atableinthewilderness

First day back at School...

Well, they're back and it was quiet for us, Sarah and I didn't know what to do with all our free time - not really it was wonderful. After having the kids around full time for 7 months it was great. Oh yeh, the kids did fine fitting back into normal school life. Friends met them and made sure they were looked after - great to see. Dan and Chel already have homework so were off to a good start - hope it continues. Matt and Beau have no homework and just as well, Beau really likes his teacher but was a little overwhelmed after school. Matt was having a 'pity party' for not getting the teacher he wanted but he got over it in the usual time of 3.7 seconds, once he got into the swing of things. Cya.

We made it...

We flew in at 11.50 last night after 24 hours of travel (Singapore Airlines is the way to go) and stayed up with Pete and Deb talking till the Sun came up this morning. Glad to be here but sad too. Looking foward to seeing lots of people but are currently getting over jet lag. Having trouble replying to email messages so please be patient we will get there, probably soonish, maybe. Cya.

We're going back to Oz ...

It is with much sadness that we inform you that we are returning to Australia, from what must seem to you a short time in Europe but to us seems like a lifetime.

After spending some time alone in Berlin as a family, discussing and praying about the future we have decided to return to Australia. Basically we are not able to continue in Prague and we do not see the point in putting every detail in an email but would prefer a conversation upon our return.

There are many wonderful people who are financially and prayerfully supporting us, and we don't feel that we can continue on as we are doing.

We have just purchased tickets and by the Grace of God will arrive on January 4 at Perth Airport. We don't know what we are going to do in the short term other than process the whole time away and recover. We ask for you prayers and care as we do so.

Once again thanks for your support and we look forward to our next meeting.

Bruce and Sarah Stuart.

Australia's Bobsled Team...

All the kids were out sledding today and they were Defending Australia's Sledding honour. They were against the Americans/Kiwi's and some local Czech kids. Daniel was hot, dodging trees, avoiding the little kids and taking the drop to win all the races except one. As they took off down the hill, Matthew the "Enforcer" took out one kid and then another but it wasn't enough, Daniel was bumped by one of the Czechs. He went round one tree, dodged a pole and then bang straight into a tree. We ran down to see what had happened as he got up and started walking towards us. With blood everywhere and a quick trip to the Hospital, he was home with three stitches in his chin and a bit of a headache. But he is still 'KING OF THE HILL' after only two days of practice - note the echos of a proud Dad. Cya.

Snow day...

We woke this morning to the most beautiful covering of snow, better than we could have planned. The kids were running wild all day, and the they were wet, cold and totally enjoying it all. Sarah and I had to go into town and she was as excited as the kids, listening to the snow crunch under her feet. After liunch we took the kids to the nearest hill and went sledding, very cool.

Last night we had some visitors from Budapest, Hungary. They were in town and came round for a meal and a ministry chat. They arrived just as we found out about Saddam Hussain, so the first half hour of their visit they were glued to our TV for the news.

We also have our good friends Mark, Tamsin and their kids here for a few days. Its been an absolute gift from God to have them here and we will miss them sooooo much when they go home to the UK on Wednesday - love ya guys. Cya.

Chelsea...

Hi it’s Chelsea, I thought I would say that first because if you are anything like me you always skim to the bottom so you can see who is writing………Any way, Dad has been driving me mad not to start my own blog but to write on his so I am in the process of doing both.
What have I been up to?
Funny you should ask that really, I have been doing a lot, I mean flying from Perth to Sydney to America to England to France to Belgium to Germany to make my Czech Republic only to be told we are planning to resituate ourselves somewhere else.

I guess you could say that I am tired, I have been living in a house of nine kids four adults, the only teenager, sleeping in my Parents closet so I don’t have to share bedrooms with my three brothers, starting up a new way of schooling (at home) and amongst all of this nothing could be worse. I have been flown away from my family and friends to a place where people treat you with such little respect and the country is so far behind that you cant find Milo, regular cheese (not the fancy stuff), you cant find a pumpkin anywhere, no smash hits mags and if there is any of these things you have to try to get the point across to the service person who doesn’t speak English and doesn’t have the time of day to take you seriously.

Right now I feel terrible and to make it worse my back feels like it is broken and I can’t do anything. I want a slab of meat (being Australian) not he tiny pixy ones you get in Prague the real kind.

As for friends I left them at home,

I want Melissa and Emma to ring up because they heard I am not well, like they used to do. I want to go to youth group and act like an idiot and they not hold it against me. I want to leave home to go to school and come home at night.

I also had a big sister around for a while but she decided to up and leave. I really want to go and see her in Texas but only if funds permit and it is not looking promising…..

I WANT TO DO A LOT OF THING BUT GOD WONT GIVE ME AN INCH

But more then anything I want to be happy, stop crying every night and smile when I hear from friends and they tell me all the good things that are happening in their life.

I WANT TO GO HOME SEE SOMETHING FAMILIAR……..

I’m here sitting in Berlin which is a possible moving place but I cant help thinking what is so bad with Perth, I can't look at the good things about it because I am already set against it…..

If God wanted us here so bad then why it is he can make it sooooo much easier but choses not to.

New banner

I know it's a bit late, but this is our banner for the Christmas season. Daniel made it as a way of saying to everyone at home and around the world that, even though we can't be with you we will be thinking of you all and miss you all. The photo is of a stained glass painting by 'Mucha' - a famous Czech artist. The glass can is to be found in the Prague Cathedral - very beautiful and different to what we have seen in the UK and other places. Cya.