CMS Summer School on Mt Tamborine was, as usual, excellent! Mike Raiter led us in some very challenging bible studies through Luke 9–19. We enjoyed fellowship with many old friends and made some new ones. The weather was fabulous, cool and mostly fine—way more pleasant than last year's pouring rain. The music was wonderful: congregational singing led by a few very talented musos, with a good variety of song styles. It is always uplifting to sing praises to God in a 500-strong choir!
This time around, QCCC refused to cater for us. So instead we self-catered in the Prezzy Palace (that's Camp Tamborine officially) kitchen.
And this year, we restrained ourselves somewhat in the bookshop. We only bought half a dozen books (some to be gifts) and four CDs.
Oh, and also: The old Chocolate Kingdom shop on Long St at the Gallery Walk has been sold. It's now selling the same chocolates at double or triple the price! But it turns out the other shop is still there (thanks Rachel!) and still selling Queensland's most delicious chocolates at the same old prices. You'll find it in the little shopping centre at the top of Henri Robert Drive (the Nerang road).
Next year, same place, Friday 1st to Thursday 7th January. See you there!
Showing posts with label CMS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CMS. Show all posts
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Thursday, January 10, 2008
CMS Summer School 2007
Summer School this year was wet, wet, wet.
Friday evening there was a big rainstorm, lots of mud everywhere. Still haven't managed to get the mudstains off my long pants! But that's okay, they're old pants, and I haven't tried the nappy treatment yet. It rained on and off every day we were there, including a hailstorm during lunchtime on Sunday.
Don Carson did the Bible talks this year. Ironically, after being billed as a major draw-card for this year's Summer School, he himself humbly noted that we shouldn't look to “gurus” for spiritual instruction, but rather to God alone. Nonetheless, he spoke very well, helping us to see and understand more from Nehemiah than we had expected (Laetitia and I having already studied Nehemiah in 2007).
However, the food was a poor cousin of the usual rich Summer School fare, especially for Laetitia and I with our special diets. First of all, although we were supposed to be eating our meals at CMS, the same site we were sleeping at, in fact (due apparently to an uncorrected database error by CMS) the caterers were providing all special diet meals at WEC! (For those who don't know, the WEC site is basically diametrically opposite the CMS site at the conference centre.) Second, CMS had evidently failed to pass on to the caterers our special diet instructions which we have carefully prepared specifically for the benefit of people who are trying to cook for us.
Third, the portions they prepared were pathetically small, especially for me, trying to put on weight! (The plate shown at right was supposed to be my lunch on Sunday. When I commented to the cook that it wasn't enough to feed me, I was told, “well, there's salad too.” Grr!)
Fortunately, after correcting the cook's incomplete description of our dietary needs, the meals did gradually improve. On the last couple of days we were eating delicious and very creative meals. *Sigh*
Friday evening there was a big rainstorm, lots of mud everywhere. Still haven't managed to get the mudstains off my long pants! But that's okay, they're old pants, and I haven't tried the nappy treatment yet. It rained on and off every day we were there, including a hailstorm during lunchtime on Sunday.
Don Carson did the Bible talks this year. Ironically, after being billed as a major draw-card for this year's Summer School, he himself humbly noted that we shouldn't look to “gurus” for spiritual instruction, but rather to God alone. Nonetheless, he spoke very well, helping us to see and understand more from Nehemiah than we had expected (Laetitia and I having already studied Nehemiah in 2007).
However, the food was a poor cousin of the usual rich Summer School fare, especially for Laetitia and I with our special diets. First of all, although we were supposed to be eating our meals at CMS, the same site we were sleeping at, in fact (due apparently to an uncorrected database error by CMS) the caterers were providing all special diet meals at WEC! (For those who don't know, the WEC site is basically diametrically opposite the CMS site at the conference centre.) Second, CMS had evidently failed to pass on to the caterers our special diet instructions which we have carefully prepared specifically for the benefit of people who are trying to cook for us.
Third, the portions they prepared were pathetically small, especially for me, trying to put on weight! (The plate shown at right was supposed to be my lunch on Sunday. When I commented to the cook that it wasn't enough to feed me, I was told, “well, there's salad too.” Grr!)Fortunately, after correcting the cook's incomplete description of our dietary needs, the meals did gradually improve. On the last couple of days we were eating delicious and very creative meals. *Sigh*
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Catching up with friends
We drove back to Brisbane on Boxing Day, after a relaxing Christmas in Valla Beach with Nadine and Dennis and their family.
The drive back took us seven hours again, by almost the same route. We just took it easy, not wanting to get involved in any shenanigans or excitement—unlike (apparently) some of the other drivers on the roads that day.
The following few days have been filled with friends and laughter. It’s been really good to catch up with some old friends (Facebook just isn’t the same). We even saw Stuart last night, who’s been living in Kalgoorlie!
More family and friends in the coming week, then we go up to CMS Summer School on Mt Tamborine on Friday. We’re planning to be “in for visitors” on Thursday 3rd. Come visit us if you’re free, at Ian’s parents’ place: 54 Highcrest Dr (corner with Ranchwood Ave), Browns Plains.
The drive back took us seven hours again, by almost the same route. We just took it easy, not wanting to get involved in any shenanigans or excitement—unlike (apparently) some of the other drivers on the roads that day.
The following few days have been filled with friends and laughter. It’s been really good to catch up with some old friends (Facebook just isn’t the same). We even saw Stuart last night, who’s been living in Kalgoorlie!
More family and friends in the coming week, then we go up to CMS Summer School on Mt Tamborine on Friday. We’re planning to be “in for visitors” on Thursday 3rd. Come visit us if you’re free, at Ian’s parents’ place: 54 Highcrest Dr (corner with Ranchwood Ave), Browns Plains.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Holiday plans
People keep asking me about our holiday plans, so I thought I'd just add it to my blog, and then next time I can just point people to this blog entry.
There may yet be changes to this timetable, and there's plenty of flexibility built-in, but that's the basic plan.
- Drive from Mackay to Brisbane
- Leave Mackay Sunday afternoon 16th or Monday morning 17th (depending when we're ready)
- Possible stopover between Rocky and Bundaberg (inclusive)
- Arrive in Brisbane
- Spend a few mad days in Brisbane
- Tracey's wedding and Christmas
- Drive to Valla Beach near Coffs Harbour Friday 21st
- Stay with Laetitia's sister Nadine and Dennis
- Up to Dorrigo on Saturday 22nd for Tracey's wedding
- Spend Christmas in Valla Beach
- Drive back to Brisbane some time before New Year
- New Year
- Probably go to some mad friend's New Year's party (any volunteers?)
- Spend a few relaxed days in Brisbane
- CMS Summer School 4th-10th January
- Drive up to Mt Tamborine Friday afternoon 4th
- Enjoy the cool air and good company
- Study the Bible
- Make new friends
- Drive back to Brisbane Thursday 10th
- Return to Mackay
- Leave Brisbane Friday 11th
- Possible stopover between Bundaberg and Rocky (inclusive)
- Arrive in Mackay
There may yet be changes to this timetable, and there's plenty of flexibility built-in, but that's the basic plan.
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