Michele's Newsletter advises that after seven years of starting on an adoption journey and while everything legally looked impossible for so many reasons we finally got there -we finally have a federal adoption and I am legally under Australian law her parent.
Here is the text of the email that included the Newsletter
Merry Christmas!
We can hardly believe that we are preparing for our second Christmas in Australia - where does the time go?
Here's a little update from us - time is flying and the days are busy but we are both doing well and enjoying the season.
Many blessings to you all and a very Merry Christmas,
Michele and Flora.
Read more in the PDF.
On Sunday 10 December, we started our Christmas series of teachings and Ian shared that a recent survey demonstrated that a high percentage of people will say “yes” if invited by a friend. Our Christmas Service presents an ideal opportunity for people who have never attended a church service.
The PDF attached is a flyer that you may like to share as a follow up to your personal invitation. It says what people can expect on the day, provides our address and the time of the service.
Hard copies of the flyer will be available at this Sunday’s service at the Garratt Street Centre.
David Hay sent their December Newsletter.
The newsletter includes stories of several children whose lives have been turned around during the time that David, Jannene and Rachel served at iKhethelo.
We received a final in-person visit from family members at our service in October.
Our theme for 2024Going Deeper
The Key Verse:
Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ [2 Peter 1:5-8]
January The Armour of God
Read Michelle's newsletter - a year on.
Michelle talks of Flora's assimilation, moving back into her home and she asks for our prayer when a decision is to be made that will finally see Flora with Australian Citizenship and the right to use Black as her name. This will happen on 20 October.
Michelle has not been able to secure a permanent teaching position but has been kept has many days of casual work teaching a very wide variety of subjects and age groups. She asks us to pray that she will get sufficient work to cover 6 weeks of unpaid leave during the Christmas break.
Flora is to have extensive dental work shortly. We pray that this will be successful without trauma.
Read more in the PDF.
David Hay sent their September Newsletter.
The Newsletter contains:
- News about how they are settling in since their return to live in Australia and their future plans
Bless children around the world without leaving home.
You can give boys and girls in need a tangible expression of God’s love through a gift-filled shoebox packed from your computer or mobile device.
Key Verse:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24 [NIV]
3 September Bearing LOVE
10 September Church Parade (GB / BB)
17 September Bearing JOY
24 September Bearing PEACE
1 October Bearing KINDNESS
8 October Bearing PATIENCE
15 October Bearing GENTLENESS
22 October Bearing FAITHFULNESS Pastor Mandy Gray
29 October The Prodigal God Tim Keller
Key verses:
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved
Acts 2:42-47 [NIV]