Update and Prayer Points

Wow!! It really has been ages since my last post and I feel there is so much I should be updating!

After Mission, we had 3 weeks' break from college. It's always worth reminding people that college breaks are not really holidays. Invariably, we have assignments and essays that are due during our breaks and there is always reading to catch up on. This means that I sometimes find it difficult to schedule proper time off where I actually give myself permission NOT to do any work - because there is always something I could be doing!

These holidays, I had the privilege of housesitting for the lovely Jane at Concord for the whole of the break. It gave me the freedom to spread out while I wrote my Old Testament exegetical paper, room to walk away from the table I was using, a lounge to sit on to relax, opportunity to eat breakfast in my pyjamas and the chance to leave my toiletries in the bathroom for 3 weeks!

It was exciting to be able to spend Good Friday down in the Illawarra. I caught up with old Shellharbour friends at church and over lunch before spending some time with my parents then with my god-daughter and her family. With not having made it back down to Wollongong since I left there just before the New Year, it was the longest time in my life that I've ever been away. Seems strange to be away for such extended periods now!

I also had the opportunity to get away for a couple of days up to the Hunter Valley with my sister. Her Christmas present to me last year was to take me up there for a couple of days over the Easter break. Despite a little bit of rain, we had a lovely time visiting some wineries, galleries and various shops.

Since returning to college, things have been pretty crazy! We had our Greek half-yearly a couple of weeks ago, a 3000-word Church History essay to hand in 2 days ago, another 3000-word Old Testament essay due 9th June, followed by another 3 exams. Doesn't exactly leave a great deal of time for other things!

In amongst all of that, I have been a big, allergic, sneezy, sinus-y, headache-y, coughing mess for the last two weeks (which was particularly fun during the Greek exam!). Trying to face all of the things on my plate while being in an allergic fog exacerbated by an inability to get a proper night's sleep, has made life more than a little difficult. Whilst the sinus and the headaches have eased up, the rest is still causing me some grief - something I'm now more than a bit tired of (as, I imagine, is the girl in the room next door!).

Please join me in praying for the following things.

Praise God:

• for the opportunity to remember and celebrate the death and resurrection of his Son, so that our relationship with him can be restored


• for time with family and friends over the college break


• for the blessing of opportunities to house-sit


• for the privilege of sitting under the amazing teaching that we have here at MTC

Pray:

• that my health will return quickly and that I'll be able to return to some normal sleeping patterns


• for the ability to focus on the work that I have to do and to be able to prioritise appropriately while remembering to ensure that I consider how God wants me to change my life as a result of what I'm learning and not neglecting relationships with those around me

Fourth Term

Firstly, apologies for not updating my blog recently. You'd think that I'd have had more time to write during my holidays but it just didn't seem to be the case!

I spent the majority of the two weeks at my brother's place in the Lower Blue Mountains - a great opportunity to have some space from people and not have to live in community for a little while. The first of those weeks was spent writing an Old Testament essay, looking at what happened to those left behind in Judah during the Babylonian Exile in the 6th century BC. As tiring as those essays can be, I quite enjoy the research and the opportunity to explore a topic at more depth.

The second week was spent catching up on some sleep, catching up with some reading, catching up with some family and making sure that I took at least a little bit of time off before returning to college. It was capped off with a great weekend at Women's Katoomba Convention (more about that in another post).

Fourth term at college started yesterday and it's a little difficult not to start panicking about all that is coming up. Our Greek exam is a little over 3 weeks away (!) with 8 more exams following. The thought of exams is more than a little terrifying but I'm trying to keep in mind that many others have gone before me in this and, what's more, have survived.


Prayer Points

• Praise God for the break that I've had
• Praise God for the fantastic talks at WKC
• Please pray that I will apply what I learned at WKC and that it will lead me to be more godly
• Please pray that I will prepare well for my exams over these next few weeks and that I won't be overwhelmed by it all

Exam Timetable

• 17/10/08 - Greek
• 31/10/08 - Biblical Exegesis and Exposition (Jonah)
• 31/10/08 - Biblical Exegesis and Exposition (Pastoral Epistles) - take home exam due
• 10/11/08 - Old Testament
• 12/11/08 - New Testament
• 14/11/08 - Church History
• 17/11/08 - Philosophy
• 19/11/08 - Mission Foundations
• 20/11/08 - Doctrine

'Holidays'

Well, I'm officially on holidays for the next two weeks. However, I'm certainly learning that holidays around here do not always allow a lot of time for relaxing. I have a big Old Testament essay due in the middle of the holidays (although I am looking forward to sinking my teeth into the reading and writing for the essay). I have chosen to look at the topic of what happened to the people who remained in Judah during the exile of the 6th century BC. Although there is not a lot of data available, it should be interesting nonetheless.

I'll be spending the bulk of the holidays at my brother's house in the Lower Blue Mountains, as he and his family happen to be going away at the same time. After wrapping my head around the idea of packing a bag again, I'm looking forward to spending time in a place where I can spread out to write my essay and have some time to simply unwind.

However, as much as I'm looking forward to that, I'm still struggling with the number of holidays we have a college (I know that sounds weird!). After 15 years in the workforce, where my longest holiday was the four weeks I had before starting college, I have subsequently had another 6 weeks and am about to have another two! I just want some routine that lasts more than a few weeks at a time. I would much prefer that the pace at college was slowed down a bit and that the terms were therefore longer. Does that sound really strange?

Anyhow, we are on holidays, regardless of my feelings about it all, and I know that next term will be crazy as we approach the end of the year and exams. So, please join me in praying that I will not freak out about being on the move again and that I will achieve lots of work while also getting good rest and refreshment.