Wednesday, May 25, 2005

What's happening??

**Delirious** in Ipswich - Sunday 26th June 6-10pm.
Yes, I want to go - and think it's a good idea to get a ticket before they all sell out!

**Suzette Hattingh** in London (Catford) - Thursday 30th June

**Joyce Meyer** in London - Thurs & Fri 25th & 26th August

Life's rather busy - but there's still time for a quick blog post. Life continues to be interesting......our conversation over lunch on Friday (in the office) - was 'the difference between witch doctors and Pastors' - oh, and we even got onto the subject of 'the gifts of the Spirit'!! Yes - honestly! It amazes me sometimes - it really does!

Today I went to church at lunchtime - and the message was about healing...which I was asked about when I got back to the office. My Boss asked why healings aren't televised, and why we don't send Christians to Doctors' surgeries etc to pray for people!! I'm just praying that the next person they employ, will be able to answer their questions better than I can!

Want to hear today's message?? Yes, I'd love too/Maybe another time.

This afternoon, I had a call from the 'Fraud Squad' (I know what you're thinking!) - apparently someone's been arrested, and found with hundreds of credit card details on them - including mine, so I had to sort that out! Never a dull moment in the life of Penster!

My new passport has arrived - so I'm definitely going to Oz. I had to get our Pastor to verify the photo - as fellow band members decided that I have changed CONSIDERABLY over the last 10 years - and had a good laugh too! (Thanks guys!) The difficulty I had, was trying not to smile (it's not allowed on new photos) - and trying to be serious (when told too) is NOT one of my strong points!

Flight is booked too, so I'll be leaving on 1st July. It is quite literally a case of 'I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again...' However, I will be back (contrary to popular belief!) And....this weekend I'm going to buy a laptop - just so I can blog whilst I'm away (how sad am I?)! Someone suggested that I should get each person who reads my blog to donate £1 towards it!?! Don't worry, I wouldn't make you do that.....maybe £10 instead!! :-)

It's turning into a long post - so I'll sign off now! I'm still trying to master the art of writing short e-mails and blog posts!!

Adiós, hasta mañana! //(*_*)\\

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Update.....

I'm still working through the pictures of Indonesia - so thanks for your patience!!

I'll also be talking about the trip, this Friday evening (8pm) at a church near me. So, if anyone's interested, let me know and I'll post more details on here!

So - what's my news?
Well....last week I handed in my notice at work, and am planning to head out to Australia at the beginning of July! Current plans include the Hillsong Conference in Sydney (it's gonna be huge!), then I'll head up North to Brisbane/Gold Coast area for a month or so, then possibly NZ, then Singapore, then home!

I knew things were going to change this year - just didn't realise quite how much!! Anyway - I definitely feel that this is living life 'on the edge' a bit more......! At the moment, it almost feels like I'm about to 'fall off the edge' - but feel it's the right thing to do. Life is certainly interesting!

After that.....who knows? I certainly don't!!

Tuesday, May 17, 2005


We are sailing (not really - but I've got you singing the song now!)......

An Indonesian, wearing a traditional 'hat', in his canoe (a carved out log). It's the sort of picture that you see in books, and wonder if it really exists! Well - it does!

A wedding celebration we saw - amazing outfits!

The girls!

Joel & Christina

Satay - yum!!!

Indonesia is made up of approx 20,000 islands - but only 6,000 are inhabited. Hard to imagine, until you see the size of some of them. We saw many like this, as we flew to Sulawesi.

5-6,000 people in the meeting each evening - awesome!!

A busy street....

Monday, May 09, 2005


Pen & Joylyn @ Starbucks (Jakarta).
Some things just HAVE to be done!!
C'mon - you would have been disappointed if I hadn't! :-)

Thursday, May 05, 2005

Be Thou My Vision


Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought in the day and the night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word,
I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord;
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise:
Thou mine inheritance all of my days;
Thou and Thou only, Thou first in my heart;
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, when battle is done;
Grant heaven's joy to me, bright heaven's sun;
Christ of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, Thou Ruler of all.


In response to questions I've had - yes, this is a real picture, taken (by me) whilst flying back to Jakarta. I was listening to this song at the time, and it really blessed me! Click on the title to hear a version of it. If you need Real player, click here and download a free version.

I was having a quiet '5 mins' and just thinking about things in my life that I needed to pray for - but with all of the sights and people etc that I had seen over the last couple of days - I was challenged to be less 'self-centered' in my prayer life - and start looking (and praying) 'outwards' a bit more! I think the phrase 'having more of a compassionate heart' sums it up really!

After 2.5 incredible (and moving) days in Aceh - it was time to fly back to Jakarta.

Bananas anyone???

Mountains in the distance...

One of the mass graves, in Banda Aceh.

View from the road.....

30,000+ people have received free treatment here, since the tsunami.

Inside the operating theatre at a local hospital.