3 December 2006 Update
Thu Feb 14, 08 4:34 pm
*New Office Open House and Dedication*
Today was our open house for the new offices. It has been a very busy time getting ready and we are very excited about the new offices. Excited because we know how much more productive we will be. Excited because of the opportunities the space gives us. Excited because of the opportunities to be a witness to the numbers of non-Christians that work around us in the business park. I could go on.
We had George Verwer to speak and many of the church leaders from Carlisle were here as well for the opening. It has been hectic getting everything sorted for the open house. It has been a month now since the move, but I and others in the IT department have been so busy with other meetings that we have not had a chance to unpack until this week. Yesterday, we finally got the last things unpacked and put away. Now everything is put away and quite neat.
*Visa*
I have now been in England for just over a year. I want to thank everyone for praying for my visa renewal. It was about 2 weeks ago that I received word that my visa was renewed. If I had not gotten it renewed you would have seen me on my way back to the States 2 weeks ago. The renewed visa is for a longer time than I need. My visa was renewed as a resident visa with limited leave to remain until 2010.
*International IT Committee Meeting*
This meeting went went much better than I expected. I know that people were praying for us at the meetings because they went so well. We were able get through all the tough questions on the agenda. One of the questions was should we continue running Linux as our server operating system. The decision was to use Linux most of the time, but Windows will now be allowed in instances where it is needed such as in large offices where Linux does not provide the management needed. We also discussed how to support Microsoft Vista and many other questions. We even finished a half day early which has never happened in the many years the meetings have been held!
Visited the south coast since we ended early. A spectacular photo from the coast. The large version of the photo is even better.
*Ships IT Meetings*
These meetings finished up this past week. It was nice meeting the Ships IT department and letting them know who I am. Many times the subject was not that applicable to me so I was able to sort of catch up on other work that has been piling up. Because of the spare time I had during these meetings I was able to catch my breath. I now feel that I am gaining traction again after a few months of extreme busyness that verged on taking away my sanity.
*Moved House*
I moved house again a few weeks back. I am in this new flat until January when I move the last time. The new house I am presently living in is 140 years old, has 5 open fireplaces, has 4 bedrooms, 2 toilets, a TV room, study, laundry room, dining room, sitting room, large garden, 3 floors, and is quite draughty. It is a massive house especially by English standards.
*Holidays*
I was so busy that Thanksgiving was barely a blip on the radar. I spoke with my family on Thanksgiving Day, but it took me a while to realize that it was Thanksgiving Day. At the last minute I was invited to a Thanksgiving meal by another American family on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. I had a nice time eating turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and drinking tea.
I will soon be leaving England for 3 weeks when I go home for the Christmas holidays. I really look forward to being home for Christmas. I am trying to get in the mood today by listening to Christmas songs. If you are in the Bloomington area when I am home please look me up and we could possibly go for tea.
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