JESUS All About Life, take#2!!

Wearing my colours proudly online..*bump*..*bump*..
________________

My contribution to the Thank You section of the website
(http://www.allaboutlife.com.au/):

"Thank you Jesus,
that God gave You because He so loved all people of the world!"


If it looks familiar, well, that's my June/July mission team (again) seen here - many nations and peoples who have come from most world regions (excepting Antarctica)!

AFRICA - DR Congo, Madagascar
AMERICAS - Guadeloupe
ASIA/PACIFIC - Australia, China, Korea
EUROPE - Armenia, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, United Kingdom (England/Wales)

L/T.

;D

JESUS All About Life

*bump!*


Dearest Sydneysiding sisters and brothers,


Just a couple of tips about what you might want to try saying when attempting to invite friends to October outreach, during the Jesus All About Life campaign. We tried these during Paris mission, and God was gracious in opening doors for us, so in Sydney.. .. ..well, you never know until you try!

"What have you heard (OR, what do you think) about Jesus?"
(If they're interested in talking longer, go on to share your own knowledge of Jesus - from the Bible; it's good to make sure it's not just your opinion of Jesus!!)

A related question:
"Would you mind if I shared with you what Jesus means to me?"
(If they don't mind, have a go at sharing your testimony - the difference you see Jesus making in your life.)


Oh, and here's a short-form answer God allowed me to use in Paris:
"Jesus is my LORD and my SAVIOUR. Because of Him I have HOPE for life now and the future as well. I am acceptable to GOD, not because of anything I have done to deserve this - but because He loved this world and sent Jesus to die for it (including me!) I can live God's way, and do what is right, because Jesus is my LORD and He helps me by His Spirit to do what pleases Him.."

I could go on and on, but I did say "short-form", didn't I??!?

Something to get you started, anyhow. Oh, and that's not a complete testimony summary, by the way.. .. ..just an example.

L/T.


Give it a go, and whether or not it works - let me know!

Matthieu: 9,35-38 ET aussi 10,29-39

MATTHEW chapter 9, verses 35 to 38
Jésus parcourait toutes les villes et les villages, enseignant dans les synagogues, prêchant la bonne nouvelle du royaume, et guérissant toute maladie et toute infirmité.
Voyant la foule, il fut ému de compassion pour elle, parce qu'elle était languissante et abattue, comme des brebis qui n'ont point de berger.
Alors il dit à ses disciples:
La moisson est grande, mais il y a peu d'ouvriers.
Priez donc le maître de la moisson d'envoyer des ouvriers dans sa moisson.


MATTHEW chapter 10, verses 29-39
Ne vend-on pas deux passereaux pour un sou? Cependant, il n'en tombe pas un à terre sans la volonté de votre Père.
Et même les cheveux de votre tête sont tous comptés.
Ne craignez donc point: vous valez plus que beaucoup de passereaux.
C'est pourquoi, quiconque me confessera devant les hommes, je le confesserai aussi devant mon Père qui est dans les cieux;
mais quiconque me reniera devant les hommes, je le renierai aussi devant mon Père qui est dans les cieux.
Ne croyez pas que je sois venu apporter la paix sur la terre; je ne suis pas venu apporter la paix, mais l'épée.
Car je suis venu mettre la division entre l'homme et son père, entre la fille et sa mère, entre la belle-fille et sa belle-mère;
et l'homme aura pour ennemis les gens de sa maison.
Celui qui aime son père ou sa mère plus que moi n'est pas digne de moi, et celui qui aime son fils ou sa fille plus que moi n'est pas digne de moi;
celui qui ne prend pas sa croix, et ne me suit pas, n'est pas digne de moi.
Celui qui conservera sa vie la perdra, et celui qui perdra sa vie à cause de moi la retrouvera.
________________

No idea what those passages are about?

If truly interested, visit www.biblegateway.com to find out. (Or just go and grab the nearest Bible.)
________________

On another random tack, here's a segment from a website I'd like to share with you.
Naomi Smith is the daughter of Aussie missionaries who went to serve student ministry in Japan. Phillip King is the son of another set of Aussie missionaries who went to serve student ministry in France - first Paris, then Strasbourg. Both are now in their early twenties and at university themselves in AUS.

<<
Naomi's Japanese church was small, close-knit and conservative, with a mostly older congregation; her siblings were usually her only peers. Likewise, the church Phillip attended in Strasbourg had a much older congregation than those he has been to in Australia. Back in Oz, Naomi and Phillip have been lapping up the opportunities to receive solid Bible teaching and to meet with other young Christians.

"When I first came back to Australia, I went for a drive along a major highway," Phillip told me. "And I was struck by how many churches there were along the road. There are a lot of churches in France, but they're more museums than anything else."

Phillip knows that being a Christian in Sydney means swimming against the cultural tide, but he says that Christians in France are much more isolated. "In France, in a school of about 1000 students I knew of ten Christians at the most. I acted as a Christian and I strongly believed the Bible, but if I could avoid talking about God I would, just because I had very little support at school. French people would never even dream of having the resources and support we've got here."
>>

SOURCE - Quoted from http://www.landscape.cms.org.au/landscape001/growingupinbetween.html

Love to all, and thank you for your prayer support.
L/T.

..{adresse rétirée}..


P.S. As always, Women's Katoomba Convention was fantastic.
See feedback comments by visiting http://wkc.kcc.org.au/feedback

Thank you CLAIRE SMITH for your clear, careful and humble presentation of Genesis 2, and your referencing of 1 Timothy 2, 1 Corinthians 11 and also ch.14; may we be humble enough to accept the bits of God's Word we least like to hear!

Mon vol va descendre...

Flight will land in Sydney at 0605 hours, Sat. 26th September. BA 9 from London/Bangkok. *sigh*

Am being collected by a CCC person, NOT family, and will go straight to Katoomba for a conference - thank you in advance D.C.!! Quel étoile!!

Should be ready for pick-up and transfer to Katoomba at 0705 or thereabouts. If the plane doesn't crash (I have forgotten neither the text of JAMES 4, nor that Air France flight over the Atlantic less than 4 months ago!).

Am staying overnight with one of the new stagiaires Relais and an IFES-UK girl short-termer. The former has loaned me her laptop JUST for now (am about to return it). Have checked no emails since approx. Sunday. Also, will not have access to computer again until stopover in Bangkok, I hope there are no real emergencies before then?

Also, mission has finished today; therefore please refrain from ringing emergency contact Tom Parfitt, as we've all said our goodbyes now!

Love to all, hope D.C. and Ivy get the message about my arrival time!

L/T.

{EDIT: Have just viewed my bank history and am NOT HAPPY.

I told you not to deposit money into my account!!
Which part of I Am Coming Home did you NOT understand??}

Folie-bèrgere occupée

Our week of mission continues, and I beg your prayer support; please remember:

* a Bible-study group I'm leading tomorrow (Tuesday night) - my first ever Bible study en français. On Luke chapter 14 - Louisa, dear, remember "Welcome to the banquet"? if God is pleased to provide for us, please pray for
..good discussions..
..adequate listening skills IN FRENCH (this is all so new!)..
..unbelievers to better understand the good news of the kingdom of God and the King that He raised from the dead to rule it..
..God's Spirit to work in all who are reading His Word..
..God's Name to be glorified!!

* a Muslim who we talked to at tonight's café event, who fired so many questions at us - all in French - about ideas in the Bible, sin, the devil, the humanity and divinity of Jesus (hopefully he'll keep coming along to GBU events)

* an atheist and a non-committal student with whom I shared my testimony about the difference Jesus makes in my life (during morning Bible-stands)

* all those we've contacted so far (last full team day on Tuesday)

* the team - energy & dependence on God (one of my favourite British girls was a little stressed out earlier this evening as she tried to prepare her testimony for public presentation)


And please thank God for:

* the opportunities we've all had to talk about Jesus & to open the Bible, sharing His good news with them

* answered prayers about team unity & love & support (which I saw so clearly on the day of my birthday)

* His power at work in all our weaknesses

* His willingness to use us, though we are so unworthy

* His goodness and love and mercy shown that people might hear about Him

* His desire for none to perish but for all to come to repentance & faith in Him

* His giving me the chance to see Avi*, Claudia* and Jonty* again (beloved and much-missed friends/team-mates from the June/July mission team). So happy to see they're all well!! {EDIT: Saw Esther* too!}


Thank you for your prayers. They are much appreciated and even more needed, in these last 24 hours!!

L/T.

32 rue Lutetia

Happy Birthday to me:
Far away across the sea!
Only just until Thursday,
Happy Birthday to me.

Happy Birthday to me:
Single, childless and free!
(Bless all married friends and parents..)
Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to you:
To my twin sister too.
Happy Birthday dear Louisa,
Happy Birthday to you!

Mon anniversaire
It's Sunday, and the first time I haven't been at home in AUS. to celebrate this.

How do I feel?
..Quite emotional actually. It has been an emotional day.

Points for praise:
God knows best.

Points for prayer:
Submission to what God seems to be showing me is best. And COLOSSIANS 1:9-14. Thank you!

I am coming home as scheduled, flying out this Thursday, arriving Saturday morning for WKC. No exceptions (unless God intervenes).

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Please Do Not deposit ANY money into my account!

Your way is not the way for me.

I repeat, it is not the way. I love you very dearly, but I am coming home as per original itinerary, I am now 32 years old, I have made my choice (stay tuned for what it is) and I'm really sorry if my decisions are not what you want for me.

Love to all, and thank you for your support of me and the interest you show in my life. Or rather, thank God, because all such blessings flow only from His hand!

L/T.

Chouette!

This week has been exhausting so far. But God has graciously been answering many prayers.


Praise:
Every team member, myself included, has had some chances for Christ-centred discussions this week.. .. ..

Yesterday, for example, I spoke to an extremely hardened atheistic Communist who insisted that the Bible was all lies, demanding in the same breath that I prove God really exists.

Today, by contrast, I was able to tell a Portuguese student named Miguel about Jesus being Saviour and Lord.

Pray for:
* our night events (soirées) tonight, ie. Fr., also on Mo. and Tu.
* two of the British team members, who arrived here a week ago with minimal French and have been struggling to communicate
* sensitivity & humility as well as the nine fruits of the Spirit (see GAL. 5:22) among all team members incl. myself; there are nearly 20 of us and so, size-wise, I feel the inherent danger of cliques forming..!
* the rest of our outreach time (last day on Tuesday 22nd); using my old favourite verses from COL.4:2-6 as you remember us in prayer
* chances to talk - and LISTEN - to a few of the Australian long-termers; feels like time is running out
* my personal seeking of and listening/obedience to God (as usual!!)

Thank you in advance for praying.

L/T.


P.S. Here is an EMERGENCY contact only.
Do not call unless it is a LIFE or DEATH situation, please!!
This number must be used only up until Wednesday 23rd Sept.

NO EXCEPTIONS, so as not to unnecessarily annoy anyone on team!!

29/10/09 - contacts withdrawn (no need for these anymore)

..

Priez pour nous!

Yes, you guessed it, this blog post is a dead giveaway, I'm here, alive, well and back in Paris.

We have a large team which feels half-British - several IFES-UK short- and long-termers, some other British students (no Relay trainees this time) also. One German, and myself, I think, are the only ones from outside of France or the UK.

As such it's a very different feel from the June/July week I did. That's all I can say at present (being pressed for time).

Please will you pray for us?
That:
* we will be united as a team & serve each other's needs first (cf. PHIL 2:3)
* we will encourage one another & be bound together by the compelling love of Christ
* we will shine like stars in the universe (PHIL. 2:15-16) as we hold out God's word of life to the students of Paris
* we will be wise in the way we act towards them & make the most of every opportunity (of which we have not had that many so far)

Give thanks too, praising God that:
* He desires the salvation of all nations and peoples who don't recognise Him as Saviour & King
* He works through us for the glory of His Name
* He provides our every need according to His glorious riches in Christ (PHIL. 4:19)
________________

I've had the great joy of being reunited with 2 fellow team members from last time: Mia* (KOR.) and Kade* (GBR). It's been so nice to see them again!

Please remember Mia; we caught up a bit in the last hour. She's been here for 6 years working with the students of the GBU. But the next year may be difficult because after a recent visit home she's been unable to raise adequate support for that time (with link churches in Korea). I know many of you don't pray for people you've never met, but let me remind you, it never stopped the apostle Paul from praying for the Colossian believers!! Therefore please pray PHIL. 4:19 esp. for her also.

Everything feels so busy even though I'm not in Australia anymore. Pray that I'll make time with my Heavenly Father a priority. Oh, and trust in/obedience to Him a priority too, of course!

I DO NOT know when I can next check my e-mails, so if you've sent something to me even before I flew out, and I haven't replied - sorry, it may be QUITE a while before I can reply. Am not using GBU office computer, so every minute is costing me euros and centimes!

Louisa:
Please let me know contacts for Theresa, Simon & Hannah Chan, who should have landed here in Paris sometime today..!

Selina (in reply to your comment):
Leave messages via posting comments on the blog. It's the only thing I'll be able to reliably check or post on every 2 days.

As for schools that call, one that should is Broughton Anglican College. Otherwise, I've left my "JobSeeker Diary" near the RH computer in study; you can check it to confirm which schools may get in touch.

Love to all, & thank you in advance for your prayers!

L/T.

Tout va bien

All has gone smoothly, the public house areas generally tidied, the dishes washed up (but not put away), the cat fed and her litterbox clean, the Sunday School class taught.

And in case you've only been skim reading recent posts, I'm back inside Sydney Kingsford-Smith, awaiting a flight to Paris via Singapore.

As you'll know if you've followed my journey since about June this year, I'm heading back to Paris to join the Groupes Bibliques Universitaires (GBU) students in their O-Week outreach.

I expect it to be harder than the June/July mission for several reasons:

1. Longer - 11 days (or 10 for me), instead of the 8 we did last (European) summer.
2. Different team; more locals, less internationals apparently. I'll probably feel more of an outsider this time.
3. I'll be seeking feedback from the long-termers; Australians or IFES-UK workers, whoever is able/willing to chat at length. That may be hard to accept; by nature I'm not the queen of graciousness/humility when it comes to correction, etc.
4. Remember YOUR O-Weeks, uni. students & graduate-friends? Oh, they were challenging, and rewarding..
..but imagine trying to do SUEU or CBS-NSW stuff without being allowed to even enter most of the university campus areas. Much greater restrictions in place!

And for that, any prayers you have to spare would be so much appreciated!

Please pray
* that God will open doors for the message, that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ to unreached students (COL.4:2-6)
* that we will preach Christ Jesus as Lord and us as His servants (2 COR.4:5)
* that in this time where after a crazily hectic week, I will..
..be still
..seek God
..know that He is God (PSA.46:11)
..know what obedience to my Lord really means
(esp. in relating to those closest to me)
..listen & be sure & be willing to obey/accept what my Heavenly Father wants for me (regardless of any differences between what He wants and what others want..)

Arrival: 2PM Sydney time, Monday (6AM Paris time). May be straight into mission (will have missed the opening day today), so don't know if I can post before end of week.

Please do not pray what you want for me.
Please pray what GOD wants for me.

Love to all,
L/T.

Six jours, mais pas assez de temps!

6 days until I fly (if God who gives life keeps me alive until Sunday) and I'm stressed about all that needs to be done.

MES TÂCHES
6 job applications to be completed/reported in my jobseeking diary (for the government which is assisting me in my unemployment) before 2359 hours on Wed. 9th.
[COMPLETED!! 09/09/09]

**Ring the ATO to ensure the required tax gets taken out of my unemployment payments - and casual public-school wages.

Travel insurance corrections to be sorted.
(My surname is NOT "Chend"!!!!!)
[COMPLETED!! 09/09/09]

Visit to family doctor for needed basic medication paperwork (stops me from being suspected of carrying illegal drugs into SG or FR..oh no, I've said too much..!).
[COMPLETED!! 09/09/09]

**Cleaning-blitz all house areas where my stuff is spread out.

Read from COLOSSIANS 2:6 to the end of the chapter & do Growth Groups surgery on it.
[Commenced!! 09/09/09 (only managed a patchy job though..regrettably..)]

**Plan lesson on NEHEMIAH for Years 1-2 class this Sunday.

**Finish car registration renewal.

**Pack as little as possible & prepare it for stowage in a residence close to the city.

And I haven't been able to read the Bible for ME yet today!!

Time! Time!! Time!!!

L/T.

Mais pourquoi retourner à Paris?

In 9 days, I'm going back to Paris for another semaine ADN (outreach week).

Why return to Paris, and so soon?

There are some things I'd like to find out, which I'm hoping I'll be a step closer to finding out after I've gone for the second time..

Pondering:
Since my arrival in Sydney on 16th July, I have been pondering the future.

Pondering whether more long-term involvement in the work of the Groupes Bibliques Universitaires of Paris might be possible for me - or simply beyond me.

Pondering why I should stay in Australia when all the usual doors I'd otherwise be choosing have stayed shut.

Pondering what are the implications of Bible passages that speak so clearly about the condemnation of those who reject God's Son (e.g. JOHN 3:36) - esp. when there is so much less freedom for people to hear about the true Jesus outside of Australia.

Pondering whose voice I'm really hearing, whose desire this really is, when a Bible verse leaps off the page at me during Q.T.'s, when my heart looks towards France (even though Australia is SO much nicer/cheaper to live in).

Pondering how best to use my new-found emotional freedom..
- which I did not have between 26th March 2008 and 26th June 2009
(such a waste of 15 months really, when I might have done so much more good than I did) -
..esp. before any new distraction drags me back down..!

Priez-vous pour moi?
Once again I ask anyone reading this blog & talking to God about me, to pray the following:

1. For time that I may read God's Word, independently of my Sunday-school and TAT-prep. passages

2. For time & inclination to listen to my Heavenly Father
(even/esp. when I'm not sure I want to listen)

3. For time & inclination to obey my Heavenly Father - in the small daily things as well as the big
(even/esp. when I'm not sure I want to obey)

4. For time enough to not be distracted from the Father by anything..
..OR anyone.

5. For time enough to sort out all things I need to arrange before flying out on Sunday 13th September!

6. For time to pursue a more devoted relationship with the Father, that my desire might become just whatever His desire is for me.. .. ..and that I humble myself before Him, contrite and trembling at His Word.

Because I'm not there yet.

L/T.

Mon étude biblique: COL. 1-2

This week (on top of usual duties of job-searching etc.), was obliged to prepare a Bible study on COLOSSIANS 1:24-2:5.

Working through that Bible passage was really difficult and even after conferring with one of the Bible-study leaders I still wasn't sure I had it right.

I think because in Sunday-school we tend to spend more time on narratives, not Pauline epistles!!

Anyhow, in hindsight, I consider that the following ISAIAH quote (66:2) has particular relevance after my struggles through my allocated portion of Colossian text..!

"This is the one I esteem:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit,
and trembles at my word."

Yes, it was hard. And yet, a really good exercise. One can never have too much humility.. .. ..but often, we don't value it enough!

L/T.