Since then, our lives have become very busy with many meetings with the architect, contractors, finance adviser, etc as we want to make sure that the apartment will be ready by April 2011. To be honest, it wasn’t an easy process at all!  Anyway, everything were finally sorted last week and they have finally started building the interior of the apartment. Can we really get the key on the 31st March?

During this whole process, what we really wanted to share is that God is the one who listen to prayers and how supportive the brothers and sisters were. In order to be able to purchase a property in Switzerland, it is a must to have a B permit as a foreigner (which we have since Nov 2008). Every year, we have to renew this permit and usually it is a straight forward process. However, nearly about a year ago, we submitted for a renewal and don’t know who and how, it was messed up! To cut the long story short, we have been waiting for our new permits to arrive for nearly a year! And of course without this permits in hand, problems come with the apartment (and also other issues with doing things in Switzerland).

A couple of weeks ago, we have received an email from the notary saying that new condition will be added to the contract that if we haven’t received the B permit by xxx, the developer will not able to sell the apartment to us! Devastating! We have paid the deposit, and other charges – quite a lot to loose if this doesn’t go through! We were worried and have sent out an email to pastors, brothers and sisters and close friends asking for their prayers! To cut the long story short again, after 3 days, we have received another email from the notary that he has communicated with the commune and approved that it is just a technical problem from the making of the card and hence omitted the “special condition”. Problem solved! Thank God for answering our prayers!

Second destination – Happy Baby in Crissier where we bought the pram. We were lost a little bit even with the GPS …hahha! Ok, picked up the pram and dropped by Media mart nearby, got a few things and drove back to Lausanne. It was an exciting day afterall! hahah

We have reserve a terrace since end of last year and since then, we were busy meeting with the architect, contractors, finance adviser, etc. Some of them are not efficient at all (perhaps they are truly busy that things have to be delayed …). We are finally meeting the lawyer next Monday to discuss the notary – time to pay the deposit to secure our new place! We were hoping to get the key on the 1st April but I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a delay with how things are progressing … Anyway, I am sure God will prepare the best for us.

B permit – testing our faith and patient! we have submitted our form to renew our permit since April 2010 and still we have not received it! We really need this to sort out many important legal affairs including signing the notary, life insurance, mortgage, baby insurance, etc. The latest news – should receive in 2 weeks!

Churches are not well established here and hence lack of church life – no direction, no fellowship, no spiritual growth. First we were committed in a Chinese church – although the cultural background is very different but we believe that as long as we have the same direction with God’s guidance, then there is nothing we cannot do. However, it was extremely disappointed that it turned out we were never been trusted! All that we have done, we focused on God as we know we gathered to serve God not man. We never pointed at anyone with personal feeling but for God’s kingdom. Unfortunately, we were accused of things we didn’t do, abused with things we didn’t say or mean. In this case – why stay and being treated badly? This is the most unhappy thing or the only regret we have in our life since we moved to Switzerland!

We are now attending an international English church which has been great! It is a very special church as there are many nationalities gathered to worship God. The leaders of the church seems to have a good idea of the importance in a church that is God’s teaching, God’s love and God’s fellowship (at least to our seeing). We were attracted by the well organized and relevant sermons by Rev. Ellice Potter and the bible teaching class which is also host by him. We feel that our relationship with God has been closer since we joined this church. May the Lord continue to bless and guide us!

The working environment is obviously different here. For me – there is no one like Richard, my previous mentor and boss. It is comparatively more stressful here due to the nature of my job and my boss’s background. For Leo – the nature of the job is not stressful but he happened to meet the worst boss one could ever have!

However, life is still full of God’s blessing! Leo has recently found a new job at Medtronic – better company, better career, better future and better salary! There will be a few exciting changes in our lives in the near future! – more to share next time. Despite the lonely feeling from missing families and friends back in New Zealand / Australia, we are blessed with a few good friends here in Lausanne.

May the Lord continue to keep us here in Switzerland and bless those we miss back home.

We had such a great time with friends – There were Leo and I, Christy, Sandi, Kui Thong and his family, Ken and Faith. It was actually the first time we used our balcony and the bbq grill! Everyone was enjoying themselves and our living room was fill with joy and laughter.

On Sunday morning, we attended the bible study at 10:30am. This was the first time we had bible study since we moved to Switzerland. We really felt that it is necessary to pay more attention on our understanding to the bible and our spiritual growth which many people has ignored its importance. The discussion on eternity and how many christian and non christian have misunderstood it was very intriguing and motivating. The English service started at 12noon after the bible study. After that, we went home for a rest before we went down to Ouchy to watch the NZ vs Italian match at 5:00pm. New Zealand did very well, their defense in particular: 1-1

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Until Leo is back on Sunday afternoon, I am home alone this week. I stayed in the lab for a little bit longer than usual. After I got home, I cooked myself a simple meal and watch HK drama for whole night. It is a strange feeling to be alone in a house, there is nobody else except myself and the computers. It has been especially cold this week, under 10 degree! It feels especially cold when there is noone sleeping next to me at night.

My dear, although I miss you very much, you don’t need to worry about me. I can take care of myself and you need to take care of yourself there too. Don’t get bully by others .

After we reached Waiheke island, we drove straight to the holiday house that we booked. After driving through a curve unformed road, we were finally there! The house is huge and nice with a big deck and with a beautiful view looking out to the sea! magnificent! Lolly was overwhelmed and was running around everywhere!

At 5:30pm, we got a called from Christima that she has just missed her ferry and she won’t arrive until 7:00pm. Hence, we decided to go out for dinner first. We went to this italian restaurant and had couple pizzas and salads. They were absolutely delicious! Then, we went to the ferry terminal to pick up Christina and went back to the holiday home.

Doris spent the afternoon with them, showing them how lovely the town we are living in.  Then they stayed at our home and had more chat.

We brought them to Restaurant au Canard Pekinois, one of our favourite Chinese restaurant, opened by our church friends.  Thank you Bei for buying us the birthday cake!  Doris didn’t know I asked Gordon & Bei to prepare a cake for her, it was a surprise to her!