The Newcastle Pink House

Mayf ield Prayer # 12

2007-06-14T09:40:00.000+10:00

>Hello again!
>
>Its Wednesday night and I am home (Dubbo!
After not being able to leave Newcastle
on Monday because of flooding in the
surrounding areas I am very glad to be home.
>
>-Fairy Floss (girls group) has officially
started! Congrats team, the first gathering
was held tonight and a young girl from Mayfield
West primary attended after seeing the ad in
the school newsletter. This is SO encouraging
for us, to know that it is an effective way of
inviting kids.
>Thanks God for making this happen for us. We
greatly look forward to the next one.
>
>-Thanks God that Kylie's brother is visiting
(slightly longer than originally planned due to
weather). Everyone make Tom feel welcome.
>
>-Kim has run into a few different people (old
friends and new ones) and hopes to have some
good opportunities to follow up those connections.
>Please also pray for the work environment to
continue in a positive direction.
>
>-Tracey is finishing up as shift boss and we
applaud her :D Please pray that she will continue
to deepen relationships at work (Donut King)
and thanks for the work she is getting.
>
>-Hudson is getting well after chicken pox,
and Maddie has no signs of it yet.
>
>-Please pray for Tim as he finishes up with
work. That he will take the opportunities God gives
him and also with starting up some new work.
>
>-Ruth's health during the pregnancy.
>
>-Thanks that I could come home for this time
with Dad and my family.
>
>-Thanks that we did not suffer during the recent
storm, and also prayer for those who did.
>
>-The time of the mission camp is drawing near so
please continue to pray that it will all come
together well and that we will be being led by
the Spirit in all of it.
>
>We expect to hear the pitter-patter of the
baby feet of a new team member
>some time soon (no not that of a baby Schloss).
Our team meeting was disturbed the other night
by what we believe to be possums playing in
our roof. Either that or its that giant rat which
we have seen around the place  Edit Posts 
>(I like to call him Rasta the Rat).
>
>Thanks for your prayer, may the Lord bless you
>
>Laura V.
>Mayfield Team, Newcastle
>

Mayfield Prayer # 11 - Welcome to June!

2007-06-09T21:41:00.000+10:00

Welcome to June!

Frederick William Robertson said that the true aim of everyone who aspires to be a teacher should be, not to impart his own opinions, but to kindle minds.

I pray that we might be able to say that we have kindled minds at the end of our time.

Our team retreat was refreshing, and helped us refocus and also review the year.

Um... Ruth has morning sickness! This means she is pregnant!! WOO (please pray for her health!)

Hudson has chicken-pox, please pray that no one else gets it and that the house is all clear in a couple of weeks when the Pacific Hills mission camp is here

Tracey has a permanent part-time job at Donut King! which will be about 25hrs a week once she is finished training. Praise God. We are very glad that she has this work and that she brings home donuts for us :p

Please continue to pray for the organisation and prep for the mission camp in 2 weeks

Our girls group (Fairy Floss) starts in a week (13th June) please pray that we will get some last minute things (such as inviting girls) together, that it will go smoothly, that some kids will come and that it will be a fun time

Dad (Pete Vol) should come home from hospital today. Please continue to pray for his health and praise God that he is using this as a work of redemption

Kylie continues to have plenty of nannying work (praise). Pray that she will know what it means to be Jesus in that family and that she will be encouraged in that.

Motivation and discipline in study for all of us

I did the barista course and went to the cafe who asked me to come back when I had done it. I made the manager a coffee and he seemed happy but said that they don't have any work at the moment! But that some of the staff are leaving in about a month, I don't know if this is true, but I am very busy for the next month anyway so perhaps this is God's timing.

Continue to pray for Kim's workplace relationships and environment

I am going home for a week on Monday to be with Dad and the family

Please also pray as we try to find a good location to host the Feast of Stories in August, and get the whole process happening

Thanks for your support!

Laura V

Mayfield Cornerstone Team, Newcastle

Mayfield Prayer # 10!

2007-06-09T21:39:00.001+10:00

Howdy,

Payer/praise:

-I (Laura) was able to do a coffee barista course on Tuesday! I am going in to a cafe this afternoon to make a coffee for the manager...

-Our team van is totally registered and fixed, wahoo! Thanks for eveyones generosity and help

-Dad (Pete Vol) had an accident on Monday and injured his spine, it is quite serious but alot less serious than it could have been

-Hudson (Ruth and Tim's little boy) has a chest infection and was at the hospital with asthma, pray for his health

-Ruth is sick...

-Tim continues to look for work as his current job will finish up soon

-Kim will start her Coles job next week while she continues to work at the cafe. Please also pray that she will not be really discouraged by some issues at work

-Tracey has relaxed into the Shift Boss role well. Continue to pray for her

-Team retreat this Sat/Sun, pray that we cover what we need to and also have a good time together and with God

-As we organise the mission camp that will be happening here in June (26th-29th)

-Kylie is back with us after a few days away for a wedding (she is not married, 2 of her friends are)

-I was able to see a Jeff Buckley photography exhibition while I was in Sydney for the barista course!

Thanks SO much again

Laura V

Mayfield Cornerstone Team

Mayfield Prayer # 9

2007-06-09T21:29:00.000+10:00

> Good Evening,
>   Casey and Hannah are visiting from Canowindra at the moment, so I
think
> our team has been feeling a bit like we are on holidays which is
nice,
> but we arent so we need to keep doing the things that must be done!
>
> Prayer/praise:
> -Kylie is going away for almost the next week, pray that her time is
> refreshing and encouraging (she is going to a wedding)
> -That we will all be disciplined with study
> -We have a tream retreat on the calendar for next weekend, pray that
we
> get it all together
> -Kim and I (Laura) are going on a retreat this weekend with some
people
> from the Nightcare ministry we help run, pray that it will bring
unity to
> the group and that we can learn good things!
> -A cafe today told me to come in when I have done a barista course so
I
> plan to do that on Tuesday, pray that it goes well and leads to
employment
> -Community Dinner is happening at the Mayfield Community Centre, pray
that
> it will continue to be a great time of community, where people
experience
> Jesus, and share life
> -Our car failed rego last week but I take it back tomorrow (Thursday)
pray
> that it all goes well
> -Thanks so much for the help we have had financially and practically
with
> the car
> -Thanks for job opportunities that seem to be opening up
> -Tim went to the mens muster in Dubbo last weekend which was good
(from
> reports I have heard)
> -We will be hosting the Pacific Hills Christian School mission camp
at the
> end of June. This is a great opportunity which we are thankful for,
please
> pray that it will come together well
> -Please also pray that we will continue to live in real, intentional
> community as we become busy. That we will be quick to obey the Spirit
in
> all areas of our lives.
>
> Thanks again.
> Goodnight!
>
> Laura V.
> Mayfield Cornerstone Team, Newcastle

Mayfield Prayer # 8 (email in the morning...)

2007-05-16T17:06:00.000+10:00

Greetings!

Just have to begin with apologies once more for last weeks email being sent 7 times I think!? Apart from that, if you do recieve this email more than once it may be because your address is listed a couple of times. Let me know if this is happening and I will fix it up.

At church on Sunday a couple who work as missionaries in Thailand came and spoke. It was really good to be reminded of just how important it is to be obedient to God in all things. Whether we are seeing the results of the work we do or not, God just wants obedience. It was great to hear that they had a really strong understanding of that and a good reminder for me. My obedience to God is what is most important. And I was reminded just today of the good news that God wants our obedience and isn't trying to be tricky about it, he will show us what it means to obey him.

Prayer:

- Our rego expires on Friday, we still need to get a few things fixed on the van so please pray that it all goes smoothly.

- Tim is looking for new opportunities for work as his current job finishes in a month or so. He is looking for something which will be suited to a long term commitment so pray for wisdom.

- Tracey is our FIRST shift boss (taking a leadership role amongst the four of us girls for a month). Please pray that she will trust God in this role and not become overwhelmed with busyness.

- Kim had an interview for a Coles job today, I don't actually know how it went because she is at her cafe job now. She is a good one!

- Kylie is busy at work trying to get a four month old into some kind of routine (whilst also getting free hair cuts and colours!) so study is hard.

- Laura is going in to a restaurant tomorrow night (now that I have my RSA) to have a go and get some training. This employment prospect is very good news! Thanks for your prayer, I'll let you know how it goes next week.

- Dad's (Pete V) visit last week was encouraging and has helped get some mission activities rolling. Please pray as we organise an after school club and search for a venue to hold Feast of Stories.

- Police checks are happening at the school (Hunter Christian) so we should be able to get involved there soon!

Thanks very much again for your prayer.

Laura V.

Mayfield Cornerstone Team, Newcastle

Mayfield Prayer # 7

2007-05-15T23:30:00.000+10:00

Hello!

I'm late to write an email again. Dad (Pete Vol) is visiting at the moment so we were up late discussing things with him, instead of sending the prayer email, a valid excuse!

Praise:

-Kim and I went to the Christian School today to organise the legalities to allow us to visit the school for discussion groups and other possibilities.

-Kylie is away alot with work (spending her days waiting for a 4month old to wake up, or go to sleep!) This is good that she has work... but I miss seeing her so much!

-Dad's visit has been encouraging and helpful so far

-Tracey (Floyd) is doing a top job getting our car all ready for rego

-Kim is getting a few shifts a week at the cafe

-Kylie and I (Laura) are getting involved with scripture

Prayer:

-Tracey would like prayer that she will be like Jesus in her friendships

-For more hours at the cafe for Kim, and that she can think of good ways to explain her 'singlemindedness ring'... lots of people ask her what its about at work

-Pray that Tracey's ear will get better

-Ruth and Tim's health generally

-Motivation and discipline with study

Thanks very much for your prayer. It is really encouraging to know that people are praying for us.

Laura V.

Mayfield Cornerstone Team, Newcastle

Mayfield Prayer Email # 6 - Welcome to May!!

2007-05-05T08:36:00.000+10:00

Hello once again!
I must just start with apologies to anyone who recieved this email more than once, or didn't get it, but I guess you wont know! Just getting the new address sorted out.
Its May, and I feel in some ways like the years is slipping away from me, but also like we are just getting into some great stuff. I have really enjoyed learning about William Wilberforce in Christian History. He seemed to live a life characterised by the joy that he knew through God's continual forgiveness and grace.
This week we :
Praise God for the shifts Kim has had at work (cafe)
Thank Him for the work that Kylie has been able to get so quickly (nannying)
Are rejoicing at the growing relationships in neighbourhood etc
Kim did her RSA today and made a friend
-(I don't know her name, except it starts with an 'M')! Pray/praise
Thanks to God that Kylie's car is fixed! By a great mechanic who has been very kind
Continue to pray for work for me (Laura) and for some more work for Tracey
Are thankful for some opportunities at Nightcare (a free sausage sizzle in town on Sat nights run by a bunch of people from different churches as an outreach)
Glad of progess with the team van
Continue to pray for Ruth and Tim's health
Excited about Kim and I doing some fire twirling maybe (!?)
Scripture starts up this week, pray that it will lead to some good opportunities

Thanks once more for your prayers, it is encouraging to know that its happening.

Laura V.
Mayfield Cornerstone Team

Prayer email # 5

2007-04-25T19:20:00.000+10:00

Hello to you!

Sorry about the lack of email for last week, I was busy and somehow it
escaped my notice! It was a fairly busy weekend for most of us, Kylie's
family were visiting and looked after her after she had her wisdom
teeth
pulled out on Friday. Also on Friday Kim and I travelled to Canowindra
and
went along to the free concert that Triple J put on in Cowra (featuring
such
bands as Silverchair and The Midnight Juggernauts!). We are still
organising
the prayer email list, and discovering how to use our team email
account so
I apologise if you've missed out or been sent several of the same one!
Also
I was wrongly informed of the address for our team blog which actually
is
www.newcastlepinkhouse.blogspot.com and the last email was number 4 not
5.
Ahem.
Thankyou SO much first to God, and to all those people who have blessed
us
greatly over the past few weeks with overwhelming generosity! We are
truly
thankful. Our car is being fixed!

Please pray for:
-Tim having opportunities at work with the guys there
- Ruth and Tim getting to know different people, that they can be wise
about
how to do that!
- A meeting with the principal at the school just near us, SOON!
- Work, Kim now has a permanent 2.5hr shift a week, Tracey has some
cleaning, Laura still has no work and Kylie has been told that she is
nolonger employed (she is still working this situation out)
- General momentum of the team, energy, courage and patience. Also that
we
can really trust that God has plans for us here, and to be ready and
willing
to do whatever he wants
- Wisdom about finding ways of meeting people here! And also obedience
and
courage to follow through

Praise!
- Some really good relationships are developing in the neighbourhood
- God is blessing us through many people's generosity and enthusiasm
for the
kingdom
- A lovely visit from Kylie's family
- Kim and I got to Canowindra for the weekend! Through this we met a
couple
of new people :D
-We are gradually getting to where we should be with study (I think!)
- I am going away tomorrow to visit the lovely Kylie Small and work for
a
couple of days on the farm!

Thanks again so much for your prayer. I sometimes find myself wondering
what
God is doing, but am reminded that he is constantly fighting for me,
for
truth and for good in ways which I will just never see. So often its
just
easier to see the hard or bad things that happen and not the good
things
that do happen! May God help each of us to be so aligned with him that
we
see just what he IS doing.

For the Kingdom

Laura V.
Mayfield, Newcastle

Mayfield Prayer Email # 4 - Pizza (11/04/07)

2007-04-13T09:28:00.000+10:00

Hello there!
Kim, Kylie and I watched a movie lastnight,
called 'Converstaions With God'about a man
who is down and out and starts to hear 'God' talk to him.
It was  actually based on a true story, and this guy
published the 'conversations'  he had in a very successful
book. There were strong messages of love, and I
guess even the immanence of God. But amongst it all was
a definite  selfishness, and I was just reminded how subtle
evil can be, and that we are all making small, subtle choices.

Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragements during the last
week! As a team we have been feeling the pain of growth and
I think starting to move forward in that. We are finding the
holes and fixing them and at the same  time really appreciative
of the foundations that were set for us last year.

*We are changing the weekly community dinner to suit us and
the network better, downsizing and spreading out a bit.
It would be super if you could pray that the regulars will really
benefit and understand the changes and that it will actually work
well. We plan to run a coffee and desert night or
something like that here, each Thursday night instead.

*Ruth would appreciate prayer for her health, she is feeling
very run-down

*~India Night~ this Saturday, please pray that we can get organised,
have some really good conversations with people who come and
that God will give
us each specific opportunities to invite people.

*Kylie’s own car has not been working most of the
time we have been here.
The plan is that it gets fixed this week, please pray
that it will happen.

*Our team car has entered a new phase in its problems,
please pray that we will find good deals and
that it will be fixed soon.

*Please continue to pray for more work opportunities,
and for motivation and joy in that.

*Praise God that Tim’s health seems to be improving,
in his words ‘Tim’s health is seeing a light at the
end of a long dark cavern’

*For wisdom in getting involved with scripture
and other possibilities in surrounding schools.

*Praise God that the work that is happening is
providing some really good
relationships and opportunities

*Praise God for the good relationships and
connections that are developing through the church.

Well... I'm quite exhausted. BUT before I go,
I havn't forgotten that our blog site is:


   www.blogspot.newcastlepinkhouse.com

- nope, its: www.newcastlepinkhouse.blogspot.com

feel free to check it out. hopefully we will keep
it updated with exciting
things, and for those who are into pictures,
there will probably be some of them!


Thanks again, and goodnight!

On behalf of the Newcastle Team
Laura
V.

Mayfield Prayer Email # 3 - Subarashi! (4/4/07)

2007-04-13T09:19:00.000+10:00

Greetings!
A new word for those who are interested 'subarashi'
(soo-bah-rah-she)is Japanese for 'wonderful'
or something like that! Thanks to Georgie, I
was just chatting to her on the phone.
It is Wednesday again, and I feel like it was less
than a week since last wednesday, but I guess that isn't
possible. Our team met this morning with Simon to discuss
 a few things about team leadership roles and just what
is happening with that. It was a very positive time and
through a visit from the Richards family, and a good
sharing time together I think that we are
begining to find our feet. The last couple of weeks have
helped us all here to see some of our stuggles and God is
helping us to work through them and I think that he really
is uniting us through them. Praise God for this!

Kylie - Praise God that we found a Christian Library today!
Woohoo!
And please pray that work relationships will continue to
develop in a really good way.
Kim - Pray for more work hours, confidence and competency (at work)
Tracey - More work!
Ruth - Please pray for our India Night on the 14th!
Kylie Small is coming to run this for us, and it is a wonderful
opportunity to invite new friends, have fun and connect.
It is also an opportunity to raise money for India!
Tim - (This is me, just guessing because I didn't get to talk to Tim!)
For health and rest. Continued prayer for relationships with the
guys at work.
Me (Laura) - That I can continue to develop discipline in my daily
routine, and not let the fact that I don't have a job stop me from
doing the work of God!

We would all really appreciate prayer for our relationships with
each other, us four girls getting to know Ruth and Tim, and
Maddie and Hudson. And them getting to know us! And that in our
struggles we will be gracious, patient
and truly seeking to show oneanother Christ's love.
I think this really is happening, and its subarashi!

I just have to share this little story and that will be all for
tonight. The other day, Tracey and I took our team van to a
church members house, because he has some mechanic experience
and wanted to check our vehicle out. He was just checking the
spark plugs, when i heard a cracking sound (and thought to
myself, well i'm glad he knows what he's doing, because to my
uneducated ear that didn't sound at all good!). Well about
a minute later, and a few 'shivers!' exclamations it was
established that the power steering tube/pipe
(?) was so brittle that it had just snapped! Something which would have
stopped us driving anywhere, which our good friend charged us $12 to
fix (the price for the tube). We are thankful!

Thankyou once more for your prayers and encouragments!

Sometimes a shadow dark and cold
hangs like a mist across the road
But be encouraged by that site
where there's a shadow there's a light!
(Road to Zion - Petra)

Laura Vol
Mayfield Team

Prayer Newsletter 28/03/07

2007-03-30T23:23:00.000+10:00

Hello friends and prayers!
well, its a Wednesday night and we have just
finished our team meeting.
Life is busy and it feels like things are happening.
Thanks so much for your support through prayer,
it is so important to the battle.

Prayer points:
-Involvement at Maycare (community centre
out of the Baptist church)for Ruth and Tracey,
wisdom with conversations and relationship building.
-Wisdom about our involvement with the
Hunter Christian School, there are great opportunities!
-Work, I am still unemployed and Tracey needs more work.
Kim and Kylie are employed but don't have many hours at the
moment.
-Continue to pray for our Community Dinner on
Thursday nights (opportunity to invite neighbours
and people we meet around for dinner)
-Also for breakfast at Nobby's beach on Sunday mornings
a regular happening, to get together and meet people
-Spiritual Art Retreat at Tracey Lynch's on
Saturday (10-2pm)
-The car! We love our car and are glad that she still runs.
-Tactful relationships with guys at work for Tim
-For Tracey (Floyd) to be able to reach out to more
people at volleyball
-Molly Ahern is hospitalised with gastro (tonight)

Praise:
-We know someone who may help us with the car!
-Simon Lynch did the talks at the church camp on
the weekend (we helped out) and has been asked to do
it all again at the youth camp in
August!
-Our internet is on!!! (thanks SO much Kylie) and we have
a computer!

I have been really humbled and blessed through not having
any work yet. God is helping me to rest in him, and giving
me energy to study and have a clear focus on relationships.
Today I said good morning to an old lady in the street and
she said 'oh! yes, good morning, it is a lovely day!' and
smiled. That made me feel happy too. Thanks so much again
for your prayer.

On behalf of the team here at the pink house
Laura Vol
2/28 Bull Street
Mayfield
Newcastle 2304

Prayer newsletter 22/03/07

2007-03-26T17:18:00.000+10:00

The following is our prayer newsletter, dated 22/03/07.

Dear Friends,

Just wanted to update you on some prayer points. We just bought a computer today so hopefully we should be able to keep you more updated.

Life has been quite challenging, and very different to what we expected. It seems to be very much an attack of the enemy, and your prayer would be very much appreciated - they are essential!

Workwise - we have searched far and wide for any sort of employment, and so far Tracey has 8ish hours of cleaning a week and Kylie is waitressing for an Italian restaurant. Tim has been working 4 days a week in Morriset. There is a possibility for employment in a cafe that Laura and Kim are training for. But in that, we have seen God provide for us. Please pray for more hours for Tracey and that Kim and Laura will find employment soon in good enviroments.

The lack of a computer has meant a lack of communication which has meant a lack of study which has been discouraging. But we finally just bought one today and hopefully will have set up soon.

Our poor little fridge died a slow and painful death and after much searching we found a good deal on a second hand fridge, which is much appreciated and our food is now kept cold. Woo!

Seems like the problems are endless with the car - we are looking into getting its many issues fixed. It's one redeeming factor is its moon roof. Please Pray for wisdom in what to get fixed and good people to fix it!

We were able to speak at Mayfield Baptist last weekend and that was a really positive experience with everyone there being really supportive. Its been a good window to meet people and we are heading off to the Chuch camp tomorrow - which will provide more good times to meet people and also to give Simon Lynch a hand with the talks he's doing over the weekend.

We just had community dinner here at our place tonight - its been a good chance to invite our neighbours over. Please pray for some realy good opportunities to spend time and for good conversations.

Healthwise, Tim especially has been pretty sick and Ruth hasn't been feeling the best. Please pray for wisdom is finding help in those areas and for healing to come.

Its been about 2 months that we have been here now and not having much work or mission programs started and also being behind in study has been pretty depressing. We want to use our time well, but feel like its been a very slow start. But we know that God is in this with us and He is bigger than the problems we face. Its discouraging when it feels like a lot of things aren't working, but encouraging when we realize God has provided the means to get them fixed.

Thanks for praying - we know that God has great plans for this year and we are really looking forward to being a part of what He is doing here in Newcastle.

The Newcastle Pink House Team