Finally, something to do

Well things are really underway for us now. And jodie seems a whole lot happier as a result...i think me being bored was getting to her for some reason :-)

Thanks to her very efficient unpacking and arranging of our house i've had about a week and a half with very little to do except the normal touristy things. That and finding the perfect fruit and veg shop. It's been an entertaining obsession searching for that perfect combination of price, and freshness...last time i checked we'd settled on Woolworths. Looks like oligopolies are a good thing after all!

Things got better on thursday when the internet finally got switched on. Woohoo! finally something to do with my computer...

For anyone who is interested, (i like to believe that it is possible) we signed up with iiNet who have released a new product called "naked bradband". You get ADSL internet without having to pay line rental and instead you can make phone calls over the internet. I wasn't too sure what calls would be like but so far it's been great! I'd highly recommend it for it's cost effectiveness.

Anyway, enough techo talk!

Friday and Saturday also easily filled themselves with sermon preparation. I started my student minister job at St. John's Maroubra on Sunday and Jim (the Rector) got me preaching at all three services. The earliest was at 7:30! yes, 7:30!!! neither of us were particuarly impressed at getting up that early, but the service was good and the people there were just great!
Actually people at all the services were great...a really genuine and welcoming bunch.

Had lunch with Jim, his wife Bec (who is a sensational cook) and their kids. Loved it are looking forward to working for him for the next while. Reckon there will be a lot to learn from him - he's a good minster.

We finished Sunday totally exhausted but really positive about church.

Then there was today...first day of college!!

We made it there on the bus. very full and with the usual stench of B.O. will be good to get student cards on thursday. The deal is pretty good for students here - half price tickets, so will cost us about $1 each to travel. That will be 1 reasonably priced thing so far in Sydney. I think Jodie will be posting soon about some of the shocks we've had with the cost of things...

First up was a chapel service and John Woodhouse, the principal speaking on phil 2:5-11. This was the highlight of the day for me. Paul's call to his hearers and us is that we might have the same mind as Christ. as we know, the outrageous claim of this Gospel that we believe is that thinking like Christ means thinking that the essence of being like God is being a servant. And of course it's not just thinking that but living it out. I found that a great way to start...being called once again to live life without envy, jealousy, malice, divison but instead to serve and seek the good of others first for God's glory.

The rest of the day was a whole lot of orientation stuff as you'd expect. lunch was great. We get lunch provided everyday and had some great conversations around the table. Said grace at the start AND the end of the meal (don't ask!)

Day finished with an extremely boring but important (i guess) seminar on child protection..

Jodie and I both enjoyed meeting people we'll be studying with she's already found a fellow reality tv fan - Megan who i'm sure you'll be hearing more about.

Looking forward to tomorrow. Hopefully get to know people a bit better and Greek starts. 8:45 in the morning...

cheerio!