Keeping Up With the Andersons

Sorry we haven't put anything up here for so long. I'm going to try to be more regular with making posts from now on (not knowing whether anyone still reads this). We're hoping to put out another newsletter this month, but I might pre-empt it a little by giving you a brief rundown of the highlights of this year.

Main thing is that Mary-Grace is pregnant! The baby is due in November. This will mean a lot of changes to our lives starting from net year. Firstly MG will finish her study and graduate with a Graduate Diploma (leaving open the option for continuing study later), while I will go on for 2 more years and get a Masters. Secondly we will probably change churches and I might be a student-minister. We will strive to keep ties with our Christian family at Christ Church.

I'm very excited about becoming a father, but it is a scary thing too. Pray that we will both be able to make the necessary adjustments, and be good at raising children to love God.

We both passed our first set of exams, and are now in second semester, where we have sensed a significant increase in the pace of our study. Pray that we wont fall behind, particularly as we will be taking exams early, so they don't clash with the birth.

We still thinking and praying about what our long term ministry will look like. We hope to gather some close friends around us to pray with us about our future. Let us know if you're interested.

Our April newsletter is out.
You can see an archive of our newsletters here.

I've just changed the blog software from Wordpress to Serendipity, because I think it's better.
It all started when a new version of Ubuntu was released. I felt like my server needed a fresh install of this operating system, to clean out all the junk. While I was at it I thought I'd improve the blog software, and so here it is. The whole process didn't cost any money, but it did take time (which I should have put into working on my new testament essay about people's responses to Jesus at different stages of His ministry) but I think it was worth it.

I imported all the entries from the old blog, but the pictures didn't come through. Sorry.

Wow - we've slipped into a routine...I actually enjoy the library! I'm a bookworm from way back and I'm loving exploring some of the issues. We've been looking a lot at the first few chapters of Genesis and asking loads of questions...I'm really enjoying the time to explore some of them more deeply, challenging what I see as important or true. I am really being challenged in my OT reading that God is not of my own creating, but amazing and purposeful. I think I find it easy to box God in a list of attributes or something equally as limiting. I'm a nerd, and enjoying memorising Greek...Toby's already known as the greek man in the class, so it's fun competiting in the Anderson household to know our vocab. Toby's made a computer program to help him learn Greek...he wouldn't buy one - he wanted his own...you should ask to see it next time you chat. He'd be chuffed.

Anyway, love to hear what's happening in your life.

We always appreciate your prayers, espeically for our neighbour. We feel powerless to help her in her sickness, but we know God is working out his purposes. Please pray for God's strength, love and care for her.

It's been a while since we've last blogged. We've been away a lot since we finished up with EU Grads Fund the week before Christmas.

We had an amazing week at Tarcutta with summer mission, strengthening relationships and sharing fellowship with our brothers and sisters there and helping them in the continual work of making a difference for Christ in their community.  It was lovely to have two of the teens decide that following Jesus was for them. And their overjoyed mum who was so proud to tell us. Please pray for them and so many people that we were able to share life and the gospel with.

We've also been holidaying. We planned on camping with a good friend, and were washed out, so ended up staying with her parents on the coast, which was really lovely. Then Toby and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary  by holidaying at Manly for the Australia Day weekend. The weather was lovely, and it was nice being right near the beach.

And last Wednesday we started some intensive Greek...I'm really enjoying it, and I'd forgotten how Toby loves learning...so he's been having a ball.  It's a lovely community of very diverse people who are being changed by God's love, and it's a real priviledge to study and 'live' with them (we're still living in the inner west, so 'living' consists of lots of meals and fun and chatting). Where else would I have lunch with a firey, a sparky, a teacher, a physio, a burger maker, a zooligist, a marketing researcher, all ages and backgrounds? It's great getting to know these people, who God made with heaps of different interests, personalities and stages of life, and a place where people are keen to learn, and share life honestly with each other.

Love to hear how the new year's shaping up for you. Much love.

Looking back over the last two years I can really see the value of what I've been doing. The benefits for myself and also for people I've been serving.

For myself I've learnt a lot about what Gifts I have and how I can use them to serve the Church. I've also been forced to practice a lot of some things that I'm not very good at such as one2ones and leadership, so now I'm getting better at these. For others I can see how God has worked through me to help them mature and for some people I have been a part in them coming to know Christ, and I think this has been more important than any other benefits going.

Thank God for how He has blessed me and others at Sydney University over the last two years.

National Training Event was a great opportunity to meet with almost 1000 uni students in Canberra and hear from God's Word. Then we've just got back from 5 days helping at Ashfield Anglican. It's been a real priviledge. If you want to see some of the fun and mayhem that we got up to go to our facebook group....'NTE Ashfield 2007 AD'. It was hard work but a real priviledge to go doorknocking and speal with people about Jesus. I also realised that so many people are hard against God, which was a sobering thought for  many on team. Praise God for one girl that my doorknocking partner and I spoke to who came to church and wants to come back.

Over a thousand students from all around Australia (even Perth) congregate at Canberra each year for NTE. In The first four and a half days students are trained in ministry with 8 strong evangelical talks, 14 hours in smaller groups wrestling with God's word, and one elective of their choice. In the second four and a half days students are trained in ministry by actually going out in teams and doing mission.

Even though this will be our first year at NTE we will be leading one of small groups. The passage we will be looking at is Romans 3:21-26. Starting from nothing, by the end of the four days each member of our group will have written a useable talk from the passage. Hopefully many of them will be able to use the talk in the mission part of the conference.

We will also be leading one of the mission teams along with a student from EU. We will be going to St Johns Ashfield with a team of 20, helping out with the kids club, the mothers group and also engaging with the community door to door, at the station and at the shopping mall.

We're very excited about NTE. Please pray that we will be well prepared, that the students get lots from the training and that the church is helped by the mission.

Thank you to all of you for the last two years. We couldn't have been on campus if you weren't helping that happen, with your prayers, money and love.

Just to let you know that we're planning on studying at SMBC (Sydney Missionary and Bible College) next year. We've signed up for a one-year course, which is really the first year of the masters course.

Please let us know what's happening in your lives

I had a wonderful night last night with the Economics EU guys

We had dinner at a lovely 'al fresco' place in glebe, and had so much fun together. It was wonderful for the 6 of us who were leaving to be each prayed for, and given a beautiful pressie and card. Please pray that each of us leaving would continue in Christ, and see our new workplace, or place of study, as our missionfield!  Two are getting married, one is moving to Canberra, two of us will do further study elsewhere, one hasn't yet found employment, and all of us want to continue in Christ.



It was also lovely to see some key first and second years there. One of the guys went to the 'evangelism summit' last week and keeps asking how he can get more involved in EU. Keep praying that these keen guys will continue and build and strengthen and grow the ministry...that many Ecos students will hear of Jesus, Christians will join in our mission, and God's Spirit will be at work in the faculty. Pray that people don't lose their excitement over summer, but continue in serving, and are a blessing in their holiday activities - work, camp, relaxing whatever. It was also great to have a good conversation with someone about relationship with their parents. It's a hard time of life in moving from childhood to adulthood and independence.

See many of you on Sat!

Just a thankyou for the year and an invitation to lunch at our place Nov 3. 12.30 onwards. A chance to hear about what God has been doing, and fellowship. See the invitation below! Let us know if you plan on coming, so we can happily feed you

And keep praying for us in this final week with students before exams! I am so thankful to God for his work in his community of saints. Chat soon!

It was a huge and great week. I was just sharing with a friend that I have the best job in the world.  I get to see people grow in Christ.

On Wed, I was priviledged to see an Economics girl say thankyou and turn to Christ for the first time. Please pray for her, that she'll have Jesus as her foundation, and God will bring her to maturity in him. Pray that I'll be wise in helping her feel more a part of the Economics EU community and help her be part of a good church.

On Monday, I went to a friend's father's funeral. Please pray for the family, as her response to her dad's death is to live every day as though it is your last. Pray that God will use this time to bring them to a living faith in Christ. Pray for me and her other Christian friends to be loving, prayerful and speaking words of life.

Conversation with some EU students who are part of the Catholic church - was really great...we chat again tomorrow. They have all finished the book and leant it to others...I think there's big issues floating around in people's minds. Particularly pray for a girl who keeps wanting to chat through the logistics and emotions and relationship upheaval of leaving and is seriously considering it.

The Economics evangelistic event Thursady 2pm - thanks for your prayers. There were about 30 students there, with some not-yet-Christian friends and a guy who is searching from my bible study group. Keep praying for those conversations, especially with the guy from my Bible study group.

The ISM planning night was helpful. Pray that the team works hard and strategically. We forsee a lot of interest and need to be prepared, especially for the start of next year. Also pray for the summer holiday ISM plans!

And meet a friend week at ACES was great. Friends came to Bible study, hang time, conversations were had and Jesus was on the agenda. Hopefully it encourages this to be a normal thing we do!

Pray for this last week in Semester, that we would finish things well!

With just one week to go before normal conteact with students finishes, this is a fairly frantic time. But even with my todo list ever growing along with my list of unread-but-need-to-read emails I still have a lot to thank God for. The two things that have encouraged me most recently:

1. God has been saving people. Both of the international students in my God's World course have decided to become Christian in the last few weeks. Also other people who have been in contact with MG have become Christian including a girl in economics just last week.


2. Students have been doing more walk-up evangelism. On monday our team of evangelist who approach people on the front lawns to talk about the gospel is usually between 4 and 6 people but this week it swelled to 14 as the students who were being trained in the Leading People to Christ course decided to get involved.

Pray for those who have become Christian this year. Thank God for His mercy and pray that they will be strongly connected to a church and warmly welcomed into God's family by other Christians. Pray for evangelism at the EU. Thank God that it's happening and pray that the momentum is not lost over summer.

Also, please be praying for this extra big week...

...the usual (and so fantastic) small groups, evangelism opportunities, training and conversations. In my ISM bible study group for our young Christians, we''re looking at the topic of evangelism last week and this week.We particularly want to equip them to know the gospel and be able to share it appropriately with their family and friends in their home culture. Please pray for the Spirit's enabling in this.

...the extra - conversation with some EU studentswho are part of the Catholic church tomorrow about protestantism and catholicism. Please pray that it would be fruitful and helpful and that long tem, all these guys would grow hugely in Christ. We've all been reading a new book by Ray Galea (nothing in my hand I bring) about why and how he left the catholic church. He's spoken at an EU conference and RICE, so most of the guys also feel they know him as he writes. I recommend the book to you also.

...the extra -Economics evangelistic event Thursady 2pm.The event has been somewhat disporganised, due to student leadership changeover, but the students are keen. PLease pray students will come, and whatever the outcome, people would be talking with their friends about Jesus!

...the extra - ISM planning night tomorrow. Pray that God would use these extra hours we have together to effectively plan and utilise the resources we have for his glory. Also pray that our leader, Megan, wouldn't get overwhelmed or worn out as she enthusiasitcally desires to grab many opportunities. Thank God for her wisdom, and pray for her. Also pray that the people who went on the trip to Canberra won't form a clique within ISM but be outward looking!

...the extra - meet a friend week at ACES. We are trying to be more outward and evangelistically focused. This week is aimed at bringing and meeting each other's friends, as we bring them along to bible study, hanging out time, anywhere where they can spend time in christian coomunity.

...not Calcutta. Yep - we've just spent an awesome weekend in Tarcutta. Where is that - you ask? Well, that means we haven't yet cornered you to ask you to join our summer mission team to Tarcutta. It's a small country town half way between sydney and melbourne. It's another place in the world where people need to know Christ. It's another part of the world where life can be difficult, and many people rarely think of God except when the census comes around.

It's a place where drought is taking its toll, and where God is at work. 25 or so people landed in Tarcutta this past weekend to pray, meet and plan for mission on 12-20 Jan (it's not too late to join! Hint, hint, nudge, nudge!)

We had such a great time! And we are such a diverse group!

We were warmly welcomed by the Christians with bonfire and camp cooking and bush poetry. I learnt about droving, prayer and depression. And I learnt that God can work through all sorts of people.

It's also really special to have my parents join us on team.

Please pray for our preparation.