Our stuff from Tanzania finally arrived on Thursday. We had packed it prior to leaving in early November last year. It's great to see our bedding, books, kitchen stuff, baskets, carvings, tool box and tools. Tim's favourite black chair. And the gifts received in that last week as we were showered with so many kindnesses brought back memories of good friends and dear colleagues.
Amid the chaos of boxes, packing materials, things waiting for homes, Carol's brother and family came to stay for a night and on Saturday we all headed up Lake Mountain, just over an hour from here to the SNOW! We joined the hardy and went tabogganing, had snowball fights, made snow angels and generally had a great time, in temperatures around zero. Bizarre to think we had done the same in snowy Devon only 7 months earlier.
Saturday was a rare dry day - the rest of the time it has been raining on and off, sometimes in heavy downfalls. Australia's drought of the last 13 years seems to have broken. Dams are filling again - now almost up to 40%. Lilydale was hit by storms last week that brought down trees and power lines, resulting in power cuts in some areas. It is green and beautiful, and great to lie in bed at night and hear the familiar sound of rain on the corrugated roof over our heads.
Saturday coming is the federal election when a new prime minister will be elected. Our church will be a polling station on the day and the elders decided this is a great opportunity for evangelism. So we will have a free sausage sizzle, providing sausages and drinks for all those who want them, and taking the opportunity to share our hope in Jesus with those who come. We pray people will also be encouraged to come bakc nad worship the following Sunday as we have a special 'Return to Church' service. Exciting opportunites in Lilydale!
