The ends of the earth.

This weekend we travelled to what feels like the end of the earth. Here is where we are heading. A bad thing? Definitely not! A challenge! An adventure! A step of faith!

I am quickly falling in love with Sydney. Already it is becoming familiar, comfortable and liveable. I can't wait to get there... to find a house and make it a home. I'm looking forward to making friends, getting to know the neighbors, finding a favorite place to eat, hang out, shop and play. I can't wait to take our children to the parks, to send Catherine off to school to help them make new friends. I can't wait for regular family time with the cousins and sightseeing, and camping.

What is to come? Many things. A year of ups and downs, of new friends and hugely lonely moments. Missions teams will come, friends will come to visit, and I will rely hugely on prayer support. We all will. It's the only way that we will make it.
Sydney... here we come.

Salaam Alechem

Tonight Tammy and I along with Paul and Judy (our close friends) went to visit a friend from Jordan, Souraj Salah, and his wife Majd. It was such an interesting evening together. They served us a delicious meal of traditional Middle Eastern fair. The regional culture there is called Shamie (phonetical spelling). We had a wonderful cultural and spiritual interchange during our four hours with the family. Souraj and Majd have a beautiful baby boy named Al Berra which means "the innocent."

Souraj shared many aspects of himself during our time there. He is an engineer by trade, a musician who writes his own lyrics and music, and a deeply spiritual Muslim man. His devotion to Allah is vast. His depth of faith and love for Allah is his life. His knowledge of the Koran is solid. I deeply respect the intensity of his faith and journey with Allah. I learned to listen and experience through his eyes, his god. Through his devotion I was challenged to reflect upon my own devotion to Christ. I want to careen through this roller coaster life with the goggles of faith and no longer hold back for the sake of selfish gain. I want to respect and love Jesus beyond everything. Every molecule of my body must focus upon the Living God: Father, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. The only other alternative is a hypocritical faith based upon my comfort and convenience. Christ calls us to be HOT for him or nothing at all...let me burn white hot for the Savior!

Ministry Together

Since Tammy and I have taken the steps of faith to move into the "unknown" of church planting, our vision and ministry together flouishes and blossoms like we have never experienced before. We are of the ilk that believe that women and men alike have genuine callings from God to serve in leadership within the context of the local church. Tammy and I both preach, teach, administer the sacraments of communion and baptism, and lead from our hearts. Today we actually tag-team taught our church's Class 101: Orientation to church membership. It was one of the best times in ministry we have had. I believe that this is only a taste of what is yet to come as we move ahead in faith and confidence that Christ has called us. He will resource/equip us for the opportunities and challenges ahead. Tammy and I have come up with images of fellowship/teamwork that rise up out of the epic trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. We believe that as we forge ahead in the midst of a trust-based community, God will use us to move mountains in individual's lives in order to effect an entire community and region for Kingdom of God change. Using our gifts and talents together under the direction of God's spirit we are an unstoppable force!

New Digital Video Camera

Well, we have just made an exciting new purchase for the Hutton clan. We are now going to be able to capture our memories on video! We just obtained our new Panasonic Digital Video Camcorder (model PV-GS19). This little puppy fits in the palm of your hand and is as light as a feather. Tammy and I feel as if we have stepped into the 21st century. This camera is the top of the heap of the lower end models, but comes highly recommended by various consumer reports. I guess the real test will be time using this little contraption.

Ready to Move In

We are getting ready for our big move. There are many details to finalize, however, I think we have found our dream home. It may take a little work to get situated... but I think it will be cozy!!

Seriously we are getting ready to move. We are waiting for official news, and then we can publish where we are going. In the mean time we are getting our home ready to sell, doing a little packing, and looking for something to move into!

The Simple Life.

Last night during my Monday evening study time, I was once again challenged to look at life and just how busy I am, and our family is. The simple life is something that Michael and I have been striving for since we were married in 2000. In many ways we are succeeding, yet every 6 months or so we are challenged in yet another way we could simplify our life. They are challenges that stir the heart, as well as the mind. Each time we follow in obedience to the Lord, and give up what it is he is asking of us, we see his grace, mercy, love and provision in all new ways.

In our family we are looking at finances, and how to live a simple life with them. We have switched to the "envelope system" to handle weekly expenses. We are paying off and cutting up credit cards to simplify life by decreasing our debt, and striving to spend only what we have. No trying to keep up with the Jones' for us... but we do have our struggles. It's hard to break the lifestyle we were used to living under our parents roofs, or even living on our own. We are learning the blessing of giving generously out of what we have, and living simply to do so. It's wonderfully freeing to be able to walk by a sale and say, "yes, I'd like it, but I don't need it, and just looking is fun enough." Because we have found the freedom in decreasing our debt instead of having it hanging like a noose around our necks, and trying to ignore that it is there.

Another area I'm trying to strive for is simplicity in diet. Having three babies in five years has done a lot to increase my waistline, however, it is not the only thing that has added to my form. So in many respects, I'm re-learning how to eat. I'm learning from my three wee ones, the simplicity of food, and it really is quite simple. When their bellies growl, they want food, and then they only eat until there belly is content - but NOT stuffed to an uncomfortable level. When is the last time you waited to eat until your belly actually growled, and then found the freedom to leave food on your plate, or ask for a to-go box in order to stop eating when you are satisfied? It's much more difficult for me to follow these simple principles, but I'm learning.

The freedom found in simplicity is surprising, but truly wonderful.
~TLH

The first day!

We are just getting started, and are looking forward to all that is to come!