My Help Comes From The Lord

Hey Guys.  We're back with another update.

Things have been going well here in Geraldton... After about 2 and half months of being here, this place seems more real and we have settled into a regular weekly schedule of work, basketball, hanging with some new friends, and going to church. 

I (Ryan) have settled into working 3 days a week with Market Creations, 3 nights of practice a week with the team and using my days off to go to schools and do basketball clinics with kids.  Last Wednesday I had the chance to go to a primary school here and do about 30 minutes with each grade of some basketball skills.  I will be going back the next two Wednesdays to do the same.  I really like being able to break up my work schedule with these days.  They are simple and keep me busy doing what I love while hopefully making a good impact on the kids in the community here.

Although the team suffered a tough loss this past weekend, we have been doing well and currently hold 3rd place in the league.  Our new website also launched this weekend, so make sure you check it out.  www.geraldtonbuccaneers.com.au  It is a good resource to see how the team is doing and it is updated with news articles and current stats and all that jazz!

Stacy has also settled into a good work schedule working about 5 days a week.  Her boss has been really flexible with her and she was able to make her second trip to Perth two weekends ago to see us play a double header.  She travelled with Mel Witts, a wife of another player on the team and they have really hit it off.  They are really similar (she is a believer and an athlete) and they really enjoy each other’s company, so praise the Lord for that!  Stacy also starts her netball season this Friday night.  She has been enjoying learning a completely new game and is excited to take a crack at a real game this Friday night.  Usually someone with her height would play goal keeper of goal shooter (which means she would either have to stay on defence the whole game or on offense the whole game), but because she is such a good athlete and they think she can run for days, they are going to player her at center, which means she gets to run all over the court and be a passer.  HMMMM....interesting game. Haha.

We also have decided to settle at Geraldton Baptist Church.  It’s a small church but its where we feel most comfortable with the worship style and theology.  We hope to get involved in the youth group as they are currently looking for some leaders in that area.  Be in prayer for that church.

As we say in every blog we write, we really miss you guys.  The Lord has really been teaching us that the void we feel without all of you here with us needs to be filled with Him.  We pray every day for His strength to help us through the day without missing you guys too much.  So just so you know... you’re constantly in our thoughts.  We hate having to miss special moments like Brett (my Brother) and Jen Dickson’s graduation from Master’s coming up in a few weeks or weddings we have missed and other things, but we know that the Lord has placed us here at this time for a reason (we are also enjoying ourselves, don’t get me wrong J).

A verse that has really helped us is one that I stumbled upon when reading my devotions one morning.

2 Chronicles 16:9 – “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”

Even though we are a half a world away, the Lord’s presence is here just as much as anywhere and we have been experiencing His help and strength each day. Amazing how real He can be in our lives when we rely completely on Him.

Thanks for your prayers and thoughts!

Ryan

P.S. – We are trying to get more pictures up of Geraldton and Perth but we are struggling getting them to work.  We will keep working on them, keep checking back to see if we are able to get them up!  Maybe I’ll try and get some footage of Stacy playing netball and get it up on here soon!