This week on the Strath Women's team....
Sonny, Maria and Mel were visiting from Broken Hill. We had a fun time getting to know them and they joined in with our girls group. We went to the beach and Maria cooked a traditional Pakastani meal. It was great to hear their stories and our girls enjoyed them aswell. This morning I picked up Li Yean who is very tired and cold trying to get used to the time difference and temperature! Its great to have her back again.

Praise God that....
Li Yean is back and had a good time away with family and friends.
Girls group is going really well.
Rachel has a new job opportunity.
Mandie can get some rest.

Please Pray for...
wisdom for Rachel's new job opportunity
Team dynamic now with Li Yean is back
wisdom for girls group
Li Yean settling back into team life
team effectiveness

We thank you for your prayers

Mandie

The Strathalbyn Women's Team

This week on the Strathalbyn Women's team has been quiet apart from the ‘whats gross the most’ Sonic Fudge. I was going green while eating the green eggs and ham dinner with everyone sharing their gross stories! The Kids really enjoyed getting all mucking and gross. I gave permission to some of the boys to get Matt back for all the gross stuff he had planned, although it didn't work because of the ultra thick porridge Matt had made :) We had a new member helping us out with Sonic Fudge this week a local guy Matt, we're very glad to have him on board! In this next week we look forward to having Sonja and a few first year girls come down and help out with girls group next week. Pray that all goes well

Could you please pray for...
Mandie as she has a big work load, that she wont get burnt out and will still be effective
Rachel as she builds relationships with the kids in her new job
Tab as she looks after her Mum and her Sister, pray that she too wont get burnt out
Li Yean as she is on holidays and connecting with people there
Girls group that God would give us direction for it as the dynamics are changing

We are thanking God at the moment for....
The openness in our girls group and the relationships that are developing there
The fun that is happening at Sonic Fudge and the seeds that are being planted
The reminder that all we have to do is keep our focus on Jesus
Financial relief

We thank you for your prayers

Mandie

The Strathalbyn Women's Team

My turn

Well the weather is beautiful here and the time so relaxing! Wish you were here.

Two of those statements are false. Stuff in Ballarat is pretty full on. These past couple of days in particular have been quite intense, and I'm just very glad that my self esteem is healthy! I've very much wanted to run away, go back to team and ignore life here. But I'm not going to do that - as attractive as it sounds. Please keep praying for my family.

On a positive note, I met one of the Ballarat girls, and while my intentions to actaully catch up with all the team are thwarted everytime so far, I plan to spend time with them at community nights... think taht will work ok. I've also been invited to a small group which consists of ppl in their 20s and 30's, at the church I thought that I mite go to. It is a fight for me to not get cranky at the way contemporary church is run, but I think its a fight I should fight within myself, and not be a snob! In return, I have already been offered a genuine chance to be a part of a group of young XNs, and I'm kind of getting excited about it. Community is totally under-rated, until ur removed from it. I miss it.

This is growing and changing me... as a team we set a goal to learn gracefulness as a pattern of life this year. I think I'm having an intensive practical course in it right now. For sure grace and love are the only weapons I have here that have any chance at effectivness.

Back from the Hill...

Well I arrived back from Broken Hill last night. I had a great week catching up with a few people, Sonja and the Whalleys and getting to know the new first years. There is an old dump filled with lots of glass bottles on the edge of town (thats all the location details cause its very secret spot) and Helen, Patrick, Donny and myself had a great time getting dirty and finding many old hidden treasures. I was very excited to find a very old bottle that was over 100 years old with, John Penrose, Silverton, printed on the side. If your interested in Australian history Silverton is one town to check out, rich with history. I had a jam with Helen and very slowly my skills on guitar is improving. Friendship and community, catching up with mates is such a rich gift from God. The majority of my time was taken up painting Sonja's dining room, cream with blue feature wall. It was great fun and relaxing and was very fun to celebrate with a dinner party in the revamped room. I gave Mandie a bit of a scare last night when we met up. Aparently I looked like I'd been in a fight and I neglected to give her prior warning of this. I had an altercation with a curb and got a black eye and small cut and another altercation with a hammer with has left my left hand very painful and limited in movement. Going for x-ray tomorrow. I'm now back and into the swing of things. With just me and Mandie holding the fort for 2 weeks life is going to be busy and juggling things that have to be done, mission and work. I start my new job on Saturday and I apreciate your prayers. Well live continues on.... Bring it on.... Run hard, do your duty and keep your sheer doggard endurance in this battle we are in... Remember we are on the winning side that leads and gives us to life to the fullest.