WUNDERLI WANDERINGS

After an interesting few months of gathering information for our visa application and trying to figure out the system a surprising miracle happened.  Our visa application was finally applied for last week and yesterday we got an email and a phone call to say that it was already accepted.  To say we were surprised was an understatement.  We were told it could take anywhere from 8-12 weeks to be processed. This means that we now have a 4 year temporary permanent visa for living in Australia.  We will need to apply for another visa so that it is more permanent but all in due time.  Need to rejoice in making it this far first.  (haha). Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us and asking how we are doing.  Your prayers were answered and it is a huge relief to have jumped that hurdle. Now for the next one......

It has been busy last few weeks with lots of comings and goings.  Simon is finishing up his third week of his standardistion course with one more week to go.  He has enjoyed all the flying and also getting to fly another aircraft.  So lots to learn but thankful for his flying experience these last years in MAF Uganda. There are more courses for him to do as well as exams coming up so there is never a dull moment.  I am sure he would value your prayers that we he would retain the information well and continue to adjust to the newness of everything. This week he and another pilot were supposed to flying into a specific airstrip only to find that there were termite hills on the runway.  They returned to Mareeba and then drove to the airstrip where they knocked them all down and made the airstrip useable again.  Not too far from his days in Africa.  It was good for the other pilot who hasn't served in a programme before to see what could be coming his ...

Joshua and Zara started their new school on Monday.  So far they are enjoying the experience and making some friends.  They seem to be taking all the newness in their stride as they figure out how it all works.  Thanks to all of you who have been praying for them.  God has been preparing the way and we are grateful. Yesterday Joshua came home with some Maths homework.  I took one look at it and said if you have any questions then ask your Dad because I have no idea.  Thankfully he didn't need much help at all and he taught me a thing or two. Zara is loving her drama class and art class.  She had a lot of joy when she explained what they were doing.  I wonder who she took the love of drama from....it sure wasn't me.  (haha)  She is also studying Japanese so we might have some fun with that. Zara is in her PE kit and Joshua in his "normal" uniform Zara in her "normal" uniform and Joshua in PE kit.  The challenge is no ...

The phrases "No Dramas", "Too Easy" and "No Worries" are common sayings we hear on a regular basis down here in Queensland.  After thanking someone for assistance for their help to buy shoes, or getting our car fixed, or needing help to find something in a shop the response is often one of the above phrases.  I would love to say that our transition to Australia has been "No Dramas", "Too Easy" and "No Worries" but the reality when you cross continents to set up a new home in a new country it can be a challenge.  I am not saying it has been all bad, not at all, just that it can be a challenge. This is the 5th country that Simon and I have lived in and although you can anticipate a lot of things you still need to walk through them and figure things out.  When you move to another English speaking country you think that things will be familiar and similar but that is not always the case.  Our time in America showed us that and...

Since arriving in Australia we have experienced so many things that it is difficult to put it all into words or even photos but below are a few photos to keep you going. We have some praises and prayer needs which are located to the right of this post.  Thanks for interceding for us!! Happy New Year from Cairns Esplanade Our first New Year in Aussie and its 9pm and still 30+ degrees. Managed to get Joshua out the water for a photo, Zara's priority was swimming. A view from one of the hills surrounding Cairns. The view from Tree Tops Guesthouse where we stayed for a month. Lake Morris, a reservoir that feeds Cairns Joshua and Zara at Lake Morris, it was one hot day! Zara enjoying the beach and the ocean.  It is jelly fish season (stingers) and so only specific areas that are cordoned off are safe to swim in.  These wee jellies and not so wee jellies are not to be messed with. Zara feeding ...

We trust this post finds you all well and enjoying this special time of year.  Our Christmas was very different for us in that we spent it not in Uganda or Scotland but in Australia.  God was gracious in that we got to spend it with some "African" friends.  Some we knew by name as they were in MAF Tanzania and Kenya and the other family, the Cousleys we had spent more than one Christmas with in Uganda as well as holidays together.  We had a lot of fun talking about our African experiences and the kids had a blast reconnecting. It has been quite the month for us and are thankful we have made it through.  After leaving Switzerland in November the race was on for Simon to pass his exams so we can proceed with paperwork for our more permanent visa.  Thankfully, after many hours of study he passed both the flight and written exams.  We give thanks for his diligence, patience and perseverance through it all. Whilst Simon was busy the kids and I kept sear...

It has been three weeks since we moved to "Jurassic Park".  It has been a sharp learning curve on various levels but we are making progress.  We have two pieces of good news and answers to prayer in that Simon passed his written exams and we found a house. Simon has been studying hard for his exams and sat them on Wednesday.  We haven't seen a lot of him in the last couple of weeks as he has been busy with his nose in the books.  However, it has paid off and he passed his two papers on Wednesday so there was much rejoicing when he came home.  He might be able to fit in the flight exam next week and then we can make progress with our visa status.   We need to move to a different visa than then one we came in on and so the sooner the application goes in for the more permanent visa the better. While Simon has been busy studying and figuring stuff out at the flight school t...