The end of the first semester has flown past and seems very long ago now. While the students studied for their exams, the Howies prepared their Annual Conference (Ancon) elective seminars, caught up on fund-development, wrote articles for the EU Graduates Fund newsletter, Flood, organised their Mission Service Teams, and worked on various other staff projects. An absence of meetings with students certainly didn't mean any less work for the staff team!
After the exam period, all the students (except those doing winter school subjects) have four weeks of holidays. The last week is the week of Ancon, and that's the week that is starting tomorrow. Most of the staff took the opportunity over the last few weeks to take at least a week of annual leave, since there isn't any opportunity to have holidays during the semester. The rest of the time was spent doing all the things mentioned above, particularly preparing for Ancon, mission, and the rest of second semester!
Four other Howies and I decided to have a bit of a holiday together, getting out of Sydney and spending some relaxed time in the Blue Mountains. It was very pleasant and I enjoyed it very much. We rented a house that had central heating and a fireplace, and I took some pictures of nice flowers in the garden.
After the exam period, all the students (except those doing winter school subjects) have four weeks of holidays. The last week is the week of Ancon, and that's the week that is starting tomorrow. Most of the staff took the opportunity over the last few weeks to take at least a week of annual leave, since there isn't any opportunity to have holidays during the semester. The rest of the time was spent doing all the things mentioned above, particularly preparing for Ancon, mission, and the rest of second semester!
Four other Howies and I decided to have a bit of a holiday together, getting out of Sydney and spending some relaxed time in the Blue Mountains. It was very pleasant and I enjoyed it very much. We rented a house that had central heating and a fireplace, and I took some pictures of nice flowers in the garden.
One day we decided to go for a bushwalk. Orion had done this walk before, and he helpfully warned us that there was lots of vertical climbing! The walk went down a huge lot of steps into the valley, and then up another steep climb to get to a bunch of fun rocks called the "Ruined Castle", where we had lunch. After climbing around the Ruined Castle for a bit, we trekked back to the car. We were suitably tired after climbing up the stairs!
I love walks like the one we did, spending a good part of a day seeing, smelling, and hearing the valleys, trees, birds, and water - and coming back feeling great after using all that energy walking and climbing.
I love walks like the one we did, spending a good part of a day seeing, smelling, and hearing the valleys, trees, birds, and water - and coming back feeling great after using all that energy walking and climbing.
We also played board games, watched a DVD, sang songs, and made lots and lots of tasty food. We were only away for three days but I came back feeling relaxed, refreshed, and rested.
After a couple of extra days of rest at home, I had one week of work to finish preparing for Ancon and second semester activities. I'm very glad I had time to recharge, because this week has been one of the most hectic weeks of the year!
If you're a praying friend, praise God for the rest we had on holidays, and pray for Ancon this week. After Ancon we jump straight into second semester with three weeks of mission, and I'll try to post regular updates with mission prayer points. See you soon!
If you're a praying friend, praise God for the rest we had on holidays, and pray for Ancon this week. After Ancon we jump straight into second semester with three weeks of mission, and I'll try to post regular updates with mission prayer points. See you soon!
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