Jack

Nate likes to joke that he is the jack of all trades, the master of none. If something is broken, he likes to try and fix it. If there is a job to do that he's never done before, he'll give it a go. He loves to experiment. He's had heaps of opportunities to expand his 'Jack' repertoire since arriving in Mapudje. 

So far since being here Nate has:

• learned about solar power
• taught himself how to weld frames for our solar panels
• put in dead bolts on our doors
• helped me paint the kitchen, lounge room and dining room
• made our bed frame
• built an outdoor table from bamboo
• started making the girls a playground, including a swing set
• planted about fifty trees
• chopped down, with an axe, many trees
• put a barbed wire fence around the boundary of our property
• fixed the piping and wiring of our water pump and tubes that rats gnawed through
• fixed our toilets from leaking
• planted and harvested beans and vegetables
• planted me flowers and fruit
• put in grated doors to secure our outside storage
• built me some shelves, stands and book boxes
• built and maintained a compost area
• dealt with immigration paper work
• worked on and maintained a generator and land cruiser
• and 1000 other little jobs that he crosses off the "love lists" I make him

This is all while living in a foreign land, dealing with people in portuguese, being the boss of three guards, teaching the Word multiple times each week, studying a third language, and putting his family first. As you might be able to tell, Nate may call himself the jack of all trades, but I would certainly rate him as the master of many. But to our true Master, we must give all the glory. Nate would be the first to credit any ability he has to the grace of God, being made new in Christ.

All glory to our Master, through whom we live and breathe and have our being. All our strength comes from the Lord. 

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace… in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11