Hi Pastor Keith and others of the Missions Council!

It's been a full and productive weekend, the beginning of another very full and productive season, and I'm feeling blessed and expectant. Today is the first day of the October training quarter at the YWAM base, which means my school has begun- Foundations for Counseling Ministry. My co-leader Adrian and I have been putting in a lot of hours to prepare for the next 6 months and it's finally becoming a reality as our students have arrived, we've set up the classroom, pulled out the boxes of books from storage and put them on the shelves, and started getting to know the fresh faces. We had our official start tonight, with 4 of the 9 students here. The other 5 are arriving early this week, and we'll be complete (if everyone can make it) by Thursday. God has trusted us with a really good group this year, I'll give you a little list of their names and nationalities:

• Megan- USA
• Ingrid- Germany
• Lavinia- Austria
• Keryn- Australia
• Rebecca- Tonga/Australia
• Joanna- New Zealand
• He Zhi Gang- China (our only male!)
• Donna- Canada
• Lori - Canada (it will be a big miracle if she gets the finances to come)

As I mentioned, we've begun getting to know them and from what I can see so far, they'll be a great group to lead and disciple. Some of them have come from some really challenging backgrounds but they have incredible stories to share and passion to know God and make him known, to develop as counselors and many of them have long-term vision to take mercy-ministry out to the nations. God's helped me to be more expectant and more full of faith for this quarter to make a lasting impact, not only on wherever we go for outreach, but in Perth and their home towns as well. I'll keep you posted as the school goes on and let you know how we could use your prayers.

I'll let you know a few prayer points now, though (there's always plenty to pray for):

• wisdom for Adrian and I as the leaders, and Amy, our staff who also has a very significant leadership role. (Amy struggles a lot with her health. Nothing really to diagnose-able but a common sense of unwellness. We've prayed for her a lot, but need to see breakthrough in this area.)
• a strong start as a school- lectures start on Wednesday, looking at the character of God.
• guidance for Adrian, me and our leaders as we consider where to go for outreach this January. We've got 2 nations in mind and just need the final confirmation from the Lord.
• I'm a bridesmaid in a wedding on Saturday (the 11th of Oct.). Please pray for Hannah and Nathan, getting married, and for wisdom for me in how to manage time with the students and the couple, in this first and very important week.

Thanks a lot! I'm excited to get back into this role and know that, even though it's a lot of work and not always a lot of fun, God is going to do awesome things in the next 6 months and His grace is sufficient for me (all of us!).

Hope you're all doing well. Miss you lots. Thanks again for the love and prayer.

Amber