Andrew's news

For the latest, read Andrew's blog myearlylife.org

2008 newsletters

Full immersion or sprinkling?.

17 July 2008 update

Getting wet at winter conference…

Winter in Jozi.

5 June 2008 update

I woke up this morning and I couldn't see the Brixton tower at all. It was like someone had photoshopped it out of the sky…

Load-shedding, Zuma, Zim and racism.

1 April 2008 update

Well, I'm back in South Africa and life is just as hectic as it ever was…

2007 newsletters

Diary of a ministry trainee — #12.

6 December 2007 Southern Cross

My (wonderful) year in the eye of a storm
It's summer again in Jo'burg. The streets of the northern suburbs are awash today with fragments of leaves, pummeled ruthlessly from the trees in yesterday's hailstorm.

Diary of a ministry trainee — #11.

12 November 2007 Southern Cross

A question that's big in South Africa at the moment is this: which language should we do our Christianity in?

Diary of a ministry trainee — #10.

15 October 2007 Southern Cross

On fire. Not for the gospel. Just on fire
I was very surprised to arrive home this week to find that my house had burnt down…

The Jazz in Sophiatown

20 October 2007 update

My wandering days are over (at least for the time being)…

Fires, HIV and camps

11 September 2007 update

At ThembaLethu there are no breaks - the homeless guys don't really take holidays. It's tough as ever, but we're making progress…

Diary of a ministry trainee — #9.

17 September 2007 Southern Cross

"So, you're a missionary then?" People often asked me this question back in Australia, and I was never quite sure how to answer. It's…

Diary of a ministry trainee — #8.

1 September 2007 Southern Cross

I recently spent a week on holiday with some friends near the little town of Port St Johns. We visited the local Anglican Church of the Epiphany on the Sunday. There was a noticeable absence of men…

Diary of a ministry trainee — August.

30 July 2007 Southern Cross

Often because South Africa seems quite similar to Australia on the surface — glittering shopping malls, freeways, detached houses, gum trees and barbecues — you forget how different it is…

Snow and surf

3 July 2007 update

It's another fresh Jo'burg winter's day, a little on the cold side. It actually snowed here last week, which must have been amazing. (Just my luck, I was in Durban at the time.) Amazing too for the homeless guys who were trying to sleep when they realised that snow was falling on their faces…

Diary of a ministry trainee — July.

1 July 2007 Southern Cross

I have given myself a new title: job creator. Well, attempted job creator…

Diary of a ministry trainee — June.

1 June 2007 Southern Cross

Just the other day I was arrested. Arrested, handcuffed, and locked in a cell…

Autumn, arrests and anger

May 2007 update

It's well and truly autumn here, and the streets of Jo'burg's suburbs are awash with leaves. We've just finished the Freedom Day long weekend…

Diary of a ministry trainee #4 — May.

1 May 2007 Southern Cross

It's rainy and dark and I've just walked home after dropping my friend Dave on the Kingsway to get a taxi home…

So, what have I been doing?

28 March 2007 update

Well, I'm sorry if it's a little tardy but here it is: the March prayer letter! The end of my second month in South Africa has just ticked over: I'm amazed how fast it's gone…

Diary of a ministry trainee #3.

27 Mar 2007 Southern Cross

Three mornings a week at 8am I stumble through the gate into the churchyard and walk into the Johannesburg Bible College.

Diary of a ministry trainee #2.

12 Feb 2007 Southern Cross

Andrew Robinson reflects on his first week of short-term mission in Johannesburg - the trees, the kids, the gun-safes.

Diary of a ministry trainee #1.

29 Jan 2007 Southern Cross

Andrew Robinson is writing a monthly column about his experience with Melville Union Church in Johannesburg

A week in the city of Gold

27 January 2007 update

Well, I'm here. I'm writing from my room in the house on Ditton Avenue, Auckland Park, Johannesburg…