Serving Jesus Down Under
One day after we posted our needs for the ministry, we had someone donate a laptop to the city ministry! Thank you for the computer and for the prayers.
We are praying for someone to assist with the shipping costs for the desktop computers that were donated. Could it be you?
The adventure continues in the US, help us to get home to OZ…
Russ & Cathy
One of our prayer requests was for the provision of computers in the city ministry.
We had an exciting offer from one of our supporting churches. One of their members is willing to donate rebuilt computers to the city ministry. The only thing that we need assistance with is shipping costs. We just wanted to ask if anyone would be willing to help with the shipping of the computers or knows of shipping opportunities at a low cost.
We hope you are encouraged by answered prayers! Glory to God and we are so thankful for your continued prayers and support.
Russ, Cathy, Rebecca, Hope, Joshua & Caroline
Our First Furlough… What an experience… Thanks for you prayers for our first furlough. It has been quite an exciting, busy, and exhausting blessing to serve. We are at a different church each weekend and then meeting with friends, supporters & pastors during the week. It is a great time of sharing about four of our favourite things: Jesus, the Bible, Australia and our family. It is fun, but quite tiring. Our health has been up and down, but I think we are adjusting our schedule to get rest in this process.
Answering the Consistent Questions: We thought we would answer some of the questions from the church meetings.
“Why the short furlough?” Due to planning purposes for the various ministries in November and the desire to get back to the field we chose to a shorter furlough. It is difficult to be away from the work for such a long time. We are enjoying the time in the US, but we hoping to get home to Australia soon. When we came from Australia we had full support, but while at ABWE we needed to make some adjustments in our support levels and we are praying and working hard to meet those requirements. (Details below)
Caroline-ism: We were driving back from the church last week and Caroline said, “We do a pretty good American accent, don’t we.” Hope replied,”Honey, we are American.” “Oh, I thought we were Australian.” “Well, we are both, but we have an American accent.” Pray she can get her mind around that one.
Can we ask for you prayers for safety in our travels and discernment on where we can go for new support options?
Praises:
1) The calendar is filling up quickly with small groups, youth groups, friends, family and our supporting churches. We are still available for some groups and churches during the week, but time is going quickly. Thanks to all who have asked us to come.
2) Good connections with our neighbours and new people in the churches. Please continue to pray for opportunities to share the good news of Christ in the US.
3) Our friend Andrew will be here soon. Pray for his safe arrival.
We have had for some specifics on our prayer requests:
-$275 monthly increase for support – This is due to a change in our schooling situation for 2011 and some adjustments in support from specific churches.
-4 new laptop computers & 2 new desk top computers for city ministry – Our computers need an upgrade to keep up with the demand of the city ministry
-1 new laptop & 1 new desktop for family needs – Ours are in need of replacing at home
-Direction and funding with church plant in Sydney; we have the opportunity for new church plants in 2011 – Our goal is to raise $5000 for this fund.
- One family or an individual who would be willing to come and serve in ministry in Australia. We would like people to consider working in the City ministry & church planting effort. Our suggestion would be to consider a short term trip, then look towards a long term commitment.
-Funds for furlough
-We would like to purchase a small vehicle to assist in travel needs for future ministry. (ex. Toyota Corrolla)
That is it for now, but there will be more to come. Thank you for your prayers and support.
The adventure continues…
Russ, Cathy, Rebecca, Hope , Joshua & Caroline
We apologise for the length of time it has taken for us to send out an update. We have just been able to get the Internet working in our home in the US. I will send more detail soon, but for those who have been following our furlough, here are some of the details.
Praises:
1) We are living in Des Moines at a wonderful home provided by Grace Church. Thank you to the harvest team, our family and friends for all of the work in helping us to get settled.
2) Saylorville Baptist Church has provided a van for our travel. We have the church van and are currently waiting on the vote from the church to purchase a mini-van.
3) We have had three great experiences at churches. Two of them were supporting churches and it was great getting to re-connected with them. We will be on the road to Louisburg, KS this weekend.
4) Great time at ABWE Missionary Enrichment Conference. I had the opportunity to share the CBF ministry with all of the attendees at one of the events. Thanks to Kent Craig, George Collins, Amy Wheaton and Dr. Loftis for the experience.
5) The calendar is filling up quickly with small groups, youth groups, friends, family and our supporting churches. We are still available for some groups and churches during the week, but time is going quickly. Thanks to all who have asked us to come.
Key pray requests:
-Safety in travels during the furlough
-Opportunities to share the good news of Christ in the US
-$220 monthly increase for support
-4 laptop computers & 2 desk top computers for city ministry; 1 laptop & 1 desktop for family needs
-Direction and funding with church plant in Sydney
- One family or two individuals who would be willing to come and serve in Australia
-Funds for furlough and seed funds for ministry needs in Australia
-Funds for Ministry vehicle in Sydney for next term
That is it for now, but there will be more to come. Thank you for your prayers and support.
The adventure continues…
Russ, Cathy, Rebecca, Hope , Joshua & Caroline
We fly out tomorrow, 15 July. We could use your prayers for the long flights from Australia to the US and LA to Baltimore. Pray all of the family will do well in this wild flying experience. We are grateful for some great friends in LA who will be there to greet us on the West Coast. We will be driving to ABWE & churches on the East Coast then traveling across the US to the Heartland, Iowa. Also, three of the kids are not feeling well. Please pray for their health and comfort in flying.
Praises:
A good house-sitter and friends who are helping us out with travel to the airport.
Continued opportunities to talk with people about Jesus. Even during all of the packing and errands, we had a great time to discuss Jesus with a young lady yesterday. Pray for her and her family.
Prayer requests:
Van: A van while we are in Iowa (13 August – 5 November) We have to turn our rental in on arrival from the East Coast.
Funds for our travels across US:
Four of us will be on the road from 10-13 August. Funds can be sent to ABWE marked ‘furlough’. Furlough has cost quite a bit more than we planned. Any help in this area would be appreciated.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. We look forward to seeing how the Lord will provide for these requests and seeing our friends & family in the US.
The adventure continues…
Russ & Cathy Matthews
Thanks for your patience with all of the updates, but it is easier to answer many of your questions via the website. We have received many answers to prayers and we do have a couple of requests.
Praises:
We had a generous gift given to the girls for their special request. Thank you!
Our passports all arrived. We are officially dual citizens. (Funny, the accent did not come in the envelope, all that money and no Aussie accent.)
Prayer requests:
Van: A van while we are in Iowa (13 August – 5 November) We have to turn our rental in on arrival from the East Coast.
Funds for our travels across US:
Four of us will be on the road from 10-13 August. Funds can be sent to ABWE (for tax benefits) marked ‘furlough’.
Traveling mercies:
We will be flying from Sydney to LA (15+ hours), laid over for 8 hours and then flying overnight to Baltimore. Pray all of the family will do well in this wild flying experience. We are grateful for some great friends in LA who will be there to greet us on the West Coast. We will be driving to ABWE & churches on the East Coast then traveling across the US to the Heartland, Iowa.
Cultural experience: I have been spending quite a bit of time explaining US geography this month. No one knows where Iowa is, but they know where Radar O’Riley & Capt. James T Kirk grew up. You have got to love pop culture sometimes.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. We look forward to seeing how the Lord will provide for these requests and seeing our friends & family in the US.
The adventure continues…
Russ Matthews
We became citizens of Australia on Tuesday 29 June, 2010. We will be dual citizens of Australia and the US. Many have asked why we went to the effort. We were permanent residents and did not have to become citizens to do work here in Sydney. It is a valid question, but all it does is open a series of other questions that will lead to the answer of the ‘Why’ of citizenship. So I will leave it to answering some of the top questions asked by people who hear our ‘funny’ accent. We get asked these questions weekly and, yes, they do asked very bluntly.
Question 1: Are you Canadian?
Cathy & I grew up in Maryland & Iowa and we do have a ‘softer accent’ than our friends from other areas of the US, but that is not where the question is based. Most Australians experience this,when asking someone from the North America about their accent. Canadians get quite offended if asked if they are from the US and Americans do not get offended either way. Americans just tend to be louder and verbose in their clarification of their country of origin. So, the safe call for most Australians is to ask ‘Are you from Canada?’
Question 2: What are you doing here?
Ah, the beauty of the accent. We are able to get into a gospel conversation without even having to ask any questions ourselves. We do not call ourselves missionaries here (sounds too Mormon-like), but as ‘ministry workers’ we get to share the reason for living here and the work we do in Sydney. We are able to share the name of Jesus and the work He can have in the lives of the people we come in contact with in the city. What a gift this silly accent provides for us to share the Gospel. God has a plan.
Question 3: Which country do you like more?
A very wise woman gave us advice on how to steer this potentially loaded question out of dangerous waters. The standard and genuine answer to this question would be, “Which do I like more? How do you choose? It is like picking which of our children I love more. I love all of our children equally for their unique qualities and unconditionally.” The same could be said about Australia & the US. We love them both equally.
Question 4: When are you leaving?
Finally, the answer to the question of our citizenship. Depending on how people respond to the first three questions, we could take this question in different ways. Generally, it is in reference that Americans do not immigrate. Americans represent the smallest immigrant population in Australia. Most Aussies are used to their American friends moving back to the US eventually. Our answer can now be, we are citizens. We are ‘all in’ and committed to being here as long as the Lord wants us to be here. If you study James’ epistle, it is foolish to commit beyond the will of God. So, if he wants us here for the rest of our days, we are committed to being here. Also, it does communicate commitment to our friends in Australia. We love this country and look forward to seeing how the Lord will use us here, even to the end of our days.
Question 5: How do you like our football?
Australia is a sport crazy nation and it has four codes of football. Rugby, Rugby League, Australian Rules Football & Soccer. This question is another potential challenge, depending on the state you are living. First pitfall for most Americans is to rave about NFL. There are pockets of people who like grid iron, but generally the only time people care about NFL is around Super Bowl time. Our response comes from a love for two of the codes, they are more exciting and faster than NFL. We started as Rugby League fans (Rabbitohs are my team – I will tell you that story someday) which is a NSW and Queensland code. Then Josh started playing AFL two years ago and we all have become hooked. So, we cheer for Josh’s team, the Southwest Tigers and for the professional team, the Sydney Swans. Like food, sport is a great way to reach into the hearts of people and see what they are most passionate about, then we can begin to share about the passion in our lives, Jesus Christ. Also, it is great fun to watch the various codes of footy. Go Rabbitohs, So Swans, Go God. Not necessarily in that order.
There are more things to share, but I will leave that to another day.
Hope this answers the questions about our citizenship in Australia & a fun cultural education.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Oi,Oi, Oi! (If you do not understand the cheer, ask us about it when we come to a church near you.)
The ‘Aussie’ adventure continues…
Russ, Cathy, Becca, Hope, Joshua & Caroline
We have had questions a few things for furlough.
*We will be in Iowa from 13 August to 5 November. This is the time we will need a van.
*We have a housesitter while we are away.
*If you want to send money to ABWE for our trip, mark it as ‘furlough’ money.
Thanks for the prayers and questions…
Russ
Thank you for all of your prayers, things are getting close and final preparations are underway.
Praises: We had a generous gift given to us to pay for a van to travel across from Maryland to Iowa. Thanks!
We will be sworn in as Australian Citizens on 29 June.
Prayer requests:
A van while we are in Iowa (13 August – 5 November)
Australian Passports get processed prior to leaving
Funds for our travels across US.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support. We are looking forward to seeing our friends & family in the US.
The adventure continues…
Russ Matthews
Psst…secret request. The girls (Hope & Becca) are trying to raise $350 for plane tickets for them to go and surprise a very special friend in August. They are working hard on this on their own initiative, so don’t tell them I told you! But if anyone would be willing to help them raise the money, I will keep it a secret! If you want to help, send them an e-mail, please not on FACEBOOK! Any amount would help. Don’t tell them I told you! A secret request from a loving dad.
Hello to all of our supporters,
I will be sending along an update about all of the activities from April and May soon. Here are a few prayer points for things for the immediate future:
1. Winning the City Dinner – Vision setting & Fundraising for city ministries
2. Youth Leader – We need a youth leader for our youth group at Glorious Hope Baptist. (Praise: The Youth had a great time at a recent event in the Blue Mountains, KYCK)
3. Preaching opportunities: Inner West Baptist, Youth group in Bankstown and a young adults retreat on the 15 May
4. City Bible Forum Weekend Away: An evangelistic weekend away in the Southern Highlands. We are praying for 50 people to come away on the weekend.
5. Pamper Day: An evangelistic event for the women of o the community around Glorious Hope Baptist
6. Continued growth and salvations at City Bible Forum, Sydney. Al Stewart’s series in Ecclesiastes and Ian Powell’s continuing series in John.
7. Planning and financial preparations for US ministry trip: we need a van during our time in Iowa, a house-sitter for our Australian home and the necessary finances for the travel in the US.
Thanks for all of your faithful support and prayers. We look forward to seeing you soon.
The adventure continues…
Russ & Cathy Matthews
© 2012 Matthews Down Under
