"So what now?"

Hello again.

It's been nearly six months since we arrived in Singapore and we have two growing kids to remind us of how fast time truly does fly! We are so grateful to all of those who have kept in touch, responded to our blogs, visited us on skype (and even personally), as well as sent us cards (electronic or by post) for our anniversary and D's birthday. Thank you.

It truly is the prayers and love you offer that encourage us everyday to push forward in our journey of service. I guess this brings us to our most recent activities and meanderings.

It's been a bit over a month since we last blogged and a couple months on our kids site... but don't worry, the Whetpebbles will have a new post soon as well as some pictures by our newest family photographer- Natalie D Whetstone. (Here's one to whet your appetite!) Yet, we have not gone without writing. Our six month newsletter is hot off the press and nearly on it's way to you as we type! Therefore, we'll just skip right into...

"So what now?" seems to be a common question in our household. We tend to lift this burden up after after one of those

excruciatingly long days that we all have. When we see that our kids still don't have any close friends... when we realize that we don't have many close friends... when we sense the disruption in our home life because of another job transition... after a long day with the kids or in the office when all we want to do is lock the door and sleep.... when we look around our apartment and realize that we still have yet to hang our pictures on the walls... when we wonder what you'll will think when we share all these struggles with you....

I guess we have realized that our "so what nows?" can lead us to two places; a) a perpetual state of tiredness and grumbling or b) still possibly a perpetual state of tiredness but one filled with the joy of waiting.

It's very easy for us to be impatient and try to do our own thing - or at least the thing we think we should be doing because it really sounds like a great idea and an amazing opportunity. But what would it mean if we would instead, concentrate on the one thing Christ commanded his disciples to do before ever going - wait? You might be saying, "well Tim... isn't a bit late for that now? I mean you already moved to Singapore! So what are you waiting for?" Maybe the better

question should be: "What are you doing in this waiting time?"

Well we're:

Prayer strollering... playing soccer... waiting... intentionally grocery shopping... kids' playdates... speaking... frequenting the same dives... waiting... sharing life with others... encouraging the believers... breakfast with a few good men... waiting... being the best parents we can be... loving our family... writing... reading... designing... learning... and simply... waiting as Kingdom agents. Not as people doing nothing, but as ones willing to stop and prepare the ground for something new, something which will emerge- His kingdom and will being done on earth, right now.

So, what now? I guess it boils down to choosing whether you're going to bring Heaven or Hell to earth - 'cos we're all bringing somethin'! So we've chosen to be a part of bringing heaven as best we can. Which we're guessing at time may mean to just stop and take time to wait and watch the water fall!

For anyone who made it to the end of this blog, thanks and now if you don't mind, could you offer a little prayer up for us because waiting is truly not easy.