Character Counts

Birds outside our window in a feeder made by the twins at church.

Claire, Maddie, and their teacher at Friday school assembly.
Our own Kung Fu Panda on the deck after karate.
He's been waiting for years to Kick Phillip's butt.
The twins receiving awards at the weekly Friday schoolwide meeting.
Butterfly face painted Anna at the birthday party with Brooke's mom, my friend Rene.

Dawn- Shortly after writing "Purpose" I became aware of a gross omission in my run down of reasons why this experience is purposeful. The kids each have their own realm of hopeful benefit and influence. I think Lynn and I recognised prior to coming that the kids would gain valuable lessons. From early I hoped they would realize the world is a vast place with diversity and many opportunities to grow beyond the familiarity of East Tennessee. I pray this experience would give them courage to reach beyond the fear of the unfamiliar and embrace whatever destiny their design and Designer would afford them. We also hoped as a family this would be an experience that would strengthen our 6 person inner circle of relationships. We are becoming ever more tight-knit as mother, father, son, daughter, sister, brother. I hope this is a good foundation for the teenage years we are too quickly approaching for my comfort. After arriving in a post-modern culture which is post-Christian they have each grown in their identity as followers of Christ and lovers of God. They are what the Bible calls the sweet aroma of Christ to their friends by showing not the judgement and condemning evangelism expected but the love and genuine friendship which I hope would characterize us here. They are learning to respect and love people who don't necessarily know or love God the way they do. They are learning to identify how their faith differs from other religious belief systems like polytheistic and ancestor worship of the Maori. I think it is bringing clarity in their faith and a part of what the Bible calls "the working out of their salvation". I think beyond that they are growing key inward character traits that I am so proud of them for achieving. Character development is a blessing that is not unique to the Southern Hemisphere and thus we needn't have come all the way to New Zealand for it, but character is something noticibly rich in this time here. RESILIENCE in change is an incredible tool for life. They are learning GRACE as they deal with kids that make poor behavioral choices. They are learning KINDNESS in appropriate ways to treat others. As we meet people they are learning APPRECIATION for the uniqueness of being cared for by Mom and Dad and having food, decent housing, clothes, etc. Anna is growing ever more RESPONSIBLE. Claire has recently shown great COMPASSION for her teacher who is caring for a dying father. Claire and her friend are pictured receiving a recognition and Thank you from her teacher for the card and basket they put together at their sleepover last week. Andrew has shown great COURAGE in starting karate and conquering his timidity there. Phillip is learning EXCELLENCE in what he does at school work, at Rugby (player of the game last week), and Cross Country (First for his age group). They have a saying here that the tallest poppy gets cut off and there is a general philosophy of not trying hard, not keeping score (for example no numerical or letter grades in school), not recognizing authority, not being a stand out, etc. I think we are all gaining an appreciation for parts of our American heritage and one is striving for excellence. You might understand the over generalized NZ lack of drive when you see how absolutely breathtaking the natural scenery is and when it beckens you to just be still and enjoy little things like the birds we give the sandwich edges to outside our window. There are many things to embrace here and so we press on to give every effort to absorb as much as possible and try to share a glimpse in these pictures and descriptions.

PS. I recently discovered that Charlotte Bronte's and Jane Austen's fathers were ministers of the gospel in England. Also, Oswald Chamber's great work My Utmost for His Highest was written after his death by his wife from her personal sermon notes. My point is I don't think we should forget what contribution to humanity may be given by someone in our sphere of influence whether it be our child, our husband, our co-worker, or a dear friend. I hope my kids grow up strong in character, generous in serving mankind for a better world, and love God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. Wow, that sounds corney but I do mean it.

Green Acres is the Place to Be

Dawn's view from the beanbag on the porch Sun on the porch!At last...and our 15 year old cars.
Beach across the street from the "tennis club"
Taurikura tennis courts with a cow field surrounding and the bay across the street

Andrew, Brooke, and Anna at Whangarei Heads School

Whangarei Heads School Ice cream at The Deck

Parua Bay School (Phillip's school) The Sith Lord in front of his school

(Dawn)

Lynn and I had a wonderful Friday off together today. It has NOT rained ALL DAY! With Temperatures in the 70's and skies recently clear of rain, the asphault tennis courts a mile from our house were dry so we played 2 sets (7-5 me and then 6-1 Lynn). The community court reminds us of the old Green Acres TV show and Lynn sings the song to me all the time when I make a face like Zsa Zsa did at the "farm living". Back at the house we had an Al fresco lunch and then I got out a beanbag on the lower deck and read for a few hours. Lynn took the kids for icecream at the cafe just up the hill and then he washed my car at home. Phillip played with some neighbors and Claire is at a friend's for a sleepover. The kids had a big week at school. Phillip won and Claire placed in their respective age groups in their separate schools' cross country races (3K races). The twins ran too and I hear got 2nd and 3rd in a shorter route. The older kids will go on to run in a city wide race in a few weeks. Claire also found out she got a main part in her school's play which she had auditioned for. She had to memorize a commercial they had written and then write and enact script from 2 characters in a portion of a book or movie. She wrote the dialogue and enacted both characters of Lucy seeing Aslan in the new Narnia movie. A star has been born. The twins are very excited about Brooke's Birthday party this weekend. Phillip's Rugby should be on tomorrow too since the weather was dry today. All and all, we are feeling really good. Today was Lynn's mom's Birthday so a very Happy Day to her! Also, our love and prayers to those on both sides of our families with health issues. You are constantly on our minds.

Reflections on why we think we're here

(Dawn) Well, here we are reaching over the 3 month mark. My friend Melissa Ramsey from Medical School e-mailed me some questions that I thought I would answer on the blog in case others were interested. It's true that Lynn and I feel God planted this trip overseas in our hearts and then miraculously made it happen. It's true that we came out of obedience mixed with excitement to medically serve and some how to share our faith in Christ as we live everyday life within a new community. I guess that makes it a mission all though I am not entirely comfortable with that word. I must be the biggest chicken missionary that has ever been but I am finding comfort that Moses and some others were too. We have shared details about our medical work here which in general has been a very different system and harder to function in than what we expected compared to the US system. Lynn especially is pain stakingly and slowly developing programs to improve the lung cancer and sleep disorder treatments in the 4 hospital system we are working within throughout an area bigger than East Tennessee. This is the bulk of the "mission" which is primarily medical relief to an understaffed, underfunded public health system. Our side job is settling into a Christian community which consists of fragmented isolated churches with 50 to 150 members each. We have done a tour around town and been to churches ranging from Anglican to pentacostal and everything in between. We have 2 different pastors and their families that we are especially fond of spending time with and are making an effort to be a source of mutual encouragement to as they serve congregations here full time. We also have a sprinkling of other Christian friends from the church hunt. We have settled into a very small church that has a heart to follow God and a love for the scriptures but is really struggling in building the infrastructure of a church. We have realized we came to New Zealand burned out on church after working for 5 years in a start from scratch church plant with the last year being especially draining as the church plant transitioned into a new phase trying to say goodbye to Cory and praying for a new pastor. So here we are enjoying not having the formal church responsabilities we had back home. With that said, Lynn has been asked to be on a church board so he is serving again in an administrative role. I have been asked to facilitate a woman's bible study and am praying about how to fit it around the work schedule. We have a nice little church community at work such as my confidant the lab manager Viv, the librarian Gayle (also a fellow American), and Lynn's Catholic nurse Linda who are great to talk about Christ with us. They each have so much to teach us as they share about their different experiences and their faith in Christ. One coworker is a decendent of the Maori that worked with the original European missionaries and has a beautiful heritage of Maori culture mingled with faith in Christ. One friend is living proof that our kids may actually remember these things we are telling them as she has returned to a faith she had as a child after spending many years in an abusive marriage. One coworker just always has a kind and gentle spirit with an encouraging word to remind us how loving God is. You know one of those Christians that just makes you feel good to be around because they are not harsh or judgemental or negative EVER. They make the hospital environment brighter for sure. We have a growing love for the community we are living in around the schools the kids attend. Remember they have been in school since we left and never got a break. We have met many interesting families and continue to talk at ballgames, have playdates, and share evening meals with families that we don't think have any faith. They are lovely warm hearted people with fascinating life stories. We need prayers that hearts would be interested to ask and be open to see who Christ really is and what Christianity is about. It is perceived here as judgemental and old fashioned where we have found Christ forgiving and loving and life sustaining with peace, purpose, and hope. Then there is you! We have been overwhelmed with the e-mails and comments we get regarding the blog. Unless you are my mother, the fact you are even reading this surprises me! Your comments have been at times touching, encouraging, humorous and always enjoyable. Several people have commented on how God is working in their hearts through cyberspace. I pray that the blog would encourage us and challenge us all onto "love and good deeds" as the bible says. That would be an amazing thing to thank God for.

Pulling Alongside

Ocean Beach Walk yesterday

Orewa last weekend
My best of about 20 pictures of sheep
Anna and Daddy

(Lynn)

We're finishing up a cold but clear and beautiful weekend. It was down in the 30's last night so we had to break out some extra blankets last night and build an early morning fire. There's a "Little House on the Prairie" feeling to going out for firewood before breakfast. Hopefully just another month to go of the real cold and rain.

We had a few very good relational days. We are concentrating most of our time between two different churches. The two could not be any more dissimilar. The first church, Whangarei Church of the Nazarene, is pastored by our friend from California, Miguel Abascal. He came here with his wife and 6 kids two years ago and had only a half dozen people in the church. This morning there were albout 18 adults and 15 children. Miguel is a Bible scholar and does great expository teaching. We're going through the book of Acts at present. Most people in the church are young. We feel called to worship/learn/work/support etc. mostly at this church. Secondly, we have become friends with the local Anglican priest and his wife who also serves as a priest to some of the rural parishes in Northland. They, Anne and Mike, are very similar to Dawn and myself in their love of scripture, music, and literature. Prior to being here they were at a small church in the Australian outback. They have alot of good snake and kangaroo stories. Their church has about 50 people who are mostly elderly. The liturgical service is familiar to Dawn with her Prebsyterian background but pretty foreign to a Baptist boy like myself. Both of these ministerial couples are trying to bring previously struggling churches into Biblical truth and positive growth. Between the two churches we cover all ages and social groups in our town. Our prayer is for a strengthened church body all over town - no matter the denomination or demographics. In general, churches in New Zealand are small and there is not very much Biblical knowledge. There is a huge need for revival and sound teaching.

Dawn had a girls night out Saturday night with her friend, Rene, mother of Anna's friend, Brooke. She lives around the corner and has been a great help to Dawn.

We finished up the weekend with dinner at Bob, Carolyn and their son, Oden's house. Bob is a 68 year old retired U.S.Navy Seal Viet Nam veteran who has been a sailing and diving junkie all over the South Pacific for the last twenty plus years. Carolyn is a nurse midwife and a Kiwi. Oden was in Phillip's class. We had hours of fun firing Bob's cannon out over the water (he uses real black powder and a wick but fires a cork out into the bay from his porch). He is quite an interesting and friendly character. The family spends as much time living on their sailboat as in the various houses they rent. Bob has had the same boat for 30 years and has a deep relationship with her. I look forward to warmer weather and a good day out on his boat.

Speaking of boats- I miss my Bryant deckboat and a good sunset cruise with family and friends on Tellico or Fort Loudon. It's been three months away from home and all 6 of us are a bit homesick. We'll carry on, though, and see what else is in store here in our remaining 9 months.

The new spirometry equipment arrives tomorrow and I continue to refine my home sleep testing skills. Unlike in the states, I have to do all of these tests myself for the time being. I know everyone in the offices in Knoxville would get a kick out of my struggles with the equipment. Prayers and technical advice appreciated.

A Brief History of New Zealand

(Lynn)
I've been reading Michael King's History of New Zealand and have made it through World War I. The earlier years are most interesting to me. There were no humans on these islands until around 1300 AD. Prior to human arrival this was the only land in the world devoid of poisonous animals and mammals. Birds of many sizes and types ruled the land. The largest bird, the moa, was a six foot tall flightless bird. Giant eagles with 12 foot wingspans fed on the moa. Birds, usual and flightless, flourished without any significant predators around. Two foot tall kiwis scuttled all about the island at night. Kauri trees (similar to Giant Redwoods) and ferns covered the hills. All of this existed until about 800 years ago- we're not talking about prehistoric cave man or dinosaur times here! Every other habitable landmass in the world had been discovered and changed by humans at least 10,000 years ago. It's as if God gave one little part of creation a long break from us just to let things roll along naturally. Thoughts of the Garden of Eden from which we were banished come to mind.

Well, by 1300 the break was over and the first Polynesians paddled ashore. Dogs and rats hopped out of the canoes and tore into the bush. Humans, dogs and rats ate every easily accessible bird and within 100 years the moa was extinct. Without anything to eat the giant eagles disappeared. All told, the first settlers in New Zealand contributed to the extinction of over 20 of God's creatures and the next wave of boat people wiped out about another 10. The next wave, the Europeans, did not find some utopia. Instead, they found a land already under stress by the tribes of Polynesians warring with one another and with nature. It is at this point that New Zealand history begins to sound like so many other countries: one day some dark skinned people with complex social and religious systems looked out to sea and saw huge, strange floating objects heading their way. Lighter skinned men stepped off of these objects and offered guns, alcohol, and cigarettes if the brown men would point to deposits of gold. The different colored people worked together a little, fought and killed each other alot, and, eventually, new infections from the light skinned people won the day and almost annihilated the darker skinned people. A treaty was contrived and the darker people lost most of their land and livelihood.

The bright spot in the rest of the story for New Zealand is that through a combination of Maori creativity and fierceness -and the compassion of early Christian missionaries pleading on their behalf- Maoris were not wiped out completely. I think they have one of the best comeback stories of all time. Their total number dipped below 50,000 at one point and now they number around a million. "Sweet as!", as modern day Maori say.

Some of the birds were not so fortunate. No one can bring the moa back, but in the more remote areas of the islands it's reassuring to know that dumpy looking Kiwis still run through the forests at night- just as God intended.

Working for the Weekend

This is the plane that takes the medical personell to Kaitaia Whangarei airport- no baggage or ID check needed.

The All Blacks and Phillip's personal Haka

Lynn continues to travel to see patients in Kaitaia every few weeks. He took the camera this week to give you some images of the plane and scenic views he sees. He takes earplugs, a heavy jacket , and dramamine to weather the ride but otherwise he really enjoys this break in the normal driving commute. He was scheduled to have his first sleep patient take home a home sleep monitor tonight but the guy didn't show. We need someone from Summit sleep lab to come over here and call these folks! I'll have to sneak a picture for all of you at Summit because Lynn brought it home to wear HIMSELF tonight.

He also presented his cancer cases in Auckland this morning. It gave us a good reason to stay in a beachside greater Auckland town called Orewa for the weekend. More pictures will follow of this local beach community. We all enjoyed a hot water spring that has been turned into a waterpark with slides. We still wore wetsuits but it was very fun to slide down a hot water slide. The restaurant across the street was named Woody's so I took a photo for my folks.

Lynn and Phillip also attended the famous All Blacks rugby match against the Australian Wallabys on Saturday night because they were playing in Auckland this weekend. The stands hold 48,000 fans doing the Haka pregame dance. We included pictures of the pre-game revelry including the Men in Black themselves donning newly bought All Blacks shirts. We decided Anna should play on the "All pinks". Apparently the luck of the Vols has followed us and New Zealand won with a wide margin despite a loss in Australia last week. As far as a certain match up in the fall, "Go tigers!" and "War Eagle to ya".