WEEKEND AWAY
This year our annual weekend away was at Port Hacking, and we were blessed by Philip Jensen speaking on the Holy Spirit. I was really looking forward to this because last year the 5pm Weekend Away was such a highlight and was the turning point in me settling into 5pm. I was also really excited because we were having a kids program, which my siblings and a friend from Campbelltown was running. I wrote a four lesson kids program, focusing on Jesus’ power (I was too chicken to do the Holy Spirit).
Sadly, I could only attend the Weekend Away for one day, because I got really sick and had to go home! I did hear that it was a great time for the people who were there, and a great opportunity for the 11am and 5pm congregation to get to know each other!
COLLEGE
I’ve just finished up a semester of college! As you read this letter, I would have just one more exam remaining and then I’ll be on break for a month! I’ve really appreciated growing in relationship with people at college over the last semester – a little bit sad because this is my second last semester at college! This semester, I finished up my Old Testament unit, which covered Genesis-2 Kings. I’ve really enjoyed tracing God’s promise in Genesis 3, and seeing how he is committed to saving his people in spite of them. To celebrate our finishing up of semester, some of us went up to Katoomba for 3 days, to spend time with each other and just relax after a big semester of classes!
Semester 2 will start back up on the 29th of July, and my units will be Children’s Ministry and Isaiah. My plan for Tuesdays now is to do some reading and reflecting – I’d love recommendations on Christian books if you have any! I’m hoping to grow in my patience – so books on patience would be greatly appreciated!!
MID-YEAR REVIEW
This month, Carmen (my trainer) and I sat down to have our mid-year review. If you’re not sure what that is, it basically a process of me reflecting on how the last 6 months have gone, what has gone well and what has been challenging or I need to work on. Usually, I find these reviews daunting and quite stressful, but for some reason – I was quite excited for this one! I’m really thankful that it went quite well, that I could celebrate things that have gone well, and we have set clear goals moving forward.
Normally, I wouldn’t share a review in a prayer letter, but this was perhaps the most impactful learning moment in the last 2 months, where I could be encouraged by Carmen and thank God that he continues to work in spite of me!
I was also reminded that I only have 5 months left of MTS! I cannot believe how fast time has gone, and now I’m feeling the crunch of how much more learning needs to happen moving forward!
PRAYER POINTS
Thankful for:
- Weekend Away, and my siblings being able to step in to help run the kids program
- College and a semester learning about God and his people in Genesis-2Kings
- My birthday and family and friends who celebrated it with me
- An encouraging mid-year review
- Our God who has been working in spite of me and my weaknesses
Pray for:
- My health – I’ve been sick quite a lot over the past few months
- Good rest from college
- That God would continue to work in spite of me
- For my last 5 months of MTS to continue to be building me up
The Marsden Fund 