GOOD QUESTION!

Just before our students went on Travel Weekend we had Principal’s Period where notices were given. As Dean I often say encouraging words to our students but last Friday I challenged them to ask themselves a question: What will they be so proud of when they come back from Travel Weekend? Answers soon spilled out like, ‘No alcohol’, and ‘Not spending too much money’.

A lot of our teenagers come to Bible School having experienced the full force of the world in their lives - it’s not easy to go against the flow of peer pressure. However, here at Torchbearers, all our students are in the company of others who want to live the same high standards for themselves as well as for their friends – that’s healthy living! I was so proud of our students – and I told them – when they returned and shared of having had such good times. They made good choices and were proud of them - fantastic!

Some of the things they enjoyed were the beach in Sydney, the Apple store, Coldplay in concert at the Telstra Arena, a home visit to the folks in north Sydney, and camping along the south coast with members of our community. What a life!

Looking forward to our next break – in between terms – we have a Mission Trip to Hong Kong which falls between April 10th – 25th. Three guys, Carl, Jess, Tony and I will be heading to Shatin in the New Territories to support Jackie Pullinger-To’s work with former drug addicts. We will live in what they call New Boy House where as many as 50 live together as a close family. We will do everything the guys do and as we share our lives with them we hope they will see Jesus in us and that will be a huge encouragement to them. We plan to have a Western Food night in which we’ll cook up some great Spaghetti Bolognese and serve it will garlic bread – something they always look forward to!

We also want to make a donation to St Stephen’s Society to help complete their building project. Our aim is to raise around $20,000 Australian which will convert to $100,000 Hong Kong Dollars. Not an easy task, but we know that what is impossible with men is possible with God. So far we are very encouraged by people, young and old who want to help. My heart is so touched by the care that people have for the less fortunate – I sense that God is very pleased!

We’ll keep you posted on how things work out. If any of you would like to contribute to our fund raising activities please contact me through office@torchbearers.com.au and I’ll be happy to give out information that will make giving as easy as possible.

Thank you all for your interest in our school. Just want to say that we had a local guy, Tony Parks, come for a ‘Taste and See’ week and after having such an awesome time he decided to join us as a full time student. We are all thrilled at the way Tony has settled in and is already an established and valued member of our school. May God bless Tony mightily during his time with us.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE and GOD BLESS,

Steve (otherwise known as) WOODSEY