved in people's lives near as much, which is opposite of what missionaries are supposed to do! Our communication with the outside world would have been limited.

Since our friends moved back, we had to find friends. We had to get involved with people's lives. In that way, we have been much more effective in the community than we were previously. I can see God's hand in it all. If we hadn't been living in the “school house”, we never would have met Maria (a teacher at our local school), and through her, never met Lennie. If we wouldn't have met Lennie, I doubt we would ever be going to writing group, where God has blessed us with many friends.

I can also see God's hand in helping us to meet Pete, a (now) close friend of ours. We met him at the library (where he works as a librarian) the second day we were in New Zealand. Through him, we met his wife and the church they go to. We love the people at church, and praise the Lord for giving us such good friends.

When we first got to New Zealand, we only had a visitor's visa, although the 9-month business visa was on the way. Three-and-a-half months into our stay here, we were granted our visa. Dad immediately started working, but six weeks later he lost the job. Just after Dad lost his job, a couple friends from the states came to visit, and we had that time to go sight-seeing. God gave us that time, and (although we didn't know it then), this was training for what Dad was going to do in the future—work at the local meat works.

Dad got the job there in October 2010. We had two months left before our visa expired, and the employer/employee contract that he had would not work for our permanent residency visa. November went by, and December arrived. We had been in New Zealand for one year already. We suddenly realized that we needed to do something now, and our current visa expired on the 19th, a Sunday! After working with Dad's employers, we finally got the right papers put together, and lodged our application for a work visa on the 17th—the last day we could possibly lodge it, a Friday.

Not much happened until the middle of February, when we were informed that Seth had to have a chest x-ray, because he turned 11 just 3 days before we lodged the application. We went to Christchurch on the 16th, and Seth's x-ray was completed. We went back home, and just 6 days later the February 22nd earthquake hit, that closed all buildings in central Christchurch. All our passports and birth certificates were in city center, and we had no way of knowing if they were still intact.

The good side of the earthquake was that we were granted a 6-month interim visa, which allowed Dad to keep working at the meat works. Once the businesses were up and running again, we were soon granted a 2-year work visa.

Once granted our 2-year work visa, we immediately started looking into permanent residency. We had to do new medicals, (as well as new x-rays for us four oldest) which were soon accomplished. When Mom went in for her x-ray, someone asked her if she was pregnant. “No, I don't think so,” was her answer. The x-ray couldn't take place until she was sure, so we went home and took two tests—both negative. The x-ray was taken, and just two weeks later, we found out that there was a baby on the way! God had had His hand on the baby during the x-ray, and now a new addition to the family was on the way! We applied for permanent residency, and began the waiting again.

On January 12, 2012, permanent residency was granted! We were (and still are) elated! God had shown Himself faithful once again. Just when we were wondering if “there ever will be an end to all this red tape”, He gave us the thing we most desired. Praise the Lord for all He's done! “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” (Psalm 9:1)

Well, I should be going. It's bed time, and I'm tired.

~Esther