2008

Greetings from Wellington

We are two weeks into the new term here. Summer has been quite excessive for the local conditions. Large areas of NZ are experiencing drought. We have had a touch of rain over this weekend - very light drizzle really. In Australia in many regions the drought there has been broken by extreme flooding. So we are not complaining. If we get floods in Wellington houses tend to fall of hills. Very interesting and quite a problem if you are the house owner.

Some family news. Roxanne is back at school and her China trip looms large. Although they are going in April, we have to scurry around this week as her returning visa here expires at the end of March. I am sure that the Chinese Embassy would not be happy and neither would she as she would get stuck there! Of course schools are often fuzzy about dates. We were told that we would pay and sort out Chinese visas at the end of Feb. Now of course it is required on the 13th Feb. Thank you so much to those who have sponsored her for the trip. Mind you China has had chaos too with flooding, snow and power outages. Let's hope it warms up by April. So one of us will have to go to NZ immigration and ask nicely for a new visa. Roxanne needs a returning visa that is valid before she applies for a visa to get into China! We are entitled to permanent returning visas after 31 March - our second year is coming to an end here. Three more before we can apply for NZ citizenship and then passports.

The rest of us Palmers are doing the usual things required to keep the house in order. In addition to her 4 hours a day at Scots library, Sheilagh sells Avon products. She has a nice little client base in this area which keeps orders ticking over. Lots of lovely incentives for the girls in the family! David has applied for a job but has heard nothing. Chris too has applied for various things. Please pray that someone gives these guys a break and gets them going.

School has started with a bang for me. My timetable is easier this year - which gives more time for pastoral care and counselling. I still have year 1-3 once a week in a mini-chapel and RE lesson which often has old MacDonald had a farm and twinkle twinkle little star chosen by little boys who are not yet 5! Our new RE teacher get to teach most of the prep school once a week and shares the year 10 load with me. I still have year 9 and two year 13s for an ethics program. And a series of chapel services - two on a Friday and a Sunday night at least 3 times a term. The latter involve the parent body as well. My weekly routine includes a Thursday lunch meeting with the international club - about 20 boys from Japan, China, Indonesia and Thailand. They are great kids and we enjoy activities each term - including Laser Force and 10 Pin Bowling and movies. As an African I have a home amongst the internationals!

New Zealand is in an election year. We really do need a new government here and the polls are indicating this as a real possibility. So the local scene is very politicised. We watch the American Primaries with interest. They are desperate for change too!

Thank you for those who sent cards and letters at Christmas. We were very encouraged by the real post which arrived. How do I see 2008? School life will be a lot better I think. I dread the winter as it is really hard to trudge outdoors in the dark. And come home in the dark. Well it could be worse I suppose. Wellington is quite bleak when the southerly blows. I have a decent winter wardrobe of course! Third winter and I should get it right. Wellingtonians know how to take advantage of nice sunny days. We have had some brilliant ones in the summer. Lot's of people walking, cycling and sailing.

Sheilagh reaches her half-century on the 26th Feb. Her sister Diane is coming over from Brisbane to share the event, and will then go on to other family and friends in Christchurch. I don't think we ever imagined this kind of celebration in NZ. We are always grateful to the Lord for his gift of life and the privilege of serving him and been the kind of caring and encouraging people that He desires. I am very blessed to have Sheilagh as my wife and best friend. We celebrate our 24th anniversary this year. A lot longer than our parents were married I guess. So we are blessed. Christopher turns 21 on 5 May - another good reason to celebrate! Hopefully by then he will have some direction.

Thanks for your prayers and friendship. Please pray for Elmarie Hughson and her family. Bob passed away yesterday after a stroke. They lived in Tweni and moved to the UK recently. He was a wonderful man of colour and character, who always made me feel so welcome in his home.

Love from us all

The Palmers