OLDER NEWS UPDATES - both personal and ministry lie here in date order (until cremation)

Feb 2009: Christmas and Aussie holidays are over once again.  In the short time since the last update was done in November, no website originating in Australia can fail to mention the dreadful, terrifying bushfires that roared across much of Victoria in early February.  Over 230 dead (previous worst was 75 in 1983); flames beyond description in record temperatures (46c+); whole townships wiped out.  Our church (like most others) paused and prayed the day after, in shock.

Our 40th wedding anniversary rolled around on January 8.  The February fires reminded us that on our wedding day 23 people were burned to death in Victoria in, for us, very scary circumstances.  We were married at 8.30pm on a farm not far from Kinglake during our church's annual convention; the whole camp was under standby orders until late in the afternoon, when the fire threat eased and the wedding went ahead.  We shared our wedding with Richard and Jane Kaa.  Sadly, Jane died of brain cancer last year.

Michelle and Debbie arranged a sneaky surprise party after church the Sunday after Jan. 8.  They put us off the scent by arranging a (pathetically) small one the Sunday before!  Grumpy Old Man moaned to wife, "it's like a 40th doesn't matter any more"...  only to repent a week later.  Lots of friends turned up - including our former Mayor and Mayoress, Allan and Pat Ezzy, our two popular local Catholic priests, Michelle Allen drove up 400k from Parkes, lots of friends from around Sydney, and topping it off, the Leimans shocked us by flying 1000k from Brisbane to join us!  We were deeply touched by the outpouring of love. affection, and honour.  We took two days in the city, to be beach at Many and met up with Gavin and Kathy Watts who dined us at Darling Harbour (all photos are hyperlinked)....

		Councillors - Allan and Pat Ezzy, Ken and June Morrisey
	Marcus and Patsy Leiman flew down from Brisbane	we took two days in the city - Manly Beach

Just before Christmas, our "lost and found" Cavalier (Libby) suddenly deteriorated in health, awareness, and mobility.  We already knew she had a congenital heart defect since birth, and just before her 11th birthday, we had her put down (with tears, naturally), and buried her at Budgewoi (see Dog stories on the menu - It's true that you learn more from your dog(s) than you do from most other facets of life...).

Email's great!  We have restored contact with several of Brian's rellies in NZ after our November visit to Christchurch.  Even his ancient aunties in Auckland have got the email bug now and photos flow back and forth (at 1mb each!).

November 2008:  Brian arrived back from a month in Zimbabwe and Mozambique in early November.  The main reason for going was the first Lifeline Advisory Board meeting (an Indaba = serious talking!) in five years.  And yes, it was quiet (roadblocks, etc, minimal, after the last trip three months previous)......  Because of the sensitive nature of public info on the region, if you would like an update you need to email us first.  We are still yet to update the current info on the menubar...

Healthwise, we are all still ok.  Even our recovered dog, Libby, is ok!  She's old and slow, but that means she's in the right place with us!

We have put Sam Gabara's Reedbuck Safari operation on our own server now (for some reason Google didn't pick up his old one).  And uploaded 35 photos Gavin Watts took last year while Sam was giving him real close-up introductions to bull elephants, etc, in Hwange NP!!  Have a look and don't believe everything you hear about the "dangers of Zimbabwe!"  There are areas of serious concern, yes, but they are selective, and the animals are not yet wearing political slogans on their backsides...

In mid-November, we spent 11 days in Christchurch, NZ - Brian's birthplace.  Photos to come of the photo page.  What a delight to be there - with rellies, old friends (the Scotts spoiled us, and nearly exhausted us with hiking and touring the nearby Southern Alps foothills (only the height of Australia's highest mountain...).  An awesome part of God's great creation!  We did some ministry with Steve Williams' church at Darfield, then drove on to Mt Hutt / Rakaia gorge for a wonderful afternoon of grandeur scenery, and murderous hiking!

November 2008: our second 2008 trip into Zimbabwe and Mozambique couldn't have been more different than the one three months previous....  There were very few safety issues; but oh how the economic free-fall into poverty and chaos had accelerated!  Took your breath away...  Kefas accompanied Brian to contribute to the Lifeline Indaba (= gathering for serious issues to be discussed) at Gweru.  This was the main reason for the trip and it was a real success.  Ministry in Mozambique (and Sparrows' Nest orphanage and ministers' seminar in Nhamatanda in particular) was very profitable with requests to come into the inland next year and conduct further pastors and leaders' training series.

September 2008: you can see we have continued with our expressed minimalist style....  We have read so much gunk on blogsites that we have overreacted the other way - if we have nothing significant to say, we're gonna say nothin'!  Well, almost...  Some heart and soul stuff has to get out there too.

In the meantime, Brian has spent five weeks back in Zimbabwe (in which the Presidential Election re-run occurred, with attendant excitement! - a censored-for-public-viewing report on that trip is posted on the menu bar under current trip).  He's committed enough to be returning again to Midlands for a Lifeline Network Leadership Gathering in October, and to fulfil some other ministry responsibilities in Mozambique (more on the Ministry side of our website).

Elizabeth remains well (as can be expected, considering the current household of Brian, Steve, and Elizabeth all have had serious colds/flu/bronchitis, while Kefas just survived!).  She is off mid-September flying north for her annual Royal QE2 tour of Queensland!  while Brian does his annual haj pilgrimage (aka our tax returns).....

Joyce continues to cling to life at Cardinal Gilroy Village.  She's 87, physically very frail, but mentally and spiritually still trading words and repartee with the best of them...  While Jordan (four in October) continues to be a delight to us every Monday (and often like right now, on other days) when he stops over at "Pa and Ti's!"  We stopped at Sydney airport this afternoon in the small jets section, where a security guard saw us ogling away, picked him up, clapped earmuffs on him, and carried him out to a 20-seater Lear Jet, so he could touch the wings and look at the revving motor!  He was glassy-eyed!  Aussie is a great country to live in!

September 2008:  The June-July Zimbabwe trip was a bit of a thriller!  We arrived right in the middle of the Presidential election re-run and all the roadblocks, suspicion of foreigners, etc, that went with it.  But, the ministry was extremely profitable and we are going back in October - despite the difficulties being experienced at this time.  Peter (first time there) was a great help - especially with his practical do-anything skills!  We have to be careful what we post publicly...  If you would like a detailed update of that journey, etc, drop us a request by email and we will be happy to send it.

And next week (Oct 1), Kefas Makava and Brian are going back for a Lifeline Network Leaders Gathering - where the Network Leaders are coming together for three days in the Midlands for a time of prayerful review, discussion, and forward planning.  Then Brian goes on to Mozambique again (Sparrows' Nest orphanage and pastors' training seminar), and Beira with Anacleto and the brothers and sisters there.

The other big issue that went public while we were away was Four Corners' investigation into the Latter Rain >> Immanuel >> BCF/MCF cult we belonged to for many years, and were booted out of in 1980.  Chris Masters spent half a day at our house with his team, looking at background to the current leaders (especially Vic Hall, whom Elizabeth has known since before he started shaving, and I have known since he was 21).  The Four Corners program started a firestorm on the Internet - the pain, anger, unresolved lives, etc, has filled several websites and blogsites. 

We refrained from adding to them - trying to get a proper, balanced stance on the implications from what has surfaced.  We have now put together something of our response to what's already in the public arena, and this is now listed under our "Under the Microscope" Resource section - and be warned; it's personal, messy, and has a fair amount of pain in it.

June 2008: Brian and Peter Brown are about to leave for a very intensive trip to Zimbabwe.  Unfortunately, the Presidential election rerun will take place during their visit, and this has the potential to unsettle the planned itinerary.  Your prayers would be greatly appreciated!  Go here to download an itinerary of their travels and ministry engagements.

Our church's annual 3-day camp was a wonderful time of ministry. It was preceded by a widely participated in three-day fast, and the numbers attending the prayer meetings at the camp were way up on anything in previous years.  Hilary and Darsh Williams spoke and ministered to many - this year we prayerfully targeted the growing numbers of under-30's in our church and the praise and ministry times reflected that.  Many were baptised in the Holy Spirit, and great joy was over the three days!

April 2008: Ahh, beautiful Merrylands.  So peaceful on a Monday morning...  The birds coming down for a feed on our balcony...  Hang on!  What's that noise?  Sirens!  Lots of sirens!  We live right opposite Merrylands High School and within minutes there are police everywhere!  Including two patrol cars in a high-speed smash right outside our driveway.  The school is under attack from a rampaging gang of teenagers - bent on revenge, we learn later, against a student who has stolen a girl from one of the gang members. The school is locked down, frantic parents block our street with the helicopters and media pouring in.  Well, at least it's not Columbine...

And tragically, I rush for my video camera to record the police action, the tension, and the arrest of the gang members (mere teenagers 14-16 y/o), before any media turn up.  My chance to make some serious money as a media mogul.  Aghhhh!  My battery is flat...  Ah well, there'll be a next time...

And in the meantime, the pile of email correspondence grows and grows.  Cyberspace is a fascinating place, the rewards are enriching, but it seems that the days grow shorter (and we're not talking about daylight)...  

February 2008: We want to mention a dear friend of ours this month - Sam (and his wife, Enid) Abalo.  Sam is senior minister of our local Ghanaian AoG church, after coming originally to Australia as a student at Tabor College, where he completed his B. Min. some years ago.  Sam and Brian currently serve on the Tabor Board together.  They have three children (Christopher, Christobel, and Kenneth) who are all now firmly embedded in the Australian way of doing things!  All of them have come with us to the AFL over recent years, but it's Kenneth who really plugs the game - sometimes bringing a schoolmate along.

We love them a lot; Sam has a powerful teaching and occasional prophetic side to his gifting, and has been a continual source of blessing and inspiration to us personally, and to our church collectively, over a number of years.  A consistent, truly spiritual brother!

 <<< Sam, and Enid & Christopher >>> at our family camp 2006, where Sam was our camp speaker.   Elizabeth with the Abalos at Botany Bay entrance Jan 2008  >>>.

Feb 2008: Another Christmas has come and gone.  Kefas has returned from a 'shock and awe' trip home to Zimbabwe, and normal life has resumed.  Our Federal Government for the last 12 years has been kicked out and the Prime Minister got rolled out of his own electorate...  THAT'S DEMOCRACY FOR YOU!  No blood was shed; he didn't fight to hang on in office; the rule of law prevailed!  

On Australia Day - our national day that remembers the birth of our nation on Jan 26, 1788 - Brian spoke at the Council's citizenship ceremony on the subject of Augustine's quote, “In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity”, applying it to the things necessary to forging a national identity and a unified society from disparate immigrant backgrounds (for the speech summary, go here).

And on the right is the next generation of Aussie citizen...  Jordan with "Pa" on Sydney's beautiful coast-walk at Tamarama as we, with Elizabeth, Craig and Michelle, inspected 'Sculpture by the Sea'....

Oh yeah, the prodigal dog tale ain't over either.  You can get an update on Libby's continued recovery (she's 10 this month) on the our dog tales page..  Amazing stuff; a lesson in the power of TLC...

January 2008: On Australia Day - our national day that remembers the birth of our nation on Jan 26, 1788 - Brian spoke at the Council's citizenship ceremony on the subject of Augustine's quote, “In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, charity”, applying it to the things necessary to forging a national identity and a unified society from disparate immigrant backgrounds (for the speech summary, go here).

Mark Twain said, " Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness".  We wish we could take our whole church community in our city with us!

December 2007: Strange things are happening around the place!  Some call them "God-moments".  When you "accidentally" bump into people at just the right time, etc.  Kefas returned to Zimbabwe late November for a 6-week holiday with friends and family, after living with us since August 06.  On his last day at the high school across the road from where we all live, he met a visiting teacher who turned out to be an elder in the Sydney AFM church!  Apostolic Faith Mission is one of the more orthodox Zimbabwean Pentecostal churches, and after finding we knew people in common, Elizabeth and I spent last Sunday singing in Shona at Liverpool!  Stick at something long enough and Africa comes to you!  Kudza Jesu!

And even more fulfilling, Koorong Books just kindly donated a stack of bibles (with slight imperfections) for distribution in Zimbabwe.  They will be shipped next week, through the kindness of Barbara, senior airline hostess, and wife of a Tabor student we bumped into by "accident" (again!).  She arranged 60kgs of ministry resource books to go while we were in Gweru last month, and now another 50kg will go for only 15% of the normal air-freight rate.  How good is that???  Bless them, Lord!

November 2007:  Ben Wright and Brian returned home safely from yet another ministry trip into Zimbabwe and Mozambique (Brian's 12th, but who's counting anymore?).  They had a marvellous time there and many fresh doors of opportunity opened.  You can read up on it through their collated email updates...

But the amazing news was that while Brian was away, Elizabeth got a call from a dog pound some 18 km away to tell her, "your dog's been found!".  She replied, "no, he's buried in the back yard".  But, they insisted her name was on the microchip.  You can read about this amazing coordination of timing and shock on our dog tales page.. as Libby came home after 4 years and 8 months away - makes the Prodigal Son parable come alive!

August 2007:  Onny's dead.  He was run over and killed by one of our boarders at our front steps.  Came in too fast and smashed him.  He was very upset about killing him, but that doesn't reverse the damage.  We buried him that night.  Put a sign over his grave - "everybody's friend" - coz he was.  He never growled at or bit anyone in the 4 1/2 years he lived with us (in his home).  Part of our welcoming committee for all, young and old...  Enough said.  (You can read more under our dag tales webpage).

June 2007:  G'day from Sydney after we have just returned from a challenging 6 weeks in Africa.  Dunno if it's we're both the wrong side of 60 now, but we were stretched in many ways.  The DVD we put out on return features various toilet and ablution stories that made Elizabeth proclaim, "I can survive over here as long as I can warm water to wash in, and can put on clean clothes!  Is this too much to ask for!?!? - Oh yes, and a seat on the toilet bowl!!"  Well, with the increasing level of power cuts, even this is “luxury"!!  You can come with us into Africa (with pics) on our Current African trip....

The big issue for us personally was the serious appendicitis attack Elizabeth had halfway through Zimbabwe....  She has made it back home ok, thank the Lord, but will get checked out by our local doctor now we're home.  The number of people who relayed their prayerful concern quite overwhelmed us while we were away.  You can live without a lot of things - but to live without shared love would be awful....

We have just added two new webpages - one called African Perspectives through the eyes of a murungu (white man)....  It repeats some of our more interesting (and sometimes amusing) anecdotes from our African visits.  We recognise that things are often interesting, unusual, or funny simply because of the culture-gap from home to elsewhere...  But we hope our website visitors enjoy it, and gain further understanding of that part of God's great creation....  The second is in response to the wide expression of interest in the "New Emerging Spirituality" that is not only gaining ground in the church, but is producing a quite remarkable shift in the way godless people attempt to cope with death of a loved one, or even a rock hero!  You can pick it up off our Resources pages.

April 2007: After a very powerful follow-on from our November Wild at Heart ministry in our own church, it seems that we are connecting with others more and more of like mind in the loss of true godly manhood.

In the meantime, Elizabeth and I return to Africa mid-April until early June.  Here's an extract of our greeting email to our extended family there (which now has grown considerably!).  "God has put in my heart and mind an emphasis for this visit on the “Priesthood of Every Believer” – that great New Testament truth that the church fathers and then the Protestant reformers fought and died for.  When all the grace giftings God has placed in His church (and that is primarily through the local churches) function properly – when they are given room to operate and training is made available for all the believers - then there is a wonderful balance between spiritual and practical activity.  And in these days we live in, the second is as greatly needed as the first!  May God’s abundant grace be further released as we do serious time in His Word, with the aim of establishing solid, reliable, anointed local people and churches that will still be functioning in 30 years time and beyond – should Jesus’ Second Coming be delayed!"

January 2007:  Not many updates in the past 12 months, coz after reading so many boring blogs, we didn't want to fall into the trap of recording piles of trivia that really is of no interest in the public arena (as websites are!).

But, being alive and in good spirits when you turn 86, is sufficient qualification to get on our website!  Especially if you are the Grand Dowager, Joyce Rensford!  Brian's brother (Barry) flew over for the day from NZ to celebrate with her, and Elizabeth organised a wonderful breakfast on the Terrace at Rhodes Waterfront (and Brian has merged three photos to make us all look like a happy family...).  Keith and Deenie supplied the glorious spray of flowers....

Keith turns 60 at the end of the month, and to celebrate, he and Deenie are fleeing to India on a missions' trip the very same day!!

November 2006: This month, we are hosting an intensive ministry that is using as a kick-off point, John Eldredge's "Wild at Heart" material.  It's about restoring a more balanced masculinity to men (and to the church).  Some of the lead-in material has been laid out in our resources UNDER THE MICROSCOPE section; GO THERE and be challenged, blessed!!

October 2006:  What can we say?  Several e-correspondents have queried our comment-free silence over the past month!  Yes, folks, it was footy Day of Reckoning time again.  To win by 4 points last year, and now to lose by ONE…  But as they say, “and the winner was football”….  How good does it get for the game of Aussie Rules?  So many grand finals have been one-sided runaways.  But here we have two champion teams with an unbelievable 11 points total difference in their last 5 major head-to-head matches?!?!  (April 07 update - make that 12 points from 6 games, after the Eagles beat us by one miserable point yet again in the opening match of the 2007 season!). So, yeah, the Eagles deserved it.  And Gavin and I were there last year when the 72 year drought was finally broken!  I was asked soon after that game, “do you think the Swans can do it again in 2006?”  To which I replied, “don’t know; don’t really care.  I was there when we won the one that mattered!”.  And that’s the way I still feel….

We didn’t deserve to win after a mistake-ridden first half.  But, to fight back to nearly snatch the win off such a quality team made for great and courageous footy (several heart attacks almost occurred in our own church mob watching the last quarter).  It was a satisfactory end to the season, and as one footy commentator commented the next day to the grieving Swans’ fans, “only 183 sleeps to next season!”  We have one young guy in our church that I first introduced to the game while the Swans were in their 26 home-games-without-a-loss streak.  Then one day, we lost!  He cried!  He did not yet understand that sport is one of the great teachers that you should never expect to win all of the time!

I have said for the past three years we should never have lionised Barry Hall.  He doesn’t have the mental and character qualities to make for a great footballer (let alone a “co-captain” – whatever that means).  He loses his self-control too easily and so becomes a sitting duck for aggravation tactics designed to put him off his game.  It succeeded again at the grand final.  He wouldn’t make it to the same paddock (let alone team) as Lockett (a Ballarat thug who grew up while with Sydney), Kelly (a true gutsy hero), Roos (a mastermind on the field right up till he retired), and Kirk (ex Albury - our true leader now).  So, enough empty talk of hero and legend…  Hall was a major factor in our losing.

Even worse, leading up the grand final, our trusty wind-driven Swan (picture enclosed) went lame in one leg, and we had to apply remedial therapy just to get his leg spinning in the breeze again.  It didn’t look too good for the result coming up…  And it wasn't...  Anyway, I (Brian) decided some years ago, a sport-free summer heightens the April recommencement of REAL FOOTY!! 

September 2006:  The year is getting away from us!  Aaagghhhh!!  Is this what getting old is all about?  Brian has returned from Zimbabwe again (10th visit with Lifeline) and reports that the sense of connection (and usefulness that is so important to old people) is stronger than ever.  He ministered to more people than ever before, noting that the hunger to be thoroughly grounded in "correctly handling the Word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15) is stronger and more widespread than we have encountered previously (more about the trip on the ministry side of our website).

In the meantime, Brian also led the 30th year of our annual ski trip to the snow a week after he returned.  People came from 7 churches (a first) and a wild and joyful time was had by everybody (including the wounded).  We had stack-of-the-day - reviewed every night (eyewitnesses mandatory) - and in late Sept we are awarding stack-of-the-week (a Baptist pastor picked that up by unanimous decision of the three judges...  Brian also reports that the 30cm of fresh snow that fell on the last day was compensation for his own humungous stack (first in many years) in the wonderland conditions away from groomed slopes...  All that after declaring this would be a take-it-easy year because he had no time to get fit enough to ski hard.  Yawn....

Jordan is nearly two, and loves his Grumpa.  Grumpa loves him too.  Spoils him rotten.  Jordan loves Onny; Onny tolerates Jordan....  How blessed can you get???  What's really important???

Stay in touch.  We work hard at being reliable correspondents!

September 2006:  As we recounted on the personal side of our website, Brian returned to Zimbabwe and Mozambique for a very fulfilling and useful 5 weeks in July-August.  Returning again and again means you don't have to continually re-establish credibility. And we rekindle many older bonds of fellowship which is a mutual blessing.  Health problems were minimal after the "usual Zimbabwean health problem" arose on the plane going over - loss of voice, infected throat - demonic.  But a very systematic prayer chain back home seemed to keep the worst of it at bay and John Doolan came along and also prayed every day for Brian as he non-stop taught, preached, and conversed with many, many students, pastors, leaders, and hitch-hikers!

In some places we stayed the church attendance rate is up to 70% of the entire community!  This is mind-blowing to an Australian - who is used to a maximum of maybe 10% at best.  It's a spin-off of the very troubled economic situation there.  People are crying out to God incessantly.  Interestingly, a Mozambican pastor told Brian that prior to the economic collapse, Zimbabweans were arrogant and condescending to Mozambicans, Malawians, and Zambians; and now they have been humbled as a nation.  He thought it was doing them good!

Meanwhile, here in Sydney, we continue to engage in the local church community with a growing number of ministers, leaders, and believers from many different kinds of churches.  Ahhh, the joys of ecumenism!  Our local senior Catholic priest (Gerry Iverson) is coming with us to the Sydney Swans vs Fremantle Aussie Rules semi-final at the Olympic stadium with 5 of his parishioners, as well as Barry and Vanessa Chant - founders of Tabor College joining in!

Our 29th annual Mayoral Prayer Dinner went really well, with Barry Chant (who is also currently the senior minister of Wesley Mission's International congregation) speaking on the Christian values embedded in our Australian history that have helped shape the nation's cultural stability and values.  Both our local mayor (Allan Ezzy) and Deputy (Eddy Sarkis) attended - both being active churchmen.  It's a pleasure and a blessing to work with them!

May 2006:  Brian's plans to return to Zimbabwe and Mozambique for a 10th time have finally worked out.  You gotta laugh!  Yeah, a laugh of faith!  Last year, Qantas frequent flyer representative told us we now need to book a year ahead to have any show of getting flights to Africa (current cost is a whopping $A3170!!).  Here we are, only 4 months away from July and nothing settled.  Brian had to return to Sydney for a court case (assisting someone) from our week away at Budgewoi on holiday.  Grumpy Old Man clears email before going for a swim (stinking hot day) and driving the 115km back up the Coast.  Dates are finally firmed Africa end, several laps of the pool, the Holy Spirit clearly spoke, "go and book all your fares on frequent flyers when you get out!  Now!!".  Within 10 minutes, all 5 flights were settled!!  Amazing - and on the dates we wanted!!  We took it as a real confirmation about going at all too....  John Doolan is coming, and now our hearts turn yet again to the harsh conditions of our dear brothers and sisters over there and what they are going through as inflation nears 1000%!!  The highest of all 223 nations...  Try working out your pay-packet every month when costs are increasing 80% a month!

Something of the heartache we face in returning back there again and again is expressed in the Richard Rohr "Third Way" material - detachment vs. 'attachment'...  when you are "attached", you hurt when they hurt...

In recent months, we have spent much time in ministry looking at biblical ways of increasing the level of charismatic activity in a local church.  Last week, there was a wave of prophetic prayer through the congregation before Joy preached off it.  It was so encouraging for us as we are nearing the end of our useful ministry life.  No doubt about it, you become more concerned with passing on the baton / heritage as you age, than about your own ministry future.

Coupled with this emphasis has been a fresh cry for a greater "Pentecost" on our church(es).  That every believer would be filled with the Spirit, liberated in praying in tongues, and active in serving the Lord in their God-ordained grace gifting.

April 2006:  With Brian's mother celebrating her 85th birthday in January, Elizabeth's day usually includes a call at the Retirement Village close by where she resides (presides?).  Joyce is in good spirits but has had some ghastly food poisoning episodes over Christmas.  Brian's nephew and wife and two sons (Jeremy, Linda, Noah, and Zachary) announced at Christmas they are moving to Shepparton (where Jeremy grew up), after serving in our church for nearly nine years.

Trivial stuff...  One of the great joys of having a balcony now overlooking the developing bushland has been the increasing proliferation of native birds - especially the parrots.  Somewhat domesticated now, some wait every morning for Brian to feed them.  Their squawking is truly the anthem of joy to our marvellous Creator God!  No ulcers in their world.

It was the most unpleasant Sydney summer we can recall (in 32!) - what with a 200-year alltime record temp of 47c!  But it's been the combination of heat and humidity that has made it so unbearable.  We have slept under the air-con on a mattress on the floor more than any other summer.  And the aircon blew up after the 47c day!  Fortunately, our boarder, Tim is pretty cluey on electronics, and installed a new split system we bought, and we should be ok now "until death"!  And it's "thank God" for the pool this year.  We have swum heaps.  And biked every week consistently.  But for Brian, the running got much harder than in previous summers...  And do drop us a couple of lines....

December 2005:  Wow!  Another year!  Another grey hair (on Brian, of course...  Elizabeth's never changes...)!  The drought has well and truly broken in our State, and the land is ablaze with colour!  Footy season is over; we are slumped in summer indolence, sort of...  And now we proceed to the season of house maintenance, and another round of the annual Christmas eating marathon...  Not what we need at this age and belt size...

We get to mind Jordan every Monday.  Here he is almost walking unaided (we're talking about Jordan!  Not the old bloke), eying Grumpa off.  BTW, Brian insists on being called Grumpa, because he is a grumpy old man (and unashamed and unrepentant) and to distinguish him from the boy's bloodline Grandpas who both live a long way away (New Zealand).  Jordan has the Rensford naughty-humour streak already well developed!

In late October, Brian completed his 63rd marathon in the bush at Fitzroy Falls NP - accompanied by son-in-law, Craig, on his second (they did the Olympic Blue Line one together 5 years previously just before the Olympics came to town).  The conditions were perfect and they both enjoyed themselves immensely (whether you can use the words "enjoy" and "marathon" in the same breath is highly debatable).

And Brian was asked to MC the 25th anniversary of the Sydney Marathon Clinic.  It was a very moving night as the runners paid their respects to former champions, and some deceased comrades.  

September 2005:  This is a regression entry of about 30 years....  We Sydney AFL Swans supporters – permanent losers for decades - 72 years to be exact!!   We are now the doggone Aussie Rules National PREMIERS!!!  It’s like Green Bay Packers knocking off the Dallas Cowboys!!  We fell over the line by a measly 4 points (for our overseas friends, a goal is worth 6 points), and one goal either way would have changed the game in the last 10 minutes.  The crowd was at cardiac arrest point – no kidding.  It was unbelievable!.

My friend Gavin camped out overnight to get finals tickets, then with his son Joel, we drove the 860 km down the day before, and then home again straight after the game, arriving home at 3am Sunday!  Although I was preaching at another church at 10am, I couldn’t go to bed until after I had watched the last 10 minutes on video!  Pathetic, isn't it....

Ah, what a feeling it was indeed!  Worth every dollar, every mile travelled, every inconvenience.  What a day!!  It still hasn’t sunk in yet.  We still can’t believe we made it after 72 years….  The semi finals were a roller coaster.  We won against Geelong two weeks before by kicking a miraculous goal three seconds before the final siren.  Your heart has to be strong to survive September in Aussie Rules.  We may never see this again, but we will die happy.  It was a bigger buzz than the Olympics - seriously (and that was tremendous).

A team of ordinary players passionately committed to one another, beat a team of champions.  Mentored by a coach who believes in family, togetherness, and corporate goals being more important than individual starrrrrrdom….  How different from modern life as it’s commonly portrayed.  There were no “Australian Idols” out there….

Being in Melbourne was so different from the SCG home ground here in Sydney.  People were singing the club song 90 minutes before kick-off!  They roared at the top of their lungs, “Seedddnnneeeyyyyy!!” to drown out Barry Humphreys and his inappropriate drag Edna Everege star turn.  They ignored popular singer, Delta Goodrem, too.  I loved it!  You wouldn’t see that on the TV coverage because they ran their sound off the PA set-up, but at the ground – as the Carlton ad says “it was all about the beer – ah – football!”

And the last 5 minutes was cardiac arrest country....  People were screaming all around us.  I meaning screaming!!  The umpires were continually signalling time-out every time the ball was tied up in a scrimmage.  Not knowing this live at the game, all around us people were screaming, “Sound the siren!!  Sound the bloody siren!!"

When they finally did, the players fell on one another, and a total stranger next to me in the crowd grabbed and hugged me like I was his long-lost brother….

I managed to videotape quite a bit of the last action plays and the crowd’s roar, dancing, laughing after the siren sounded.  But, it couldn’t do the moment justice.  Our bus has a large Premiers poster attached to the back window....  

November 2005:  Several leaders from our church travelled to Melbourne (now that winter is over...) to attend "Renewing Your Passion for Christ" gathering with David and Gary Wilkerson.  It was simple, refreshing, and we were all blessed being there - worth the long drive!  On the home front, our church is in good health; our Ministry Development College is going well in its final Unit for 2005 [Cross-cultural ministry and becoming a ‘missionary’ - right where you are!].  Attendance has been encouraging with students from five churches attending.  But our joy in this was tempered with grief when we heard that Josephine Pelis, a PNG national who has worked hard in Mozambique since 1997, died of cancer back home in her village in PNG.  The shock was awful - we loved her dearly and shared many blessed moments with her in Beira at the Lifeline Base.  The work she did will continue to bear good fruit there.  She was our one-talk there.  Josephine - He isn't going to say to you - yu no ken kam insait!  

August 2005: And when Brian got home, the festivities multiplied!  The local Ministers' Fellowship put on a surprise meal and a part "roast"!  The Mayor brought a eulogy (hang on!  Brian is still alive!!), several Councillors attended, and quite a few of our local ministers and others Brian has worked with over the years in the local community.  And it IS in many ways a real local community.  Then the church family did their thing (including Des Pavy singing, "hello, Kiwi bumpkin!" - complete with historically accurate facts from early years in Oz), and the 60-year-old got quite emotional (including the video his brother Keith sent up from Shepparton using their grandfather's ventriloquist doll to sing greetings...). [fresh Out Of Africa, cutting the community cake at Merrylands Baptist church facility >>>)

August 2005:  Brian and Jeremy's trip to Zimbabwe and Mozambique went really well.  So many supporters mentioned they were praying continually for us.  Even the children of friends!  Now we are both back home safe and sound.  The chaos of the place was a sharp contrast to the life we live here in Australia for sure.  You can follow the journey on the Africa 2005 webpage. You might not call it religious news, but Brian rolled around the 60 in July while in Zimbabwe....  He was a bit overcome by the flood of best wishes, presents, and affection shown by so many.  The local Ministers' Fellowship put on a surprise celebration, at which our local senior Catholic priest, Baptist minister, and Mayor and Councillors gave eulogies (and we ain't even dead yet!).  

July 2005:  Yes folks, the grumpy old man has finally reached 60 - alive!  He was 12000 km from home and family - alone in Zimbabwe....  Well, sort of alone - if you could define 25 leaders singing their hearts out to you!  He wept with the emotion of their affection expressed.  And that's what happened to Elizabeth too on her 50th birthday some years ago - she was in Vic Falls...  You can read about Brian's (and Jeremy's too) trip to Africa on the African Reports webpage.  He has been on a longer trip to Southern Africa since late May, and will be home July 25.  Meanwhile, Elizabeth has kept the home fires stoked, and in reasonable spirits, despite suffering firsthand the Swans thrashing her team (Geelong) at the SCG July 9....  

There was a flood of best wishes, presents, and affection shown by many when we got home.  The local Ministers' Fellowship put on a surprise celebration, at which our local senior Catholic priest, Baptist minister, and Mayor and Councillors gave eulogies (and we ain't even dead yet!).  It was all very moving and Brian was quite overcome by it all.

May 2005:  This update is being posted just before Brian leaves for a two-month visit back to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.  Jeremy (our nephew and the pastor of our church) is going with him, for the first time.  And yes, it's already happening - a typical "Zimbabwe health problem" - they have both been quite ill in the last fortnight before departing! (refer to last year's annus horribilus).  Your prayers for their health, safety, and travel plans greatly appreciated.  Brian will sneak through his 60th birthday while in Africa....  Babamukuru...  So many friends over there to catch up with and serve....

May 2005:  Brian has been sending out "Friday Food and Therapy" for several months now, with a surprisingly widespread response - often from unexpected quarters, including people who have had it forwarded on by friends.  The "food" is serious reflections; and the "therapy" is lighter, humorous non-acerbic stuff.  Oh yeah, we also get the occasional abusive emails (the Toronto Blessing article attracts by far the most lighting - and appreciative thanks too!)...

Our current Ministry Development College units are nearly over, with a good attendance of students from several churches near and far.  Our subject has been "Sound in the Faith", a six-week chronological look at the outworking of Paul's (Acts 20) warning to the Ephesian elders to beware of those who "distort the faith" for their own ego-driven motives - through the Ephesian letter, to 1 & 2 Timothy, 3 John, and Revelation 1 & 2 - emphasising all the way that we are all to diligently learn to "correctly handle the word of truth" as a counter-measure (2 Tim 2:15 and context).  Faith-distortion is as common a problem today as it was back then.

We prayerfully are planning to cover 1 Cor 11 to 14 in Africa in the teaching ministry sessions - "Normative Church Life in the 1stC Church", dealing with discrimination, (ch 11), God's enabling corporate provision (ch 12); the proper environment (love ch 13); and normative local church functioning (ch 14).

Meanwhile, Elizabeth has just spent two weeks around Brisbane stopping over with, and visiting old friends and family.  She especially was blessed in the time she spent with the Leimans, who lived with us for nine months in 2000/2001 when they first arrived penniless from Zimbabwe with five young children.  Yes, Aussie is a fertile land (they now have eight children!), and have bought a lovely home on the Sunshine Coast.

So on May 30, Brian leaves for another 2 months in Africa.  Your prayers will be highly valued for him - and Elizabeth too as she continues to be what God wants her to be at home base here in Sydney.

April 2005:  Elizabeth went in for an angiogram in March, and apart from being so whacked for two days by vallium (they postponed the test the first day as she was being wheeled in – because of an emergency), she came out AOK with no signs of any blockages in any artery – just “normal deterioration” for someone in their 60’s..  Thank the Lord.  We picked her up, she came home, and promptly fell asleep again!  Being from a non pill-using tribe seems to make the medication more effective!  This stuff is much more important than the who and what things we often list here...

Brian's mother, Joyce (84), had the blessing of having all four great-grandchildren with her as they were all in Sydney for a few days together.  And lots of the family gathered at the temple - er - McDonalds...

We have seen off old friend, Ernie Culley who came to us from Vancouver via Banda Aceh!  He had a story to tell of what he witnessed there in the outlying areas as he prepared to take a report back to Canada for the relief aid organisation he serves with.  And now we are about to welcome more Canadians, Dave and Vi McElhoes, from Abbotsford.  Dave is coming a s our church's annual camp speaker and plenty of other ministry around our area.

April 2005:  Brian is preparing for yet another trip into Zimbabwe in June and July.  Jeremy is going with him for 4 weeks.  They are flying via Singapore to cut costs (which have gone through the roof in the past year!).  Meanwhile, both of us continue to serve God and His people in our area, and have taken a further reduction in our support from our home church, to reflect our changing role as we go into "seniors' mode"...  Other avenues of ministry are coming up more, and we have such a good ministry spread in our own Christian family nowadays...  

Brian presented a keynote session to the elders of Wesley International Congregation in early April at their annual retreat, after attending the annual Tabor College graduation - where he functions as a Board member.  These are NOT the "board" meetings he still attends occasionally at Soldiers Beach (on his old 7' 4" single stringer)!!

Our local ministers fellowship continues with an expanding role now both into the 5 high schools and 23 primary schools of our area.  Our overseas visitors are envious when they see the opportunity we have in NSW to communicate the gospel to all students in State-run schools!  Brian maintains a detailed website for the Holroyd Combined Churches.  It was a great joy to pray in our own church's two new youth leaders from unchurched families, who had become Christians through the high school ministry some years ago.  What a blessing to see lives changed and real servant hearts develop!

Feb 2005:  The holiday season has come and gone [you gotta live in Aussie to understand the significance of this - from Christmas Day to Australia's National Day (Jan 26), the whole country goes walkabout sort-of!].  Now we all return to "normality" in a work sense at least...  We just had a week up the Coast at our family's holiday cottage.  During the week away, Brian attended a series of "Board meetings" at Soldiers Beach!  And said once again, "I think I'll retire from surfing next year!..."  One or two good rides and the retirement push (turning 60 in a few months) gets postponed yet again...  It's pathetic really...  All that grey hair and missing teeth...  Out among kids young enough to be your grandchildren!

We painted the laundry, put up awnings, trimmed the gardens, etc, and enjoyed each other's company.  Our church's men and boys retreat was on at the same time over the other side of the lake, so Brian took the opportunity to take out the Camp catamaran, and teach a few of the younger fellas how to sail a yacht.  All those years of Kiwi living near the water finally paid off!  And when Elizabeth and Onny climbed on, he resisted the urge to put it to the edge (code for "capsize" as he has done every other time she trusted him with her life on a yacht!).  Ah yes, aging is really about getting more respectable...  We hope your visiting our website is a pleasure and not a boring pain.

By the way, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo came to Sydney in February.  Wow!  What a spectacle!   Nearly 1000 participants - massed bands, cavalry, highland dancers, etc.  And a mock life-sized Edinburgh castle!  Very, very impressive.  We grabbed some promo tickets for the first night and loved it.  A once in a lifetime experience.

November 2004:  Aahhh, the feeling of being at home...  To continue the April 04 health despatch, Brian ended up getting a full stress test recently, at the cardiac unit of Westmead Hospital.  He puffed and jogged on the machine, until they turned it off.  No heart pain, every artery pumping strongly.  Thank the Lord!  The specialist said, "you are the first patient we have had that took the machine to level 6!".  But then, they mainly get sick people in there...

In October, Elizabeth sneaked another birthday through, to the thunderous acknowledgement of many friends and family who love her dearly.  Our church's oldest member turned 94 the same day.  And she too is in excellent mental, and pretty good physical, health.  God sure is good.

November 2004:  Calming down after two months away on such a wonderful, and instructive trip, we are now back in local servants mode.  Time to reflect, work on developing the Resources section of this part of our website, etc, etc.  We hope you get something useful from what's put up here.  Our Ministry Development College has relocated to another church facility (8 churches represented in 33 students attending the two-tiered current Unit).  We are very encouraged with how its developing, and very, very appreciative of the input of Les Hansen (New Creation Ministries, Rooty Hill), and Peter Chan (Fellowship of Christ, Girraween).

July 2004: We're getting this up to date from San Diego, as we near the end of a two month extended odyssey that took us first back to Zimbabwe, where we were involved once again in the lives and development of many dear African believers.  You can follow that experience through our regular updates home.  Then we had the joy of catching up with Emmanuel Gad in London, his fiancé (Eman), and ministering among some of their Coptic friends.  Then it was on to Turkey where we toured (in a small group, for the first time ever) through regions Paul, Barnabas, and John were familiar with!  What an experience - crawling through rock churches of the AD600's.  The decline in vibrant church life and practice after Constantine and his mother, Helena - returning the church to their own Greek religious culture effectively - revolted us.  The move into buildings, the veneration of icons, frescos, and adoration of Mary, etc, is etched in the record in the rock churches, and at Ephesus.  We said, no wonder God allowed Islam to sweep it away.  There was only a shell of the apostolic living church left by then.  And now there is simply no visible sign of Christianity in the parts of Turkey we visited and examined for life evidences.  How sad.  What a warning to us too....

We drove over mountain ranges that Paul and Timothy walked over!  Visiting Iconium (Konya today) where Timothy grew up, which later became the spiritual centre for the Mevlana and his Sufi sect known as the Whirling Dervishes.  His museum was moving - some of his teachings were closer to Christianity than standard Islam (eg. his stress on humility, the pointlessness of praying ritually five-times a day and attending the mosque, stressing relationship with God as more important than ritual, etc).  They do go into an altered state of consciousness (ASC) as they dance, but it did remind us of Richardson's book, Eternity in their Hearts - how people even in other religions sometimes reach out beyond the culture, religion, and teachings that encompass them, "to the unknown God".

Then on to Manchester where we ministered in Jim and Jackie Bowler's church, and spent quality time with them and Andrew and Morag Evans in nearby Chesterfield.  Jim and Andrew are valued members of Lifeline Southern Africa's Advisory Board.  With the extra flight sectors available on the global fare we bought, we were able to go across to Belfast and stay with Moses Koroka, a very dear friend from Lifeline days in Zimbabwe.  Belfast still reeks of discrimination (Loyalists vs everybody else! - see the photo from the street we stayed off).  It was not pleasant!

Then five days in New York, including a time of glorious (literally!) praise at Times Square Church (founded by David Wilkerson in 1989).  So unpretentious; so unlike the show ponies of the Contemporary Churches stream; so anointed!!  Then a wonderful service at Jim Cymbala's Brooklyn Tabernacle where 2500 people showed up Tuesday night for the prayer meeting and communion!  Yes, communion!  First church in six weeks away that had communion.  We celebrated it on our own otherwise, wherever we happened to be staying.

Then to Vancouver, where our kind friends, Ernie and Merrilyn Culley accommodated us.  We also ministered there.  They are heavily into a prophetic model of church life, which is not really our cup of cappuccino, but they sure know how to love people.  In several visits to Vancouver, we have noticed a propensity for the "prophetic" which looks to us like growing more authoritative than the Scriptures when it comes to providing real direction and input into the life of many churches.  It's loopy!  One prophetess has been "led by God" to change her name TWICE in the past year so that it reflects the "authority of the Bride".  She's married; I wonder how her husband coped with this "revelation from the Spirit"...  More on this on our Resource section...

Other more personal stuff about our trip is posted on the personal side of our website.  Enjoy it!

May 2004:  we are updating this over the two days stopover in London courtesy of the kindness of Emmanuel Gad, part of our extended church family at Holroyd New Life!  Wireless broadband.  What a change from Zimbabwe, where last week, we gave up trying to send anything on old lines and systems!  Tomorrow we fly on to Turkey and two weeks travel that is part holiday, part education - we are visiting the sites of several of the Seven churches of Revelation - something Brian has always wanted to do in relation to his extensive course development on Ephesus history and spiritual conflict.

We did our best in limited time in Africa to see many friends and meet new ones.  Brian's healing ministry continued - books (pictured) and shoes a speciality!  Elizabeth was NOT giving instructions on breast feeding to this pastor's wife!

Generally, we were encouraged everywhere we went with what's happening among church folks.  After Brian's major health scare (in intensive care coronary unit 22 hours before takeoff....), we had a very good time health-wise.  You can read about that on our mission's trip update.  Yeah....

We arrived yesterday in London to 25c fine weather (Brian asked the customs man if we had landed in the wrong country!); there were Poms out everywhere without shirts!  Emmanuel met us and drove us straight to Margate on the Coast in Kent where we spent a wonderful half-day with the Founders of Lifeline - Ron and Dorothy Davies.  They are now retired but still very active in the UK as Lifeline representatives.  It was quite inspiring for us to listen to their stories on the 70's and 80's, then for them to listen to us about what we have seen God do in the last two weeks in Africa!

July 2004:  Hello from the Rensfords as we near the home straight after two months travelling away from home.  That's 24 bed-moves (as we call them!).  We long for the familiarity and comfort of our own home, bedroom, and loo!  Brian yearns for the moment when he can again rise at 4am, being directed by an unseen hand without awakening, to our own loo, and back to bed, without becoming quite disoriented.  This brings to mind a time years ago after we rearranged our bedroom furniture, and the next night, he rose still asleep as usual – only to walk into the clothes cupboard, from where his dear wife extracted him after hearing him thrashing around in the clothes hanging there, and steered him to the loo – still asleep.  Just in time….

We are a bit tired but have been very refreshed by the many kindnesses extended to us by so many along the way.  Since leaving home nearly 6 weeks ago, we have unpacked many times.  You have to have a special kind of grace going with you to do this at our age….  This lovely shot was unrehearsed at Bulawayo during a break fn the Ministry Training Program at Lifeline.  The female students were rapt that Elizabeth would play for them! >>>

Our time in Turkey was such a blessing - the mix of history, clash of civilisations, establishment of Christianity, and then the elimination of it - is just overpowering - more so than visiting places like Europe or UK.  A country well worth visiting despite the excessive warnings we received before going.  The mix of old, very ancient, and modern is quite amazing.  We loved the exposure to the birthplace of Western Christianity – as Paul moved away from Jewish Christianity through Asia Minor then on to Macedonia.  There are evidences of that period still extant, but you get the sense that the damage done from Constantine and Helena’s time on (330AD) to living, vibrant faith in Turkey gave the Muslims almost a “right” to invade.  

Kappadokia rock houses

Kappadokia rock chapel preacher

rock dwellings escape tunnel

Ephesus meditation room!

We went through Ephesus, and Pergamum in depth.  And Troy was quite inspiring (although Bard Pitt refused to give us a personal guided tour).  We stood on the city wall area and looked over the plains where the battle actually took place….  We also passed through the regions of Colossae, Timothy’s home of Iconium (now Konya, home of the whirling Dervish Sufi Muslim sect - interestingly, considerably closer in some of its concepts to real Christianity, and off-side with the power-broking Sunnis), Smryna (now Izmir, a filthy industrial city of 3m), Laodicea. Miletus.  We even stayed a night at Assos.  We were amazed at how on earth Paul and the others could have travelled, mostly on foot, between many of these places with the unbelievable mountain ranges and long distances between them – that element of Acts has come alive to us - with a fresh appreciation for their labours.

The TOTAL absence of the gospel, churches, Christianity expressions in Turkey is staggering.  By contrast, Zimbabwe is Christianised-out with witness (although still chronically short of teaching depth).  In Turkey by contrast, there appears to be no way anyone hungry to find the true Saviour could find a place or people publicly to make contact with - no ads, no media, no public buildings.  The prevailing silence astonished us and we were moved by it.

For many years, we have longed to visit Gallipoli.  The time we spent there was very sobering.  The waste of life!  They were mainly youths, not men!  Sent to die in a foreign land for an ignoble cause.  (No wonder my grandfather deserted in NZ, refusing to fight (as a man from an Irish-background ) for the English aristocracy.  He even changed his name to Rensford (from Horgan) to avoid capture and court-martial...).  The most moving elements there are Ataturk's powerful speech to honour the war-dead of the enemy.  This is so unusual and moves most visitors at the tiny strip of beach called Anzac Cove.  Click on it; it's worth reading carefully....  In the same vein, the Kiwi memorial at Cannuk Bair at the top of the range (they almost won the campaign, but couldn't hold it long enough), stands right beside the Turkish memorial - given equal respect and prominence by the Turks!  Amazing and moving to be there.

As Mark Twain said, " Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness".  How true...

A cross-cultural smile…  Turkey generally is quite polite when it comes to touts – in front of shops, bazaars, restaurants, etc.  In 1924, Mustaafa Ataturk banned beards (on men!!…) because of their association with extremist Islam.  So there are few bearded men in Turkey.  We were walking down a crowded street near Ephesus when an older man standing outside a restaurant called out to me (or so I thought, with my wonky hearing) “nice beer, Sir!”.  I assumed he was promoting his eatery, and turned to say we had already eaten, but he was rubbing his face…..  So he said it again, “nice beard, Sir!”  I just hope I don’t get arrested at JFK airport in NY in two days by an American customs official saying, "suspicious-looking beard, Sir; step this way"….

In the UK, we had a blessed time with Lifeline-related stuff.  Spent a day with the (retired) founders in Margate – Ron and Dorothy Davies.  If we can be that enthusiastic at 80, we’ll be very, very happy!  We were also in Manchester and Chesterfield with two of the Advisory Board members and then flew over to Belfast to spend two days with Moses Koroka, who visited us in Sydney in 2001 from Zimbabwe.  The cranes in the background at Belfast are called Samson and Goliath; they are at the shipyard where the Titanic was built, and we were told by (unbiased!) locals they are the largest cranes in the world!

Health-wise, Brian is fit and well again, thank the Lord, after the alleged heart attack-that-wasn’t.  Back jogging up to 10k at a time.  So, we are both now very, very well.  A special, heartfelt tatenda (thanks) to everyone who remembered us in prayer for health and safety.  All in all, we have had a supernaturally “easy” time of it all – and we sure know that only happens through the love and prayerful support of many, many others.

Want to send email in NY?  Couldn't find an Internet cafe except in Times Square, where we in the only cafe, we counted 550 terminals!!  And getting lost in Central Park NY (it’s only 870 acres of trails and paths!) and taking 2 hours to get back to where the hotel was (the sun is located mirror-image to Sydney in the Northern Hemisphere, Brian, dummy!),  We visited the usual places - World Trade Centre, UN, NY Stock Exchange, etc - see photo of Brian grasping the business end of the bull market by the short and curlies!!

After the pace of New York (a great place to visit ONCE), Vancouver was a refreshing change of pace.  Then it was on to Washington State across the border where we stayed with old friends, Bruce and Anne Elliott.  They are confused...  Why?  Coz Bruce's job took him to San Diego for a year, and now they have another home there where it doesn't get freezing cold in the winter.  So, they commute.  Sound familiar to anyone in Melbourne and points north???  Well, we got in his Forerunner and drove 2300kms down the I-5 to San Diego in 1 1/2 days!  The only trouble is you have to drive through some 200kms of LA to get there!  That means freeway driving as only LA can deliver!  Bruce tells me there are 23 lanes at one point at a nearby junction!!  We were stonkered!  Bruce and Brian have been running together most days (see the April update below for the significance of this).  God's still good!

April 2004:  This is an extract from our first update back home from Zimbabwe.  It's self-explanatory...  trouble from before we left!   Brian reports:  Last weekend our church had our annual camp at the foot of the Blue Mountains with Jim and Jackie Bowler, Lifeline friends from Manchester, UK.  Unfortunately, my enjoyment of it was limited to the spiritual and fellowship aspects, as physically, I was not in good shape.  The beginnings of a severe bronchial asthma attack were brewing and I suffered badly both nights up there. We were up at our family’s holiday cottage at Budgewoi where we have taken Jim and Jackie for two days r ‘n’ r after their wonderful ministry to us before they headed home to Manchester (via Perth), when a build up of bronchial asthma hit me like I have never had before in my life (I am not asthmatic by background), and I had to drive to the emergency ward at Wyong Hospital at midnight for help.

They tested me for various things (X-rays, blood tests, ECG, etc).  An ECG graph done at 3am registered a heart attack after I was settled in for the night on the leads – plugged up all over!  The 6am ECG test clearly showed major aberrations to my heart condition.  Even I could see what they were saying.  When I told the doctor I was due to fly out to Zimbabwe in 48 hours, he rolled his eyes and said, “I hope your travel insurance is paid up coz you’re not going anywhere…”   So, I was off by ambulance to Gosford ICU, to the Cardiac ward, the next day for more tests by the coronary specialist, and some serious discussion about what was really wrong.

On the funny side – getting bawled out by a grumpy cardiac nurse because I was wandering around (with leads hanging off me like a choko vine) looking for a phone to call Elizabeth and a dunny to visit, with her shouting “get back in bed!  You’ve had a heart attack!”  I was the only happy patient in a very depressing ward…  Kept doing my stretches though when they weren’t looking…

Finally, the specialist admitted my blood tests showed no signs whatsoever of a heart attack (Including a “silent one” that the Wyong doctor had indicated had happened) – my blood enzyme count was perfect.  So, it looks like the original alarm was from a heart strain because of the lack of oxygen, and coughing like a chronic smoker in the death rattles set it off.  But it was a temporary aberration not a real attack.  They wanted to keep me in for another night for observation, but without my mentioning I planned to be on plane in less than 24 hours time, they agreed to let me go home and call on my own family doctor.

“Strangely”, my own GP was not on deck that evening when we got home and I had to see a new Chinese doctor to fill a prescription to take to Zimbabwe.  It turned out that he was a born-again believer who has only been in the area a few weeks.  His parting words were, “I will pray for you in Zimbabwe”.   Still, I am going to get a full stress test by my local GP when I get home in early July.  Just to check if it “was a warning shot across my bow” as one doctor put it.  I do have faith in God’s goodness, but I am also a pragmatist and believe sound information is very important in decision-making.

On the positive side though, I felt to trust the Lord, not fight anything, and make the most of the rest.  Turned out I hadn’t realised how tired I was – slept 11 hours straight the night spent in the Cardiac ward.  I felt much fresher going to Africa. It’s good to know God in a time like I have had.  [Psa 84:5-7] jumped out and blessed me (thank God for Gideons – I had nothing with me, expecting a quick trip in and out).  Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.  As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.  They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.  My heart was already on pilgrimage in Zimbabwe and I didn’t intend to leave it in Gosford Hospital!…. 

Thought from a friend in Auckland in a recent email:  I'm the guy who loves the human race as long as individuals don’t interrupt my programme!!  Aaagghhh!  Mea culpa, Lord!

Feb 2004:  It's hard to pen a website update straight after Christmas break in Aussie!  It was 40c this weekend!  We had a blessed Christmas.  If you are reading this somewhere else in God's garden other than Australia, it's hard to grasp how seriously this country takes its hot Christmas break!  Lots of BBQ's, friendships caught up on, swimming, and beach visits.

And in the middle of it, Brian is again in (once-a-week) training to complete his 12th (and final) Six Foot Track Ultra from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains....  Carl, his Fijian Christian friend, meets him early Saturdays and they run laps up and down the hills in the Reserve at Lake Gillawarna.  After 12 finishes, the race committee award an embossed belt (and three months free psychiatric treatment!)....

So, it's back to the routine for another year.  We hope you too have a blessed year....  Learning, growing, making mistakes and being open to adjustment, having some lighter moments along the way....  Repeat thought for another new year - in 2002, Brian took some friends down to Kangaroo Valley, where our youth camp was on at lakeside.  At evening devotions, one young teenage girl from a non-Christian home asked, "why can't it be this good all the time?"  She didn't mean the canoeing, swimming, bush bashing, trailer rides - she meant the sense of peace and harmony, and the pleasure and safety of good quality companionship.  We hope we can make a difference again this year to at least a few others....  Join us!

Jan 2004:  We have added something for consideration on the resources page which you might be interested in...  It's to do with the Seven times prophecies of the OT and their broader fulfilment to and through the Church in our days.  A great way to awaken the grey matter in another New Year!  We know this could be seen as a return to the crazy days of the 60's and 70's and 80's when many of us were obsessed with numbers, dates, and when "it was gonna happen!".  But, go there and have a look....

November  2003:  This is being updated sitting in the Joburg transit lounge en route to a two-week visit to Zimbabwe for a Lifeline network leaders conference.  The Qantas staff treated us like royalty.  And Joy Doughty has come too.  We are connecting in two hours direct to Harare where the Fords will pick us up.  By then, it will be 20 hours en route, but at least we got connecting flights and go straight through for a change.  Elizabeth is hosting Joy's husband PLUS their four children for two weeks - and they home school!  Fancy learning to teach in your 60's!  She still amazes me with her servant spirit, even though we have been married for 35 years...  Joy hasn't been back to Africa since they left Kenya 15 years ago and settled in Australia.  But our church rallied without much prompting and covered her fare here (and it isn't cheap).  Got to laugh at the next bit about how my (Brian's) fare got half covered....

The day I started Internet surfing for a fare, a 40+ student (from another church) in our Ministry Development College put a cheque for $1000 in the offering bag made out to me.  This is unheard of, as we never solicit for our own travel costs.  When I asked him about it, he laughed and said he had placed a $10 bet on his local footy team (Penrith) at the start of the season at 100:1 odds.  And from wooden spoon in 2001, they won!  "It's tainted money, Brian" he exclaimed!  "I can't keep it, but to you, it's a gift and you have to take it!  What's more, I put $5 on them winning the premiership next Sunday night at 40:1, and if they win, there's another $200 towards your fare!"  So, the same Sunday morning, I told the church that my career as a great itinerant faith apostle has now been launched - funded by gambling!  Then I told them about the second bit; if the Panthers won that night, another $200 was on its way.  It was our monthly missions' morning, so I added, "before we pray for our missions people, let's all pause and pray for Penrith!!!"  That did it...  The congregation cracked up, hooting and laughing....  Well, they won, and so half my fare was covered in a never-before manner..

October 2003: We travelled down to Fitzroy Falls in the beautiful Southern Highlands, where Brian completed his 60th marathon (42k and beyond).  This was only 7 weeks after arriving home from Zimbabwe, so the preparation "left something to be desired"...  It's a spectacular bush run on the edge of the escarpment in the Morton NP.  Mick "Mudguts" Hodgson and Brian ran the whole way together, dissecting politics and the meaning of life.

Back home, our new replacement dog has settled in to life with the circus (as someone told Jeremy's wife, Linda, what marrying into the Rensfords was like!).  Onny (short for Onyx) is seen here with Brian on their morning prayer walk in the bush nearby.  Brian is obviously discipling him - throw that leg up, Onny!  Aim straight, boy!  Bless that tree!

Meantime, the circus has an additional return performer - Brian's Mum, Joycey, has returned from Shepparton, like an old matriarch to the elephants' graveyard (Merrylands).  Nah, she isn't that silly; she has chosen to spend the rest of her days in a lovely villa at Cardinal Gilroy Village just down the road.  Brian is one of the chaplains there, so he has to keep his stories dead accurate now that his mother listens in!..   She's back in our church, urging on the wives to keep producing surrogate great-grandchildren...  And she gave him someone to watch the AFL and Rugby World Cup with!  (We won't mention the All Black's disaster lest some depressed Kiwi reader tries to email me an explosive device....).

Nov 2003:  Brian is returning again to Zimbabwe late November for two weeks to participate in a Lifeline leadership conference, prayerfully discussing the way forward.  In October, we hosted a symposium on Richard Rohr's material about aging gracefully in ministry as men (and in all work environments too).  Bruce Pedersen, our local senior Church of Christ minister, presented the material - was very challenging.  We'd put it on the Resource page but it's too difficult to describe on paper, being more a dialogue subject.  Middle age brings on a choice as your career path and abilities stop increasing ever upward, and you begin to decline in faculties.  Basically, you can go into denial (and be a proper pain to others who have to suffer your deluded opinion of yourself), get depressed (and still be a pain to others, especially your wife - if she hasn't left you!), or you can become what Rohr calls, "the wise old fool", and be available to mentor the next generation - so you get to disappear from the public spotlight, but rejoice at seeing your mission continue beyond your own generation.  

MDC (Ministry Development College) continues to spread in its scope and influence.  This Unit (the last for 2003) has 24 students from 5 different churches and three lecturers (Wayne Botting, local AoG, Les Hansen, New Creation Ministries, and Brian).  This has worked out well with the two-week Zimbabwe trip occurring in the middle of it.  Our vision is to see it become a training college for the Body in our district.

This is being updated while we are away as guest speakers at one of our local Baptist Church's annual camp - which we count as a great honour.  When we moved into the area in 1978, and later started the church (1984), we were viewed with deep suspicion because of the unsavoury reputation for sheep-stealing that Pentecostals had acquired (because many had built their new churches by sheep-stealing).  Praise God that this has been beaten down over the years.  We were asked to speak on the subject of opening up their church to greater evangelism, especially bringing it to become a "House of Prayer for all peoples".

Sept 2003:  Brian was back in Africa July/August - this time with Craig and Michelle (niece and her husband from our church), on yet another missions' trip.  You can track what we did (it sure was an interesting time in that troubled part of God's great vineyard) on our Current African Trip webpage.  Bit in the meantime, here's a couple of interesting photos (taken with our new digital camera).  Brian explaining how to use the NIV Study Bibles our church people bought for the pastors to use (note the dirt floor and unfinished building, home made tables and bits n pieces chairs...).  And then Brian sharing the revelation of how Paul Roos got an ordinary team of AFL Swans to make the finals a la Romans 12:1-8 principle of identifying and fitting together the variety of giftedness in ordinary people!  Yeah, go Swanees!.  

While away, we have extensively updated the resources section.  It's not a "flit and dip" magazine-type section.  There's stuff there to get your teeth into.  There's a new Current Feature section, Under the Microscope.  We've started with observations and commentaries on the massive shift occurring under the twin ugly sisters of globalisation and corporatisation - and especially their significance on the future of the church.

Before going to Africa in July, Brian managed to get up a website for our local Combined Churches activities.  It hasn't been done before, and with the Festival of Hope coming up in mid-September, we figured it could help publicise and synergise local Christian activity and unity in Holroyd.  It's on Holroyd Combined Churches.

And the other major undertaking we highlighted in Jan 2003 - Holroyd Ministry Development College - is still going well.  We are completing five Units this year, of 6 weeks each.  They have been well-attended, with a wider spread of folks outside Holroyd NLC coming.  And what really matters is that we have seen ordinary people step up to serve the Lord humbly and more competently.  And a humorous sidelight...  A cheque appeared in the offering box last week for $1000 made out to Brian - same day we were looking at airfares for the return trip to Zimbabwe.  The timing was impeccable!  Brian thanked the donor, who laughed and said, "I put $10 on the Penrith Panthers to win the minor premiership early this year at 100:1!  It's tainted money to me and I can't keep it!  But it's a gift to you, so you can!  And if they win the premiership, there's more to come!"  So, Brian got up last Sunday (our monthly Missions' Day) and told the church of this, then added, "before we pray for our missionaries, let's pray for Penrith to win..." - to hoots of good old Westies' faith/scorn...  We said, it's the first time we have seen faith missions' ministry funded by gambling!  And they did win!  What is the church coming to, we ask???

More in our ongoing diaries.. under Rensford African Updates

August  2003:  this is being written in weird circumstances.  Craig and Michelle left Victoria Falls this morning for London, after four weeks here in Zimbabwe with our Lifeline training course, and a final week in the National Parks of western Zimbabwe (Hwange, Vic Falls, and Chobe in Botswana).  Wow, wow, wow!  The Garden of Eden is still with us (without the innocence though - the money changers drive you nuts!  My basic Shona came to the rescue on several occasions as we told them to rack off in Shona (they were then confused about our tourist status...)!

So, I (Brian) am sitting in a lodge on the edge of the Zambesi River, with deer, elephants, hippos, buffalo, and even a leopard nearby!  Typing furiously so we can update our website when I get home in a day and a half.  I decided to go to a nearby church (in a crocodile farm) 1500m away at the entrance to the NP.  It was supposed to start at 5pm.  At 5pm, I was the only one there!  So, with the sun setting, I decided to quickly walk back to the lodge - past a small herd of elephants in the bush, warthog, small deer (bushbuck), baboons.  It sure helps you speak in tongues loudly!  Being noisy is a safeguard with wild animals; they know you are there and are not so likely to be aggressive as when you surprise them.

So, this update is in lieu of church (African style..., and it is run by a murungu - white man!).  We have had a marvellous time here (continual sicknesses and all).  And now it's over for another year.  I am tired and looking forward to going home tomorrow.  But we saw God's hand in oh so many ways this trip...  What an experience.  You can follow the detail on our 2003 African Updates webpage.  Go there and check out the photos put on by our new digital camera connection...

Reading the local (Govt-backed) paper here today I discovered I belong to a nation run by "Kangaroo Coward Howard"!  Being a Kiwi by passport helped several times (financially), and joy of joys, I even found an Internet connection today that worked!  Enough to tell me the Swans defeated the Premiers (Brisbane) yet again and are now in the top four!  My sole link with the other world back home...  

April 2003: We went off to NZ in mid March.  It's been nearly five years since we crossed the Tasman, and we were looking forward to stopping with old friends, some family, doing some church ministry stuff, and attending Brian's old high school's jubilee celebrations.

Craig and Michele have booked to come with Brian back to Zimbabwe in mid-July.  They go on to Europe and the USA afterwards.  We smile a bit at the thought of "danger in Bulawayo" that the media cranked up for our Aussie cricket team.  Politics issues are important and should be worked through, but "safety" concerns re the very friendly Ndebele people in Matabeleland???  And as it turned out, nothing happened....

And we had a war coming up.  A Gulf War has just been lost (the Kiwis lost the America's Cup on the Hauraki Gulf), and traitors in the ranks did it!  The Swiss boat was crewed by NZ's best yachties.  Oh what treachery!!  Oh, who cares.  It's just a yacht race for the filthy rich!

Even more tragic - Lady, our old Cavalier spaniel perished in the 45c heat mid-January; she was 14 (70 in human terms).  Then, a month later, we lost Libby when she ran away terrified in a thunder storm.  Tagged and all, but no response so far.  The house is silent...  If you have never had a King Charles Cavalier, you may not understand this sloppy sentiment...

Elizabeth flew to Melbourne first for a week with her family, then direct to Auckland, while Brian stayed behind tom apply four months of training for the Six-Foot track ultramarathon (now 45km).  He did No. 11 in 5/54, was pretty happy with that, and hobbled over to Auckland two days later with only three dead toenails this time...  We met up at the Uttings home.

from Kiwiland:  We are at the start of our second week away as we update this.  We have spent the whole time in and around Auckland, before we drive south to Palmerston North.  At present, we are staying with Brian's cousin, Mark (and Sandra) in a farming area about an hour's drive south of the city centre.  There's a freeway most of the way here, but you have never seen traffic jams like Auckland's!  Their road system has been overpowered by the increase in traffic and they have done little to improve it in the last 20 years.  Everyone complains about it.  So, we will be driving back in late this morning and not coming back until after the evening rush hour.  And public transport is a joke, so you have to drive everywhere.

We have hired a little rental car to buzz around in.  Lesson #1 - check the road rules - it helps preventing being abused when you turn left off a road and someone charges across from a right turn in front of you (opposite to NSW rule).  We stayed in town with Brian's friend from his old High School - he was a big help in everyway.  He loaned Brian a tuxedo to wear to the old boys' dinner!  First (and last) time experience!  Elizabeth's cries of, "dear, you look so handsome!" fell on (even more) deaf ears….  

I caught up with lots of people I hadn't seen for 40 years, including some of Keith's school mates.  Everyone looked so ancient!  We were all reminiscing on which teacher struck the most terror into the students by their forceful manner and even more forceful caning power - unanimously the vote went to Mr Dudley, the maths teacher!  And lo!;  Then, there he was at the dinner….  Looking far less fearsome (and smaller…)… I plucked up courage and went up to talk with him, and told him how I had become a Christian two years out of High School, and he (the fearsome one) responded, "I turned to Christ in 1980 too!".  I nearly fell over in shock, then had a great time of fellowship with him…

Lots of old teachers attended and that was the highlight of the evening.  I forgave Spanner (Mr Spencer) for refusing to award me the Geography prize when I topped the College (because of my shortcomings in behaviour…) - he's about 85, but I would have recognised him in a crowded street…  And, oh yeah, and New Zealanders have finally learned how to brew decent coffee!  Civilisation waits for no one!  Now you can even buy Turkish pide bread in the larger shops!

Our time in Palmerston North was such a blessing.  We stayed with John and Yvonne Walton in their lovely home on the hill and were entertained by John's efforts to show what control he had over Yvonne - er, no - Frodo their young Bichon Frieze (dog).  Frodo had him bluffed and we loved it (and so does John...)!  Their church was a blessing to us yet again, and we hope we left something good there over the (several) times we ministered.  Brian did a healing seminar on the Monday night, and 70 people showed up, to learn some of what we have learned about creating a healing environment in which many "ordinary people" a local church can effectively function to bring greater health levels.

Before we flew home, we spent two days around Taupo, and loved it.  Went to the craters of the moon thermal valley.  What a sight!  Steam oozing everywhere out of the ground as you walk among it on a boardwalk for about 3km.  Quite eerie.

April 2003:  We came home from NZ late March; it was a mixture of a trip with lots of lessons for us to learn...  On Sunday in Auckland, we attended the local (charismatic) Presbyterian church where our friends go.  There was a very observable touch of the Holy Spirit on what they ministered;  their music was excellent in anointing and skilfulness.  The pastoral couple that have led the church for the past 7 years have a real vision to equip the whole congregation to minister - which is definitely NOT old Presbyterian!  We attended a well-known "contemporary, cafe" church that night nearby, and it was a shocking awful service.  Even the sound was bad (which is unusual in the new wave contemporary stream).  [As a friend said, "yeah - con and temporary!"].  There was no touch of God on what they did, and we didn't stay around to sample the cappuccino in their new cafe at the door.  There was more anointing in the McCafe around the corner....

There is much wreckage around Auckland from past false prophetic movements and teachings - quite staggering the number of people we have met who are still "in recovery".  It has made us so grateful for our own situation in Holroyd, and the relatively few self-destruct movements we have seen in our district.

January 2003: We're finishing the season for screeds of personal detail that will make a little sense to some and be very boring to others.  So, we'll skip that!  Brian is back in training for his 11th attack on the Six Foot Track ultra through the Blue Mountains from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves (47km).  We are trying to watch the calorie intake more carefully - you know, like breaking every bit of naughty food so the amazing scientific breakthrough known as "calorie leakage" can occur, which enables a percentage of calories to escape into the stratosphere...  

Trivia - here's how modern life goes more and more weird.  Brian joined three jogging friends for their annual 30km run from Palm Beach to Manly over the headlands.  It was a tradition for 25 years, with about 300 loony runners meeting in the dark at 5am!  Two years ago, the Police killed it off because a lot of it is on the roadside.  Yeah, we're talking about 5am to 8 am first Saturday of the New Year, traffic minimised, mostly 3 lanes either way to boot, and yet another tradition has been hounded into extinction.  So now we sneak up there and do as individuals.  Pathetic.  And the Government talks about fitness for health being a priority...

By the way, the next section of our sensational canal bike-path has been opened, and we now (seriously) have at our gate possibly the very best cycleway in Australia.  The full 7km to the dam will be opened in three months, and later it will be connected both ends to the Bay to the Blue Mountains cycleway.  Come and ride / walk it with us sometime!

And there's always an invitation to our extended family of friends, rellies, and even a few enemies, to call by, ring up, email, or drop in.  This is what the last lot (103 wise men from the East) looked like when we went out to greet them on the edge of town.  Hmmm...  Anyway, be hospitable (interesting word from Latin - offering a bed and refreshing someone needing recovery - hence hospitality and hospital have essentially the same meaning.  Here endeth the lesson.  We hope you had a blessed and fulfilling Christmas!

January  2003: The drought seems to have broken in Sydney, and another Christmas season came upon us with a real sense of God's presence in our own church's get-togethers.  The Kings hosted a marvellous BBQ, swim, praise and thanksgiving night on the last Sunday in December, and there were many comments afterwards on the very evident manifestation of God's presence.  That's how we want to live in 2003!  Hope that's your cry too...

Brian was approached to join the Board of Tabor College (NSW campus) last July and has been active in serving in that capacity since we came home from Africa.  The annual Tabor Convention is on next week and we are particularly looking forward to hearing from Bishara Awad, Principal of (the real!) Bethlehem Bible College!  He has a story to tell!  Barry Chant, fellow Swans' member and avid supporter, has moved on from his other role (Principal of Tabor NSW) to become senior minister of the Wesley International congregation, where he and Vanessa have made their home (when they aren't doing other ministry) for many years.  Brian and Barry regularly enjoy discussing the end of the world, the state of the church, and the Swans' prospects - all at halftime at the SCG!

It was a big step out from New Life Churches of Australia 18 months ago, but the grace of God has made it a very smooth and proactive time.  Because it wasn't done in a "spit the dummy" way, we have been able to continue fellowshipping with many of the New Life people.  At the same time, our church has formalised our relationship (in a defined accountability sense) with several other life-giving churches in our area.  This has developed after Brian had been praying with one of our local Baptist ministers weekly for some six years.  In the seventh year (2002) another three ministers joined us for a weekly time of praying for our district, leaders, Council, churches, etc.  It has brought a fresh breath of God on our churches too, with the younger leaders (Jeremy and Michelle's age and responsibility level) stepping out together in evangelism.

The other major step that emerged from the releasing of responsibilities (and the large chunks of time that went with it) in NLCA, was Brian has finally been able to get up and running a project he felt God call him too while we were visiting Mozambique five years previous - and this year Holroyd Ministry Development College came to birth.  We completed four units of teaching, practical equipping, and generally having a good time!  It was a great joy especially to have Les Hansen and many of his wonderful people join in.  Their multi-racial (and mostly Polynesian) influence was a great blessing, and took the College somewhere we didn't foresee - much better!  You can have a look on the Holroyd MDC website at what's coming up in 2003.

Running the College has been a major commitment, and couldn't have happened without the support in our home church of Jeremy's pastoral role, as well as many other folks stepping forward to serve God.

And we are prayerfully planning yet another return trip to Africa in mid 2003.  This year, Craig and Michelle are planning to come with Brian, while Elizabeth stays at home and further develops her revelation of "ladies who lunch"!  - and walk, and ride, and help Glorious Jeans make a big fat profit!

October 2002:  We've been back from Africa over a month now;  Sydney is in drought - with most of our State).  Peter Zulu, our dear friend in Zimbabwe, was struck down only days after we left him (see our 2002 African visits reports #4) with a massive tumour attached to his kidney.  Things like that sober up your view of what's really important and what is very, very incidental.  We love Peter and his dear family, we have been praying continually for him, and our church has been forwarding on quite a lot of financial help for the massive cost over there for any treatment of substance...  

We are planning (DV) to return to NZ after Brian's longest time away in 35 years of living this side of the Ditch (AKA Tasman Ocean)!  It's Brian's old high school's jubilee.  He attended when the College was only six years old, and is looking forward to catching up with some of the past students that he has recovered some contact with via the Internet and the Old Boys magazine.  Elizabeth's favourite Uncle, Richard Holland, just returned from a trip to Canada (at 84!).  Man, he is a goer!  He got around (with our favourite cuzzie, his daughter, Hilary and her husband, Pier) and visited practically everyone he knows there (and that's a lot of people after all the trips he has taken there in ministry over 40+ years).  Must have a bit of Caleb in his genes!  At 85, he'll probably start shouting, "give me this mountain!"

ODD SPOT:  And, yeah, the strangest thing happened when Brian took our church's annual ski trip down to the Snowy Mountains in September (two days after returning from Africa to be precise!) - he met the long-lost twin of his brother, Keith!  The resemblance was freakish!  Stan is Polish, a committed Christian who lives in a Christian retreat centre in outer Sydney with a man we have known for 30 years!  The similarity brought all sorts of guffaws and questions to Joycey (Brian's 81 y/o Mum, who was pressured to confess she had actually given birth to twins near Cape Foulwind, (as Keith loves to point out!) on the South Island's Wild West Coast in 1947, but because of financial hardship, her and George had adopted the other one out to a Polish family fleeing Nazi Europe....  She denied it; and yes, we believe her, but the similarity was amazing!!  Don't believe us; well look for yourself, and become a true believer...

Sept 2002: We started updating this from Beira in Mozambique.  The mozzies are out in force (cerebral malaria and cholera are a regular feature of the local scene!), and we are here to participate with Lifeline's Doulos teaching and training program for church leaders.  You can read about our current trip on our updates page.  We returned home late August, via Derick and Collette Dove's house and church in  Midlands, Perth.  What a joy to accompany them to a very alive ministers' prayer and breakfast time at 6.30am our second morning home in Aussie.  Brian taught some foundational stuff over two nights to their church.

On our return home in early September, Brian took a group from our church down to the Snowy Mountains for our annual ski trip.  What a contrast....  Aching after such a long trip with no vigorous exercise - not recommended!

Locally, we had our first-ever Prayer Gathering on a Sunday night mid-July.  Several minsters and members of their congregations gathered to pray for our district for an extended time.  Phil Grebert (Wenty Baptist minister) initiated it and our church hosted the get-together.  It was a powerful night!

August 2002:  Out jogging, just before we flew out for Africa, a couple of fellow-aging wrecks commented on growing old, "well, mate, there's one thing worse than aging, and that's dying!".  To which I countered, "no, that's not right...  Dying is great when you're a Christian.  It's the doorway into a wonderful eternity.  But, growing old and having your knees go, then your hips and/or ankles and/or your brain!  Now, that is worrisome..."  I was reminded of the true story of Aimee Carmichael in India years ago when one of her medical staff from England suffered a serious health breakdown.  A specialist in Bombay told him if he stayed in the tropics he could die at any moment.  He approached Carmichael with this news and said, "I have to return to England immediately or I could drop dead at any moment";  to which she gave the classic Christian reply, "my dear fellow!  How can you possibly resist the temptation?!"

Yeah, it's all in the mindset, isn't it?

So, on that cheerful note, we set off to Zimbabwe in late July for six weeks.  Quite a few friends queried us on the sanity of going there in these uncertain times.  Well, thus far, we have survived (being written from Matabeleland) and even enjoyed our time here!

May 2002: We have just returned to Sydney after flying Melbourne >> Adelaide >> Alice Springs >> Cairns >> Brisbane >> home.  Qantas offered an amazing deal last year to clear away their credit card points liability (and we booked up just before Sept 11!  Spent time with relatives, friends, and had two weeks on our own (Alice, Cairns, Gold Coast).  You can take in some of the journey details, sights and folks on our "photos-trips" webpage.  It was fun, relaxing, and awe-inspiring in some of the amazing diversity found in our great Creator's "garden".  Brian got a special buzz out of a day's scuba diving 70km out on the Great Barrier Reef, after a 30 year layoff...  Now it's back home to a more "normal" lifestyle, while we prepare to leave again for Zimbabwe in mid-July.

Lowlight of the holiday - Brian getting the campervan stuck in a rocky creek-bed north of Cairns (while looking for a recommended campsite in the Daintree-Cape Tribulation rainforest).  He drove into a river crossing without getting out and checking the depth!  Elizabeth kept the motor running (exhaust well under water level!), and engaged first gear, while Brian dug out rocks, pushed boards under the spinning tyre, and heaved away just enough to see the campervan inch out, after 20 minutes of effort + intercession (we had a $5000 insurance excess!)...  Marriage saved, and a passing 4WD helped us back across...  it's never boring when we go off the beaten track....

March 2002 : In 1993 John Curtis came back from South Africa and married Elizabeth's mother, Grace.  They lived next door to us for six happy years, before Grace died at 86 and John moved to Cornwall UK to live with his daughter (Joyce) and her family.  We had a call from them this month to say John had quite suddenly taken ill and died, aged 89.  Even if you never met John, we think his obituary will interest a lot of our website visitors.  So we have put it on a separate page.  It's a copy of what we sent to the national newspapers.  A life with enough tragedy, romance, and action to have a film made (seriously)....  Go there!

Drop us a line.  Stay in touch.  It's now a very small world...

Feb 2002:  Brian resigned from his role as National Coordinator of New Life Churches of Australia in July 2001, and has now finished transitioning his various responsibilities over to other members of the National Leadership.  He has also resigned from the association.  While being very grateful for the many lessons and experiences learned from over the past eight years, in New Life Churches (both in Oz and NZ), he has decided not to identify with the developing direction of the movement.

Meanwhile on the local front, there has been an increasing commitment among several local ministers and youth ministers to meet regularly for prayer, fellowship, ministry-sharing, and peer support.  Brian has been praying weekly with the (now) President of the Ministers' Fellowship for over six years, and now several other leaders have joined them in Body vision seeking God's blessing for THE Church in the district, and for His purposes to impact on the community.  This is exciting stuff!

January 2002 : it seems that the older you get the more trivial your "news" becomes... Aaaggghhhh!!!  We're off again, all of us, right?  Leaping into another new year.  Brian started as usual with a dawn 30km run from Palm Beach to Manly with some of his mad mates.  Joyce has moved in for a month from down south.  She's 81 tomorrow!  We stay home and mind the fort while many of our church folks and leaders take holidays.  The bush fires surrounded Sydney and made some sunsets look like scenes from Revelation.  

October 2001 :  We're settled back at home after Brian returned from Africa early September.  He reports on his time away on our African webpage. Elizabeth turned 60 this month and we threw a women's-only breakfast party for 35 "mature" ladies, PLUS one solitary male/manservant (identified by his beard).  She didn't know that her cousin Hilary, and friend Catriona were secretly flying up from Melbourne for the day.  They came dressed like presents!  There was a real outpouring of affection and honouring that was quite overwhelming....  And now she can travel around Sydney for a dollar on the Seniors' Card, and get discount coffee!...

October 2001:  (Brian reports)  We've been ministering in Africa again.  It's my fourth trip in the past four years.  Again with Lifeline in their (to us and our church) well thought-out Doulos (Greek for servant) ministry leadership development program.  Three courses again - Beira [Mozambique], Banket [100km north of Harare], and Bulawayo [in Matabeleland, southern Zimbabwe].  And a conference in the middle.  Public description of these events must of necessity be extremely circumspect.  It is such a Christian country - compared to Australia.  We have found considerable confusion among some who have been told they are poor because the nation is in rebellion against God.  I reply to them, if this is so, how can Australia be so rich when it is more wicked, and godless than Zimbabwe or Mozambique!?!?  There is far more evidence of real Christianity in both countries than at home.  Our city is more violent, has more robberies, assaults, rapes, etc, and now has a widespread fascination with the occult through New Age and Hollywood's diet of the demonic with humour...

September 2001 :   We've just  put the last African trip updates in the Web, if you're interested in what was a very interesting (and different) trip from the others we have done.  see the Update link above.  It's footy finals time;   Swans are out already, after what we saw in Africa, and after the devastation in NY it all is so insignificant.  (But tell that to Jeremy who has travelled to Melbourne the last two weekends to watch his beloved Richmond Tigers play in the finals).  And this weekend he's driving (driving! because of the airline fiasco) to Brisbane for a third weekend of commitment!  When Brian said to Jeremy's wife, Linda, why she was so surprised at his sudden travel bug when after all, he was a Victorian when she married him, she replied, "yes, but I never thought they would make the finals!"

We're in good health and looking forward to the summer - a summer of renovations, cough, cough... (that's code that every husband understands - quit your talk and do something around the house!).  Drop us a line..

August 2001 :  G'day, folks, readers, friends in cyberspace, and any occasional visitors!   I (Brian) am updating this somewhere near the African coastline en route again to Zimbabwe, after a weekend in Perth with Tom and Jane Bond and their new New Life church.  Elizabeth is at home and after Leimans have departed we now have Varsharani Kukas staying with us.  Varsha has been in our church since she arrived from Pune, India, six months ago.  She is doing a computer degree nearby.

We are both well.  Grateful to God for good health (for our ages).  And still riding together on Mondays!  We even took a punt on going skiing early for 5 days with friends, as we had missed the last few seasons because of our travelling to Zimbabwe with Lifeline.  Got lucky!  Snow was good and we had a heap of fun.  We live in a wonderful country!  heck!  This was so plain when I got off in Perth last week and stood behind our Federal Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley, for 5 minutes while he waited for a friend to collect his luggage; then drove him off - no bodyguards, security, etc.  It's a safe country to live in (next stop is Johannesburg - currently the most dangerous city in the world!).  Then Harare...

May 2001 :   Some of our African tales recently turned up in Brian's old Kiwi high school, St Kentigern College, where it got a full page in the old boys publication - amidst the other crowning achievements of ex-students such as how many Boards they sit on (companies, not surf...), and what positions of public honour they have accumulated.  Watching your life pass before your eyes in front of an African bull buffalo with only 45 metres of open space for "protection" seemed to be somewhat out of place...  in the corporate jungle...

We are losing the Leimans who have been living with us for 8 months.  They are moving to Adelaide, where Patsy will deliver No. 6!  The (5) children have been a delight to have live with us, and we will (with our church family) miss them heaps.  Patsy's application for permanent residence is almost through.  They had to convince Immigration they were not in a relationship of convenience!  I would have thought five kids was proof enough, but no, they wanted more!

Yeah, Brian completed his 10th Six Foot Track Ultra;  he's done 57 marathons and ultras and is trying to keep up to the ratio of one for every year of his life...  hmmm...  And we go bike riding most Monday afternoons on our day off;  discovering more of our beautiful city's sights and by-ways.  We ride usually over 20km, which is something for Elizabeth, who has only been riding distance for about 6 months.  Last week, we did 21km around the Olympic site - so empty now, but magnificent to tour around.

February 2001 :   The New Year is well under way;  we are back in harness;  church is going great!  After all these years we are really seeing a "circle of leadership" emerge within the fellowship, rather than "above it"....  So encouraging.  God has placed many differing gifted people alongside us.  Brian is trying to get ready for his 10th running of the Six Foot Track, an annual hajj up and down the Blue Mountains from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves.  So he's out trying to get the quads ready for the pounding and the calves for the cramps he inevitably gets.  Oh yeah - does it for fun!  Elizabeth rolls her eyes to heaven (no reply)...

A shocking thing happened this past month - the marriage could be in serious trouble!  First, on the 19 y/o Volvo a piece of graffiti appeared - in the form of a Sydney Swans sticker;  then (even worse!) a few weeks later, on the other side of the bumper, a Geelong Cats sticker mysteriously appeared (mailed up by a sympathetic mother-in-law in Shepparton, no less).

And now the Aussies are claiming the Kiwi is really an Australian bird that crossed to NZ many eras ago!  Is nothing sacred?!  first they pinch all the Cups (Rugby, League, Cricket, Netball, etc, etc), claim Phar Lap as their own, and now they try to lay claim to the national emblem!  Either NZ must invade for honour's sake, or join the Commonwealth of Australia now and get it over with....  Speaking of NZ, we saw Vertical Limit (about climbing K2 in Pakistan), and quite enjoyed it - spectacular photography - all the way from Queenstown and Mt Cook!  With Tamuera Morrison playing a Pakistani officer...

December 2000 :  G'day again! The (7) Leimans from Zimbabwe are still living with us, and their children become more Aussie by the day!  They are a pleasure to have here, have discovered Sydney's marvellous beaches, and our pool is getting a good work over…  Brian spoke at the annual Mission Employment Managers' retreat in late Nov. - a daunting first-time experience.  We're planning to drive to Joyce's home in Shepparton for her 80^th on Jan 12.  She is in good spirits (should be after sending off another grandchild to the altar (Jeremy in October)).  

It's hard to believe how the Olympics have really disappeared from view…  such an awesome impact and then - gone!  We went to heaps of events;  tickets became available more than they previously indicated.  Brian's friend Kevin went to lots too and reckoned he would need grief counselling to go back to work!  Sydney really behaved itself!  No muggings, traffic was light, trains free and safe, weather was excellent mostly.  Someone said to us later, "what did you expect when so many millions of Christians were praying for your city?".  The ABC radio commentator actually said, "it was like pixie dust settled on the city and its people!".  They can't understand, but they can observe!  Highlights for us included the cross-country equestrian jumps 

On the sad side - the park over our fence has been inundated by drug dealing with the high school students over the road.  It's such an angering sight to see kids as young as 13 messing up their lives, yet the police seem powerless or unwilling to act.  Drugs are out of control around us this year.  We are currently running a four week Drug and Suicide Awareness series at our church for the public.  The suicide rate among local youth is climbing rapidly.

We wish our friends and other visitors to our personal website God's richest blessing over the coming Christmas period.  As we get older, we value even more the friendships, support, and love that flow from and to one another.  What else matters but that Jesus loves you and you live in a circle of love.

September 2000 :  Hey, after seven years of talk, the Olympics are finally on us!  We have quite a few tickets and are looking forward to sharing the experience with lots of friends near and far.  The Leimans are coming to stop with us a while (Marcus, Patsy and their 5 children), after moving over from Zimbabwe.  Hey, it's times like this we're glad to have a large home that can accommodate an overflow from time to time!

It's five weeks since we arrived home after stopping with our friends the Elliotts, in Vancouver, for two short days.  Ernie Culley told us two years ago, "you should visit BC in the summer.  It's different!".  So I said this time, "Ernie, you're right!  The rain is 5 degrees warmer!"  And now it all settles into the mist - except the photos make it alive - especially the ones we took on the awesome Bay of Fundy (Nova Scotia) where the tide runs out 40 feet (nearly 7 meters)!  The current is so strong it sets up a tidal bore wave about a meter high which travels in at 16 km/hr for miles!  You could surf on it.  We took a rubber zodiac trip up the river for 3 hours and shot the rapids created by the swirling currents.  It was unbelievable to be swamping the boat in waves up to 2 meters on FLAT WATER!  We got soaked, and loved every minute.

On a sadder note, Billy (our No. 2 King Charles Spaniel, took off while we were away and there's been no sign of him.  Elizabeth went to the King Charles Society with a sad face that would have done the breed proud, and they gave her another one….  she's called it Libby after the lass who arranged it.  I told her she should go all the way and call it Elizabeth, then I could yell, "get in behind, Elizabeth!, you little mongrel!" and gotten away with it….

July 2000 : We have made it to the Maritime Provinces of Eastern Canada, after a fortnight in England with LifeLine Church in London and Jim Bowler's AoG in Manchester. Now we know some of our Pommie friends read this stuff, BUT we HAVE to say something about their "summer" weather! London was sort-of foggy but the sun did break through on occasions. But, Manchester was something else. Driving over the moors into the outer suburbs was like mid-winter at home; and YES, the forecast that night was for some snow on the Scottish peaks! We believed the man! Mid-summer wonders! To square the account, we had three delightful days with John Curtis, who moved back to his daughter's family's home on a farm just out of Plymouth in Cornwall. Apart from being stung in a field of nettles while attempting to jog on a "public footpath" through a farm, and learning how to reverse up a microscopically narrow country lane for 300m at 30 kph (so the oncoming driver of a mini could actually pass us) , we had a lot of fun! It sure was a big change from the week before in Mana Pools wondering if that angry elephant was going to charge our vehicle! By the way, British Airways put us up overnight at Gatwick in an on-site $A500/night Marriott's Hotel! They had to as we were supposed to immediately fly on to Plymouth; but because they will no longer offload crew in Zimbabwe, the plane left 9 hours early and delivered us into Gatwick at 1am! Such luxury after such difficult circumstances! What a contrast!

The highlight of our tripping in the UK between responsibilities was going to a little village in Derbyshire called Eyam. The Black Plague broke out on them in 1666 and only 80 of 350 lived to 1667. The devastation was recorded by the local minister who ordered the town cut off, and treated like a leper colony so the contagion wouldn't spread into the North Counties (the Bubonic plague had arrived in a bolt of damp tailor's cloth from London). It didn't, but he buried his wife soon after. We walked in the fields to see the boundary rock where the villagers left money in vinegar for the food and provisions surrounding villages sent them. The village is still similar to that time. Memorials cover the town identifying where whole families perished. How can we complain about anything???

John and Dawn Singleton, LifeLine leaders in London, Anna Jarvis and her parents, Ken and Sue, and Jim and Jackie Bowler in Manchester, all spoiled us rotten. We were very touched by their lavish hospitality. We hope we can return the favour sometime in Sydney. We connected from Manchester to Montreal via Heathrow, and picked up a rental car at the airport (do it from home - it sure is cheaper). They didn't have any compacts on site and gave us a very upmarket Oldsmobile instead…. Which Brian has given a thorough (cough, cough) "road-test".

Canada is a pleasure to travel around, and we now feel like we really are in holiday-mode (after 22 bed-moves in 8 weeks)! The constant packing and unpacking requires a special kind of grace gift… Canadians generally aren't into ripping off tourists (unlike England which generally-speaking is shameful for its Fawlty Towers theory of customer service and value for money). We have visited some fascinating museums - like the working coal mine in the other Sydney, Nova Scotia, Anne of Green Gables farm in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island (near the drag-strip which was having a race day- honestly!), the Maritime Museum in Halifax, and Quebec old town (a living museum, especially the Citadel).

We have done about 3000 km in 8 days (typical Aussies), going from point to point - Nova Scotia is run down mostly with poor roads. Quebec isn't much better. We got to wave at close quarters to Prince Edward and Sophie on Prince Edward Island. There were about 50 of us in the "crush" to view royalty. It sure is a polite and unrushed Province! Today, we spent the day near the water, firstly at Peggy's Cove with typical Atlantic sea fog, then wandering around the Tall Ships in Halifax Harbour, after the fog got blown away. A marvellous day! The Titanic museum in Halifax is moving (they brought all the bodies to this port as it was the closest). And we saw Perfect Storm while here (that took place in 1991 off the Coast right where we are). Made the film that much more meaningful, when we stayed with a commercial fisherman B&B last night.

And before we go; today TWO people came up to Brian; the first asked how the Swans and Dockers were going (from Freo); the second asked how Carlton was going (a Pom from Melbourne)! The Sydney Swans red and white hat acts as a lighthouse beacon to lost souls drifting out there on the foggy sea of other inferior footy codes! 

We hope you have enjoyed this change of reporting from the serious and somewhat dangerous intensity of the previous Updates from Africa.

June 2000 :  After nearly 11 years since last time, we are also taking some long service leave. We left on May 17 (to Perth with New Life Churches ministry), May 22 (to Joburg), 24 (Zimbabwe and Mozambique, in ministry training for three weeks of live-in courses with local pastors), June 26 (UK, visiting the host Lifeline churches and leaders). John Curtis decided to return to the UK (Cornwall) to "retire" to his daughter's place (he turns 88 soon!). He has missed Grace terribly since she died last October. We wept with him as he left Sydney - for good, at that age, we guess. The good news is we will stay with them for three days before going to London and the Lifeline folks.

We come home via Canada - 2 weeks in the Maritime Provinces and NE USA (yes, good ole Brian is taking Elizabeth to visit Anne of Dirty Brown Gables country!). In the summer for the first time. We've been there twice (in 31 years of marriage) and both were in mid-winter! Then on to Vancouver and a brief stop with old friends there before returning home July 29.

Brian's vocal chords became badly infected in the second series and he was in great pain for a week. Could barely whisper, and was saved by a PA system being brought in for the third series. Thank God that the important thing in ministry is the CONTENT rather than the style or delivery of the teacher! We're sending out a weekly email update to those who have asked (when we can get near email facilities!). Let us know if you would like some info. Or go to our African Updates page.

Our time in Zimbabwe and Mozambique so far has been an exciting time of catching up with old friends and making new ones too. We have already been ministering by candlelight (no electricity in the church), doing extended equipping sessions with a good turnout of local pastors in Beira for three days straight. We then drove the Lifeline 4WD 900 km to Bulawayo, stopping at Mutare Vumba hills (devastated by 260 km/hr cyclone in Feb), Masvingo (where we survived a major engine problem and no diesel for three weeks at the garage the vehicle was being fixed at - to be miraculously given 50 litres in 2 cans to get us to Bulawayo!). 

Our sessions in all three programs were well received; an election takes place the day we fly out and the country is bracing itself… The (boarding) school one of our host's son attends is closing and sending all students and teachers home indefinitely, because of the threat of violence on the teachers. Hard to imagine this if you have only known Aussie elections! Brian's material got reworked as we went along, as we tried to make it relevant to each differing group of students. Quite a few pastors attended as well as younger developing leaders.

We have been updating this by the wonders of modern communications in the heart of Africa, on our missions trip to Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Beira still smells like no other place here! And there has been a major crisis there at present, what with the floods and disturbances. You can follow it on our home church's webpage. Pray for us and the Lifeline team there, who are helping rebuilt storm damaged homes.

Today (June 25) we fly out for the UK after arriving back in Harare following three weeks of travel to teach in three Doulos leadership training courses at Beira (Mozambique), 900 km west to Bulawayo, then 500 km north to Banket (in the heart of a commercial farming area). BA are now only picking up and dropping off in Zimbabwe, so the plane is 9 hours early and we have to stop over in a Gatwick hotel before going on to Plymouth (at BA's expense). We plan to spend a few days with John Curtis who moved from next door to us in Sydney back there after Grace (Elizabeth's mother) died, to be with his daughter and her family. He is now a healthy 88. Then it's on into the Lifeline churches network in London and Manchester for 12 days.

May 2000 :  On April 30, Brian ran in the Olympic Marathon (test) event, with Kevin and Craig (first time for our son/nephew-in-law). No, there's no truth in the rumour that Brian was still trying to qualify for the Olympic Aussie Marathon team. But he and Craig sure enjoyed running into the massive Olympic Stadium (there were about 10,000 spectators at the finish), raising his hands like Emil Zatopek, and acknowledging the acclaim of the crowd (well, Michelle, Jenny and Kylie and Jaimi Casey….). We can still dreammmmm…. zzzzzz….. snore….. First time for Craig - he ran all the way. 56^th time for Brian over the marathon (42kms) and ultra-marathon distance (beyond 42 kms). Yes, folks, he's still nuts.

Never mind; May has been made by Neil Thomson putting a JOG on at their prayer breakfast in Perth where Brian is ministering en-route to Africa! There's a first time for everything! Prayer for cardiac arrests a specialty!

March 2000 :  Brian completed his ninth Six Foot Track Ultra-marathon in early March. An annual 47km torture test when 450 lunatics / masochists run from Katoomba to the Jenolan Caves, up and down the Blue Mountains. One climb is nearly 3000 feet altitude in 9 km. But despite the usual lack of quantity in training, Brian did some quality steep hill workouts with his mate, Col Francis, and finished in 5 hours 43 mins - 65 minutes faster than last year (when this photo was taken by Runners World and featured on the Race's website!). He came 173^rd out of 423 starters and, as a geriatric in the eyes of younger runners, was stoked (not to mention also being crippled for two days afterwards..)! Have a peek - they're worth the look.

Our niece, Michelle, married Craig Burns in Feb. and we caught up with many of the tribe as they poured into town to check out the new member of the clan (Craig, that is!). Craig won Brian's (jealous) approval for Michelle's hand by completing the Palm Beach to Manly 30km run with him at 5am, first Sat in the New Year! Man, he must REALLY love her! Sounds like the 12 labours of Hercules….

Another year of growing, learning, making mistakes, being used, having a house that resembles a hotel on many occasions. And we wouldn't have it any other way!!! We belong to a wonderful family of Christians - many of them very young in their walk - and they breathe such fresh life into these two grumpy old people. Our table is often full of younger folks. They laugh at stuff we no longer think is funny, but give us a great sense of usefulness in our declining years. You, dear reader, may be stuck somewhere between these two extremes. Use your allotted time very, very carefully. Before you know it, it'll all be over for you too; and the only heritage you'll leave behind will be PEOPLE not THINGS…

January 2000 :  Welcome to 2000 with Brian and Elizabeth! Cyberspace reverberates with the ceaseless pounding of keyboards as millions of longwinded Christmas letters are prepared and circulated (including ours….). And in cyberspace no one can hear you scream either

We hope you enjoy this time of the year as much as we do. We object to Big Business hijacking the Nativity, and (gradually and deliberately, it seems) eliminating any mention of our Saviour from the shopping frenzy. While Parramatta gridlocks (literally) around Westfield Shoppingtown, we ride, walk, and studiously avoid the crush. It's marvellous. Why on earth didn't we live like this years ago??? Few presents are bought, and more time is spent catching up with folks far and wide. We have old friends Don and Llane Hadden stopping over (ex-NZ now serving with VSA in Bougainville). They are living in extremely primitive conditions there, and are enjoying the break in old Sydney town.

Hey! The honest worst case scenario happened to us this week! We were having a cappuccino in the local RSL when the background noiseworks off the poker machines began to sound a bit familiar… Would you believe it, the two nearest us were playing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah! "And He shall reign forever and ever"… My Lord, where's all this prostitution going to end up??? (Revelation 17 and 18, that's where).

You might even be bombarded with one of our Christmas E-letter/cards. Be enriched. Never stop looking, prodding, learning…. and trying to make a difference… We are all on limited time… God's good! Stay awake. We live in crazy times…

November 99 :  Our biggest news this last month is that Elizabeth's mother, Grace Curtis, died next door at the ripe age of 86. She went to a restaurant the day before with her husband, John. Complained of feeling sick, came home; the doctor prescribed a sedative and painkiller. She went to bed and slipped away at 6.45 am with Elizabeth sitting next to her. Now, that's the way to go! We had a great funeral two days later. She was ready to go and claim her new "house" in heaven, as the old "tent" was worn out. She wasn't on any medication either. Brian pointed out that the notice outside the chapel said, "the LATE Grace Curtis". He said Grace would be horrified to see it, as she had a fetish about being EARLY for everything! Her pet hate was our perpetual last-minute drive to the airport to see her loaded on a plane…

We remind ourselves, it's only a question of "when", not "if" for all of us. What really matters is HOW we go… Grace was ready to see Jesus face-to-face. Yeah! THAT'S what matters.

What's more, in August 99, Brian actually won the Club monthly handicap (and got his maillot jeune to prove it…)! First time in about 13 years. The handicapper is kind to chubby geriatrics, it seems… We had a great time in Shepparton visiting Joyce, Brian's Mum, who built her own villa unit at 78! She came back with us for a wedding in our church, which had six beautifully dressed children for bridesmaids and best man! Such a sight - to see healing come after such brokenness. Our God is a great, kind, merciful, and powerful God.

The Sydney Swans got wiped out of the AFL finals real quick; life goes on, while the kids who regularly come with us are in mourning… Next door to us, Elizabeth's Mum (Grace) and her husband (John) recently celebrated their 86 and 87 birthdays, and 5th wedding anniversary. Now that's something. Grace was baptised in the Holy Spirit 79 years ago! As a seven year old, she didn't even know what speaking in tongues was, but God met her sovereignly anyhow.

In August, the All Blacks were at it again - reminding Brian that no matter how many years he has lived away from Godzone (NZ to you), he can still stand up in the loungeroom and sing full throat, "God defend New Zealand" (with Laurie Hennessey!) when the All Blacks run out and face their enemies. This winter, it was the Wallabies who copped the fiercest haka ever performed by the team (ably assisted by 47,000 fanatical Auckland supporters!). It was awesome and the tape has been repeatedly played to anyone silly enough to show an interest!

G'day in June 99 from cyberspace. Brian is in Perth on his way back from Africa. He and Des had a great time there in serving the Lifeline Doulos National Leaders' training program in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Brian's emails home have been summarised here if you want an off-beat look at the trials and blessings of ministering and travelling in that part of God's world.