E-BLAST - 1 JULY 2012

Outreach during the London Olympics - kick off 27 July. Dr Sam Mings and the Lay Witnesses for Christ International (LWFCI) Olympic Ministry team (Bridging the Gap 2012 UK Outreach) has its headquarters based at London's largest congregation of 12,000 - Kingsway International Christian Centre.

This is the ministry and administration base, it is one of 15 outreach events each night at 15 diffierent host churches on 16 consecutive days, a total of 240 Bridging the Gap 2012 UK Outreach events. This is unprecedented.

Mark's Media Team of 4 are writing articles on these outreaches and he's collating them for Christian Today and ANS for world wide coverage. The feature outreach event 4 August at the Kingsway Centre, with Carl Lewis the Olympian of the Century - Evening with the Stars.

E-BLAST - 24 JUNE 2012

Bible Society of Australia donated this advert for three issues in their quarterly Eternity newspaper. Paul Hutchinson contacted Mark offering this 'free advert' as the Bible Society realises the value of missionary respite.

Albetit for available days inbetween 'stays', we have regular missionary visits to Basil Sellers Laguna Quays Respite through to 3 November.  

NEXT LQ PROJECT - GREEN HOUSE

Laguna Quays Respite - many missionaries enjoy gardening and potting. Our next project therefore is the green house - in the background of this photo is an iron frame which was there when we secured the place.We've pre-arranged the shade cloth and aluminium holders from Petersfield Nursery and Sean Spencer is putting up two potting shelves.

Delma is a green thumb. On this past visit we got a ute of good soil, bale of hay and horse manure. Delma planted two shrubs at the front and 6 banana sapplings. Back yard: 4 passionfruit plants, a nut tree plant and in the box garden (see photo) 5 paw paw plants. Trevor Beard next door is watering every third day. 

Missionaries arrived for two weeks, then another couple mid July, more the last week of July. We arrived back to Tweed Heads last week.

MARK'S TWO OFFICES

Mark asks which office would any reasonable person find most relaxing?

Top photo  -  Basil Sellers Laguna Quays Respite  -  on the verandah viewing Repulse Bay  -  with nothing but a lap top, a moniter, a 3G plug for the internet and a cuppa.  OR

Bottom photo  -  Tweed Heads  -  Desk computer, scanner, printer, photocopier, papers and documents, modem, 500 cars driving past, planes taking off and landing  .....

Mark and Delma arrived back in Tweed Heads last week after a short visit between missionary stays.

E-BLAST - 17 JUNE 2012

Christian Today have placed this promotional banner on their on-line site to highlight Mark's articles. We received a donation towards Mark's writing ministry and Christian Today recommended this model. The banner's hyperlink goes directly to Mark's PSI page which has been revamped and its working well.    http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html

Mark says ear-marked donations for the PSI site to promote the young writers in the same way would be bountiful and very gracious received.   http://www.bushorchestra.com/Donate.html

KEN AND CARMEL WHITBY

Ken and Carmel Whitby from Mackay visited us at the Basil Sellers Laguna Quays Respite cottage on Friday 15 June. Ken recently retired and is now serving as the treasurer of the Mackay School Chaplaincy Committee and Carmel, along with her school scripture is the 'grand-ma' at their church mother's play group. Most don't have family nearby, many are from overseas.

Ken and Carmel have hosted Well-Being Australia Country Town Tour mission teams when visiting the Mackay region over many years.

Greg and Connie Arney donated this lovely outdoor front veranda setting. We leave on Thursday 21 June and next mission family arrives 23 June for two weeks.

TURTLE

Delma found this Turtle washed up on Midge Point Beach early one morning. There were many living organisms on its back. We were told it's not uncommon for a Turtle to be washed up.

'Turtle Village' is the name on the concrete plaque as one enters the street of the Laguna Quays Respite House (Marine Parade). The turtle is also the logo of the Laguna Quays Resort (now closed).

Andrew and Christine Ludwell left a large turtle painting last year which now hangs on the Respite house lounge room wall in three parts. .  

E-BLAST - 10 June 2012

Crediton Hall was built by the dairy farming men of the Crediton community in 1939-40 including Mark's late father Seymour. Crediton is on the mountain range west of Mackay, Qld and all three of their children were born there.  Such country halls were used as the school, the dance hall, mother's get-to-gethers, community meetings, Church and Sunday School and the like.

This photo Mark is using for his article this week on "teachers" and it relates to an article the following week on Women of the Land (extracts from his late mother's diary) and the following week an article on the Farmers Road Show with extracts from his late father's diary. Mark took this photo on a 2006 Country Town Tour to the Mackay region.