David and Rachel Williams - Australia |
 |
February 2009 Prayer Letter
Dear Family and Friends,
As I write, the deaths from the fires stand at 181 but we expect that the number will go up to over 300. On Saturday 7th the temperature in Melbourne was 46.3 centigrade. We had invited all the St Andrew’s Hall new students and their families round for the evening and our main concern was how we could all keep cool as our air-conditioner, which is only in one room, was struggling to keep going in such heat. We were delighted when the wind direction changed and within 30 minutes the temperature dropped by 15 degrees. Our evening went well. The next morning we were horrified to hear of what Victoria had been experiencing as we listened to the radio. We could not really believe what we saw as we watched the unfolding scenes of devastation on the TV. Each year our church ladies group spends a weekend at Marysville in a retreat centre. Marysville was a picturesque small town about an hour’s drive from here. There are now only a dozen houses left and nothing else. Marysville is only one of the areas involved. The tragedy has affected people all over Victoria and the whole community is traumatised. Everyone knows someone who is directly involved and it will take a long long time for recovery to happen. Sam was meant to go on camp this week. The school camp area was not in the direct line of any of the fires but the school felt very strongly that the boys needed to be with their families this week as we all come to terms with what has happened. At the moment Jonathan’s class are going on camp next week but it may be cancelled too. If you want to read more news you can look at www.theage.com.au.
Thank you for so many who have emailed or phoned concerned about our safety. We really appreciate your continued prayers.
I feel deeply sad about the fire tragedy. Tom and Sam have had a different reaction. They are frustrated by the constant news on the TV of the fires and that tragedies in developing countries go unreported, or at the most have a cursory report only to be forgotten the next day. David and I are very aware that the tribal clashes in Kenya last year caused much greater loss of life and much greater destruction of homes than these fires in Australia - but the media world is not always fair on its reporting of these events.
There are a new group of missionaries in training who started last week. This semester we have 15 adults and 6 children with 2 more on the way. It is good to get to know a new group. It is also a challenge to make the effort every 6 months but always worth it. I am spending more time at St Andrew’s this semester including mentoring one of the women. David is up in Sydney this week for the usual 5 times a year national meetings. He has various challenges at the moment. CMS wants to increase the number of missionaries going to Muslim countries so he is writing a proposal about that. There is also a challenge to think about how to develop the ‘meeting culture’ of CMS.
The boys started the new academic year a couple of weeks ago. It is Tom’s last year of school and he was 18 in January. I have attached a photo of the family when we went out with David’s parents for a joint 70th and 18th Birthday meal! Tom needs to do lots of work this year. He also has commitments as a prefect of ‘Faith and Social Justice’. The rugby teacher is also expecting a lot of training time. Tom finds it a challenge to balance all these expectations. He loves being with friends from church. Over the holidays Tom went to 2 Christian camps which were a great encouragement. All the boys came back with a renewed enthusiasm to take their faith seriously, to make it real and part of day to day life. Sam has now taken over helping to lead the year 7/8 boys small group at church. He often comes up with difficult theological questions – usually late at night – I am thankful for David’s wisdom and knowledge while I can contribute by being practical.
Jonathan is loving taking part in Billy Elliot. He comes back from performances buzzing and chatty. It is looking like he will have one late return home at 11.30pm and early morning up for school the next day. At the moment he is managing by catching up on sleep over the weekend. We are thankful that he is now allowed to travel into the city by himself, signing himself in at the stage door. We still have to pick him up which is fine.
Over the long holidays we enjoyed the CMS summer conference. David’s talks and seminars were encouraging and well received. We had some lovely days out at the beach while the boys used their wet-suits and body boards – starting on their way as good Aussies. I need to get a wet suit before I will go in the freezing water. David’s parents spent January with us. We had a good time with them. They enjoyed a walking holiday for a week and a few trips to the tennis as well as playing endless board games with the boys. They are now in Kenya at the coast with David’s brother and family. We pray that one day we will be able to make a trip back to Kenya too.
Please pray:
- For all in Victoria who have been affected by the tragedy of the fires.
- For the boys continuing to follow the Lord in their day-to-day lives.
- For David as he writes papers on the way forward for CMS.
- For me to receive the final nursing certificate from the UK so I can start the re-registration process.
- For the marketing of Kipepeo Designs cards here in Melbourne.
Many thanks for your continued prayers for us
Rachel and David, Tom, Sam and Jonathan.