Where in the world are the wilsons?

School Holidays

2009-07-02T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends.

Second school term has finished and we (Narelle, Rachel and Megan) are on school holidays. Hurrah! The three girls did a quick trip this week up to North Eastern Victoria to visit Narelles family for a few days. Rose and Rex run a dairy and beef farm. The girls had so much fun on the farm helping milk cows, ride motor bikes and tractors. The pups were a huge hit, as was the slightly crazy hyperactive kitten. Lovely to catch up with our country family.

These are the days of our lives....

2009-04-13T15:55:00.000-07:00

Megans 9th birthday party

Rachel and friends, Space Expo at school.
Rachel, Meg and Sandy - seeing if they could fry an egg on the ground on 46 deg. day. (Didn't work)
Sandy off to work, Girls off to school.
Happy Easter Friends!

Hello good friends around the world. We hope you all had a beautiful easter time.

It has been so long since i have written anything on this blog, but it is now the Easter holidays so thing have quieted down enough to reflect a little and write about the last few months.

February saw our state confronted with some of the hottest weather in 50 years. It was awful, especially one horrific week that got up to 47 degrees her in Melbourne. In desperation, we dragged out mattresses into out dining room ( the only space in the house with a air conditioner), in order to get a little sleep at night. The whole state was quite literally in ‘melt down’. Trains stopped working, electrical plants blew up, we had ambulance shortages and hospitals were full of sick over heated people...it really was horrible.

On one of the hottest days in February, the fires came. 172 people lost their lives as the fires swept through a number of our communities. My (Narelle) uncle and aunt in Marysville lost their home (the entire town was wiped out). Another family friend lost his two teenage daughters. Everyone seems to know someone who was affected by the fires.

It was a terrible couple of weeks following the fires. Our whole country morned for those who lost loved ones and property, and as the high temperatures persisted and fires still burned, we worried about flying embers. It was hard not to stress. The air was still full of smoke haze, and we could smell the smoke from the back burning.

We were not in any direct danger, but our kids school is situated at the base of a mountain area and in a dense bush area. The school closed on a few occasions for fear that the fires might come too close. Fortunately for us, it never came too close.

During all of this, the kids had got back into school life. Both Rachel and Meg love their new school teachers, and are making some lovely friendship with their school mates. Their little lives are full of school, after school activities, sports, dance and music.

I also started my new job at a local school as a Teaches Aide in February. This has been the perfect job for me right now. Keeps me well and truly busy, but also lets me be around for the children after school finishes each day. I am really enjoying the work, great co-workers, fantastic kids and plenty of work that is challenging me and it is very rewarding.

So we are all working hard at new relationships and new jobs. We are still very much in the typical first year of re-entry. We sometimes feel overwhelmed by life and exhausted by all there is to do... but we understand that it takes time to adjust back into ‘normal’ life, and we are trying to give ourselves space and grace.

Anyway, we just wanted to say hi - and thank you again if you have been praying for us. Drop us a line, we would love to know how your doing! xxx

Garden delights

2009-01-25T12:53:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite things about our new life in Australia is the garden around our house. Apparently the previous owners had very green thumbs, and loved their garden well. It is a delight! Every week we are surprised by new buds and blooms, and even though it is horribly dry here at the moment and we are restricted in watering due to the drought, the garden has slowed, but not stopped revealing its treasures.

We have also taken the opportunity to grow some of our own vegetable. We have lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, coriander, basil, parsley, chives, and strawberries growing.
There are water buckets all over the house, and every unused drop of water (and some used, like bath water) is collected for the vegetable patch. Our girls are learning how to be ‘water wise’ adn conserve every drop.

Update

2009-01-14T23:52:00.000-08:00

The girls with their Grandparents, Kev and Kath...

Sandys brother Allan was able to pop in when in transit to New Zealand...so nice to catch up and show him our new home and life here in Melbourne.
The joys of life in Australia...beaches and more beaches.

Sandy took the girls with a big group of friends to watch the 20/20 cricket in Melbourne last week. Loads of fun was had by all! (Thats a PNG flag - the kids were trying to be spotted on the telly!)
More Beach shots.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS!

May God bless you each one in the year ahead, and may your knowledge of His love grow over this time.

We wanted to update you of our circumstances. God has been ever faithful. He has provided for us in the most beautiful and gracious ways. Not only have we been given a beautiful home to rent, a fantastic school that the children love, a wonderful new church family, the rekindling and renewing of precious old friendships, the joy of family close by….and then Sandy was offered a job on Christmas Eve! Oh what joy…and relief!

Sandy will be working in flight operations management at a flight school down in Moorabbin Airport. This was a fantastic answer to prayer – and we want to thank you all for your prayers for us. Narelle was also offered and accepted a teacher’s aide job at a local school that fits in beautiful with Rachel and Megan’s school hours. We really are gobsmacked at Gods perfect provision.

Sandy begins his new job next week, and Narelle starts when school commences at the end of January. We go back to work rested, refreshed, a little more adjusted to life in the 1st world and confident that God has us right where He wants us.

Thank you for love and support – and please, keep in touch!

Christmas Day

2008-12-28T15:51:00.000-08:00

A few pictures of our Christmas Day with Melbourne family.

Christmas Greetings

2008-12-22T23:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,
We want to send out our greetings and love to all of you around the world at this Christmas time. All our love,
Narelle. Sandy, Rachel and Megan Wilson. xxxx

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY RACHEL

2008-12-03T11:51:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we celebrated Rachels 10th Birthday. We had a wonderful time together with family and new school friends - and a few old friends! (Smiths from MAF happened to be in Melbourne!)

Our New Home

2008-11-15T12:24:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

We are finally in our own home, our drums with all our household goods has safely arrived from PNG, so this week was busy with unpacking and sorting.

It has been a long, gradual and some times difficult time settling back into life here in Melbourne. We knew this re-entry time would be tricky, and it has been a real challenge. However God is always good and is watching our every step. We were blessed with a wonderful little house for our first 2 months where we waiting for our goods. It was perfect! God is so good about the details, we look back in awe at his timing and provision.

Originally, I (Narelle) had planned to home school the children until the end of the year. However, we decided quite early in the piece that we wanted to remain in Melbourne (rather than take a job in another city) to be near family and friends. So we bit the bullet and enrolled the kids into a beautiful Christian school. They LOVE it, and we have all benefited from the stability of routine.

Sandy has been job hunting this whole time, but now the kids are in school I have joined him. It is looking like Sandy will have a job in the next few weeks (we are waiting to hear confirmation this week.

We are renting a friends beautiful home – another awesome provision from God. Our friend had to move overseas at short-term notice, so he has done us a wonderful deal on the rent. We are unpacked now, and it feels like home. We are still looking for a church locally to join.

Thank you all SO much for your prayers and support. We will let you know how we are doing again soon. Loads of love, from the Wilsons xxxx

Back Home

2008-09-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

We are HOME in cold but beautiful Melbourne, Australia and today Sandy and I celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary.

It’s a good time to look back and reflect on all that has taken place these past 12 years, and marvel at Gods goodness to us.

It is a strange time for us right now as we are between jobs and homes, but we are excited about all that is before us. We have got a car, a home for the next 6 weeks (house sitting in Vermont) and I will continue to home school the kids until the end of the year.

Please continue to pray for us as Sandy gets into study and exams over the next month to transfers and upgrades his pilot licences and then proceeds to find a job. Pray for the girls too as they are lonely for their friends, and finding this time difficult. We would love to have a job and a place to live by January so that we can get the kids into school by the start of the New Year.

Thank you for your support and prayers. God is faithful and good, and we sleep well at night knowing he is in control.

Iona, Scotland

2008-09-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

Our time in England and Scotland has been busy and fantastic. As we know this will be our last visit for a long time, we have taken every opportunity to enjoy moments with friends and family as well as see some sights.

A big thank you to all of you who have housed and fed us, it was so good to see you all. We are sorry we didn’t get to see lots of our other friends in the UK. Our time has gone so quick. Please keep in touch.

A special highlight from our time in the UK was an over night trip to Iona, a gift given to us by generous friends.

We were blessed with two of the most perfect weather days to enjoy our time there, and so we did!

It is not easy to get to Iona. About a 2.5 hour drive from Aberfeldy, we got to Oban, then took a ferry to Mull, then caught another smaller one across to Iona – but it was well worth the trip.

For those who don't know, Iona was the place where Christianity was brought to Scotland by an Irish missionary (Columba) in the 500s.

We only got there about 3 in the afternoon, so we spent the rest of the day checking over the abbey and other old sites on the island.

Especially wonderful was the night service we went to in the Abby. The whole place was lit up by candle, and they conducted the most beautiful communion service. I assumed it would be very 'high' church, and certainly the structure of the service was formal, but was pleasantly surprised at the ease and relaxed atmosphere. A group called the 'Iona Community' live and work on Iona and maintain the abbey and run the church life. I found it a very moving thing to sit with about 100 strangers from all parts of the world in the magnificent 14th century abbey, as we simply shared communion together. It was beautiful.

The following morning we woke to clear skies and an incredible sunrise, so we had an early breakfast and went and hired bikes down at the village and spent the rest of our time riding from one end of the island to the other. At lunch we had to catch the ferry back to Mull in time for our 3 o'clock ferry back to Oban....we had meetings the next day right up in the north of the country.

Anyway, it was a fabulous time and an amazing place to visit - truly the cherry on the cake of our time in the UK.

Love to you all,

UK Rambles

2008-08-22T00:21:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!
After a wonderful two weeks with our South African family, we have come to the UK to complete our final work with MAF, and say goodbye to many who have supported and prayed for us these past years. Our first few days were in Folkestone, Kent at our MAF UK offices. The team at MAF UK have been incredible to us in their support and help over the year - we will miss them all. Now we are in Saffrom Walden, just outside of Cambridge with family and supporters. This sunday we are at Seven Oaks at a church meeting, then off towards the West of the country to visit with more family and supporters.

Recharging the Batteries

2008-08-11T07:08:00.000-07:00

Greetings from South Africa!

We have been here in Johannesburg a week already, and have another to go before we head north to the UK.

It has been fantastic to be with our SA family again and especially fun to meet our beautiful new little niece, Caroline, daughter of Allan and Trish.

Allan and Trish have graciously opened their home to us, and let us rest and relax…just what we have needed after weeks of packing and planning for the future. It has been good to be still for a few days and re-charge our emotional and physical batteries before heading into all the new things before us.

Sandy’s father Neil turned 70 this year, and for a special birthday present, we got him a ride in a hot air balloon. Sandy and Allan accompanied their Dad for his special day. They got out there early, and the balloon took off as the African sun rose in the sky. It was awesome. Afterwards, we all went out for a family birthday brunch.

Official goodbye MAF PNG

2008-07-15T00:16:00.000-07:00

Today we had our official goodbyes at the MAF hangar – Sandy still has two weeks in country, but they wanted to say goodbye before the girls and I fly out tomorrow. Like all good goodbyes, there were tears, and cake, and a present, and hugs and more tears. It is lovely to be loved and appreciated. Thanks guys for the great farewell.

Family

2008-07-14T02:44:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest challenges leaving home to go and work in another country is leaving precious family behind. However; our experience has been that God has provided us with beloved adopted brothers and sisters, and cousins and uncles and aunts for our children – a huge family of God. These are some pictures of our sweet family here in PNG who have loved us, encouraged us, challenged us and prayed with us as we have journeyed together in PNG.

"A friend is one who strengthens you with prayers, blesses you with love and encourages you with hope."

2008-07-14T02:34:00.000-07:00

I took this picture at 6.30 am this morning as Sandy headed off to work. Our view from the front door - a magnificent sunrise, and gift of Gods hand to kick start the day.

Our last prayer letter from PNG - with all our love.

2008-07-08T14:42:00.001-07:00

July, 2008

Dear Friends,

It is with mixed emotions that we sit down to write what will be our last prayer email from PNG. It is always hard to say goodbye.

We want to thank you all again for your constant prayers, love and support. Your partnership with us over these past 12 years in our work with Mission Aviation Fellowship has been invaluable. We simply couldn’t have done it without you. We thank God for you! Thank you for making it possible for us to be here.

Our last month here in PNG has been exciting as we have seen the arrival of a new aircraft to the program. It really has been the ‘cherry on the cake’ of our time here in P.N.G. Sandy was given the job of collecting the caravan (C208) from Cairns in Australia a few weeks ago, and he has been flying non-stop ever since. It is always a treat to be a part of the introduction of a new aircraft, so we thank God for this Caravan and pray that MAF would use it well here in PNG, to the glory of God!

We were thrilled to hear that MAF has appointed a new program manager for our PNG program. Please thank God with us, and pray for Patrick and Alison Williams as they plan and prepare to come to Mt Hagan in the next few months.

Tomorrow all MAF International staff will be meeting near the town of Garoka for our annual four day international staff conference. Please pray that this would be a refreshing and encouraging time as we worship and learn together and catch up with one another. For our little family, this is a poignant time as we say goodbye to precious friends and co-workers from around PNG.

As we step out to start a new chapter in our life we would ask that you pray that we would be able to lean deep into God and trust him for our future. We are in need of jobs, a home and a good school for the children, as well as a church family. Please pray that we would not be anxious, but be able to work hard at what we have to do and trust God for our needs.

Please also pray for safety as Sandy flies his last few weeks here, and as we travel first to South Africa, and on to the UK to visit with family and friends, and take part in the last of our obligations to our supporters and co-workers in the UK. We will be travelling all of August and into September, returning to Australia on the 17th of September.

We will write again as we hit the road on our last furlough with MAF – until then, thanks again for all you do for us, but especially your prayers. We are so grateful to each one of you.

With Love,
Narelle, Sandy, Rachel and Megan Wilson
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Papua New Guinea

RISE 08

2008-07-08T14:03:00.000-07:00

RISE 08 was the name of this years MAF PNG international staff conference. RISE is a 4 day retreat, and this year’s theme was FREEDOM.

We had a fantastic time with 46 other families. We relaxed together, ate together (THANKS ROSEMARY!), learnt together (THANKS PHIL AND JULES), prayed and worshiped together.

It was an awesome time and so precious to Sandy and I as we said lots of goodbyes to good friends from around the country.

Packing...one last time.

2008-06-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

It has begun - the great Wilson pack of 2008. Let the fun begin.

...more Caravan party pictures.

2008-06-17T22:03:00.000-07:00

The New Caravan...

2008-06-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

Last week Sandy flew down with another MAF pilot to Australia to collect MAF P.N.G’s newest addition aircraft, a Caravan (C208). It is always a treat to help introduce a new aircraft into a program. When the boys flew the plane into Mt Hagen, staff and MAF family came to check out the new bird, and to celebrate together over a meal. Joy flights followed. A great days work!

Latest Wilson Prayer Notes

2008-05-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family.
Greetings from Mt Hagan.

We hope this note finds you all well and enjoying the challenges of life where-ever you may be. We have some good news since our last prayer letter. Sandy was issued his permanent residence visa for Australia soon after we wrote. This happened a lot quicker than we were told it would take, so as you can imagine we were very happy about that. Thank you for praying about this with us.

The Wilson’s are all doing very well up here in P.N.G. Life has been as busy as usual with the normal routine of school, flying, and other MAF related activities. One big item of news this past month, a landslide in the town of Gera, on the only road between here and the coast, caused major chaos. All of Mt Hagen and the surrounding regions rely on this road for transport of goods. With the road cut, we did not receive any supplies, including fuel for almost a month. The MAF families were all given enough warning to stock up on essentials, as the shops were soon out of stock. Fortunately, a detour was built and the road is open again in much quicker time than first anticipated. A great relief to everyone.

With all the usual activities of life, we have had the additional challenge of job hunting and planning for our new life back in Australia.
As our departure date creeps towards us (16th of July for Narelle and girls, 30th July for Sandy) – ever so quickly, we have begun sorting through our household goods and planning to start packing in a few weeks. We only have two months left here in P.N.G, after which we are planning a quick trip to Johannesburg on our way to the UK where we will participate in our final MAF commitments. These include meetings at our headquarters for de-briefing, medical checks and of course, final visits with supporters.

August
19th – 21st England: Folkestone/ Hastings area

21st- 24th London, Seven Oaks

24th-31st- Bristol / Bath / Cotswolds (based near Wotton)/ Plymouth

September

2nd- 15th Scotland: Crieff / Perth / Banff / Edinburgh

16th London, fly back to Melbourne.

We will be in these regions within the dates indicated. If you would like to see us, please feel free to contact us via email and we will try and plan a visit. We are really looking forward to catching up with friends and family, and sharing, for the last time, about our life here in P.N.G with Mission Aviation Fellowship.

A HUGE praise point – we have been offered a house to live in for the first 6 weeks we get back to Melbourne – this was a wonderful answer to prayer, as it takes the pressure off us having to rush to find a home straight away. God has been so good to us, and we know he will provide for all our needs.

Please continue to pray for us as we continue to make plans. Sandy has been applying for jobs back in Australia, but we have nothing certain as yet.

Please pray that God will provide Sandy with a good job, a home for us to live in, and a good school for the kids. Please also pray that our family would have peace through this time of lots of ‘unknowns’ – especially for Rachel and Megan.

Thank you all so much for your love and support. Please let us know how we can pray for you!

Love always,
Narelle, Sandy, Rachel and Megan Wilson

Mission Aviation Fellowship
Mt Hagan
Papua New Guinea

Gera Landslide

2008-04-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

Hello friends. Sorry it has been so long since we wrote on this. Life is ever busy. One big item of news, a landslide in the town of Gera on the major freeway between here and the coast is causing chaos for people in this region. We are fine, having time and money to stock up on supplies. Many local people have not been so fourtunate.

The following report was in a local newspaper…

" Papua New Guinea ministers are calling for a state of emergency to be declared after a massive landslide in the Highlands region caused chaos for four provinces. The PNG government has declared a natural disaster zone on the Okuk Highway, at Gera, outside Kundiawa town in Chimbu Province in PNG's Highland region, where businesses have begun controlling food and fuel distribution as panic buying sweeps the region.

Thousands of people directly and hundreds of thousands indirectly are suffering in the regions, PNG officials said. Hospitals in the Enga, Chimbu, Eastern and Southern Highlands Provinces now fear vital oxygen and other gas supplies will run out within days. Enga Province's, Mt Hagen Hospital Medical Services Director Dr Michael Dokup said lives were at risk as every hospital in the region was affected by the landslip. "It's not good, all hospitals are feeling the pinch," he said. "Our gas supplier told us they have run out of oxygen. "We've got enough gas for two more days, and our fuel is gone down too," he said. "We've told all surgeons to only conduct emergency procedures," he said.

The weekend landslide was triggered by rain and falling limestone which caused a large volume of soil to crash down and cover 150 metres of highway. PNG Transport Minister Don Poyle surveyed the destruction that displaced 3000 people and crushed 80 homes and gardens.

Electricity and the supply of other essentials have been cut off along the Highlands' main transport line, he said. "It's a big mess and difficult because the earth is still moving and the area is very unstable," he said. Polye said a team of experts had flown up to examine the area while an alternative road for light vehicles was being re-opened.

"We need a state of emergency because it affects four provinces, mining and oil fields," he said. "Thousands of people are hurting, but the whole region is suffering due to the landslide," he said. Authorities believe it will take a month before the road is passable again. Landowners and regional representatives have attacked the PNG government for ignoring their past concerns over three previous landslides in the area. "

Thanks Derrick Buntrock for the pictures.

Home School Camp

2008-04-03T15:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we had a MAF PNG Home Schoolers Camp. It was a great three days full of fun activities. We had daily devotions and worship times, played games, went on bush walks, arts and craft’s, a movie night – a great time of community fun and learning.

Wom Beach

2008-03-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

Our last day in Wewak was spent at the beach.

Beautiful Pasam Falls

2008-03-24T20:06:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we hiked through the bush down to a place called Pasam Falls. It was so beautiful - waterfalls with these gorgeous water holes. Everyone swam, and we had a picnic. The big people hiked further down the valley to big falls down the bottom. My poor knees were protesting (i had to literally crawl on my bottom down the mountain), so i stayed with the kids. An amazing place. We were all so sore the next day, but it was SO worth it!