Just a quick update. No news on any houses, although there are a few out there but many are beyond our budget. We did take a look at one last week that was promising but a drive-by convinced us that it was not in a great location. We even spoke to the current tenants who told us that they house was crap, cold in winter with leaks in the ceiling and walls!
There are many folk out there looking for us, praying for us, and we thank you for that! We trust that we will be able to post some better news in the near future.
Meanwhile, the packing has continued and the filled boxes crowding the rooms. The kids and Jen have been awesome packing while I was away at Surrender over the weekend. My turn is coming! I have yet to even start with all the books and gear in the spare room/study — a task that I am not looking forward to it. We are hoping that we won’t have huge amount of boxes to move, that it will be a case of getting a place soon so we can start ferrying gear to the new place.
Thanks for your ongoing prayers and thoughts!
Shalom
Well it’s Wednesday, Day 6 of our housing crisis and there is not too much to report. We have been searching the real estate sites online since we found we had to move. The rents in the area have gone up considerably and what we pay now for a 4 bedroom is the norm for many of the new or renovated 3 bedrooms in the area.
The biggest thing to probably be reported on has been the kids reactions. Our eldest who has been through 4 schools since starting kindy and is now in Grade 4 burst into tears. I had already promised ALL the kids that they would be finishing their primary years school at the local school that I am on the school council for. After we convinced her and the other kids that this was still the case they were still not too keen to be moving yet again.
My inlaws were around tonight with some boxes — new ones — after we lent Jen’s cousin a stack of our boxes. We were hoping to get ours back but they bought some boxes for us instead — not as big but still effective.
We have been looking around the areas of Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Chirnside Park, Croydon Hills, Croydon and Kilsyth for a home. Prices vary as do the quality of the houses.
I would ask for your prayers in all this. I have applied for a position with the Salvation Army that I hope and pray will come to fruition soon that will allow a smoother move. One of my fears is that with being a student and considered unemployed for the past 12 months that I am not going to be an asset for an application. So, please keep us in your prayers.
If you have a house to rent or know of someone that can help — love to hear from you!
Shalom!
You may recall that I have previously posted about Street Swags and that I have handed them out to some of the rough sleeping homeless guys that I have encountered in the recent past. It was through that last post that I was introduced to Backpack Beds by Swags for Homeless by a very passionate commenter and an ad on an OurCommunity newsletter. Subsequently I chose to go find out more and must say that I have been suitably impressed enough to not hand out any more of the Street Swags but move to supplying the homeless folk that I meet with replacement Backpack Beds.
The Swags for Homeless Van. Notice how full the back is. It was CRAMMED with Backpack Beds!
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by Neal on March 1, 2010
I must admit that when I received Live Sent: You Are A Letter by Jason Dukes (Wheatmark, 2009) I opened to the table of contents and groaned at the seemingly overuse of the mail/letter metaphor that Dukes has based Live Sent around. That lead to a reluctance to start reading spawned by the groan. However, I struggled through, and while this review is late for The Ooze Viral Bloggers, this has been due in part to that reluctance to read, and more in part due to my busyness lately, but better late than never. I do want to share this book with you!
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by Neal on February 26, 2010
Today we received a letter (supposed to be registered mail, but sent regular mail) from the real estate agency that is the agent for the landlord of the property we have rented for the past 3 years. We have been given 60 days to evict the property so the landlord can sell the property vacant.
What does this mean? Well, we have 60 days in which to find a suitable house to rent within budget in the local neighbourhood. Easier said than done given the incredibly tense housing crisis in Australia, with a severe lack of rental homes. Both my wife and I spent an hour or so looking at one of the more popular real estate websites in Australia soon after receiving the letter and it seems that we are going to have to downsize and move into a 3 bedroom home if we want to stay in Mooroolbark or surrounds. Why stay in this area you ask? Several reasons. [click to continue…]
by Neal on February 17, 2010
I recently signed up to review books for Thomas Nelson and selected “Take Your Best Shot — Do Something Bigger Than Yourself” by Austin Gutwein with Todd Hillard as my first book — I guess based on the slick cover and the small description which captured my imagination.
When the book arrived, I placed it in my pile of books to read and left it at that, however my eldest daughter of 11 picked the book up one day and said that she would like to read this when I was finished. So, I thought, I should read it first, just to make sure it was ok. So, placing aside my other books I delved into “Take Your Best Shot”.
Starting the book, I almost put it down after reading a few pages as the language and overall tone of the book seemed to me, too child-like and almost “preachy” in tone. What can this kid teach me, I thought? But, I persisted and continued to read and after reminding myself that this was a youth book (took me a while considering I had been reading Neil Cole the previous night), I started to enjoy the book and even grew to love and appreciate the heart of Austin, the young man who sought to make a difference in the lives of others through Hoops of Hope.
“Take Your Best Shot” tells the story while weaving some devotionals around the issues that Austin was dealign with. I found myself wishing to ignore the devotional material and wanted more and more of the story of Austin shooting the hoops. But, I stopped myself, and explored the devotionals and material alongside the amazing journey that Austin shared.
After finishing “Take Your Best Shot” I was so impressed I looked up the website to see how the movement was faring. The book encouraged me in my own journey hanging with the homeless and marginalised folk in my own community.
I was thrilled to hand it to my daughter and she is about to start the book and the journey. I pray that the story of Austin inspires her in her journey, and that she is inspired by the young man who made a huge difference in the lives of many. Austin has many wise words to share in “Take Your Best Shot” and I will be keeping an eye on his blog to see what this amazing young man does as he gets older.
