CHRISTMAS 2004

Now the year has flown by. Is a comment often heard this time of year, I don't think there would be anyone who would disagree Yoko, the children, and I (Phil) have been back in New Zealand for over a year now and has been busy with all the adjustments in every aspect of our lives. But God has been faithful and we give thanks for all that He has done, bring us back to NZ and providing all that He has.

After enrolling at several employment agencies in February Phil only got 3 days employment as casual laborer. Though reluctant to go back to the company he had left 18 years before he submitted his CV and three weeks later began working at Fruehauf Trailers again. He in fact started a day after his birthday, in March. He is now looking forward to PAID holidays and has already received two pay raises. There are only six staff who are still working there from the time Phil first worked there, one of who is the tea lady. It has seemed very strange for Phil to be a New boy, and an Old hand, at the same time. He has had an easy time fitting in with the background knowledge of the industry being a great advantage and the staff being very accepting.

Yoko has found it difficult when she first arrived. She was not well at that time and missed the friendships and supoort she had while in Japan. We were fortunite to have Williama and Evelyn, visiting for Christmas last year, visit with us. In Japan we had people around us all the time, living in a close community setting but now Yoko spends most of the day alone. Other friends we met in Japan have also returned to New Zealand but they live in a neighbouring town and lacks transportation.
Yoko has a residents visa now to so immigration is no concern, and means that she can take advantage of the public health care. She has times of dizziness and breathlessness which she has gone to have tests for and will soon do a lung function test and another for her heart.
Her doctor thinks that stress of being in a new culture as being one contributing factors and that a car accident she was in many years ago may be the case of the dissiness. Please hold her up in prayer for these things.

Machiko and Nathaniel have grown so much and in so many ways. They have both fitted into school well and get along with all the others easily due to their friendly way. They sometimes struggle to communicate with English but have found other ways to make themselves understond. We are very pleased to find a lot of interest in cultral diversity here and their friends to be very flexible. Their teachers have also been very kind.
Machiko can identify many things that are different at school to Japan. Being a little older she can see how the cultures are different. Nathaniel however was much smaller when we came so I wonder if he realizes that we are in another country and not just in another town.
Nathaniel has been a winner of many awards, coloring competitions and Best behaved award. Machiko has sometimes felt a little ignored.
Their school reports show that they have applied themselves to their studies, receiving many good comments from their teachers. (Just as a side note, the children are attending the same school Phil did though the teachers have changed.)

Both of the children have had birthdays, naturally, but they have each now experienced having parties where they have invited their own friends. There was a lot of preparation but the effort was all worth while as they had a great time.

Phil�s parents have been very pleased to have us back in New Zealand and even happier that we are next door to them. They have both been ill recently and seem to find comfort in having us so close at hand. This proved convenient very recently while mum was in hospital for a week and for two weeks of recovery at home as Yoko was able to pop in and help with meals. Dad took care of the house.
They naturally love to have the children visiting and they only live next door and never stay for TOO long as they can make frequent visits rather than long visits. Naturally Phil has appreciated having his mum and dad so close. He now realizes how much he did miss them while he was overseas those 18 years.

We have found a great church in a neighboring city which has a great understanding of missions. The pastor and his wife have been to Japan, actually to speak at the YWAM base we were working at. Jono (the pastor) was one of the first people to share his concern for us and recommended that we needed a change. He helped Phil understand the need to have balance into our lives, marriage and family and a little less ministry. We have met a number of times now as they continue to prove their commitment to us to help us through. We are also members of a fellowship group we joined while the Church did the 40 Days of Purpuse program. It was a great blessing and we were very encouraged through it all.

We are all looking forward to a good Christmas this year as last Christmas was a little disappointing. We suspected Nathaniel had mumps and so put ourselves into quarantine. This year we are looking forward to celebrating with the whole family.

There have been other celebrations this year, our oldest niece got married in February and the next has just had a 21st Birthday! Both girls are in full time employment living their own lives. Phil's younger brother had his 40th birthday this year too, as did his wife, and mum and dad will have their 50th wedding anniversary this year.

We call friends and family in Japan from time to time. We miss them all. And the childen love to talk with their friends. Other friends Phil has contact with via email and chat on the internet.

As for those questions about our future we can only answer that �Only God knows and that He will tell us in due. Both Yoko and I would like to return to the Asian region but the children's needs and those of our family are our first concern.

Our prayer is that you have a great time over the holiday season and that you may also experience God's blessing in all your endeavors,