Some Small Changes

Since my last post there have been some small changes (in no order)

1. Child number 2, Joaquin Lua poped out to meet us in the bathroom at home, after just one hour of contractions. Now he is a climbing little one year old.

2. Shifted to Ittigen, near Bern. Yep.

3. Got a new job at the University of Basel Hospital, and I commute with the train from Bern to Basel.

4. Got given a garden house with bunk and a double bed, and now have a 105 m2 garden.

5. My lovely wife now has dreadlocks, and is very happy about it. I am too.

Yeah, so thats about it

Current reading

I really like Ian and Mary Grant. They are so practical, yet very switched on people. Im finding heaps of great ideas and inspiration in this one.














"Klarheit, Ordnung & Stille" by Anselm Grün. "Clarity, Order and Stillness" in English. This is my first attempt at a longer book in German. Im at about 100 pages so far, so Im impressed with myself. Anselm Grün is a Benedictine Monk who runs a monastery in Germany, and is also a popular author. Again, inspiring.



Graham Cooke is a funny guy, classic Brittish. Very down to earth, and yet very strong in prophecy too. Favourite quote:

Prophets are often accused of being weird, tempermental, emotional and abnormal ... Prophets have not cornered the market in abnormality, there are many non-prophetic ministries that seem to fluctuate between the odd-ball and the highly entertaining.

Alp Visiting - Lindital

I went for a wee trip up the Lindital the other day, very refreshing. The Lindital is the small valley to the right of the Stockhorn, the centre peak in the picture below. There are two alpine huts there.

Loving Thy Neighbour

I caught up with Tom Kurt a few weeks ago. He is a pastor in Interlaken, and totally motivated about environment issues from a Christian perspective.

For some crazy reason he thinks that damaging the environment so that it will endanger the health, safety and livelyhood of others doesn't count as loving thy neighbour.

He recently completed a diploma thesis entitled "The Church and it's Ecological Responsibility" for an MA in Practical Theology.

His conclusion is that for followers of Jesus there is a call to self-restraint with regards to lifestyle, as our actions are causing damage. I'll end this with some of his own words.

"I hope to demonstrate to the reader, because of the double commandment of love, that environmental protection and sustainability should concern us, both as Christians, and also as inhabitants of the nations perpetrating the ecological crisis. I am furthermore deeply convinced that a responsible engagement with creation and resources makes an important contribution to the authenticity of the Christian mandate for loving one’s neighbour."

I will try to find a place to upload the paper to the net, that people can download it too.

Föteli

Whats Up?

What been happening for old Darren, huh?

Working - much more satisifed. I am now responsible for grazing management and fencing, loving it.

Peaceful house - We have no more guests staying in the house (the flat above), and this means we have so much more freedom with looking after Ana. We have tried some rhythym stuff, and it is working! Stoked.

Community - Things have the feeling of slowing down at the moment, and are developing nicely. Not "peopled-out"!

Horse riding - Lizzi and I go once a week, out with Indy and Roscoe, who are both rather large horses owned by Katherine. Can I proudly say that Indy weighs in at well over a ton.

Self-sustaining - Have begun to butcher our own rabbits. A butcher showed us how it is done (6 mm pistol, very quick), and we had a BBQ with out own rabbit meat a few weeks ago. Lovely.

Farming - Got some old horse drawn equipment the other day, a plow, grubber, a drill, and a potatoe harvester. For Indy and Roscoe they will be no problem. Walter, the nextdoor neighbour is a horse man, and says they will laugh at the plow. Good!

Holidays coming - We are gonna make to Ireland for Malcs wedding, to be sure. Hopefully we can spend some good time with Mark Smith too, catching up with old mates.

Scoobydo and Grisha

I am proud to announce that the Le Rüdli Community now owns two donkeys, Scoobydo and Grisha. I forget how old they are, about 16ish from memory, but they are pretty cool. Hopefully, they will be able to help us on the farm. Photos coming soon.