E-BLAST - 1 JUNE 2014

Darren Lawson 1992 Barcelona Olympian in Road Cycling has many cycling accolades. Darren and I have been on the same platform, Darren sharing his testimony as a Christian elite athlete and me in my role as evangelist and the Australian cricket team chaplain. After elite sport and appropriate training Darren and his wife Rosemary and their three children became missionaries and served for 8 years in Russia. They returned for their children's high school education and took up school teaching in Brisbane and has recently been appointed Headmaster at Heights College in Rockhampton. The family relocated four weeks back, he is headmaster elect til July when he takes over. I recently quoted Darren in an article on life after sport where he said that each sport thinks they are the only ones who go through such issues. They have been welcome guests in our home.

E-BLAST - 25 MAY 2014

Helen McIntosh (Wellington) and Sophia Sinclair (Christchurch) enjoying a good story at the NZ young writers conference held in Wellington last month. Next month Helen is off to the USA to serve at a summer camp. VIDEO of the NZ young writers conf produced by Belinda Croft is now on our YouTube channel. Runs 2 min 22 sec. ENJOY !!

https://www.youtube.com/user/marktronson

THE HUB - GRAFTON

10 regional Baptist Ministers met in Grafton (Thursday) at The Hub (Grafton Baptist) to hear the story of how the church revived under the leadership of Stephen and Jane Smith from 11 to now well above 67, up to 90 plus. Stephen and Jane are from England, they have 3 sons and initially served at Belconnen Baptist (Canberra) as the associate. He coaches / plays soccer (as do the boys) and he's part of Grafton motor bikers. pic - Stephen is closest in white shirt.   

DOLLY DUSTER

Thursday while Mark was at the Baptist Minister's meeting in Grafton  -  Delma visited her mum Doreen (86) and they went to craft together where they each made a Dolly Duster!  

NZ YOUNG WRITER ENGAGEMENTS

Photo - NZ young writers based in Wellington
Cody Knox and Harriet Campbell
have announced their engagement.

Likewise NZ young writer Dale Wang to Emma Gledhill both from Christchurch.
Dale has released a proposal YouTube video -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kpWAc9xZRw&feature=youtu...be

1976 ENGAGEMENT

1976 engagement of Mark and Delma in Maclean NSW where Delma was a stenographer in a solicitor's office and Mark a train driver. Now Delma hasn't changed a bit, still petite and lovely as, whereas Mark is now rotund ++

BEX SILVER SERVING IN THAILAND

Bex Silver is a new young writer serving in Thailand (Friday morning there was a military coup). Bex is near the Thailand / Burma (Myanmar) border. Bex came to us through her young writer friend in Auckland Amanda Robinson, who is actually a Brit and whose sister Rosie Robinson is also a young writer from England.

E-BLAST - 18 MAY 2014

Delma enjoys hunting around in the craft - scrapbooking - card making - magazine box at the Bloomsbury Service Centre - a good supply to meet local demand. It's a 20 min drive from Midge Point and the Laguna Quays Respite cottage. $5 for two magazines. We arrived back in Tweed Heads Thursday late afternoon.

CARDS CRAFTED BY DELMA

Delma spent a good portion of her 2 weeks of respite at the Laguna Quays missionary cottage enjoying her creative gifts and skills in making hand crafted cards.

2014 MIDGE POINT ART PRIZE LAUNCH

Saturday 10 May saw the launch of the 2014 Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize to be opened on Saturday 26 July at The Point Tavern. Last year saw the initial art prize and it has grown and developed into an ongoing community ministry. 

LEAVES ON THE SHORE

A quite beautiful array of leaves were spread the length and breadth of Midge Point Beach where Mark photographed on their morning respite walks.

COLOUR ON THE BEACH

Colour was everywhere on Midge Point Beach from the lovely leaves in the waves and beach to the colourful array of tractors and boats.

RICKETY WALK BRIDGE

We visited Hans and Jill Liepertz property for morning tea - Jill won the 2013 Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize. We were shown around and took the challenge of engaging their rickety walk bridge. Delma held onto the rope railing. 

E-BLAST - 11 MAY 2014

Laguna Quays Respite: the original donated lounge chair that Basil Sellers nicknamed the 'band aid' chair is now on the front veranda freeing space in the second bedroom. Both Delma and Mark have enjoyed the fruits of its respite. 

BUSINESS LUNCHEON PROJECT

Our latest community project was a business luncheon on Thursday 8 May in Midge Point. People in business (major developers, real estate agents, retail, restauranteur, home businesses) met. Mark spoke. We trust this will now become an annual event.

BUSINESS LUNCHEON MIDGE POINT

John Lyons local property developer with Mark at the Midge Point Business Luncheon sponsored by The Point Tavern. Like the Art Prize this is another community ministry project.

BEACH RESTORATION

Midge Point Progress Association has been issued a permit to restore sand to the beach after the recent cycle devastation. Here we see a tractor is hard at it.  

COLOUR LEAVES

Midge Point Beach provide many colourful sights on our morning walks which are part of our devotions.

LEAVES ON MIDGE POINT BEACH

Morning walks on Midge Point Beach provide a wide variety of colour including leaves. Our respite has been very restful.

MARINA TO BE DREDGED

Laguna Quays Marina is being readied for dredging with yachts being removed by their owners. This is one of the many tasks by the new owners of the resort Fullshare (China).