People in Mission final dinner

The ten participants in the People in Mission pre-service training, along with chaplains Jeff and Jan, and Sandy (People in Mission Coordinator) and Geoff went out for a final celebratory meal at a local Thai restaurant, Tookie Thai. It was a great way to celebrate the two weeks training in preparation for placements and to linger over delicious Thai cooking. Much laughter and fun!

For information about the People in Mission program, Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, Ph 02 8267 4230, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au

(note: Sandy has now concluded her role as PIM Coordinator and is now working as the National Faith Development Consultant (senior youth and young adults) in the National Assembly, http://www.nyyam.org)

Final dinner - People in Mission training

 
 

Trevor and Maureen

Trever and Maureen in Thailand

Maureen and Trevor are UCA volunteers working at a small church in the suburbs of Bangkok, a part of the Church of Christ in Thailand which has about 300 churches. They write:
We stayed in central Bangkok for a week at the Christian Guest House - a good place for orientation.We met with Scott and Rachael (UCA Mission Co-Workers based in Bangkok) and saw some of their work at Klong Toey, Bangkok's largest slum area. On the first Sunday we worshipped at the Anglican church and met Lyn Arnold, SA's former Premier, who is the CEO of World Vision for SE Asia.
We are now staying at the pastor's house on the second floor. The ground floor is the church centre and holds about 36 people. They have given us a warm welcome and provided what we need. Last Saturday we attended a community function on National Children's Day. We were asked to present Samaritan Purse boxes, which had been donated from Australia, to about 50 children and this was really great.
We start English classes next week for 6 nights a week from 5 - 8.30pm with 2 classes of 1.5 hours.It will take a lot of preparation.It has been well organised. We are also helping in a primary school about 5k away in a grade 4 class.
At the end of April the church is having a school holiday program for children for a week. It will include English classes, crafts, game etc. It sounds exciting.
As we write this letter we are looking out over a rice field where some men are catching frogs. I guess frog may be on the menu tonight at the local cafe!

For information about the People in Mission program, Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, Ph 02 8267 4230, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au

Papuan visitors and homestay families

For information about the People in Mission program, Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, Ph 02 8267 4230, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au

Paintings - PIM pre-service training

Geoff Boyce introduced the idea of painting as an opportunity for meditation and reflection, and invited participants to use the medium of painting as a form of 'journalling', to reflect on sessions and new learnings during the pre-service training. Of course, this was daunting for some participants but all joined in the spirit of the activity. Geoff painting a single multi-coloured line through all ten canvasses, to indicate connectedness as well as the concept of journey. On Wednesday afternoon, the participants shared both the process and the final result to the group. It was remarkable to see the diversity, and yet inter-connected themes. Each person has taken their canvas home, carrying part of the journey with them, yet recalling that the individual canvas belongs to the much larger journey of the group.

For information about the People in Mission program, Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, Ph 02 8267 4230, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au

Paintings as meditation and reflection

For information about the People in Mission program, Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, Ph 02 8267 4230, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au

Lisa and Lewy - visitors from Papua

Lisa and Lewy are theological students from Papua training as ministers, and have been part of a goodwill visit to South Australia with 7 other students, sponsored by the Uniting Church in Australia Synod of SA. The weather has been hot in SA so they enjoyed a dip in the pool to cool off.

Lisa and Lewy

 
 

Rachel, STET participant

Rachel was one of the participants on the short term exposure trip (STET) to India for three weeks in November/December 05. She shared her photos and stories with her home congregation on Monday night, and dressed for the occasion in a beautiful silk sari. The group sang happy birthday and enjoyed birthday cake with her.

For information about the People in Mission program, Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, Ph 02 8267 4230, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au

Rachel, recently returned from India

For information about the People in Mission program, Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, Ph 02 8267 4230, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au

Papuan theological students in SA

Nine students from Papua are visiting in SA on a goodwill visit, and have enjoyed a wide range of activities including country visits to Maitland and the Riverland. In their final week they enjoyed more homestays in Adelaide. The photo shows two of the students with their homestay host, Geoff, enjoying breakfast.

Lisa and Lewy, with homestay host Geoff

People in Mission pre-service training

Ten participants gathered in Adelaide today for the start of the People in Mission pre-service training program - Cliff and Marion (NSW), Jordy (Victoria), Anne (WA), Janice (Qld), Tamara, David, Christine, Sheila and Heather (all from SA). They will go as volunteers to Zambia, PNG, Malaysia, Tonga, East Timor and India.

For information about the People in Mission program, Kathy Periera, People in Mission Coordinator, Ph 02 8267 4230, kathyp@nat.uca.org.au

Helen in Kenya

Helen was a Uniting Church in Australia Volunteer in Mission in South India a couple of years ago, and is now in Kenya during university vacation. She writes:
'I have heard a bit more about the work that I will be doing. There has been an ongoing war between two tribes, and the deaths have resulted in a lot of orphaned children. They all live together in one big house where they go to school, eat and play. There may be a few more international people there while I am there and we will try to give the orphanage and the students a greater understanding of things which aren't just English, Maths etc. We will assist them to generate their own farm on some land that they have. From that they may be able to raise some money which will help sustain the orphanage. I think we will try and start a small book club which will be good. We will seek donated resources. We might also form an HIV awareness club, and community outreach club where students can go out into the community as a group and try to help, possibly once again getting some form of income for the orphanage'.

Helen in South India Dec 03