Mum's visit and playing tourist

Mum came to visit for a few days so we played tourist and went to a few of the sites. We also spent a bit of time at garden shops and dancing.

This ball is suspended outside the National Museum – about a 20 min walk from my house.

In the parliamentary triangle there is a lovely walkway that has just been finished called reconciliation walk. The gardens along the walk intertwine aboriginal art and plants as well as small historical displays.

Some of these huge rocks have been brought in from the Northern Territory.

I had to keep reminding Mum that she couldn’t read everything. I like to look, she likes to read.

Outside one of the museums there is this ball of granite that is held up by running water. There is the perfect amount of pressure that you can spin the ball in any direction.

Next to the lake, at the foot of the parliament lawns there are flags from all over the world.

As the sun was setting we walked home along the lake.

Yesterday on my day off I walked up to parliament house. I had not been up there just to look around for a bit so I thought I would take some pictures to share. I got there too early for the tour so I went up to the roof, which is grass, and looked at the view first. This picture is looking up at the flag from the roof. Just to give you an understanding of the size, the flag is the size of the side of a double decker bus.

Inside the entrance way to parliament is all beautiful wood and marble. These are a few of the inlays depicting Aussie native plants.

There was a police function going on while I was there so there was security all around and the place was crawling with people in uniforms.

When the tour was ready we went all around the main building. This is a picture of the house of reps. The kept some of the parts of British parliament and took parts from American constitution.

In the senate you can see more clearly how they have picked up on the colours from Australian plant life. If you look at seats they go from a dark red, almost burgundy on the floor to a pale pink at the top – mimicking a flower from its centre to the petals.

As I walked home I turned around and took this picture. The bright sunshine and blue sky of earlier in the day had faded and just a few minutes after I got home a storm rolled in that kept going into the night. This is fairly typical of days this winter. It gives winter the feel of a rainy season – finally we get to see green!

Time with Mum and Dad

Australia is the land of the long weekend. We celebrate lots of things as long as we get a day off to do it. The latest long weekend was last week marking the Queen’s Birthday. To commemorate I went to my parents house in Sydney. When I moved to Canberra I thought I would get to Sydney about once a month to see Mum and Dad. I have failed in this goal. But I do love it when I get to catch the bus to Mum and Dad’s door and turn off my phone for a few days and relax.

This visit Mum and I played a lot of Dutch Blitz (a card game from Eastern Pennsylvania), which I mostly won =) and hung out with their community. We also used this public holiday to visit the national park just up the coast from Mum and Dad. The following photos are from our afternoon of walking around the park and marvelling at the beauty.

Caves where we saw Aboriginal hand paintings

The view from a lookout.

If you run your finger along this plant and then lick your finger you get a mild honey taste.

photos of life lately

Relay for Life - two youth group/church teams

housemate!

Beautiful aussie trees

apple festival

Friends in Melbourne

Rally in Sydney

On the road and home again

There is something deeply satisfying about coming home after a trip or time away. Menial tasks like doing the laundry and hanging it on the line, cleaning my room, making sure everything is in its place, and putting clean sheets on my bed, make me feel whole and comforted. One of the best things is the coming home, and without sounding too possessive, having MY space to be in.

The last two weeks of travel have been lovely but I am glad to be back in my home. One week away was spent at a wilderness camp that Scripture Union runs. I had gone to this camp when I lived here before and it was wonderful to see new leaders stepping forward. Being out of my normal realm helped me to reflect on my life and work and my growing edges in ministry and internally. It was fun to sit by the fire, raft down the river, challenge myself to mountain biking, get lost in gazing at the uncountable stars, and remember my passion for working with both youth and young leaders. The camp was extremely windy and the tents all blew down. I had a lesson in patience as we put all the tents back up with 60 campers. Perfectionism and patience are two things I must work on.

After camp I flew down to Melbourne for a few days for a wedding, a birthday party, some networking, and a bit of much needed down time with friends. I came back through Canberra and then headed to Sydney for a rally/protest with a few young adults from my church. We went to be part of the Rescue, and event planed by the Invisible Children movement. Have a look at: www.invisiblechildren.com
Invisible Children are trying to raise awareness of the child soldiers in Uganda and wanting to encourage international support for ending that conflict.

Both the camp and the Rescue made me realise that I need to get a warmer sleeping bag because I slept outside for both events and did very little sleeping because I was so cold.

On Sunday I ended up at my parents and turned off my phone and rested for 3 days. I took lots of naps, read my book and enjoyed my parents company.

Now I am back in Canberra and I spent my first day wading through e-mails.
This week is the first week of a new term. This term our new youth council steps into leadership of our Friday night youth group. On Sunday we kick off our new mentoring program and start baptism classes. Our youth group Frisbee team goes to youth regionals in 4 weeks. I am hopeful that this term I will continue to work toward a better balance – between work and social life, between church work and Irene’s Place, between productivity and restful, fulfilled living. I am glad to be home and have renewed energy for this next term.

This past Sunday we had a blessing for Irene's Place. Over 55 people came along, representing 5 denominations and 15 congregations. I was overjoyed! Here is a copy of the blessing along with pictures from the blessing. My house was full of people and felt fully blessed.

Welcome – Peter (Chair of Board)

Acknowledge Aboriginal caretakers of the land

Named the groups involved

Scripture – Is 32:17-18

Doorway – Entrance/house Jim Barr (minister)

God, you have been our dwelling place for all generations.

May this house be a place for your Holy Spirit of Peace to dwell.

Bless this house from roof to floor,

from wall to wall,

from end to end,

God enter every part of life in this house.

God we ask that this house is a home,

a safe shelter in this broken world.

A healing place to find respite from the stress of daily life.

May this home become a place where faithful discipleship is nurtured

And knowledge of your abiding presence fostered.

Help each resident to see that a home is not so much a place as a way of living with one another,

Anchored in your steadfast love

Turn toward the door:

Bless this doorway

May all who come to it

be treated with respect and kindness

May all our comings and goings be under the seal of God’s loving care

May this door be always open to those in need,

Open to the neighbour or the stranger

May many friends who come to this door in times of trouble and sorrow,

find an open door to them and to their needs

We give this welcome mat as a blessing that this door will be a threshold of God’s peace and wholeness

Jim places mat at entrance

Leader: Bless this ministry

People: Bless this House

Kitchen – Doug for AAANZ (member of board)

God bless this kitchen.

Bless the preparation of meals that happens in this place

As Christ invites us to the table

So may this space offer friendship and welcome every visitor;

the stranger, the poor, the sick and embrace them with patience and peace

Bless the herbs and spices that flavour our cooking and our lives

Bless the pots and pan used to prepare the food

May the ill-seasoning of anger and bitterness never poison the meals prepared here

Help us to remember that you are the creator of all that we eat, you have provided for us and we name the privilege of eating good food each day.

You, God are the water of life

May this water jug help the residence to warmly welcome all that enter this kitchen

Doug gives a water jug

Leader: Bless this ministry

People: Bless this House

Lounge / Dining Room – Yvette (member of board)

God bless this room where work and life together are centred

May it be filled prayer and playfulness.

May the walls encompass a home that is filled with unending love and laughter.

Let it be a teaching place where the lessons of faith are taught and lived

A loving place where forgiveness and grace permeate the relationships of those living together

May anger dissipate quickly and joy and laughter abide generously.

May those who enter here find fellowship with God and each other.

Christ is our light in this world may this house and ministry be a light in this community and city

By giving this candle we ask God to give you clear vision and that the warmth of God’s presence will enter each place touched by this light

Yvette gives a candle

Leader: Bless this ministry

People: Bless this House

Bathroom – Merilyn (minister)

God bless these rooms where our bodies are cleansed

May they be places of wholeness in body, mind and spirit.

May each member of this house be fully embodied, honouring and loving their body.

You continue to create us as new and whole people

Help us to gently care for ourselves

This soap is given as a symbol of health and healing in these rooms

Merilyn gives soap and soap holder

Leader: Bless this ministry

People: Bless this House

Bedrooms – Peter

God bless each of these rooms with refreshment

Rest us and rest in us, O God

we ask for peaceful rest to be given for daily renewal

May the spirit be the comforter of our tears; all loneliness be banished,

and that fear may never enter this place.

Shield and surround these rooms this night and every night

So that every resident may sleep in peace

Give dreams of your renewal for the world

May the fragrance of this lavender filter through these rooms as the spirit seeps into each one

Peter gives Lavender

Leader: Bless this ministry

People: Bless this House

Garden/house – in front yard Words from Sheldon/Mennonite Mission Network – Clair

Words from SheldonOn behalf of Mennonite Mission Network - I congratulate you on the opening of Irene's Place in Canberra. May God grant blessings of peace and joy as the ministry of Irene's Place is inaugurated. May the Lord lead in bringing young people to participate in this program of peace and reconciliation, and may this new ministry initiative be an agent of transformation in Canberra and beyond.

May the door of this home always be open to others.

Alert to you presence

Peace between people

Peace between all who live here

The Peace of Christ above all peace

Peace between friends each day and every day

Our going out and our coming inChrist, in our coming and in our leaving

The Door and the Keeper; For us and our dear ones, this day and every day

Clair gives a fruit tree
Moriah leads the singing of Shalom and thanks everyone for coming and being part of this special day.

Moving Day

So I have moved! I am in Irene’s Place!!!!













I had lots of help as we gathered donations of furniture from around the city.

We had to get some big pieces of furniture through some tight spots.

At one point we had three trailers hauling furniture to the house.

I was welcomed by some beautiful flowers.













This is the view up my street from out front of my house.


















I think I have my kitchen organized now but it took a few days of sorting and cleaning.















I am glad to be in and still trying to round up the last bits of furniture that we need.