August/September Update

Hi everyone!

How are you? Is the weather finally cooling down for you guys? I sure hope so...it seems like it was a really hot summer for North America. Meanwhile, we've burned through a ton of firewood and welcomed the start of spring on September 1^st. Hmmm...I have a question. Do you mind if I do this update a little differently? You see, there's been so much happening in the past month or 2 that I just don't think I can fit it all in if I do paragraphs. Would you mind if I give you some bullet points? Or is that too impersonal? I'll try to make them as interesting as possible. Deal? Okay, thanks. :)

• Our outreach at the pub in Kellyville Ridge is going really well! (I mentioned it to you in my last update.) We're having monthly gatherings in a function room there, and we've had new people coming each time. Our hope is to ultimately grow this group into another congregation. Though we are making valuable connections with people, it's still very much in the early stages. But “church at the pub” is pretty fun! That's Aussie culture for ya. ;)
• We celebrated our 10^th Anniversary as a church on August 21^st! (It's true that Jason and I have only been here 6 years, but the church was actually first launched 10 years ago. The original pastor had to leave Sydney for another posting 2 years later, so when Jason and I came there was sort of a re-launch.) We had a big celebration weekend, with guest speakers, special gatherings and of course, an Aussie BBQ. It was so encouraging to look back on all that has happened, and to see how the Lord has grown the church from the original handful of people.
  
  (Some of our leaders at a meeting during the Anniversary weekend!)
• Jason and I decided to throw a 4^th of July party this year. It's our first official one, and I think it might become a tradition. There is a group of about 6-7 families from the kids' school that we've gotten to be good friends with. They are from all over: Aussies, Italians, Irish, England—a very international group! We've been building friendships for a couple of years now, and had a blast celebrating our Independence Day with them. They, in turn, were impressed that we would stay up so late hosting them when we had to get up very early for church the next day. It's our prayer that soon they'll be coming along to church as well!
• A couple weeks ago (Sept 10th), we hosted a “Family Fun Day” at the church. We've been in our new location for a year now, and we are really trying to establish ourselves in the local community and connect with people. We advertised on the radio and in the local primary schools, and had a range of free kids' and family activities right outside our church building. This was our first event of this kind, and you can imagine the work and planning that's involved. We had a great team of volunteers though, and it was a real success! We met a lot of families from the community and are working now to follow up with them. I realized, though, that I'm not as young as I used to be. I took my turn in the jumping castle at the very end of the day...I only lasted about a minute and a half in there! Having fun is hard work!
• Finally—we're in the USA!! Yup, last Friday, we flew from Sydney to Hawaii. We're very fortunate to be able to spend a week in Hawaii with Jason's family, then we'll be travelling on Sunday the 25^th to the Southeast to see my family. It's been nearly 2 years since we've all been home! The kids and I will return to Oz in mid-October, and Jason will stay a few extra weeks in California to visit some of our ministry partners and make a quick trip to Dallas. I'm trying to work out if we can come to Florida as well...it's a blessing to have loved ones in so many places, but it does create some logistical issues! :) We'll keep you posted on that front!

We'd appreciate your prayers for a few things: a safe trip home, and that the kids would adjust well to all the travel and time difference (our Gracie especially!), and also for the church while we are away. We have some special guests coming to preach and minister while we are gone, and we have a very capable leadership team as well. But there some sensitive ministry issues that we are involved in right now, and we are praying that all will be well with those while we are away. Thank you, as always, for you prayers and support. We are looking forward to seeing many of you soon!