Mid Year Update 2007

Wow! 6 months has certainly passed very quickly and so much has happened in that short period of time! For those of you that read our blog regularly, I’m sorry that you may be reading some old news, but I wanted to summarise our year thus far, for the less regular readers!

Housing:

Well, we have been in the same place for over 6 months now, so that HAS to be some kind of record for Vaughn and me! It doesn’t feel that long, but we’ve been here nearly 3 times as long as we were in Camberwell for… it’s nice to be settled, especially knowing that we will be settled here for a couple of years and not up and moving any time soon. We still really love being here – the house is just perfect and the location is so convenient for us – the College literally on our back doorstep and work just a short walk for me. Admittedly, there are times when we desire a place that isn’t in such close quarter to everyone, where we have our own space outside, but we get along really well with our neighbours, so it’s generally not so bad!

Work:

My new job working for the Diocese of Adelaide has worked out really well. It’s a small office in comparison to Melbourne Diocese, but it’s nice having a tight group of people to work with. The Archbishop is currently in the Sudan (so keep him in your prayers), so I have been catching up on some things while he is away. I get along with everyone in the office, but especially the other 3 females of the office. We are constantly chatting and laughing, so the day is generally never dull around them. God has certainly blessed me with this job and I am very thankful for His provision.

Study:

Study is going really well for Vaughn. He’s just thriving here in Adelaide and loves his classes. His favourite subject, by far, is Hebrew, which he is doing exceptionally well in. His other two subjects this semester are Reformation History and History of the Lutheran Church in Australia. Of the latter, Vaughn is very interested in delving into the history as he is interested to see how my family history fits in with what he is learning. That can be said for many of his classmates, I’m sure, but as Vaughn is new to the Lutheran Church and doesn’t have the family history like I do, he finds it very interesting. The Family Tree Books that was given by my nana, come in very handy for this subject and my mum just sent some great books as well. It’s not very often that a student can relate so well to a class they are taking! Even I’m enjoying looking deeper into my family history and seeing how it fits into the time line of Lutheranism in Australia!

Just last weekend, I joined Vaughn’s class to a trip to The Barossa Valley to visit some historic Lutheran Churches. I’ve attached some pictures I took of a couple beautiful churches we visited.

Lutheran Churches

Vaughn is now almost in the school of Pastoral Theology. He was previously with the School of Theological Studies as he was new to the Lutheran Church, but he just transferred across in the last week or so. That’s a big step for us, because it now means we have almost completed all the steps for transfer into the ordination stream. One step closer to fulfilling his passion for full time ministry!

Church:

God really does have a sense of humour! When we first arrived in Adelaide, Vaughn was given a list of pastors to choose from, to contact in order to begin the process of joining the Lutheran Church. There was one particular name on the list that they recommended he contact above all the names… wouldn’t you know it, it was Pastor Linards Jansons! Most of you won’t know that name, but he received a graduate position at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, in Hamilton, while I was still going to school in Hamilton many years ago!

When Vaughn called him up, Pastor Linards remembered me and my family and knowing the “Hartwich’s”, expected that Vaughn’s theology would be sound too. It’s funny how you find out things about your family etc that you never knew – my parents apparently have a reputation for being very committed Lutherans, with sound doctrine (I guess I knew this, but just took it for granted, not realising they were ‘known’ for it). Also I have discovered that the Church I grew up in is often talked about and used as an example of a sound, confessional Lutheran Church that is strong in doctrine etc. It’s really nice to find these things out, instead of just taking for granted my upbringing in the Church.

Unfortunately after worshipping at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pasadena for a couple of weeks, we heard the sad news that the Jansons’ were moving to the States, for Pastor Linards to further his studies. Vaughn was really enjoying worshipping with him as he uses many different service types. As Vaughn was unfamiliar with most, he found it a great learning curve. And I’ve always enjoyed Pastor Linards’ preaching and learned lots through his sermons, so we are very disappointed that he is leaving. We will be farewelling him next weekend, after the service.

We missed the call meeting held a couple of weeks ago, but Vaughn is very excited to learn that they have called Rev’d Detlev Vosgerau, who is a Lutheran Chaplain for the RAAF. This is where we discover God’s humour again… Vaughn was going to be contacting Pastor Detlev later in the year as he is very interested in doing a placement with the Australian Defence Force and Pastor Detlev is a Lutheran Chaplain in the defence force in SA. So, please pray as Pastor Detlev begins the process of whether to accept the call, that God’s Will may be done. We are praying that God’s Will is that he accepts!

On 29^th April, Vaughn became a member of the Lutheran Church of Australia. It was such a nice part of the service… we were both called up and Vaughn was received into membership of the LCA and I transferred my membership over to Pasadena at the same time. I didn’t realise how much it would mean to me, but after being in the Anglican Church for a number of years, it was like ‘coming home’.

Family news:

Ben has nearly completed his studies, and earlier than he thought as he was doing too many subjects! He’s been in a new job since January which sent him overseas to New Zealand for 10 or so weeks. If he’s not back yet, he soon will be. His job is one of consultant to the clients and then he liaises with the computer programmer to tell them exactly what the clients’ needs are. He is still in the Army Reserves, but their band is no more!

Nothing new for Philip… he and Tess (my puppy!) get along really well. Vaughn and I visited Melbourne in May for a holiday and my 30^th birthday (click here for the update on that visit) and we brought Tess to Vaughn’s parents to stay with us. It was nice spending time with her, but we know she missed Phil and her free reign of the house (going in and out as she pleases – she is very spoilt there!). I still miss my girl heaps, but I am comforted to know that she is in good hands!

I can’t think of anything to update you on Mum and Dad. We recently went back there for the first time since moving to Adelaide, for a long weekend and it was so good to catch up with them. While there, as usual we played heaps of games… Vaughn isn’t a huge game player, so I make up for it by playing with Mum heaps! On the Saturday, Vaughn and Dad went up to the Grampians (Halls Gap) for a day trip and Vaughn came back with some great photos, which I’ve attached… there’s a couple of my cat, Simba (a high school graduation present from my mum, who lives with them), if you are interested!

Hamilton Visit

Other news:

I mentioned in my Christmas update, that I was heading overseas for a surprise Christmas present. Click here for an update on that and click here for the photos.

I found out that I had a perforated eardrum as I couldn’t hear well out of my right ear. I had that operated on in May and am still recovering, but it is going really well. Since my last blog update, I’ve had the stitches out and a week later the dressing came out. I still have disolvable dressing in my ear, but I think my hearing has started to improve, which is wonderful. I have a hearing test next week, so I’m looking forward to getting the results of the operation!

While I was recovering from my ear surgery, Vaughn had one of his wisdom teeth out… it was a sorry household that week! But, we had many offers of food and help from the others living at the sem, which was really lovely.

I now have glasses! While we were in Melbourne, I had my eyes tested by an optometrist, Vaughn’s brother-in-law, Rod and discovered that my eyesight has gotten worse since he last tested about 5 years ago. My main reason for seeing him, was issues with night time driving and overhead project screens etc. So, I don’t have to wear them all the time, but I generally wear them when working on the computer, reading or watching TV. It’s amazing the difference they make!

We were very touched during our recent visit to Hamilton, to discover that Good Shepherd Lutheran Church want to take Vaughn under their wings as he doesn’t have a ‘home’ congregation as he is new to the LCA. They gave him a wonderful gift of some money to spend on books, which came in very handy for him and they want him to come back and preach when he receives his preaching licence at the end of 3^rd year (next year). They are a real blessing to us, but especially Vaughn. We weren’t expecting that at all, so were deeply moved by it.

I sadly had to say goodbye to my best friend, Naomi, who left to go overseas in April. Her husband, Michael Lockwood, is studying at St Louis Lutheran Seminary for the next three years. Just before they left, they found out Naomi is pregnant, so I am sad I won’t be around for that… she is due in September.

Another friend, Hannah & Amos Hedt, had their second baby earlier this month, Quinn Lee – the first grandson for Eric & Leonore Hedt, who have many other granddaughters!

My cousin and his wife, Dereck and Julie, now have a baby boy, also born this month, Joshua Declan (AKA “Homebrand”). This is where we really miss Melbourne… not being able to meet these babies straight away – we have to wait until a planned visit to Melbourne!

Not only is it a year for babies, but it’s a year for engagements – another cousin, Dean, now is engaged to Fleur and a close friend, Liz Hudson has recently become engaged to Andrew ‘Tisch’ Tischler. What a year!

Prayer Points:

PRAISE: Studies are going well for Vaughn

PRAISE: Good recovery from ear surgery so far

PRAISE: My new job is going well and provides much needed finance to support Vaughn through his studies

PRAISE: That the Hamilton Lutheran Church are supporting Vaughn in his studies

PRAYER: That a suitable pastor is found for Pasadena Lutheran Church

PRAYER: That the Archbishop remains safe during his trip to the Sudan

PRAYER: That Vaughn continues to do well in his studies

PRAYER: Continued healing of my ear

PRAYER: Our interviews for School of Pastoral Theology