Daniel's dedication

Yesterday was Daniel's dedication - an opportunity for us to thank God for Daniel's life and to promise before God that we will teach him about Jesus as he grows up. It was a lovely if not a very chaotic service with 5 dedications, 4 infant baptisms and 6 adult baptisms!

Daniel looked very smart in his special outfit and enjoyed having lots of attention, but was also very tired by the end of the day.

Afterwards we had a meal at Caffe Uno with a few close friends and family which was also lovely but chaotic with lots of children in the restaurant!

TOM weekend

(Mark) Well the rundown of busy and exciting weekends until we get to Peru started last weekend. We were at the UK annual gathering of TOM (the Order of Mission) http://www.missionorder.org
the religious order we are part of. TOM is an organisation which helps missional leaders to connect with each other, as well as support them to do what God has called them to. It was a significant time for Anna, and I, as we took our permenant vows, and God was speaking to me about the large scale of what we are called to do in Peru, and how we need him to complete this calling. Just after this a friend, John Mansergh gave me a word of encouragement and said look at Psalm 62. Verses 1 and 2 set the scene:

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

This was a real comfort as I felt the presence of the Lord greatly upon me. The Hebrew word for glory as found in Exodus 33 is kavod, the heaviness of God., and I certainly felt this weight and responsibility from God, so John's word was timely to say the least.

Also as we took our permenant vows of accountability, purity, and simplicity, commiting ourselves to God, mission and TOM for life, I realised how important this relationship we have with TOM actually is.

It was also a great weekend for many other reasons. Firstly the teaching from Mike Breen was excellent, useful and thought provoking. Secondly, we had a meal with other guys in TOM on the Friday night, which was just like having dinner with family. Finally, we had a family service on the Sunday morning which was great fun, felt like family, and took parts in prayer stations (different ways of praying for people designed by the kiuds of TOM). This was again a real sign of family, especially as guys we didn't know that well prayed for us, as we prepare for Peru. I feel very honoured to be part of such a family, who will be supporting us in Peru.

Thoroughly modern medicine

Yesterday evening we found ourselves in hospital with Daniel again, checking up on his fever and vomiting (he's a lot better now) and as I sat next to the cot with my head on the bed I thought how familiar all the medicial surroundings were. Mark found the trip annoying and a waste of time but I was grateful for the knowledge I've acquired over the past year.

I knew that contact with medical personal increased when you start having kids, but I really think that the number of separate trips regarding Daniel for check-ups and treatment is slightly excessive. I mean, the year before I got pregnant, I visited the doctor's once. Let me give you a run down on the past year...

10 visits to Jessops Hospital (4 antenatal visits, 1 seven-week hospital stay, 5 neonatal follow-ups)

2 visits to Children’s hospital (one minor accident involving a mug and Daniel’s head, one check-up for Daniel with a fever)

1 visit to Hallamshire hospital (out of hours GP)

2 visits to see the Health Visitor (check-ups)

5 visits to see the nurse (jabs and travel jabs)

3 visits to see the GP (1x check-up, 1x illness, 1x travel jabs)

Total: 22 visits in just over 1 year.

And that does not include the weekly visits from the neonatal follow-up community nurse who visited us weekly for the first 6 weeks Daniel was at home, and the usual appointments with the community midwife before Daniel was born.

Although I do feel like I could find my way to the hospitals blind-folded, I do see how blessed we are to live in a country where it is all free and so many facilities are available, especially when we are moving to Peru in September. I also feel grateful for all the knowledge I've gained about pregnancy, babies, sickness in children which I know will come in very handy in the future.

The other amazing thing is that all treatments and check-ups have either been at home or less than 5 minutes drive from our house!

Spiritual & Blood Families

Yesterday I (Mark) was watching the second of the 2 parts of the Return of the King, the third part of the extended DVDs of Lord of the Rings (LOTR), kindly lent to me by Rich Atkinson.

I was watching it yesterday morning while babysitting Daniel at 7.30ish. (The joys of parenthood - on holiday and up at that time!) and felt God speak to me very powerfully about who I am. I was watching the crowning scene, when Aragon truly realises who he is called to be. Aragon has respect for the hobbits, a supposed lesser people, whilst they salute him as king, the ultimate authority in middle earth. I was very touched by this, basically to tears.

The same reaction occurred later when I was watching Neighbours (of all things!) and Stingrey had died, and his family was watching his video of his thoughts on the family, for his niece Kerry. Both incidents clearly showed a strong bond, one with a blood family, and one a spiritual family. The thing I realised God was saying to me through it, was that spiritual and blood family are both so important and generally taken far too much for granted. Also how we need to honour others within our families. It made me think how about how well, or not, I do it, and work out what changes need to be made in my life.

In addition the film obviously has a lot of fighting and goodies defeating baddies, the good guys dispelling the darkness out of middle earth. Again I was conscious of the whole spirit of adventure that as a man I am called to, and how I need passion in all things, even when the going is tough.

There also was a real sense of perseverance when things got difficult, to learn from, especially for good old Sam and Frodo. Sam never gave up, even when Frodo felt he needed to, due to the weight of the ring, and how he was such a hero, even though he would be considered the most unlikely to be. I felt God was affirming my need to be a hero, but a hidden and unlikely one. Unlikely comes easily to me, but to be hidden is still an area under construction!

Not like me to introvertly process but felt I wanted to blog this.