RPD 15 February 2005

I'm a Guinea Pig!!

Last week it was goodbye Nelson and hello Dunedin. The main reason I was there was to attend one day at the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit (DMHDRU).

Here I was poked and probed and measured and asked 1000s of questions all in the name of Scientific Research. This study actually has world-wide recognition. They have been studying me and about 1000 others my age ever since we were born. So it was great to be in Dunedin again after 6 years and catch up with some relatives. I also had the opportunity to share about the work in Ukraine at a Christian School in Dunedin and at a home group of which one of my second cousins is a member.

I then headed north to Auckland and have been staying with my littlest sister Priscilla, her husband Sjoerd and have become acquainted with my latest niece, Johanna Rose. She is a gorgeous little baby and hardly ever cries.

On Saturday we had a family reunion at my parent's place. It was for all the descendents of my great Grandpa, Charles Gauntlett. My middle name is Charles, named after him. It's pretty cool to know that he was one of the founders of Christian Camping in NZ and worked a stack load with young people. Anyhow there was a good number of rellies there, some I knew, some I didn't, some I hadn't seen in a long time so was good to renew the acquaintance. My brother Tim flew over from Brisbane for the weekend as a surprise for Mum and Dad, and they were pleasantly surprised.

Sunday I preached at Manurewa Bible Chapel sharing about 2004 in Ukraine and giving a challenge that I received last year about what it meant for Jesus to become a man and what He has done for us. In the evening I attended a Missionary Prayer evening and was really encouraged at the amount of people there. I shared some prayer items from Rzhyshchiv. I was touched with the prayers for Toma and her mother. Please continue to seek God's face in her situation. I'm believing God for something wonderful to come from this situation of a young girl who's mother won't allow her to attend church or youth group.

This week Dad and Mum are taking me to Waiheke Island. Sounds like a bit of a relaxing holiday week. In one way it will be, but I also have studies to prepare for a camp in two weeks time and I need to get started on the talks I'm doing 3 weeks in a row when I get back to Australia in March.

Ukraine
Back in the cold part of the world my house has had a few problems with the water pipes and pump freezing affecting the heating system and hot water inside the house. I don't have all the details yet but please pray that it will be easily fixed and not too costly.

Praise
Great time in Nelson and Dunedin
Good time sharing at Manurewa
Strong Christian family evidenced at our family reunion

Pray
Me preparing studies and talks
Toma and her Mum in Rzhyshchiv
My house situation in Rzhyshchiv

Thanks again
Love Jono
Keep Looking Up

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