OOPS - IT'S MONDAY AND ALREADY CHANGE OF WEEK!

Now, you really will have to read the blog

http://missionsmisunderstood.blogspot.com/

to know what we're doing this week!

We received a phone call from our lovely Swiss friend Fritz Weibel to tell us that Ilona had safely given birth to little Jakob just before midnight last night! In the course of the conversation he asked very politely if it would be possible for us to look after 10 year old Anna for them whilst they both stay at the hospital! Now you have to realise that she speaks little or no English and we speak a little German. But she was very happy to come and stay. So we have visited the hospital in Basel and have brought Anna home with us till Thursday. We will take her into the hospital each day to see her family.

So, just a few little plans to our week, that will include Anna!

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE !

We'd like you to take a look at this blog

http://missionsmisunderstood.blogspot.com/

We couldn't say it better ourselves. If you really want to know what we are about then take the time to read this blog. He always writes from the heart and in a meaningful and thought provoking way. He's been at it for a little longer than us, but is at least 25 years younger than us. He's working in Barcelona, Spain and sometimes finds the going tough. (Don't we all!).

It would be good to get some feedback on this, especially if you have the time.

WEEK BEGINNING 4 FEBRUARY

Here's our week in a bit of a simplified version. It doesn't include our disciplined German learning each day (!!), emails, letters that need to be written or phone calls that need to be made! I'm sure there will be many changes as the week progresses. We are also trying to arrange a catch up with Derek Webster sometime in the next 2 weeks. Hope we can keep you posted!

Monday

- 8am, hiking with the hiking group in Basel

- catching up with our Schopfheim friends Erik, Johanna and Juro (school holidays)

Tuesday

- 9.30-10.30am Roger, German conversation at Centrepoint

- 12.15-1.45pm Roger, Choir practise in Basel

- 9.30 Gaynor to spent time with Aussie friend in Riehen (has new baby)

Wednesday

- 10-12 Gaynor with Eliane

- Roger catching up with either Jamie, Jim or Bernhard (trying to fit these in!)

- Mosaic Leaders meeting (to be confirmed)

Thursday

- 9.30-10.30am Roger, German conversation at Centrepoint

- afternoon, Gaynor into Basel for German conversation with Claudia

- 7.30-9.30pm Gaynor to begin a 6 week writing course

Friday

- 10.30-12.30pm Gaynor hosting morning tea at Centrepoint in Basel

- 6pm German friends Andreas, Constanza and David coming to Dinner

Saturday

- Bernard and Lorraine coming out to spend a LONG time with us both!

AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS

Roger and Gaynor doing the 'Brown Jug Polka'

Gaudenz and Gaynor getting around the circle!!!

Christine (from NZ) in the black top (Roger's Choir Director)

Jamie playing and singing

Roger talking with Lisa. We asked Lisa to display some of her paintings.

As you can see, a good time was had by all. Now that we've had time to get some rest and do some calculating here are the figures. We had 54 adults present and 19 children of varying ages (the youngest being 6 weeks old and an Aussie - but born in Basel!!). It was lots of fun, but also a lot of work. Will we be doing it next year?!! We'll just have to wait and see. We've certainly learned a lot!

A SPECIAL VISITOR

What an absolute THRILL it was to have Mary a'Beckett (Snowball) visit us for 3 days from 18 - 21 January. As Glenda and Tom were still with us, it was a bit like sleeping in a dormitory, but it was lots of fun and we managed in our little home.

It was good for Mary to see firsthand a little of what we are trying to do here amongst English speaking people. Mary travelled with us to a 'Seed' network afternoon led by Derek Webster, which was held in Zurich. Mary did not join in for the afternoon, but instead enjoyed a good walk on Lake Zurich and a rather hefty climb back up to the Conference Centre. She was also able to meet Derek Webster, and this for us was exciting as Mary is a member of our Support Group in Adelaide and has been with us from the beginning as we had our initial discussions with Derek.

Saturday night we celebrated Tom's 25th Birthday with a Roast Dinner and cheesecake and special bottle of wine! Mary felt privileged to be 'in the bosom of the family!!'.

Sunday morning Mary came to the German (FeG) Church that we attend in Loerrach. She has eventually made sense of FeG and what that stands for Free Evangelical Church. (Mary took a photo of the sign)! I'm sorry I didn't get a copy. Maybe I should take a photo myself!

In the afternoon Glenda and Mary accompanied us to our Mosaic get together at FeG. We were so pleased they both attended to give them an idea of what we get up to each week.

Thanks Mary for a special visit, for your love and encouragement and especially your prayers.

BEGINNING A NEW YEAR

Roger and I are looking forward to 2008 with excitement, anticipation, a little trepidation and with much enthusiasm and energy!

It was wonderful to have a holiday with Glenda and Tom and be spoilt by them! We did have a little difficulty keeping up with them at times, but nothing that a good nights sleep couldn't remedy. They flew back to Melbourne on 22 January.

So, what are we looking forward to?

• Continuing to build on our team at Mosaic Basel/Loerrach
• Beginning our gatherings in the next couple of weeks
• Running 'Nooma' nights to stimulate discussion
• Continuing to build on friendships we have already made and making new ones
• Trusting God to keep us here!
• Growing in our relationship with our Heavenly Father and allowing him to guide us as we continue to move forward and look for direction and creative ideas
• Visitors

to name a few things.

We hope to update this blog more regularly and keep you posted each week with what we hope to be up to (good accountability for us as well). Also it will help you to pray for us in our ministry here. We appreciate your prayers, emails, feedback, etc.

TEXAN NIGHT - 20 OCTOBER 2007

David and Tom opening the evening with a skit about Texas

The Girl's - Amanda, Laura, Donna Kay and Tara

Marianne and Ilona (with Johnny in the background)

The food!

Amanda and Kim

We had such a great night together (around 50 people came) and it was a lot of fun for us all, especially finishing up with the line dancing. I just didn't get it at all. Give me bush dancing any day! Still, we all joined in and it was lots of fun. A great hall in Riehen very close to public transport, so easy to find (well, for most people anyway!!).