How God answered our prayers

Well, things have sure changed a lot since our arrival to Melbourne on 9 Apr, 1 week ago.

Our migration plan was this:

• Keep eyes focused on Jesus.
• Take each day as it comes. God's grace is like the mana from heaven. Eat your fill for today. There will be sufficient for tomorrow.
• Eat, drink and enjoy the fruits of your labor. This is God's gift to man.
  (Eccl 3:12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.)

So we did just that.

Today we drove to the Puffing Billy Railway in Belgrave, east of Melbourne. Rachel had a blast! Not only did she enjoy her train rides, she made friends with Abigail, an Aussie gal who is 1 year older than her. (I'm trying to upload the pictures I've taken. Until my PC arrives by shipment, I am unable to do so as this PC belongs to the house owner. Internet included.)

They made the train carriage rock with their jumpings, screamings and runnings. They sat with their legs sticking out from the carriage windows for the most part of the train journey.

More to come. I think next is either the Melbourne Zoo or the Werribee Open Safari.

God loves my family and me. All our prayers were answered.

And much more. He always does that - the much more than we can hope or dream of.

Prayer updates:

• Get a job and a well-paying one as I will be the only one working (Adrian)
  - I had two well-paying job offers. Just accepted one of them this afternoon.
  - Many people told me not to expect too much. Most jobs are clinched in an average of 1 -2 months.
  - I trusted in a God who works wonders
• Able to cook well (Selene)
• Able to give thanks and eat whatever is on the table (Adrian, Rachel). If not, we'll be fasting soon :P
  - Surprise, surprise. Meals were not only edible but good too.
  - We finished all of our meals.
  (Selene ate in front of us. So we had no choice but to finish, right? Juz joking!)
• Able to adjust to new climate, culture, lifestyle (All)- We went to Puffing Billy.
  - Going to another attraction, and another, and another...
  - Managed to adjust to the weather too.
  - People are really nice and helpful. Selene didn't have change on the tram once. An old man paid for her, $5.20 and all!
• God to send nice, wonderful people (hopefully Singaporeans, Christians) along our way to guide, help us settle in (All, esp. Selene)- Through my sister-in-law, we managed to meet up with some Singaporeans and Chinese.
  - One of whom was so accommodating that she invited my family for dinner. She cooked really well - Nasi Lemak, Pulut Hitam, Fried Chicken Wings, Steamed Siew Mais... yum!
  - All Christians too. So Selene had lots of support, godly advice and guidance in house rentals, etc.
  - They also recommended a good church which we visited, CityLife Church.
• Have playmates around her age (Rachel)
  - Gotta give this to Rachel. She prayed earnestly for friends to keep her company. And She got it.
  - The Christian friends whom we met up with (see above)? 'Coincidentally' they all have daughters aged between 4 - 7 years old. How close and accurate can a prayer get?
  - Rachel has been playing with them ever since.
  - Also she's been enrolled in a pretty nice kindergarten in a good neighbourhood. Actually she simply prayed for a good kinder to attend.
  - Guess what? When we called on 16 Apr Monday morning, surprise, surprise! There was 1 vacancy.
  - The administrative officer was stumped. She said it was so unheard of as the school is always fully booked (it being a very good school) and that Rachel was so 'lucky' to come in just in time.
  - Yeah right, Rachel has BIG connections from high above. Her big and wonderful DADDY.
• Have lots of fun and family time (All)
  - We are enjoying every bit of it.
  - Yes there were challenges - those adjustments, sometimes confusion on how to proceed or what's next for us.
  - But in each and every step we took, God went ahead and prepared the way before us.
  - As the Psalmist said, "SURELY goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

So that sums up our 1-week stay.