Here we are, at the start, nearing the middle, of March.
Study
For Stephen and I, it's the end of Week 3 of College. (Excepting the three weeks of intensive Greek Stephen has already completed).
Our first assignment, an essay for New Testament will be due on a couple of short weeks. (Hence why I'm now writing a blog post. What better way to
On Monday Stephen sat his Greek exam (end of Semester 1 exam). Thanks for those who have been able to pray for him. He's been working hard, and we're delighted that his efforts have paid off - he passed, and passed very well!
On Friday and Saturday last week I (Sarah) had classes for my fourth subject - Gospel of John. The class ran from 9am - 5pm on both days. I have another two weekends like that. The course shape is called an 'extensive', so rather than weekly classes, or three weeks of one subject, it's spread out through the semester. While I came home utterly zonked on Saturday evening, it was a good way to soak up the subject matter and get some good theological and exegetical discussions going. (See, I'm at College, I can use those big words now!!)
On a personal reflection note - Sarah - while I didn't come into study with a particular ministry goal, I'm absolutely loving what I'm learning. I'm also appreciating more fully what a unique opportunity this is, to spend 12 months devoted to learning more about God's Word. I'm somewhat surprised at just how excited I am. I don't think I was expecting to love it this much - but I do. And thank God for that!
Church
We started home groups a couple of weeks ago. As the group meets fortnightly, we're looking to join another group in the alternate weeks as well, to ensure we have weekly fellowship and encouragement, and get to know more people from the 11am congregation.
General
The biggest news so far is that Centrelink have approved our applications and, praise God, we have received our first payment. Sarah's payments have begun straight away; Stephen's are subject to a waiting period. But at least we now have money for rent! Always a good thing.
Again, feeling the sting of being far away from close friends and family is going to be a recurrent theme. On of Sarah's close friends celebrated her engagement last Saturday night, and it was hard to miss that.
Please praise God for:
- Provision of Centrelink payments.
- What he is teaching us through our classes at Ridley and the richness of this learning.
- Sarah's enjoyment and excitement at learning big words, and what God has to teach her through them!
- Continuing integration into St Jude's community.
Prayer points:
- Diligence with study, especially for planning essays and exams.
- Comfort in times when we miss family and friends, and some of the important occasions in life we can't be there for.
- Making a decision about home group, that God would make it clear to us where to go.
