Holidays, Youth Convention, Packing...

Sorry about the silence of late… we have been very busy! In December I was tying up loose ends, then had the Christmas holidays, then we went to Adelaide for the Reformed Youth Convention, then we came home & started packing up our house to move to Sydney!

So I have now finished my ministry apprenticeship – I actually finished at the youth convention, which was a really good way to end. Clinton Berends (from Redlands Reformed Church) and Marty Ford (from Trinity College in Perth) did the talks, and they were fantastic. So besides being stuck in the middle of nowhere during Adelaide’s heat wave, with flies, dirt, & sweaty youth... it was really good!

So we are now preparing for our move up to College in Sydney. From then the blog will change a bit as Marty & I will both write about how college is going, so if you want to keep in touch with our next stage in life… keep on reading!

Supporters Letter...

Things are starting to come to an end for me here in this very cold office at Kingston Church :) I am almost finished my 2 year ministry apprenticeship, but still feel like I only just started! There is still so much to learn – yet when I think back – I have actually learnt so much these past 2 years. Mostly about how majestic our God is and how much we are all in desperate need for him. I’ve also learnt so much about ministry and about myself - so I am really grateful to have been able to do this apprenticeship.

So there are a lot of people I want to thank…

Firstly, I really want to personally thank Belinda for training me and teaching me the hard stuff these past 2 years. I must have driven you insane so many times!! So a very big thank you to you and your family.

I also want to thank the wider ministry team from our churches... all of you have supported and helped me in so many ways! And also - thank you to the many men I bugged and asked random questions to when Belinda wasn’t around!

Finally, I want to thank my church families at Kingston and at Summerleas. You have supported Marty and I so much, either financially or through prayer, encouraging words etc. We both really appreciate it and feel very blessed.

So the future for Marty and I is looking a little bit scary but also very exciting! We are heading to Sydney next year to study at Sydney Missionary and Bible College where we both plan to do the 2 year diploma. We would really appreciate your prayers as we make this move, and as we really get into studying the Bible next year.

In Christ,
Jess Prins

Christmas is coming...

Well it is December already! So the Christmas tree has been found, sawn, dragged across the paddock, thrown over the back fence, & lovingly decorated :) Yes it is a little wind blown & has brought many lovely crawly creatures into our lounge room - but it does bring some Christmas cheer.

I am normally a bit of a Christmas humbug – I hate the songs & the decorations everywhere, but something about this year – maybe because we are leaving soon, or maybe its because we are going to be home for Christmas this year - has drawn me to embrace the Christmas spirit!

But don't expect to hear me singing the Christmas songs! :)

Last things...

The end of the ministry apprenticeship for me is quickly approaching. So I’m experiencing the reality that some of the things I’m doing are actually for the last time - last chaplaincy meetings, last staff meeting, last time looking after the kids, last mentoring meetings, last night of D-Train…

It’s a very strange feeling when things that were once part of your everyday week start coming to an end. It brings such a mixture of feelings – excitement, regret, sadness… Its very strange. Soon I don’t think I’m going to know what to do with myself :)

Sex Talk...

Last night I did my first official talk whilst being in this job, & yes it was on sex.

It was to the girls at D-Train (youth group) & I focused on Psalm 51 which is the Psalm David wrote after committing adultery with Bathsheba. So I mainly talked about sexual sin being a result of our hearts, just like any sin is, & then went on to stuff about repentance. But I did go into the world of dating & sex stuff for teenage girls at the end.

I must say I was pretty nervous – more so about the delivery then what I was actually saying, ‘cause I have a tendency to speak to fast (well that’s what I have been told anyway :) )

But I think it went ok – was a very interesting experience.

Who you are, not what you do...

The statement that ministry is more about who you are, then what you do, has been bandied around lately.

And I like it – I think there is something very true and valuable about thinking about ministry like this.

But, how does it affect what you do on a daily basis?

College...

Well as many of you know Marty & I applied to go to SMBC (Sydney Missionary Bible College) a while ago & have been waiting the reply…

we have finally been accepted!

So next year, we will be following in my sisters footsteps & heading up to Sydney to study. We are both really excited, yet at the same time sad as the reality of leaving this beautiful state is settling in.

But its a great oppurtunity, & the idea of really getting to know Gods word & studying that full-time is so exciting. Plus, we can go visit Mel & Kochie every morning!! :)