Update

Well many things have happened since i last wrote on my blog. A family here at college had a new baby, he is absolutely gorgeous.

I have also been to the Tasmanian Craft Fair at Deloraine, which was fantastic, it is the largest in the southern hemisphere, there were 13 diffent sites all over Deloraine, with shuttle buses between the sites. They had so many things ranging from woodcraft, to jewellery, to hand made soaps, candles, furniture, paper craft, hand made paper.

We also had a two part surprise 40th birthday for the father of the new baby. First of all we went on a cruise on the river, and discovered about the history of Launceston, it was fun to be there, and discover it all, as well as to be with everyone (and hold the baby). Then we had a bbq at the gorge. The birthday boy was surprised when he turned up to both parts, he was especially amazed that with so many people knowing about it he still didn't find out.

It has been a lovely time here in launceston, but i will be leaving in 16 days which i am extremely excited about. woo hoo!!!!!

Food Glorious Food

Last Sunday we had an international food night here at College. We had food from, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, India, England and Australia. My contribution was of course......Pavlova. I made two, and the first one fell apart completely, but it was apparently still delicious. It was a fantastic night and it was good to get to see different cultural eating habits.

Who is wearing that Silly hat?

Well you may be wondering about these silly hats, why on earth are all these people wearing such silly hats?

I will expalain it too you. Last wednesday we had our end of term dinner and to enter the dining room we had to wear hats. These are a selection of the fantastic and silly hats that some of the people were wearing.

It was a fantastic time with a delicious meal and we even had a game.

We were divided up into 5 teams of 5 and given a scenario which was that we were missionaries in a country called Absurdistan where the chickens roosted in the ceiling and the eggs were always smashing on the ground so the people were malnourished. We had to make an egg catcher that would catch an egg dropped from 2 m. The materials we had were 10 straws a thick piece of cardboard and a thin one big scissors and small scissors sticky tape and a balloon. Each team was given two tries dropping an egg onto it from the 2 m height and awarded points depending on how the egg ended up. My team one woo hoo.

Happy Birthday to me...

You may have guessed from the title that today is my birthday.
It has been a great day, what made it great? you may ask, well I will tell you the answer.

Firstly, last night i was not looking forward to it being my birthday because it is my first birthday away from home. Well everyone has been saying happy birthday to me and so many people have given me cards and stuff that it made me feel special.

The other really good thing that happened was at the play centre they had a little party for me, and that was good, cause it's nice to commemorate these things in some way.

Happy (belated) New Year

Happy New Year to everyone who reads my blog. I had a great new years eve.
As usual we had a function/party at the church it was really good. We played board games and we had a Trivia Quiz which unbelievable as it may seem my team one. We got the first five wrong and then we got the other 15 questions right. Some of us went up the street at 8:30/8:45 so that we could see the 9:00 fire works which we have a good few of from there. That was fun. We had a prayer time to pray in the new year at 11:30 and then watched the midnight fireworks at 12. It was a good time to share with others and to remember that God is always with us even when it is a new year and things seem to be changing.

Christmas in Ausralia on a Scorching Summers Day

Last night we had our Aussie Christmas Carol Service at our church. This is a tradition in our church, on the Monday before Christmas each year we have a carol service that is devoted to Australian Christmas Carols that don't talk about snow. That would be entirely inappropriate as we have Christmas in Summer and even in winter most of Australia doesn't get snow.
We usually do have some traditional carols as well but non of the ones that talk about snow. One of my favourites that we sing is called See The Sun.
See the Sun Leigh Newton © 1988

1. See the sun ride high across the blue,
See the summer eucalyptus hue,
See the jacarandas all in bloom,
Signal Christ will soon be here.

2. See the star that points the way to life,
See the kings who travel through the night,
See young Mary riding in her plight
With the child still in the womb.

3. Praise the child we now await to come,
Praise the boy born as the Father's son,
For this baby is the only one
Who can lead us back to God.

Bridge
But the summer knows that life is cruel;
His pain will not be easy.
When the bushfires roar across this land
His life will then be given.

4. But for now our child will soon be born,
Born our brother in the early morn,
Born a servant who will calm the storm

I like this because it uses Australian imagery that I can relate to at Christmas time, and although I have not been personally affected by bushfires I know people who have and it is a reminder to us of the reason that Christ came which we should remeber even at Christmas.

Another of my favourite Aussie Carols is a more traditional one called A Christmas Lullaby or The Silver Stars
The Silver Stars Are In The Sky
Words John Wheeler Music William G James
The silver stars are in the sky,
The red-gold moon goes riding high,
O, sleep my little one sleep!
Once long ago, against her breast,
A mother rocked her child to rest,
Who was the Prince of Heav'n above,
The Lord of happiness and love.
O, sleep, my little one sleep!

The boobook calls across the night,
The brown moths flutter in the light,
O, sleep, my little one sleep!
In Bethlehem long, long ago,
When roads and paddocks gleam'd with snow;
On this same night, that mother mild,
Lull'd into dreams her royal child.
So, sleep, my little one, sleep!
Sleep ...

I like this one because it also brings in The Aussie imagery and it reminds us that Jesus came as a baby like we did and had a loving family like us.

The service was really good we had glow sticks and it was really fun.
God be with you and your family this Christmas and remember the real meaning of christmas.