Victoria
Bushfires are causing complete devastation in Victoria. We woke yesterday morning to the sad news that 25 lives had been lost, over 600 homes and over 300 000 hectares (or maybe acres sorry I can't remember which measurement it was). Fire crews continued to work through yesterday fighting the massive blazes. Police spent the day working through the burnt out shells of homes and cars. By afternoon the death toll was 65, by evening 84 and when we woke this morning 108. This is expected to rise again today as Police continue to search through the ashes. The town of Marysville no longer exists, over 95% of the buildings have been destroyed. Kingslake is similar with whole sections of the town completely wiped out. There are still many blazes burning and many people unaccounted for. There are also large numbers of burn victims in Melbourne hospitals, many of whom are not expected to survive. There are many stories of bravery, near misses, miraculous survival and courage.
New South Wales
There are approximately 50 bushfires burning in New South Wales. There has only been currently one loss of life, a 9 year old child.
Queensland
According to yesterdays newspaper two thirds of Queensland is currently affected by flooding. The town of Ingham has been the hardest hit with much of the town under water. The major highway to north Queensland has been cut for nearly a week. This is stopping all food and supplies getting through. Many western properties have been isolated by floodwater for more than a week and may continue to be so for more than a month. Helicopter food drops have started to these areas. Unfortunately the wet weather is continueing. Inghams flood waters started to drop on Friday but rose again on Saturday. They have started to drop again today but more rain is expected Wednesday or Thursday. Coastal towns were bracing yesterday for a King Tide which would hit - giving you large amounts of flood water trying to get out to sea meeting the ocean trying to get inland. One of the dams was recorded as losing enough water over their spill way everyday to completely fill one of the dams that supplies water to Brisbane everyday. Just massive volumes of water. We have seen many photos on the TV and the water is just moving so fast. They are currently searching for a 5 year old boy believed to be taken by a crocodile and 2 men in their 30's who were washed off the highway.
We would appreciate you joining us in our prayers for these people, those who have lost loved ones and friends, those who have lost everything they own, for the communities whose town no longer exists, for the emergency service workers fighting the fires and those with the grim task of looking for bodies. Especially pray that through this tragedy many may come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

Update

Think that we finally have our internet connection sorted out. Yah!
Just had word from Rainald's daughter that he is doing very well (PRAISE THE LORD!!) and has just come back from his last trip to Sydney for treatment. Will email Jenny (his wife) shortly and let you know what she has to say.
We are starting to feel quite settled in Maryborough. The boys started back at school this week and seem to be settling in okay. We are starting to pick up some mowing jobs in town so that is good. We think that we have found the Church where we are supposed to be. It is only small, about 30 to 40 people, but they are very friendly and there are some boys there our boys age. We had lunch with the pastors family last week at our house and we are going to their house this Sunday. There boys are near ours in age. We are enjoying the more laid back lifestyle of Maryborough, nothing like Caboolture where we were living.
I am hoping to start to take some photos of the beautiful old homes in town that have been maintained or restored. Spectacular.
Will write again soon.

Just a quick note to say that we are still alive. We have moved to Maryborough but have no home phone or internet. Things haven't been particularly easy but God works through everything. Will send out some more details when I have internet connection.

Rainald Feldmeier Update

I requested prayer some weeks ago for friends who were in Africa but the dad (Rainald) had been ill and they had found tumours in his testicle and the family had to return home to Australia so he could get treatment. Here is the latest email update:

I would like to thank everyone who has prayed, texted, emailed, given and phoned us. Your support and encouragement has been what gets us through especially the tough days. We arrived back on the 30th and drove Rainald straight to Royal prince Alfred Hospital. There he was admitted and the tests begun, firstly they thought he had TB and we all had to wear funny gowns and masks if we wanted to go near him. When that scare was over they concentrated on the tumour which proved to be testicular cancer in stage 3, it had travelled to his lungs, liver, abdomen and lymphatic system. He was in alot of pain and by now weighed 70 kg, 15kg less than usual. Last tuesday chemotherapy started and he is under going 5 straight days followed by a monday treatment, twice then back to the 5 days. He is receiving very high doses and no doubt will not feel too well over the next 3 months. Because we had to fly out so quickly we had to take business class seats they were very nice but came with a price. $12 500 one way for the two, these seats were also much more comfortable for Rainald and he could lie down. We couldnt get the kids out of Malawi till the 20th so they are still there and wont arrive till 22nd october. It has now been more than a month since we have been together and if you know our family and how close we are thats tough. The other downer about the kids is that we cant have them with us while Rainald receives treatment as Rainald and I will stay with my sister. She and her husband have a house in Sydney and their three adult children still live at home. There just isnt room so the kids will move back to Gympie and stay at our house that is being rented by friends and they will look after them. Hopefully this will be till christmas when we can all be together again. Rainald is not in as much pain anymore, they operated and removed the tumour. He is very weak and has lost a lot of muscle tone. His road to recovery will be long. He is in quite good spirits today it helps when you see someone doing something to make you better. During the time when we didnt know what was wrong we struggled alot. We have had some friends come down and visit this was good for our spirits. We enjoy the calls as being so far away from friends has its struggles. My sister has been great, we now realise what sisters are for and she is an enormous support and friend. Again thank you for your prayers.
Blessings jennifer And Rainald

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

WELL SPRING IS IN THE AIR AND I POPPED OUT INTO THE GARDEN TO TAKE A PHOTO OF THE LARGE RED FLOWERS (TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG). I TRIED TWICE TO PUT THEIR PHOTOS AT THE TOP OF MY BLOG AND TWICE IT TOLD ME THAT IT HAD ENCOUNTERED AN ERROR REQUIRING MY SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN SO I HAVE LEFT THEM AT THE BOTTOM. SO MY STORY WILL BE A LITTLE BACK TO FRONT.

I'M HOPING THAT THESE LITTLE BUNCHES WILL TURN INTO GRAPES. THERE IS A QUITE A FEW PLANTS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE WHICH HAVE LOOKED DEAD ALL WINTER. IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS THEY HAVE BECOME COVERED IN GREEN LEAVES AND BUCKETLOADS OF THESE BUNCHES.

WASN'T SURE WHAT THE PLANT BELOW WAS AS IT WAS BARE OF LEAVES WHEN WE MOVED IN. KNEW IT HAD TO BE A FRUIT AS IT WAS COVERED IN NETTING. WHEN I LOOKED TODAY IT WAS COVERED IN PEACHES.
THE MANGO TREES HAVE HAD LOTS OF FLOWERS. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL SET AND THERE WILL BE HEAPS OF MANGOES.
IT IS PRETTY HOT HERE TODAY (33 DEG CELSIUS). TIGGER, FRANKIE AND BLACKIE CURLED UP IN NICHOLAS' BED FOR A DAY OF NAPPING.

TOM SPENT THE MORNING WITH ME AT THE COMPUTER. HE WASN'T IMPRESSED WITH BEING DISTURBED WHEN I WENT OUT TO TAKE THE PHOTOS.

BUT SOON SETTLED BACK DOWN TO NAPPING.

THIS IS WHAT I WENT OUTSIDE ORIGINALLY TO PHOTOGRAPH. THIS LARGE CACTUS IS IN THE BACK CORNER OF THE YARD AND I HATE IT. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD PLANT IT.
BUT WHEN I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW THE OTHER DAY I SAW THESE LARGE RED FLOWERS GROWING IN FRONT OF THE CACTUS AND THEY LOOKED SPECTACULAR.

THEY ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR HAND.

ALSO FLOWERING IN THE GARDEN ARE THE HIBISCUS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLANT IS BELOW. IT DOESN'T HAVE VERY MANY BRANCHES BUT THEY ARE ALL COMPLETELY COVERED IN THESE WHITE FLOWERS.

THE POOR OLD PECAN TREES LOOK SO BARE. THERE ARE 3 IN THE YARD AND THEY DROPPED HEAPS OF PECAN NUTS AND THEN DROPPED ALL THERE LEAVES.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED A QUICK TRIP THROUGH THE GARDEN OF OUR RENTAL HOME. IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME HOW DIVERSE GOD'S CREATION IS.

Pat's Birthday Tea

BIRTHDAY CAKE! YUM!!

PATRICK'S COUSIN PETA DIDN'T WANT HER PHOTO TAKEN BUT AFTER SOME GENTLE PERSUASION WE GOT A PHOTO.

HIS OTHER COUSIN KELLY IS NOT SO SHY OF THE CAMERA AND WAS HAPPY TO HAM IT UP WITH PATRICK.



PAT'S PRESENTS FROM HIS COUSINS. THE TRUCK IS A FAMILY JOKE. THE SHIRTS WERE PRETTY APT.

KELLY WASN'T REAL SURE ABOUT THE TRUCK SHE LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BITE HER.

NICHOLAS HAD HI FIRST SUMMER SWIM. PAT BOUGHT THIS 'COOL HAT' THAT EVERYONE WHO IS COOL IS WEARING. NOT SURE HOW CLEAR IT IS IN THE PHOTO BUT IT HAS A BEADED PIECE ON TOP WITH A PLASTIC ROTOR BLADE ON IT. WE WENT TO THE SHOPPING CENTRE ON SATURDAY AND SAW 6 OTHER TEENAGERS WITH THIS HAT ON.

PAT'S BIRTHDAY WAS A BIT DIFFERENT TO LAST YEAR'S. LAST YEAR HE AWOKE IN A HOTEL IN NONG KHAI, THAILAND. WAITED FOR AGES TO CROSS THE THAILAND BORDER AND EVEN LONGER AT THE LAOS BORDER FOR VISAS. EVENTUALLY GOT INTO VIENTIANNE, LAOS. HAD ITALIAN (PIZZA) AT A FRENCH RESTAURANT IN LAOS TO CELEBRATE BECOMING A TEENAGER. SOMETHING HE WILL NEVER FORGET.

Praise The Lord!!

Prayer is so powerful and our God is so awesome. Since 2 days after the prayer request was made for little Jeremias (4 year old with the prolapsed bowel) his bowel has not prolapsed again. Praise the Lord. Please keep praying for a complete recovery.