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December 2010 marked the beginning of our first furlough, which meant packing up our December 2010 marked the beginning of our first furlough, which meant packing up our home and life in Tanzania and making the long trek to Adelaide, South Australia. After a home and life in Tanzania and making the long trek to Adelaide, South Australia. After a 10 hour bus ride to Nairobi, we spent a night before embarking on the long flight to 10 hour bus ride to Nairobi, we spent a night before embarking on the long flight to Melbourne. Somewhere along the way Malia picked up a stomach bug which she Melbourne. Somewhere along the way Malia picked up a stomach bug which she passed to Kelly and then to me. Kelly thought that morning sickness was returning on passed to Kelly and then to me. Kelly thought that morning sickness was returning on the plane, but realised later that it was a 30 hour flu thing when I came down with the the plane, but realised later that it was a 30 hour flu thing when I came down with the same thing. I spent our second day in Melbourne in bed, revisiting all the wonderful same thing. I spent our second day in Melbourne in bed, revisiting all the wonderful plane food we’d had.plane food we’d had.

We stayed at the Wycliffe grounds in Melbourne for a week, and during that time We stayed at the Wycliffe grounds in Melbourne for a week, and during that time bought a cheap, old car, which we then drove to Adelaide.bought a cheap, old car, which we then drove to Adelaide.

So far our time in Adelaide has been great, as usual. We had Christmas with family, Luke So far our time in Adelaide has been great, as usual. We had Christmas with family, Luke started Kindy (pre-school), Malia has been (mostly) toilet-trained, we’ve reconnected started Kindy (pre-school), Malia has been (mostly) toilet-trained, we’ve reconnected with lots of friends and had the chance to visit different churches and share about our with lots of friends and had the chance to visit different churches and share about our work in Tanzania.work in Tanzania.

Here are some pictures of our first months on furlough.Here are some pictures of our first months on furlough.

Saying goodbyeSaying goodbye

December

We had a great We had a great Christmas at Christmas at Port Victoria Port Victoria with the with the Nicholls side of Nicholls side of the family. All the family. All the cousins the cousins were together, were together, as you can see as you can see from the pics.from the pics.

December

Cherry picking Cherry picking in the Adelaide in the Adelaide HillsHills

January

Luke celebrated Luke celebrated his 4his 4thth birthday in birthday in January, and also January, and also started Kindy. started Kindy. These days he can These days he can often be found often be found playing the Wii or playing the Wii or someone’s someone’s iPhone.iPhone.

Australia Day at Australia Day at the beach, the beach, January 26January 26

February

Mainly Music Mainly Music classesclasses

Here’s Malia Here’s Malia practicing her practicing her music skills… music skills… and her cooking and her cooking skills.skills.

February

Our car was temporarily out of action when the head Our car was temporarily out of action when the head gasket developed a leak. Usually it costs about $1000 or gasket developed a leak. Usually it costs about $1000 or more to fix it, because of all the labour, but a friend who’s more to fix it, because of all the labour, but a friend who’s an aircraft mechanic helped me fix it. He told me what to an aircraft mechanic helped me fix it. He told me what to pull apart, then he came around and fixed it and helped pull apart, then he came around and fixed it and helped put it back together. Another friend loaned us his car for a put it back together. Another friend loaned us his car for a couple weeks, so in the end it wasn’t a bad experience – in couple weeks, so in the end it wasn’t a bad experience – in fact, I got to pull an engine apart and put it back together fact, I got to pull an engine apart and put it back together while being supervised by a pro. It’s those kinds of things while being supervised by a pro. It’s those kinds of things you miss out on when you only have new, shiny stuff. you miss out on when you only have new, shiny stuff.

A group from Oakden Baptist Church did a A group from Oakden Baptist Church did a ministry trip to a town called Millicent to run the ministry trip to a town called Millicent to run the Sunday morning service for a local church. The Sunday morning service for a local church. The kids had a great time, and the locals took us out kids had a great time, and the locals took us out fishing, which isn’t like fishing in Adelaide – we fishing, which isn’t like fishing in Adelaide – we actually caught stuff!actually caught stuff!

February

What do you do when your van breaks down on a What do you do when your van breaks down on a 5 hour trip? Well, if the team leader is the same 5 hour trip? Well, if the team leader is the same aircraft mechanic friend who helped fix your car, aircraft mechanic friend who helped fix your car, you don’t do too much because he has it fixed in you don’t do too much because he has it fixed in 10 minutes.10 minutes.

Barbecuing the Barbecuing the fishfish

February

Kelly and the bub are coming along nicely. She’s Kelly and the bub are coming along nicely. She’s at 28 weeks now, so nearly in the final stretch. at 28 weeks now, so nearly in the final stretch. No pun intended.No pun intended.

My sister, My sister, Donna, made Donna, made these matching these matching skirts out of skirts out of Tanzanian Tanzanian material.material.

In many Tanzanian communities it is ‘taboo’ for a man to speak to his mother-in-law. If they are in the same room together, they must avoid each other. My mother-in-law reads this, so… probably best I not comment. ;)

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?While visiting your gardener’s house, you notice a pair of your pliers amongst his things. They’ve been missing for a while, and you definitely didn’t loan them to him. What would you do?

Leave your comments on our website, or email us and we’ll post them there (if they’re good ).

Prayer Updates We finished checking the book of Luke in Kwaya. That’s reason to celebrate!

A couple from the US has moved into our house in Musoma for 6 months to help with construction of our new translation offices. This means that they’ll be helping cover the on-going costs of our house there, and be around to watch over the property, which takes a big burden off of us.

We found a great Kindy (pre-school) for Luke, and he’s really enjoying it.

Our car. Usually this would be a request, not a praise point, but since it is now fixed and barely cost us anything to fix, we’d like to thank God for good friends and a working car.

Our support level is still at about 60%. Pray for new supporters who’ll join the team. Without the necessary financial support we can’t go back to Tanzania. If you want to sign up with us, go here.

We have a lot of opportunities to speak at churches and other groups. Pray that others would see the value of missions, and that God would use us to light a spark for the unreached peoples of the world.

LINKS/INFO

•To read our blog & join our online discussion click here. To see more about our work, visit thetask.net.

•To sign up for newsletter notifications send us an email.

•To join our Prayer Team send us an email.

•To $upport us financially go to this link, or send us an email & we’ll send you a card.

•Our current mailing address is:Michael & Kelly Nicholls379 Nelson RoadPara Hills, SA 5096Australiamichael-kelly_nicholls@wbt.orgor catch us on facebook .