Greetings, and welcome to what has become the Grffin’s quarterly. Four and a half months into our stay in Laleston, much has happened since last we wrote. Stay tuned for the much awaited…

Ben’s News

Much was said in response to my comments about Textual Tools in Griffin’s Gazette 1. Thankyou for your prayers and encouragement, the module has finished. Forever. Through much resistance on my behalf God has made the module invaluable to myself in sermon preperation and private bible study.

The term, (sorry, semester) has consisted of numerous essays, workshops lectures and assignments, all completed on time. The results are still pending, and my expectations border on the pessismistic, I never remember university being this difficult. At ETCW we have to get out of bed before midday!!!

On the positive side of life in Bridgend, I preached my first sermon on 21 January at Bridgend Free Evangelical Church, this was a warm fellowship who made my first experience of preaching a lot easier than I expected.

The immediate future holds a three week placement for me at a church called Gilgal in a place called Porthcawl, just south of Bridgend. This will be a busy time packed with preaching, teaching, visiting, youth work and all sorts. Preperation is under way now.

Life outside of academia and sermon preperation, and delivery, still revolves around Liz, Josh and football (in that order). Josh continues to make me the happiest dad ever!!! As the workload has increased the football has decreased, and my waistline has increased.

It was great to catch up with a lot of folks over the Christmas break, and quite difficult to return to Bridgend. Friday evenings are still lacking without Wheelock Heath Young Peoples group, but there are plans in the pipeline for a youth work in Laleston to plug this gap.

Liz’s News

Life in Laleston has now settled down and feels more like home, mainly because of being around more at weekends and meeting another young mum, Katherine and her seven month old, George. We met through the Mum’s and babies group and spend a lot of time in coffee shops! I have also met some of the Korean Students wives at the same group and find them a great encouragement.

I’m hoping to have some refresher driving lessons in the near future, having not driven properly since I passed my test, I need to build up my confidence again. I’m also considering doing the ETCW corespondence or distance learning course which can be done at my own pace, but I’m still not sure as Josh is keeping me on my toes.

Josh’s News

I’m now five and a half months old and I’ve learnt to shuffle around the room on my bottom, I’ve also rolled over a few times but I get stuck on my front and I don’t like that very much so I’ve given up. I’m eating lots of solid food now and love to make a mess. I enjoy my Sundays at Church, especially the quiet bits or when daddy is preaching when I like to burp loudly.

Praise

· That Ben has made it through Textual tools

· For Katherine and George

· For Gods provision of all our needs

· For a restful holiday

Prayer

· For Ben during his placement at Gilgal

· For Liz as she decides what to do and as she takes to the road again

· For the students facing a new semester

· For the plans for a youth work at Bethel, Laleston

Thank You for your prayers, letters and support

Ben, Liz and Josh