I haven't had a chance to update our blog for more than 4 months :-(
But here I am, finally!
I'm pasting a copy of our Christmas newsletter below. It has links to pictures instead of the pictures themselves. It's just easier that way, due to our slow internet connection at home.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear friends and family,
How are you?!? Busy with the last preparations for Christmas?
My apologies for not keeping in touch more. I had big plans of writing newsletters regularly but our internet connection here in our new house is so slow and we were also without a computer for ages after we moved here.
We've now got access to a computer at home again!
We've been living in Matamata for four months now. Time sure flies!
We love it here, although it took a while to settle in and get used to a new place and a new town.
We are here because of our work with Youth With A Mission (YWAM). The YWAM base here in Matamata runs Discipleship Training Schools (DTSs) for families and young people. We are involved with the DTSs for young people, these are called Pursuits DTSs.
Craig is full time involved with the Pursuits DTS and I'm a little involved on the side while looking after our children at home and homeschooling them.
Our house is only a 5 minute walk away from the base. As a family we have dinner there every Thursday night and we try to go to the base whenever we can, to stay in touch.
The first DTS we were involved in, is now on outreach in Fiji. We didn't go on outreach this time. We may do that at some stage in the future with another DTS.
The first 12 weeks of this DTS were here at the base and it was an intense time for everyone. Exciting as well! Craig was gone from home most of the time, including some evenings and weekends. We didn't see him much!
It was exciting to see how the students were learning so much and to see God at work in their lives!
This DTS will finish by the end of January and three weeks later, the next one will start.
Our Dutch friend Henk will lead this next one. Henk and his wife Tineke have been great friends of ours for years and we feel so privileged to be able to work alongside them now. We love having them so close! Henk & Craig work really well together. Craig will be helping Henk in the next DTS.
The leader of the Pursuits Ministry, Bill, is very sick. He's been diagnosed with bone cancer. It's very hard on him and his wife Berryl. If you can, please remember them in your prayers!
With Bill so sick and in Auckland (and hour and a half from here) for treatment, Henk & Craig are supposed to pick up more and more work. But delegation hasn't been a strong point in this ministry, so the guys struggle with this at times. E.g. they aren't given keys but at the same time expected to look after vehicles etc.
This can be frustrating but they're doing what they can.
Some pictures:
Our children: Joel (13), Nadia (11), Aaron (8), Tirzah (6) and Noah (19 mo).
Nadia blowing bubbles, with Aaron & Tirzah
Noah outside on our lawn, we've got a lot of land around the small house here ;-)
Joel is doing well, although he's struggling with his size and weight L
We don't know what's causing his rapid weight gain, he's under the care of a pediatrician for it.
He's very technical and has recently discovered the joys of reading for pleasure. I can't get him out of the books now! Maybe he will take after his mum, the readaholic, after all?!?
Nadia is our in-house artist but still struggles with reading. She's very handy with the sewing machine and just loves craft in all forms.
Aaron loves to read too and wants to follow his big sister when it comes to craft. It's just that his motor skills aren't always up to it, much to his dismay.
Tirzah just never sits still. She's having swimming lessons along with Aaron and lives for that, totally loves to be in the pool.
Noah never sits still either, our into-everything toddler. He wants to keep up with his big siblings in everything.
His heart is doing great but he's had a lot of trouble with his ears over the last few months. We suspect that his lack of increasing vocabulary has to do with this ear trouble. He's now on the waiting list for an audiology test in the hospital. He does understand a lot though, which is reassuring.
Craig keeps having a lot of trouble with his back, after a bad fall 2 ½ years ago. He's in constant pain but the doctors have said they can't do anything for him anymore.
I'm mostly busy at home with the children and the homeschooling. At times I'd love to be more involved with the DTS, it's something I struggle with sometimes.
But I can only be in one place at a time J
With the summer holidays upon us here at the moment, we're also looking towards the new school year ahead. I've just purchased the Sonlight curriculum for Joel. It will involve a lot of reading, including me reading aloud to the children. The younger ones will be able to listen in and then get on with their own schoolwork.
But first we're going to enjoy the summer holidays!
With lots of love,
Craig & Esther Sunnex
Joel, Nadia, Aaron, Tirzah and Noah
