House-bound

Woh! It's been quite some day. Firstly we woke up to beautiful blue skies, sunshine and the mountains way off in the distance. Next we called the estate agent to make an offer on the house we really liked, the one on William Brittan Avenue. She said she'd get back to us later and leave a message on our answering machine if we were still back at church.

Next up was our first visit back at St John's, the main reason we're in Christchurch. It was a bit daunting turning up, not knowing quite what to expect, knowing we'd decided where to live on the other side of the world based on a Christian family we are yet to meet, pretty much. But we needn't have worried. Sarah, the women's worker, and a friend of Caroline and John's back in London, happened to be on the door and spotted us as newcomers as we approached. It didn't take too long to work out that we were us and she was she. The joy of email allowing us to make contact and say hi before we arrived.

What first struck me as we walked in was the age range of the people there. I'm looking forward to being part of a family congregation with such a diverse richness of experience in the Christian life.

Wally's sermon was very challenging, looking at Mark 3:7-19. It was thematic, rather than expository, and looked at how the disciples were called to follow Jesus, and what different sorts of people they were, especially looking at Peter, Andrew and James, and how Jesus used them all in different ways. The challenge to us was to see that Jesus uses us in similar ways, whatever type of person we are, should we heed the call and want to serve him. It really spoke to me, given our situation of not knowing where Christ will use us at St John's. It was massive reassurance to hear that he will use us here, so long as we continue to follow him, giving up our lives in service of him.

After the service a few people came over to introduce themselves and welcome us (there had been a bit in the service where new people had to speak up and say if they were just visiting etc). There were a lovely couple from Nottinghamshire, Nick and Wendy (I think!), who have been here seven years and also an older guy, Arthur, who was lovely too. He apologised for not being able to have us over for lunch as his wife was ill ("The flu bugs are barking in our house!"), which was so welcoming and encouraging.

Also Al came over, the youth worker, who we knew a little bit before and who I met for lunch the Friday before we left the UK. He and his wife, Naomi, invited us for lunch. Unfortunately we had to turn him down as we'd just accepted an invitation from Sarah. It really meant a lot that practically fresh off the boat our new Christian family were inviting us into their homes. It sounds something so simple, but it felt really warm and welcoming for us, they're family already showing us Christian fellowship. Definitely what we needed. If we'd walked in to church and out again today without anyone saying a word to us it would have made us question our decision to be here. Instead, we were intercepted, welcomed and invited. The Lord provided just what we needed.

After staying around and chatting for a while we rushed back home to check the answer machine. No flashing green light though, so we headed off to Sarah's place, feeling a little anxious.

Lunch was great. The food was very tasty, but that wasn't the important thing. That was fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters, being invited into Sarah's home (who incidentally lives with Anne who were know back from St Helen's and KFC, the prayer group that first introduced us to Christchurch and St John's), and sharing a meal and time together. There was us two, Sarah and Anne, a Kiwi couple called Dan and Katherine/Katharine/Kathryn/Catherine/Catharine/Cathryn, and Sophie, a Northern Irish lass who Sarah knew from her time at Cambridge Uni and who is spending the (UK) summer in NZ. We really appreciated the time sat chatting, getting to know people a bit, discussing stuff, before spending a little time praying for one another before we left.

Once again I was brought to realise how special and different Christian fellowship is. Just like when we came over to Chch in February 2005, and when I lived in New York in 2004, the love of brothers and sisters in Christ spoke loudly. Wherever you are in the world, as a Christian, you have family. If you're a Christian reading this I hoping you've experienced this and are nodding in agreement.

By 4pm, Jo's nerves got the better of her and we made our excuses and left. She wanted to check the answer machine for messages. I think everyone understood. We saw that the indicator light was flashing as we came through the door and rushed over to press the button. A message. From the real estate agent. Jo picked up the phone to call her back. It was time for her to come over to draft up the formal offer.

By the time she arrived it was about 5:30. We got the contract drawn up, placed in all our contingencies and clauses we wanted. She then headed off to meet her colleague, the one who listed the property, to meet the seller, the bloke who built the house. (Bear in mind this is a Sunday evening. Could you see estate agents in the UK doing this?) An hour or so later they both came back. All clauses etc had been agreed but the price we'd offered was too low. We thought this might have been the case, but he didn't really move much in his counter-offer. Lots of chatting in another room followed, and consulting with Shirley and Tom. We rejected his counter and offered another figure, despite the estate agents telling us he wasn't flexible any further.

So the two real estate agents headed off again. We waited. We had dinner. We waited some more. Then the phone rang. Our hearts jumped into our mouths as Joanne answered it. It was the estate agent. "The seller's accepted!" Chocolate all round!

So, subject to getting a mortgage agreed, a solicitor okaying the contract, and a building inspection not showing up anything dodgy, we should take possession of the house on the 7th September. Yes, you read that right, all you property owners in the UK, that did say September. How fast is that? It really makes the British system seem quite archaic. Also, we cannot be gazzumped. Kiwi law does not allow it. Short of any of the contract terms failing to be reached in the alloted time-period, the house is ours!

Everything really is coming together now. Jo starts work next week, I've got interviews lined up this week, and am hopeful something will work out somewhere quite soon, and now we've practically got a house. And of course, we had a church all lined up beforehand. God really does provide, you know. Please give thanks if you're the praying sort.

I've just been chatting to my dad on-line, discussing the house and car and jobs and everything. It's so great to be able to tell him that in a few weeks we'll be able to confirm his trip for February. It'll be really nice to have him here and to be able to show him our new home.

We also discussed the Grimsby match. They drew 1-1. Better than losing the first game of the season, eh?