WUNDERLI WANDERINGS

Over the Moon We had an amazing Christmas gift just before Christmas.  We were granted our 187 permanent residency visa for Australia.  A huge answer to prayer. Part of the letter is below.  We did not expect to see this until next year.  To say we are thankful is an understatement.  We are grateful to all those in MAF who made this possible. 20 December 2017 Simon WUNDERLI P O BOX 1477 CAIRNS QLD 4870 Dear Simon WUNDERLI Notification of grant of a Regional Employer Nomination (subclass 187) visa A decision has been made on this application and visa(s) have been granted on 20 December 2017 to the applicant(s) listed in the attached visa grant notice. Under the Stars Simon had to do an airstrip evaluation and was able to take Joshua, Zara and Islay along for the experience. Out in the bush in Australia Joshua and Islay helping Simon measure the airstrip for an evaluation Luxury accommodation for the night Dinn...

In the last couple of weeks the temperature and humidity has notably increased.  Mopping floors, vacuuming or some other necessary household task can reduce you to looking like you just got caught in a monsoon.  As I sit and write it is already over 30 degrees in the house and humidity is rising.  However, for all of you sitting in the northern hemisphere I am not jealous of your cold weather although maybe of the snow. This past month has been eventful to say the least.  In my last update I mentioned that I went through an in depth process for the role of HR Officer in the MAF Cairns office.  I am thankful that I was accepted for the role and will start under the new terms and conditions in January.  Thank you to all of you who have been praying.  Along with that our new HR Manager will be starting this week after her induction in the UK.  We have been without an HR Manager for a number of months now so it has been quite the juggle managing the...

As some of you will know Joshua has been having diarrhoea issues for a few months now.  We have completed a barrage of tests but nothing conclusive has shown up.   Last week, Simon and Joshua headed down to Townsville (4 hours south of Cairns) to meet with a specialist and to have an endoscopy done.   The specialist believes that Joshua issue is related to abdominal migraines.   We now need to get in touch with a dietician to see if food is a trigger for these migraines.   We are thankful that it is nothing more sinister and that there is a way forward in finding out the root cause.   Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us and especially Joshua.   It has been a long road in some ways but thankful that we have come this far. My 6 month interim stint as HR Officer in the MAF Cairns office is coming to a close.   It has been quite the learning curve and I have had some amazing opportunities including delivering some training at th...

Islay Since our last post we have had a new addition to our family, Islay, our 7 month old puppy.   We got her from a family who were fostering her for a rescue home.  She was very nervous and timid when we first got her and almost scared of her own shadow.  However, after being with us for two weeks now we are seeing a big difference in her confidence.  She is not so scared to go on a walk will play happily in the garden.  She loves all the attention she gets from us.  Good to see such a difference in a short space of time. Guests It has been a busy few months with guests.  In July we had Simon's sister and brother-in-law visiting us from Switzerland.  It was good spend time with them and explore parts of our local vicinity that we hadn't taken the time to do.   Following that Nadia and Olivia Dick stayed with us whilst connecting with other friends in Cairns.  Nadia, Andrew and the kids were good friends...

We give thanks that Simon received notification from CASA (Aviation Authority) that they have granted him a restricted flight license.  He has been given a VFR (visual flight rating) which enables him to continue in his role as a flight instructor in the standardisation department.  In the future he hopes to challenge the aviation authority and pursue the full license with IFR (Instrument Flight Rating) and night flying.  However, one step at time.  Grateful we have made it this far. Thanks to all of you who have been praying through this situation with us.  It has been quite the rollercoaster but thankful that God has been with us on the rollercoaster.  So thankful that we don't do this alone!

"Some days just have me looking like a Wombat" This past week or so has had some folks in our family looking more like a wombat due to being unwell.  Joshua has had some issues over the last few months with  diarrhoea  which we are having looked into but no specific cause has been found yet.  He has now been referred to a specialist. On top of that he came down with pharyngitis at the beginning of the week and has been really unwell.  After another trip to the doctor this morning showed that he is improving but will take time. In the meantime Zara has come down with it also and Simon is now coughing and has a sore throat. We are praying that they don't get it as bad as Joshua and that I can rise above it. However, through all the ups and downs of sickness we have had friends visit and had some special times together which we have enjoyed a lot.  Thankfully they are still healthy and doing well and have not picked up our bugs.  I will try and...

I used to think that when we lived on the Equator time went super fast but it seems in the southern hemisphere it is no different. Some of you have been asking for an update on Simon's eye test the other week.  Sorry it has taken me so long to post an update.  He flew down to Brisbane and rented a car to drive to the clinic where he was to have the eye test.  Unfortunately he didn't pass this test either.  You may be wondering what does that mean for him and flying.  At this point we are not sure.  We are waiting to hear back from CASA and that could take some time.  Meanwhile life continues and Simon started his next course.  He will be taking a Indian lady through MAF's four week Standardisation course so that she can fly in our Northern Territory programme here in Australia.  He will be doing the same with a South Sudanese man who, in time, will return to South Sudan to fly all going well.  We might be in Australia but we continue t...

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for Simon regarding his colour deficiency issue.  As mentioned before he failed his colour test with CASA and has now been referred for another test in Brisbane on the 2nd August.  Thankfully, CASA has not banned him from flying but have issued him with a restricted pilots license which enables him to continue in his training role with MAF We are praying that it all comes together and the issue can be sorted out.  Another pilot that Simon works with has a similar colour deficiency and he is able to fly with no restrictions.  Just need to work through the red tape on this one. Thankful  for your prayers as we navigate the challenges of living in another culture.  Life continues to keep us on our toes.

The last couple of months have continued to be a whirlwind for us.  Between work, studying, school and training the days and weeks have just sped by.   I  have just returned from the airport this morning as Simon needs to fly down to Townsville for an eye test.  We found out this week that the medical that was done in Kenya and the subsequent FAA waiver that Simon has for his colour deficiency has not been accepted by CASA (Aviation Authority in Australia).  They have asked him to do a further test.  He was on a early flight this morning and has an appointment at lunch time.  To be honest we are not that hopeful of him passing this test as the testing is very similar to one he did in London a number of years ago which he failed.  However, we can always pray for a miracle.  I will keep you updated as to the results. Arnhem Land A few weeks ago Simon was up in Arnhem Land for a week getting checked out on the caravan.  MA...

As many of you know I have been doing a Certification in Life Coaching to add to the qualifications I already have in Member Care.  I have enjoyed the course and hope to complete it in one more month. I have been already looking at opportunities for me to use what I have been learning and had a few conversations over the last weeks. However, there has been some changes in the HR Dept here in MAF Australia.  Due to this there is a need for more staff members.  After an informal chat it became apparent that I could help in the interim and so discussions became more formal.  After discussing job profiles, contracts and agreements I will start on Tuesday, 30th May as HR Officer.  This will be for a time period of 6 months.  I am looking forward to the challenge and know I will be kept very busy. The role is varied and many of the tasks will be new.  However, I am thankful for the experiences I have had in MAF Uganda which will help me in this new role ...

After living half of your life as an expat, and Australia being the fifth country you have lived in, it would be understandable if you sometimes feel like the koala in the picture above.   When cultural fatigue hits like a freight train, and it does, the only recoil is to sit on the proverbial branch and close your eyes for a bit. This past year has been huge for our family in more ways than one.  As we adjust to our new “home” we often just have to have “Koala” moments.  A time to just be gentle on ourselves and realise it is going to take time to adjust to our new “normal”.  There are many reminders during the day that show us that Australia is not yet home and it will take a while.  We are the new round pegs trying to fit into a square hole and it just doesn’t work.  However, there will come a time when the round peg and the square hole will accept each other’s differences and will live comfortably side by side. Cultural moments On Sat...

Lake Eacham, Crater Lake National Park with no stingers (jelly fish) or crocs.....bonus!!! The boys Our Princess enjoying the great outdoors Joshua enjoying the antics of Benjamin and warming up again after a cool dip in the lake. Zara taking a leap

This week Simon completed all requirements to fulfill his role as a Standardisation Flight Instructor and has now been helping to teach two of the students.  These students, when they have successfully completed the course, will head out to serve in one of MAF's Programmes somewhere in the world. Continue to pray for Simon as he settles into this new role and all that that means.  We look forward to what God has in store for him in this new job. Thanks again for all your prayers!!!!!

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for Simon throughout these months of studying, tests, exams and practicals.  These past two weeks he has been studying and doing training specifically related to his role as a Standardisation Flight Instructor.  He has been working every hour he can before the examiner comes up from Brisbane next week.  Pray for him to keep persevering and taking in all that he needs to in the remaining days.  It is taking days and nights to make this work. Joshua and Zara are finished with school for the holidays.  They are enjoying homework free days and time to do different things.  We are hoping to go camping with friends at the end of next week and explore life outside of Cairns.  Pray for a good time together, time to relax and celebrate Simon being finished. Thanks to all of you who pray for us, we appreciate it.  Transition can be a challenge!

For the last few days we have been keeping an eye on the brewing cyclone out in the coral sea.  We were told to buy water and other basics to be somewhat prepared in case it headed our way. Simon and I headed to our local supermarket on Friday night while the kids were at Youth Group. It was amazing to walk through some of the aisles and see empty shelves.  If you wanted bread then you would have been disappointed as there wasn't any and bottle water was definitely in demand. The cyclone ended up tracking south of us and so we have escaped the effects of the storm.  Unfortunately those a bit further south are really suffering now that the storm has reached land.  I am sure you will have seen the news reports as news comes in from the different areas. Thanks for all those who were checking in on us.  We are all fine although we are slowly dissolving into puddles with the intense heat and humidity.  I am beginning to wonder what it feels like to be dr...

This past week there was sickness in the Wunderli household.  Joshua was laid out for a few days with a flu/cold bug that seems to be going around school.  He was pretty miserable over the weekend and into the beginning of the week but was able to go back to school yesterday.  He seemed to cope fine.  It appears that Zara has the start of it but hopefully it won't be as bad as Joshua.  Simon and I are hoping that we don't catch it at all. My love of dentists is not very high (nothing personal if you are a dentist and reading this) and so with having a couple of old fillings removed, running around getting x-rays done and then having to get one of my wisdom teeth out  this morning I am now hoping for some breathing space from the dentist chair. |However, I  have to say that my experience in Australia has been a good one and God was kind in that the dentist was actually from Scotland so there was a rapport right from the start. I am leaving the go...

What do you do on a Sunday afternoon when you are tired of unpacking boxes and organising?  Well you take to the beach and try your hand at fishing.  I think the fish knew we were amateurs so stayed clear but one day we will get a bite on our line. A lovely afternoon at Holloways Beach Did I catch a fish....no not this time! Try try again.....

After packing up our home in Uganda almost 4 months ago we have finally received our belongings. Our house definitely feels more like home now and it didn't take Zara long to make her bedroom how she likes it. We did come across some things that were meant to stay in Uganda or be thrown out but the packers were very enthusiastic and we didn't catch them in time.  However, it was only small things so "no dramas" as they say here. Thank to all of you who prayed that we would see our things on the other side of the world.  So far we haven't found anything that was broken in transit or lost so that is amazing. Our belongings really made it The unwrapping begins Now where to put everything??? Time to put the shelves together... One happy girl...bear survived the trip!

I dropped Simon off at the airport for his exam this morning at 8:30am.  The exam was 40 questions and 3.5 hours long.   After hours of study he came out the exam with a 90%.  Lots of joy in our house tonight.  Another hurdle cleared and off to face the next one.  Thanks to those of you who keep praying for us.  The last few months have been seriously crazy but we are learning to take one challenge at a time or trying to. Tomorrow morning our shipment arrives from Brisbane.  It will be funny to have a sofa again to sit on, beds to sleep in, a dining room table to eat from, washing machine and all the other things we packed 4 months ago.  Having said that I will miss my frequent trips to Tree Tops (Guesthouse where we first stayed on arriving in Australia) to do our laundry and have theological discussions over folding clothes or learning about someones experience of living in the bush in PNG.  Might need to find some excuse to make a visit ...

We are thankful for this breakfast bar.  This is a multi purpose unit.  It is where the meals get made, the homework gets done and the flight planning happens for the following days flight.  Tomorrow (Wednesday 22nd) is Simon's next flight exam.  We are praying that he passes the first time although he has been warned this is the most difficult of them all and that it is not unusual to fail the first time.  Tomorrow we will know.