Women's Retreat in Balnarring

The sun was high, the breeze was light but chilly, the sand was warm, the water calm and we were smiling.  That was the beach at Balnarring, where about 9 women went for a retreat last weekend.  We all appreciated the time away - just to get to know each other better and relax together.  We were amazingly blessed to have Robyn along with us, who spent time involving the children in activities while the Mums had time out. 

We did many different things together, but it wasn't what we did that made it special, it was the fact that we did them together.

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On Thursdays from 10am until about 1pm, we hang out at the newly named 'The Lounge' in Croydon - previously known as 'The Croydon Room.'  This is a women only hang out time.

Emma.

Camp Torquay

Our most recent camp to Torquay (March), about 15 of the guys went down to our favourite little spot for some time out. We love hanging out here, building on the friendships that have began, sharing stories and using this time to encourage one another in their journey with Jesus.

Ulf & Geoff posing for a photo

Josh, Anthony, Danny and Robby, as you can see life is pretty hard on these camps.

Pete and his family catch up for some lunch together while Jason is never to far away from the food

The boys relaxing on the foreshore of the beach

James with his sausage rolls, that he reckons are the best in the world. He made them for the boys on the first night of camp, they were pretty good (but don't tell James that or you will never hear the end of it)

Camp Photos

Vashti & Kylie
Dougy and the kids,

check this out Dougy getting salad to eat, you really are a changed man DougThe Boys on the bank of the Howqua river

And yes, the one that didn't get away, well done Damo

Camp Howqua

We have had some amazing camps over the past few years, this one was no exception. A really good mix of people (nearly as many girls as guys), and a real openness to share the weekend with each other. Emma and the team excelled with the meals, there were some amazing conversations happening around the fire and other places, playing sport together, or for most of the time just soaking up the views and incredible mountains around us.

And of course I mustn't forget Damo's trout he caught.

Camp Howqua!

 This is the amazing view from our campsite at Camp Howqua, just south of Mansfield.

And this is the view from the other side, showing the Lodge where we stayed.

 Here's the girls, piled into the van... Vashti, Esther, Kylie and Cecelia.

 Having a hit on the tennis court, and a few guys shooting hoops down the other end.

 There's me in the kitchen... being attacked by Cecelia!

Geoff, Damian, James and Doug...

We had a great, relaxing weekend together.... sitting around the fire, sharing and being together, but we also took advantage of the facilities and played some tennis, basketball, volleyball, had fun on the low ropes, and enjoyed the river as well.

It was so nice to be in such a beautiful, peaceful place together.

Emma.

Upcoming Camp!

Our next Elisha Care Camp is coming up on November 5th-7th!  Put it in your diaries... 

This time we will be going to Camp Howqua, near Mansfield, which is being made possible by a Community Grant given to us by the Maroondah City Council. 

Camps are a great time for us to get to know each other better, and hang out with God together.  Our camps are lots of fun and are always talked about among our group for many months afterwards.
If you want more info, email me ASAP at contact@elishacare.org

Emma.

Ladies Camp was AWESOME!

On the weekend just gone, a bunch of us ladies went away for the weekend to relax, and hang out with each other and God.  We went to Benwerren, which is surrounded by beautiful bush, and has a cosy fireplace for the evenings.

It was a very special time together - there was just such a sense of acceptance and peace there.  On Sunday, several ladies expressed their desire to not go home!  We're all looking forward to the next time we can get together and enjoy hanging out with the girls!

Emma.

Not Happy James

Finding the way out......

Some of the boys (not naming them... Doug, Danny, Jase & Josh) pulled down James's tent (while he was fast asleep in it).

It's pay back time I reckon.

Buxton Burger Boys

I had to put the pictures of the boys eating their Buxton burgers on the way home from our camping weekend. The record for eating these burgers is a couple of minutes, these guys were still going after 20, still a good effort boys.

Pictured Josh in the purple , Doug with the hat and James in white.

Don't forget boys we are going back for the cathedral burger next time

Boys in the Bush

A bunch of the guys from our community headed bush for the weekend, many of them taking their sons for some quality time. It was so awesome to see Dad's hanging out with their kids, chasing bears (let your imagination run), camping in tents, cooking around the massive fire, or just enjoying the bush. We were camped in the Cathedral Ranges, deep in the bush and right beside a Pine forest, so can you imagine how exciting it was for these kids to make cubby huts, hunt together, or go exploring with Dad.

Thanks Danny and Jase, for organizing this weekend, gathering all the camping stuff and making it such a memorably weekend. It will be etched in our memories for years to come.

Geoff

The Blokes Camp

Yes I can hear you asking, "what has this picture got to do with a blokes camp coming up". Well, Danny (pictured), Jason and myself went for a drive to check out the site we are camping at this weekend (4th June) in the Cathedral Ranges, and on the way back from the bush had to stop in at Danny's most favorite burger spot in the world, "Buxton Burgers".

Love you to be praying for the guys that will come bush for the weekend, and for their boys that will spend the weekend with their Dad's having some father/son time.

Will have some pics for you after the weekend,

Geoff