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February 6, 2012

Category: Kids

April 19, 2011

Seasons – an update from the Stewarts

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, cape town, Favorite Blogs, Kids, leadership, Melissa, Mission, South Africa, the warehouse, Updates — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Leave a comment

The seasons are turning. As things are warming up for those of you in the northern hemisphere, we are moving toward winter here in Cape Town. For our family, this isn’t a time for hibernation at all. In fact, there are a number of new things to tell you about…

Iain’s baptism

Iain was baptised on March 12! He invited quite a few friends to join us for this special time and it was a true celebration of God in his life. Iain did a great job sharing about his commitment to following Jesus and says he is glad that each person in our family helped with scriptures and blessings for the day. Thank you to everyone who has prayed (and continues to pray) for our children with us – God is doing such amazing things in their lives.

Grandpa Lee’s visit

Melissa’s dad – Lee Liddle – visited us for the first two weeks of April. We had a lot of fun introducing him to our new city, neighbourhood, the kids’ school, and friends. It was hard to see him go, but we are thankful for the time together. I think the kids are already talking about the next time Grandpa comes to visit.

Melissa’s latest

When I was younger I always pictured myself having both a career and a family, but was naïve about HOW I would do it all!  During our last year and a half with NieuCommunities in Pretoria I realised that I had been operating beyond my relational capacity for quite some time.  So, I have been seeking a new vision about how to live as a Jesus follower who is a wife, mother, friend and neighbour.  Since returning to South Africa I have been hesitant to take on significant ministry commitments outside of our home and the kids’ school community.  Thankfully, God understands me fully.  He has surrounded me with caring, welcoming, like-hearted people who are beginning to become wonderful friends and mentors.

I have joined a weekly prayer group currently consisting of women who previously worked for The Warehouse, but have stepped back from those roles in order to be present with their children.  A couple of moms from the kids’ school and I have begun walking for exercise one morning a week in a nearby park.  I even enjoy most of my regular household duties while the kids are away at school, primarily because I get the house all to myself and no one is saying, “mommy?”  I am also able to get to the gym for a class or two each week (I can flex my triceps now;)

Tomorrow I begin volunteering two hours a week at my kids’ school with a non-profit organization called help2read (http://www.help2read.org).  Currently there are about 500 volunteers in over 125 schools in the greater Cape Town area.  I have been assigned two students who I will see one-on-one for 30 minutes twice a week.  As an early childhood educator I resonate with help2read’s child-centered philosophy and am thrilled to have an opportunity to help children learn to love books and become confident readers.

Leading worship & blessing leaders

The last few months have been very fulfilling for me (Arthur) as I’ve had the opportunity to lead or coordinate the morning prayer and worship times at the Warehouse (http://warehouse.org.za/). Each morning, we gather for an hour with God together – absolutely necessary for those working in the difficult realities of poverty and injustice. We believe that our direct encounter with God is THE thing that connects our hearts with God, shaping us more into the image of Jesus and giving us God’s heart for those all around us. It’s just one of the ways I get to pour into the lives of these amazing leaders. In the upcoming months, I will turn more of my attention to working with local church leaders. There is such a huge need here to care for, encourage, and listen to pastors. These men and women are given the responsibility of guiding God’s people, yet who looks after their hearts? Because the Warehouse’s mission is to serve the church in its response to poverty and injustice, one way we can help them is by ministering to their leaders. Please pray for me as I move into this important (and exciting) role.

A great way to keep up to date on what God is doing through the Warehouse is to sign up for the newsletter mailing list: http://warehouse.org.za/newslettersignupform

Mairin is turning 7 on April 28th!

“We are going to have my birthday party at a park. My friends and I are going to play and have a cake with butterflies. I am very excited to be seven :) ”


Arthur Paul high school update

“I’ve sent in all of the applications and am waiting for a reply from either. It’s pretty boring just waiting for news :/” – AP.  Just a note to say thank you to everyone for praying with us through the high school visiting and application process. We have applied for two schools and will hear back in the next month or two on acceptance.

We are missionaries

God has asked us to live in Cape Town, South Africa, and we have said yes to this and all that He asks of us. We are sent and supported by churches and individuals who believe in us and are investing in the Kingdom work we do while partnering with and working for local ministries. We need prayer, encouragement, and financial help to do this. I point this out because while many are encouraged (inspired?) by what God is doing with our lives, they don’t know that we raise our own support to do this. Maybe God wants you to be part of this with us. If you are feeling a nudge, email me.

Two links for you to check out

May this season bring good things in your life!

Arthur for the Stewart5

February 22, 2011

learning Love, sharing Love, being Loved

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, cape town, Embracing Grace, God, heart journey, Kids, leadership, South Africa, the warehouse, Updates — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — 1 Comment

Today marks 8 months in Cape Town for our family. God has been very good to us and we are thankful for the ways we have been loved and supported during our transition into this new home.  Resisting the need to tell you EVERYTHING that is happening in one communication, here are a few recent highlights…

Learning to Love God

My friend Myra Perrine wrote an amazing book called “What’s Your God Language?” that we have found really helpful over the past few years. The basic idea is that each of us is created somewhat uniquely in the way we love God most naturally. In discovering our “God Language,” we can grow in the intimacy of our relationship with God as well as appreciate and help one another as we engage God together. This is powerful stuff when we bring our hearts before God this way.

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of walking through this with the staff of The Warehouse. For many, it was a new way to think about their love relationship with God and how to live out this love best.  For others, it was an opportunity to take time to evaluate the current state of their relationship. For everyone, it was a special time to see the amazing diversity God has brought together in this team and I believe it will only make us stronger as we continue to seek to serve God here in Cape Town.

I love being able to teach in the context of a ministry community where we know one another and are able to practice what we are learning together. I am also thankful for the opportunity to help train Christian leaders here in South Africa in ways that are both life-giving for them and impactful in the local church. Leaders that know their own hearts and focus on their own relationship with God will be able to help others. Several people have mentioned wanting to use this with their church or home group. May God be glorified as His people know and love Him more.

If you are interested in learning about how you are created to love God or how to shape your life to best connect with God, I’m glad to tell you more, answer any questions, and highly recommend the book What’s Your God Language?


Church Renewal and new Churches

God continues to speak His call for us to help people plant churches here in Cape Town. An interesting part of this journey has been ongoing conversations with several friends about what it means to be the church and how we can faithfully respond to God’s call for life-changing community.  There is a growing momentum for a church plant among some really Jesus-loving people and some others who are seeking God but need something new. I am also excited about a particular local pastor who also has a vision for planting missional communities as a way to renew their own church and as part of a network of new churches in Cape Town. We are beginning to pray and dream together for church expressions that allow people to experience Jesus in life-changing ways – especially in ways that are needed here in South Africa. Please pray with us for new churches and growing disciples in Cape Town. I have just started a new blog to share some thoughts on the subject and would love for you to check it out and subscribe. http://differentchurch.wordpress.com/

Lecturing

I am taking a break from teaching courses at Cornerstone this current term. This is primarily due to the load I have taken on at The Warehouse and needing to put a lot of effort into what God is doing with me there (read about what I am doing on http://www.stewart5.net/2010/12/what-i-am-doing-at-the-warehouse ). However, I am scheduled to lecture the following courses in the upcoming in terms:

  • Character of Christian Leader
  • Constructive Conflict Resolution
  • I am also considering teaching an intensive course with some coworkers on Reconciliation through Changed Relationships

These are all subjects that are dear to my heart and important here in South Africa. In each case, we have the opportunity to shape students from this country and across the continent to be leaders different than the norm – ones who model a passion for Christ and deep dependence on God that leads to serving and changing our world. In future updates I will tell you more about some of the individual students I am coming to know and love.

Iain is going to be baptized



Our middle child wants to be baptized J Praise God for Iain’s tender heart and desire to declare his faith and share his commitment to following Jesus with others.  Iain has made a list of people he wants to invite and we are making preparations and setting the date for the next few weeks. Pics to come…

AP going to high school next year!

Gulp.

In SA, there is no middle school.  Primary school ends in grade 7 and High school begins in grade 8. Arthur is currently in Grade 7 so we are busy looking at local high schools for January. This is a big decision! Unlike public school in America, you must apply to high schools here. Also different is that public school is not free. This is true for all grade levels, but the cost really goes up in high school.  We would appreciate your prayers as we ask God where He wants AP (and potentially Iain and Mairin down the line) to be in school the next several years. Please also pray for him as he writes essays and goes for interviews.

For more Pictures

Melissa is our primary picture taker and online poster. I know most people really enjoy pictures, so make sure to visit our shutterfly site and subscribe to get updates. http://stewartdot5.shutterfly.com/ (more…)

August 3, 2010

The latest on our explorations

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, Kids, South Africa, Updates — Tags: , , , — 2 Comments

A few family updates to start

Groote Schuur Primary School – the kids have all worked back into the regular rhythm of school life here.  We have moved back in the middle of the SA school year, so AP, Iain, and Mairin have jumped ahead half a year to the middle of 6th, 3rd, and 1st grades.  Academically they are all dong fine, so most of our attention is on making friends, learning new subjects (the Xhosa language, for example), and extracurricular activities like ballet, cricket, and water polo.

House – After much prayer and house-hunting, God has given us the house we have been looking for!  We will move into 2 Devonshire Rd. in Woodstock on 1 September… pics to come then.  We are thankful to have a place in the neighborhood God has put on our hearts, space to have people over, and a place to call home again.

And last – but certainly not least – Arthur Paul turned 12 on 1 August.  He is getting old, and so are we :P   We love and are so proud of Arthur.  Can’t wait to see what this year has in store for him.

exploring:

As you may remember, we returned to South Africa with several pictures on our hearts, all of which are part of the bigger dream to see an amazing movement of God here in South Africa: living/sharing God’s love in our neighborhood, helping people know and experience God in creative ways (esp. those who are often overlooked), mentoring young leaders to be the people God has created them to be, helping local ministries and NGO’s, and being part of a network of local and global Kingdom practitioners.  And of course, we always want to leave room for whatever else God has in mind!  Quite soon after returning, we felt God confirmed that He (and we) desire us to be here in Cape Town.  Now, we are exploring what that looks like.

Securing a house is key to a neighborhood presence.  We look forward to settling in, getting to know the people around us, and seeing what God is up to in Woodstock.

I have been asked to lecture part time at the Cornerstone Institute – a small Christian college here in Cape Town.  I will teach one class starting in September and it looks like there is opportunity for more in the next year.  This should be an excellent opportunity to help shape young local leaders through teaching and mentoring.  I am especially glad to work with many who come from less advantaged backgrounds who often aren’t able to get quality education and training.

I am also spending time at the Warehouse.  I have come to know this ministry and several of their staff over the past several years in South Africa.  They are a great bunch of people seeking to help the local church address issues of poverty and justice.  Right now, I’m just helping out where I can and asking God if this might be a place for me/us to connect with more deeply.

And finally, I’ve been busy meeting up with all sorts of fantastic people here who are serious about seeking God’s Kingdom.  I think there is a need for more intentional relational connection so that all these faithful servants can share, encourage, and pray for one another as part of the bigger picture.  Wherever two or more are gathered…

who/how?

As you can see, we are busy exploring possibilities and seeing how the pictures on our hearts come into focus or adjust.  Like I said in our last update, staying in Cape Town means leaving CRM.  So, another part of the equation is: who will we be part of as we pursue God’s calling here in Cape Town?  This is important for several reasons – two of which are especially worth mentioning here.  First, we don’t want to do this alone.  We want to work with/for others who have similar heart/values as us.  Also, we want the people who support us (financially and otherwise) to know that we are being cared for and operating as part of a legit organization!

Over the next several months, we will be talking with local and international organizations to find the best fit (and yes, we are open to your suggestions here).  We will end our commitment to CRM on 31 October and need to have something in place before then.  We will let you know as things progress.

If you support us financially, please keep giving through CRM until we have notified you of new arrangements.

For now, a few of the things we are doing to make sure we are covered…

  • We have an intercessory prayer team that receives regular email updates and is committed to covering us in prayer.  Thank you to everyone who is part of this team.  And, if you’d like to be part of this group, please email me.
  • We are starting a CARE TEAM.  Beyond prayer, we need people who take the initiative to encourage us, communicate with us, and check on the state of our hearts.  If this is something you enjoy doing, would you consider being part of this ministry to us? Feel free to email me your interest, any questions, or suggestions!
  • We are plugging into local relationships and communities.  A few are mentioned above and we’re busy discerning what we will be part of here in Cape Town.  We also have an older couple committed to helping us process our ongoing heart journeys.

you (yes, you)-

Please keep praying for us
Please keep supporting us
Please let us know if you are interested in being part of our prayer team or care team
You are loved by us if you are reading/receiving this!

February 4, 2010

Arthur Paul’s Amazing Song Project

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, Kids — Tags: , , , , , — 2 Comments

A while back, Arthur Paul and I came up with a creative assignment for him. He chose songs for each person in our family, then wrote about why he chose the song and how it connects to them. Sort of a creative way to express love and affirmation. I did not help him except to suggest they types of things he might want to consider in choosing a song – a highly abstract yet personal task. After long hours spread over a few months, he got it all finished and shared with the family. It blew us away. Lots of laughter and tears. Here’s what he came up with (video of the song + what he wrote to each of us):

Mairin

Mairin, I chose this song for you because you are a pretty carefree person and not many people get to experience what is listed in the song, but you’re experiencing things as adventurous as this like: chasing butterflies, sliding on ice, living in a house that we got smoke out of, and lots of other things.
The tempo makes you feel like you’re in a flowery garden or a rain swept forest, a perfect place for a girl like you to explore!

Love your older bro. A.P.S. III

Iain

http://www.theparlotones.net/

The meaning/words mainly affected my choice for your song because the words/meaning is about people’s imagination in many different ways from Dragonflies to Astronauts. The tempo and feeling just reminds me of you in sooooooooooooooooo many different ways. Like the times you pretend to be a puffle, my dog, even my cat. It connects with you because you just have such a colossal imagination and it feels like the singer is talking about you.
Love, your older bro.
A.P.S. III

Melissa

http://www.aradhnamusic.com
(this is a beautiful sanskrit worship song about Jesus)

The line “Full of delightful qualities, yet beyond comprehension.” Reminded me of you because you have the great qualities such as: patience, love, compassion, focus, never ending energy, and of course you being a great cook!
The tempo is slow, but speeds up like the events happening in your/our lives.
I think it connects with you because these are all adjectives describing the person you help people to know.

Love, your oldest son
A.P.S. III

Arthur (dad)

http://www.itsmorrisseysworld.com/index.php

The tempo makes me feel like if you had a guitar solo it would be like this
I think this song connects with you because like in the song you have parts of you from different cultures.
Your oldest son,
A.P.S. III

Great job Arthur Paul.  We all felt love and valued by the time and heart you put into this on our behalf.

October 22, 2009

identity

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, God, Kids — 1 Comment

I have so much to say about identity right now, but wanted to start with Jesus’ baptism.  This bit of scripture has been super-powerful in my life this past year.  Was reading this with my kids tonight (from Mark’s Gospel) and really paused at the words God said: You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.

Oh, to hear these words!  You are mine, I love you, I am pleased with you.  What more could a child want to hear?  What more could I want to hear?  I love you for YOU.  How much of my life has been spent trying to earn such praise, or harden myself to withstand NOT feeling it?  This is not to say that my parents did not/do not love me.  They do!  But some part deep in me just isn’t attuned to this message.

I want my children to know they belong, are loved, and I am pleased with them.  Tonight I told this to each of them.  Can i ever say it enough?  And I also told them that I want the way I act toward and with them to say the same.  I don’t want my words and actions to be different.  Sure, I won’t get it right all the time.  But I think if they see and know my heart, they’ll know the truth.  And I’m learning to lean in heavy with my heart, and hold the particulars loosely, instead of the other way around.

In the process, I am reclaiming m own identity, hearing God say to me: You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.  May you hear the same!  It changes everything, and I believe everything needs changing.

July 28, 2009

Iain’s new language

by arthurstewart — Categories: Kids — 4 Comments

Iain has decided to create a new language.  I’m not actually sure why, but it’s been really fun to hear his creativity.  His brother suggested the language be called UNA.  “A combination of UN and USA.”  I have no idea what this means or why you would call a language this??  This morning I was informed that he is now calling it IAINESE.

Here’s what he has written down so far:

Kangaroo is a “Jumping Horse”

Horse is a “Lucky Donkey”

Monkey is a “tree cat”

Tennager is “Teenagarian”

My favorite word, which he actually used in a sentence tonight without pausing or forcing it: Hugantic.  Feel free to drop that one into conversation and credit your friend Iain.

Now, if we can only channel his powers for good…

June 12, 2009

Sewing Love

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, Kids — Tags: , , , , — 5 Comments

I think I may have actually got it right with my daughter yesterday.  Mairin (age 5) was home from school sick.  She was busy playing dress up and I was getting some things ready for lunch.  I walked into the living room and she was about to cut the ankle ties from one of her pretend ballet shoes because she couldn’t get it to tie correctly.  I stopped her and showed her another way to tie the shoe, bringing a smile.  I asked if she wanted me to tie her other shoe, but she said no, holding it behind her back….somewhat suspiciously.  I asked again, she said no again, so I went back to the kitchen.

She then came into the kitchen to show me that she had put her other shoe on herself.  “Can you help me tie this one?, she asked.  I bent over to tie the shoe and the ribbon came off on my hand. “I cut it off, but I glued it back on.”  Ummm, well obviously you DIDN’T glue it back on, because it is in my hand.  I could feel the anger rising up in me.  First, because she had cut apart her shoe.  Marin tends to make permanent decisions like this on the spot.  Second, she had hidden the fact that she had done this when I asked her.

So here I am, doubly angry at my daughter.  I say something along the lines of, “Mairin, you CAN’T cut up your things.  You’ve ruined your shoe.  The tie doesn’t work anymore.  I can’t fix this for you.  Why do you do this to your things?”  And I’m wondering, what else do I say, what do I do?  And she looks at me with these sad eyes.  Not, “I’ve been caught” eyes, but sad.  Sad for disappointing me.  Wondering what I will do in response.

And I realize, what else do I need to say?  She knows she messed up her shoe – why tell her again?  Is heaing condemnation on her going to change her bahoavior, or just make her feel bad about herself and further from me?  And actually, yes, I can (maybe) fix this.  So I stopped myself.  I had her give me her shoe.  I went and got our sewing kit.  I toid her that I thought I could fix it, sat down next to her, and started sewing.  [note: I did a bit of needlepoint as an adolescent - dont ask].  As I did, we talked, she organized some of her things, and I fixed her shoe.

Neither of us left the scene angry at the other.  When I finished, she said, “thank you daddy,” and gave me a hug.  I helped her put on and tie her shoe.

This is not meant as a yeah me.  It’s much more of a PRAISE GOD I think I got it right.  And as much as it reflects what God is teaching me about parenting and expressing love, it has all the more to do with my understanding of His love for me.  He does not condemn me, His beloved child.  He does not heap shame on me when I do wrong.  I don’t need to hide, or try to cover up my failing.  He loves me and fixes it.  And it makes me love Him all the more.

May I know this in my heart, believe it to be true for me, and share this same love with others.  May we all….

April 28, 2009

Happy Birthday Mairin

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, Kids — 3 Comments

Our beautiful princess is 5 today.  What a joy!

We love you Mairin :)

IMG_9651

March 6, 2009

A Father’s Love (part 1)

by arthurstewart — Categories: Arthur, God, heart journey, Kids — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — 4 Comments

In talking about how we parent our children, John Coe says that our primary responsibility is not to disciple our children. Rather, it is to model the love of God to them. Obviously, these are not mutually exclusive goals. However, which is our primary mode of operation? I know that as one who teaches, discipling my children comes to mind first when I think of parenting. But I think that love more easily leads to discipleship than the other way around, don’t you?

I have committed to loving my children better this year, so, I started to think more about what the love of a father can look like. How can I love my children in a way that models God’s love? I thought of:

  • time
  • affirmation
  • challenge
  • fun
  • dreaming
  • forgiveness
  • unconditional with regards to achievement
  • loving even when/especially when they have fallen short

Not an exhaustive list, but a good start! But I know myself enough to know that these are all CONCEPTS. I need to make them more tangible if I am to put them into actual practice, which is obviously my goal. So, I then started jotting down examples of what each of these could look like – little pictures and stories. Something like:

TIME:
coming home early from work to be with you, taking you to practice and watching from the sideline, listening to your story about school today, cuddling in the hammock, watching the sunset or staring at the stars together

I can do those! What if I decided that this week, I will do one of those with each of my children? To you, that may sound small and highly pragmatic. But I know that if I’m not intentional, I am less likely to do it. Plus, doing small is better than not doing, right? Of course, this has the potential of becoming habit, and spawning more and more ideas. And in the process, I think it will be good for my own heart and soul, not just theirs. They win, I win, God wins.

So, here’s where you can help. I would love your ideas/suggestions. Partially because I am lame at these sorts of things. Also because I think there are lots of you out there with great ideas :) So, I would like to take them one at a time over the next few blog posts.

First up, what are some examples, stories of your own success, or ways that I can love my children by giving them TIME? I’m looking for concrete things here, not general categories. PLEASE COMMENT WITH AS MANY THINGS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST. I appreciate your help.

January 29, 2009

Mairin Self-Portraits

by arthurstewart — Categories: Kids — Tags: , , , , , , , — 1 Comment

Done at Preschool yesterday.  I love these, especially the various expressions and hair colours!

img_9255img_9256img_9257img_9258

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