By Mary-Grace

Hello again cyberspace

I have just had a wonderful morning. I think Fridays are my favourite morning in the week (after Sundays and maybe Mondays. Tuesdays are pretty good too.Oh, I like them all!)

Anyway, Fridays are great because Caleb and I get to go to playgroup at our church. It's so much fun. We play, eat, sing, play, watch mums make crafts (it's the pre-cursor to parents doing children's homework!). And the highlight for me is seeing lots of great friends. Neighbours, friends from mothers' group, people I always see at the shops. Friends from church. And we're all together and all enjoying life together. And helping each other.

I also get excited when my friends grow to love my church. Them (and their children) see church as somewhere they want to be. In fact, a friend says that she walks past the church most days and her daughter always wants to go inside, because she likes church. And I know it's the people and the love of Christian people that they love. Because our church isn't the most child-friendly in design, the temperature inside is not always pleasant, and the toilets are not nearby. But we have a ball

And these friends are slowly and surely coming to church and the womens fellowship (bible study) group. It's so cool to watch God at work. And I know it's him. Because I don't push, my friends are genuinely interested. And why wouldn't you be? The people are nice, we have food, and we actually talk about and care about the details of life. We pray to a God who answers prayer, and we talk about all those things that you mean to talk about in life but never do - the deep questions from within our very selves. Is there any meaning to life? Does God care? Is death really the end? The deep questions that God answers in the Bible, and in the very fabric of our lives.

Oh, I wish I could freeze time and be at playgroup forever. Praise God for his kindness to us.

My only exam is in a week. I'm looking forward to it (gasp!). Well, exams are a great way of making you work hard and consolidate info, so studying for an exam can be quite an enjoyable process. But often my only study time is 9pm at night (like now...) and I so am not up for reading and thinking...so here's my secret. Multi-tasking...yes - I do it...and it's been successful so far. Here's an insight into how I studied today: Firstly, Caleb had a nap - so up came the commentary. Then we went for a walk, I sang Old MacDonald had a farm (always end up wondering what sounds a chook makes) and read my commentary whilst pushing him to Salvos - I was looking for a "trolley with bricks" (that's what Toby calls it - us Aussies would say a "cart with blocks") for Caleb to push around because he's trying to pull himself up on EVERYTHING!. Then later on he played happily for 10 mins whilst I read. Then we went shopping...well, that was the plan. We drove the 5 min to the shops, he fell asleep on the way - and since he was tired and had been pretty grumpy I let him be...and pulled out my commentary (and some pen and paper). 1 & 1/2 hr later I left the shops, having never gotten out of the car since he hadn't woken up, and the Westfield Parking ticket only gives you 2 hrs free. But I'd got some good work done. Yay! Don't stress - I got some milk on the way home at an unusual corner store (I always how they make money...hmmm). And here I am procrastinating tonight. So, that's probably 2 -3 hrs work done today. And time to digest it whilst washing, playing, chatting with a friend, exercising and calming a teething child. I'm not trying to be a supermum, just enjoying the time I have to reflect on Deuteronomy, and loving it. Enjoy the opportunities that your situation in life affords. And you're welcome to go for a walk with me and Caleb anytime...I promise I won't read - I'll talk with you. And hopefully I won't walk into any poles...

You might be wondering what this event is that keeps popping up...some friends at our bible college sat down and brainstormed about how to care for families in Australia, particularly with such a high abortion rate. We decided to pray. We know that God is in control, he made us, he knows us, he cares for us. What a good decision. So once a month we pray for Australia, our families, our governments etc. Why 90,000 kids? Because that is the recorded amount of abortions each year in Australia. Many lives terminated. What sadness. So, please come join me on the lawn at SMBC at lunch. Or you could pray right now. Pray for the parents and children of Australia. Pray for support for overwhelmed women who find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy. Pray for a change of opinion in our country. Also pray for those who want children but can't have them. All these who suffer (usually in silence). I hope my little boy can bring delight to not just my heart but to many who need healing...everyone's hurting in some way. Every time I go to the shops someone cuddles him or plays with him. People who have lost children, who have just had a patient die, people who hurt. Next time you meet a stranger think about how you can be of comfort to them, how you can sit a while on a bench with them. My biggest comfort to them is the comfort of the new creation, where Jesus has brought death to an end. Please pray for me to be of comfort to people, as the Holy Spirit gives me power to speak words of life.

Well, our first Mothers' Day proper...Caleb is 6 months already. I've enjoyed reading all the stuff today's paper publishes about mothers. The inconsistencies always strike me - one page talking about trying to improve our stat of 49% of mums with youngest child under 6 in the workforce to at least match other developed countries (59%) by introducing paid maternity leave (which I wouldn't be eligible for!). The next page talked about middle class people working long hours to provide for their children and their children being the unhappiest and depressed group in Australia. Whilst I think work can be satisfying and necessary to pay the bills (in fact, a number of mums in my mothers group are working part-time or plan to return to work - because they enjoy it, or need to pay the bills, or because their husbands are now unemployed due to the economic situation), it is really strategic that parents have energy and time for their children, not just giving them the leftover 'grumpy' energy. The love of a childcare worker can never replace the time and love of a parent, or even better, a community of family and friends. My childcare worker friends would agree with me, even though they love their kids so much.

How do I make my time with Caleb fun and enjoyable, and even intellectually stimulating!? I see him as a little person who needs to know and grow...I try to see the world from his perspective. I have made myself a mini expert on all things to do with children's development...it's like rediscovering my childhood - thinking about how things work, lots of time to think about how to explain the world to a child, how to help him know God, how to meet with people and encourage them as we walk down the street and go to mothers group. And lots of cuddles. And I read to him, not just kids books but whatever I'm reading...at the moment I'm enjoying a book on God the warrior whilst reading Joshua...feel free to ask me about it.

And music - I always wanted to be a professional singer, and now I have an appreciative audience for all my musical blunders...in fact he plonks the piano and sings along with me....and he's trying to plonk the computer keyboard at the moment too. Whilst dancing to the music.

Kids are fun. Praise God for them. I'm happy to share mine with you. Come join me for some fun.

P.S. I love my working mum friends...and I will probably join your ranks at some point, but my priorities place my family before my work...so when I have the need to - I will be praying for a job with good balance...but til then I enjoy my busy 7-day job with my family, the opportunities it gives me to meet with people, help them, be helped by them, and look forward to my spare-time hobby of study and sleep

Hi friends.
I was reading a sydney anglican website whilst eating my spag bol tonight and it was talking about the benefits of blogging...well, I benefit from blogs of others, hearing their thoughts, and reflections on life, and seeing what they're up to. That's part of the appeal of facebook. So, I officially declare our dormant blog re-opened!

Toby's away, and sent me an email...he's on an overseas visit to Beijing with others from our college. Something he said was fascinating...
"So far Beijing seems a nice city. Quite similar to Sydney." I think: Sydney and Beijing - diff language and culture, diff size, diff food, diff weather, diff government, diff attitude toward Christians....but maybe some of those differences aren't really differences, and the others don't really matter. The world is a small place. I remember when a Viet guy in one of my bible groups at uni said that Sydney was more like Hanoi than he expected...and he thinks it was because of American tv. I think it's more than that...
What are the similarities?
1) People are people everywhere. Despite language and culture and experiences, people are really similar...we all long to be loved and accepted. We all long to make a difference. We all long to be heard. We all long to achieve and succeed. We all long to be young forever. We all want freedom. And I can't help thinking that God, our creator meets those longings. Maybe in different ways to what we expected.
2) Food. This sounds silly but living in Ashfield, we can get most of the Chinese foods that Toby's enjoying...just down the road - and def all under $10. Come join us sometime. "I had delicious Seafood Congee for lunch at a really nice Chinese food court"
3) something I think's cool is that there are believers in Jesus everywhere...even if they're hidden from view (as many of my aussie asian friends say when they return home). But I think it's cool that there's so many in China that the goverenment doesn't stop them meeting together anymore, they can't when there's way more Christians than ppl in the communist party.

Let me know other thoughts you have about similarities, small or big, superfiicial or profound - I'm interested.

Other funny things toby said:
"had a 2 hour language class with the people who teach the 'workers' here. It was fun." ha ha - he'll be better equipped to speak with our neighbours now - so many within 100 m of our unit who don't speak english, but only mandarin. Well, at least he can say hi in a vaguely kosher way. That sounds so imperialist...we have bought a teach yourself mandarin cd, and keen to learn...and we have heaps of friends who speak it. It's a much richer language than english - and that's even after they simplified it!

I'm off to Brisbane tomorrow...that's my adventure whilst Toby's away...and it'll be nice to have company and hang out with some good friends from uni days. Caleb's getting on a plane at 4 1/2 months, I think my first trip was age 11! he scored! Should be heaps of fun.

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.

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.

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!

...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.

I came back on Sat from the ISM trip to Canberra! It was wonderful!

We went to all the tourist attractions and unusual places like...the institute of sport, lake eucumbyne.

We enjoyed Christian community and time together. Even one of my friends became a Christian! That's so exciting! They're all asking when the next trip is.

Read more about it in the newsletter attached.

Enjoy the photos.



Winners All Round at the Australian Institute of Sport.



A Dangerous Pose at Lake Eucumbyne in the Snowy Mountains.



Most of us at the same lake - we had so much fun!



Enjoying Floriade.



One of the students up Black Mountain Tower. The moon was so beautiful.



Megan (my co-worker) and I "blown away" by the view up Black Mountain.

Hello everyone!
Thanks for all your prayers.

I wanted to attach a photo of the new Economics student leaders. They were voted into their positions this afternoon. Please pray that they will grow Ecos EU for God's glory