Yesterday I mentioned that I am thinking of opening up a small bed and breakfast here. When we built this place we added a guest room and ensuite on the end of the house next to the school room. It was mostly to be for family and friends, as we love to have people to stay, but we had the thought recently of opening it up for paying guests as a way of bringing in a little more income. It's reasonably easy to set up in NZ as we don't have to have licenses or special training if it's for housing under 5 people, and mine would only be for a single or couples.
We especially would like to make it available - as a family ministry - for other Christian people passing through the area and not charge anything for this. I grew up in a home where my parents always had visiting missionaries, ministers or christian leaders to stay. It added so much to our lives to have these wonderful faith-filled people staying in our home, so my husband and I would love to do the same thing, and we want to use this wonderful extra space as a ministry towards other chiristians, but in the meantime, I'd also like to try the bed and breakfast thing for when we don't have friends or family to stay.
Our first guests in the guest room are going to be friends of friends from the USA!! They will be staying a couple of nights with us this coming weekend, so we have had fun fixing the room up. It's not finished yet - still to get pictures up and a few towel rails and things, but it is such fun getting it ready. I got the duvet cover and new pillows and bathroom towels and things in a department store sale this week. I saved over $200. The chair we missed out on getting on Friday actually worked in our benefit, because yesterday we were in the same store again and found another lovely wicker chair for 1/3 of the price of the chair we missed out on - and it's much nicer - so it all worked out for the best.
We can't wait for the Americans to arrive - it is such fun for us. I'll get to practice my bed and breakfast idea on them. A week later my parents arrive to stay, so I'll get to practice again. If anyone else wants me to practice on them...... well - we'd love to have you!!
Here are some pictures of our guest suite. For some reason I'm having trouble with the resizing option on photobucket, but I hope you'll enjoy these anyway.
I love the ideal! You all are blessed to be a blessing for those in need. I am so thrilled that you have that gift to share. It looks like a haven to behold. I encourage you to follow your heart [dream] for it pleases Father when we do fulfill our purpose. May His riches and best be yours in 2008. Lovingly, rilda
The bed and bath looks so clean and bright! I would love to walk into a B&B like that!
I just wanted to mention something you might like to try (if you haven't thought of it already) that I liked about staying at a Bed & Breakfast in Arkansas: the house had a register/diary that guests were encouraged to write in. They would write the things they did in the area, what they enjoyed about the house, what they ate and drank, etc. As a guest, I really loved reading it (and also writing in it, but reading was more fun!).
Oh a B&B is such a fun thought! Especially if you don't have too many regulations and can keep it part time.
Ginny is really going to LOVE being at your house!! Wish I was coming too! Ginny's husband and kids were at church without her, so we were all thinking of her and wondering how she is doing. Apparently her kids are still eating, so that is good. :)
The guest room looks lovely! I will look forward to hearing all about it from your "first guests" after they return to the US. But I wish Heather and I could come and check it out ourselves... Maybe someday! =) Have fun with Ginny and her folks. We missed having her at church today; say hello for us, when you see them...
Welcome to my blog. I'm glad you dropped in. I'm a wife and mum to 3 children. We are blessed to live in the beautiful South Sea islands of New Zealand, and I love to write about our life and the things we do on our homestead of 10 acres, our adventures with animals and homeschooling, and the little things that touch my life and those around me. I hope you'll enjoy visiting.
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