LAWRENCE AND JULIA’S CHRISTMAS LETTER

December 2009

My soul magnifies the Lord ,and my spirit rejoices in God

my Saviour
–Luke 1.46-47
Floods in the UK, tsunamis and earthquakes in other parts of the world ...
stories of corruption in the highest places and our own memories of
individuals who have let us down in one way or another. It affects us
all. And the other side ..? fantastic weather in the UK during
September, stories of heroism from ordinary people doing
extraordinary things, little acts of kindness from others and
individual challenges overcome. Like Mary the mother of Jesus, we
are faced with choices in every moment. As we draw near to
Christmas and the beginning of another New Year, how will we
respond to the memories of 2009 and the as-yet –unknown
opportunities in 2010?
Here are some of our highlights of 2009 ....
Julia has a new lease of life, having Statue pf the Virgin Mary by David
been pain-free from arthritis for some Wynne
Meanwhile, back in
months now, thanks to her discovery of the UK……
a very special aloe vera drinking gel.
She is now ‘in business’ and selling a Lawrence has been
whole range of aloe vera health and getting
well-being products! (contact her for involved with
more details if interested in finding our Ancient Tree
more) recording
She has also been practising her new projects both
TEFL skills giving private lessons to a in Wychwood
few Chinese and Korean students Forest and
In February we had the
during the year. Her spiritual direction Shotover
opportunity of a week’s holiday in
work is also flourishing and she is Forest,
Madeira. Here we are with our
deepening her understanding of Oxford.
feathered friend on board the
Santa Maria De Columbo, built to Christian Meditation and lgnatian
the pattern of Columbus’ ship. Spirituality. Work at Hill End
Whilst it rained inland, we took a In her spare time (!) she has also been In JanuarycontinuesJulia flew out
And Family ... much the her
tour out to sea into the glorious doing some family research on the web to Tasmania toback
begin
In July we met up Cradle
ning
with journey
Mountain
same
Jessica and and
as to the
usual
sunshine and met up with some six months course
and has discovered new relations, most north
Tasmania. coast,but asthe wellinas
dolphins racing the ship – a joy to of which have also been very helpful inMatthew in Bristol
Christian for Youth
paying a visit
Matt’s
toandPort
introduction
watch! filling in the ‘gaps’. Some relativesbirthday.Matt is now Community a Care Assistant
Arthur in the work.
south. In
of new
In August we went camping.. have supplied copies of old photos, sofor the elderly, also running February
Julia
Whilst Julia
worshops
completed
she studied a
joined
her
technologies
and discovered for the first time she has been able to connect names towith them and teaching bus-load
course guitar
during the in of
Julyin and
young
week,
his began
people
provides
the ‘joys’ of taking down a tent – faces. She’s had an exciting timespare time. His first love for
studya ishigh-adventure
stillthe
for
Lawrencesome
music.
Diploma
managed to
and putting it up again all on the visiting a little village nearby, whereHe does quite a fewcourse solo ‘gigs’
daytrip,
get out beforeand
now,
travelling flying
about toback
the
himself
challenges.
same day in the pouring rain! We her maternal grandfather was born.but his band findshome themselves
east coast
and ended ’On of
placementin
up on radio’ to
Tasmania
Global
also learned how to make sure The house – a thatched cottage – is stilldemand at local pubs the and
UK
talking about
weddings
sand-dunes
as Fusion’s
hisofinterest
positioning
that the river of water flowed there and his name and those of hisas well. Jess has now gone freelance
Strahan—gum
National
in spiders! Development trees,
systems (GPS)
under - not through – our tent by brothers who fought in WW1 areas a copy editor, Worker. ghost-writing
white sand andfor
September beautiful
saw
people, as well as writing
beaches
her articlesand
back .again in etc. wildlife
propping up the groundsheet with written on the War Memorial and in the
data
plastic bottles at strategic points! Church. In October thisTasmania
On
She Easter
time
began for
Sunday
another
arecording
larger
her ,
fieldwork
Will we ever have the opportunity Lawrence has started bell ringinggathering of the clan‘Major’ Lawrence
month’s
for a in training
and
‘surprise’ Julia
March on will before
th travelled
coming software
home
down again
to Hobart
to
to use these skills again, we again at St. Aldates – albeit only a few85 birthday party for Julia’s
Fusion’s local
be father.
community
tackled in
wonder ...?! times so far. However, another carpelEach year for the radio for
continue
an Easter
next ‘Heart growing
fewthe March
years,
FM’. the
through
work in the city. New
UK.to The Year!
Another
Building Community – tunnel operation – this time on the leftthere are other ‘special birthdays’
th month
Bishop away
of Tasmania
wrist – will mean that morecelebrate – an 80 next year, a is60 planned
th
again! Julia
Lawrenceand
commissioned
for the NewLawrence
joined
Year. 200herhad twoa
involvement with the bells will have tothe following year (Lawrence’s)week away in
and
Italy during
Who would have known that in weeks
pilgrims
However, before
asit’s Easter
‘Ambassadors
wonderful and
wait a little while. Pursuing histhen it will be Julia’s ..... we’re
August, staying
all
atBoth
leaving our parish church and they
of
to managed
Reconciliation’
be back togetherto have
continued literary interests, he, Juliagetting older! Sorrento
worshipping at a large city church and a friend listened to some excellent
two for and
said weekends
again good byevisiting
Christmas, together
to each
instead, two years later we would lectures at the Oxford Literary Festival. MERRY CHRISTMAS
Pompeii,
visiting
other
catching again Herculaneum—
other
up ( places
with
that on
friends
was
and
tough)
and Vesuvius,
the island—beautiful
family
and .Lawrence which
be providing a mid-week meeting
place for Christians in our home..?
In November he attended a AND
Julia—as became
rainforests,
withback
flew theto highlight
all Fusion UK of
theworkers
fascinating day school on ‘The Golden worldwide, thelives
whole holiday
faith. Iffor
bypilgrims you
Many people, like us, travel in to whilst the set
Age of Detective Fiction’ and spent a A HAPPY wish toNEW 2006
Lawrence.
support has or been
Following
learn amorethis of
Oxford to worship on Sunday, but st off, flying to Melbourne,
brilliant day at the 1 Symposium of wonderful
volcanic Aussie
experience helet
need a smaller group to belong to the New Naturalists Collectors Club. YEAR.! Julia’s workthen with Fusion
travelling please
by bus
near where they live. This new us know.Adventure,
began
and camping but
an evening eachit isclass
good
night
to be
entitled,home! ‘An Introduction
venture has been a wonderful He still enjoys giving talks to various Lawrence via and
to
Adelaide and Coober
Geological
local groups on ‘Spiders’ and ‘Ancient ( where Science’the opals.
T H EJULIA
A U’SS SCI EHRISTMAS
A D V E NLTETTER
Pedy,
LAWRENCE AND
surprise, - bringing into reality a
long-held dream to use our home URE
Trees & Woodland’. Local natural Julia He
are completed
mined) andthe course
at the end of
eventually to November,
‘The Big
in this way. It is still ‘early days’
H I G H L I G H T S … …. . . A friendly native Tasmanian
Lawrence on his firstcentre
December
getting
Red Rock’
written
day there.
84%
met
work.
ofupfor
Uluru 2006
thein the
with
of Australia. They