Dramatic Solutions Newsletter

Christmas 2002

Dear friends, family and supporters…

Here it is…Our last Dramatic Solutions Christmas Newsletter. So we decided, “What the heck!..Let’s take all the space we want”. We hope you enjoy the read.

The following reflections from everyone touch on some things that we have enjoyed and some things that we have learnt over the last 5 years.

Anthony (Age 12)

“We went to America and we went to Disneyland too. It was fantastic.

I learnt that America is different to Australia because they have too much cinnamon in their food.”

Daniel (Age 13)

The best thing I did with Dramatic Solutions was being in the performing atmosphere.

What I have learnt over the last 5 years with dramatic Solutions is that everybody, even professionals get stage fright; it just varies in what it is. (Like when Dad and Grant perform they don’t get stage fright but when you can see their face with no make-up on and they are out the front, they get stage fright.)

Jacob (Age 15)

The best thing about the last 5 years of being with Dramatic Solutions has been going on tours to exciting new places. These places have included Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Alice Springs, Kangaroo Island and America (my favourite out of the lot). Another great thing that has happened because of Dramatic Solutions is getting to meet the Eltzroths.

The best thing that I have learnt from the past 5 years of Dramatic Solutions is that I don’t like performing, but I definitely do like helping with productions. I did this by doing things behind the scenes and helping with the sound and lighting. I did all of the sound and lighting for the holiday shows: “Cinderella…with a Twist!” “Jack, the Beanstalk and a Giant” and “Pete, a Pirate and a very clever Fairy”.

Kerryn

Over the last 5 years I have always looked forward to our tours…where the family tagged along. It was always a chance to get close to each other again (sometimes too close after a lunchtime game of soccer on moist grass!) It was great catching up with special friends in Mittagong, Sydney, Branxton, Brisbane, Melbourne, Alice Springs and even visiting my Aunty and Uncle’s farm a couple of times. Seeing the boys’ faces light up with activity packs for the car (prepared weeks in advance); seeing Ethan and Michaela in odd places on the way; at Theme Parks and especially in Disneyland. So many treasured memories with our boys, the Wildies and our friends and family on the road and overseas. Thank you to all of our special friends who put us up (or is that put up with us!) I will miss these tours most of all.

The last 5 years in Dramatic Solutions has taught me how to use MYOB do BAS/GST returns and watch my patience as those quarterly deadlines draw close!

I’ve been awed at the Lord’s clever ways of incorporating 4 totally different people’s skill, abilities, gifts and passions to create a work wheel that operated amazingly smoothly! We could see our weaknesses and be amazed at so many strengths that evolved. Keeping ourselves accountable to the tasks we had to do each week saw us all trying to get those valuable ticks in the minutes book. It reinforced how much we all seek acknowledgement and yippees! There have been many of those. I have learnt to a greater depth in terms of trust, vulnerability, service and diligence. Special times of learning. I wonder what He has in store for us all next?

Trevor

I reckon the best thing was being able to travel with the family for so many kilometres on our tours. Alice Springs, Queensland, NSW, America…great times. We learnt so much about the country, about respecting other people’s space, about God’s provision and about God’s protection. He really is out there with us. I love that! See…I told ya kids.

My all time highlight was our return trip from the Gold Coast via Mount Hotham in Victoria. We tried to get a one-day visit to the snow on our returns each year. At the end of the day, and our final run, my three fabulous boys and I assemble at the top and I suggested we pray, thanking God for this wonderful experience. It was so special. I had taught over the last 4 years each of these guys to ski. I had a sense of their individuality. They were growing into men. “Right fellas. Let’s rock” and down we flew. I gave them a short sense of victory and then flew past them, looking backwards as I went. I had the largest, most ‘joyest’ sense since my conversion. Thank you God.

Dramatics Solutions has been the best work experience so far. I’ve developed skills in communication, which would seem to be most crucial in successful ventures. I have discovered and unpacked a more accurate understanding of my strengths and weaknesses and have grown to love Grant and Rochelle so much. You guys and the kids are a special lot. We look forward to seeing what God unfolds for ya next. Most of all, through Dramatic Solutions I have been able to tangibly and efficiently serve my Lord in the funnest way…bringing joy, and hopefully a bit of contemplation to thousands of folk. In your debt mighty Lord Jesus. Thanks.

 Ethan (Age 3 ¾)

“…The way we play and dance. Staying in cabins and the swimming pool and the spa and jumping off the edges into the pool. Going to the playground, hide and seek with the boys at their house. Going places with the Eltzroths…Oooh that was great…poison ball, seals and the lizard and I loved helping Daddy with setting up the theatre. Jack and the Bean-stalk…that was my favourite show.”

Michaela (Age 2 ½)

Kali: Daddy?

Mum: Daddy is at work.

Kali: (Pointing seriously to her face) “Nose?”

Mum: Yes he’s got his red nose.

Rochelle

Life is just an amazing thing! And being in Dramatic Solutions has been a wonderful part of my journey through life so far...I won’t ever regret our decision to “give it all a go” and launch into a full time performing and ministry lifestyle.

The highlights for me have perhaps been a little different to those of the others. It was during the last five years that I became a mum and that has, and continues to be, such a special time that it kind of over-shadows everything else and tends to colour my perspective! Whilst I too enjoyed the tours I only experienced one where I wasn’t pregnant or travelling with one or two toddlers or infants…!!!!!…and even then we were very careful with money and our air conditioner gave up whilst travelling in January across the Hay plain to Southport! I had also been fortunate enough to visit most of our destinations with various performing tours previously...so the novelty factor was different too.

For me, the highlights have been strange unexpected moments…sitting in the back row of the Mittagong CDFA Conference each night with Ethan asleep in his pram beside me…enjoying everything and feeling very content and blessed, meeting lovely interesting and talented people and chats around tables over coffee (or huge Eltzroth mugs of tea), late at night when children sleep!…or caravan chats with Kerryn in between home schooling times. There have been moments during the guys’ performances…when I laugh so hard…or cry (and sometimes when no-one else is at all!) Watching “Appetites” at Kuca Campout and thinking what a great show it was. And times of sharing and praying with the Wrights during our retreats and Thursday meeting times. I will be forever grateful for the wonderful role models “THE BOYS” have been to my children and the special friendship they share.

In some ways I could think that this has been a time more for Grant than me...but not so! I have had a deep sense of “right” knowing that Grant has LOVED this role…and it has been so wonderful for our children and I to see “Daddy” during the day and to be able to do family things …Thursday afternoons at the coffee shop, mid day kicks of the footy (with Ethan, not me!) help with food shopping (with Grant doing 360 degree spins with the kids in the trolley and playing hide and seek and “scare mummy” in Coles!)

I have learnt a lot more about myself over the last five years and I’ve learnt so much more about God’s provision in our lives …of the things we know we need and all the things, people, time and moments only He knows we need.

Grant

There has been so much that I have loved about our times over the last 5 years. Having the gifts of our 2 children coming along and then finishing up touring with them was fantastic. We ended up in cabins more in the end rather than the van! Working from home and sharing life with the family at all sorts of times during the day has been another plus.

Favourite tour would have to be the Alice Springs trip in our first year. Despite breaking down, heat, Rochelle being pregnant with Ethan and the car air-conditioner not working the sense of heading off and getting a feel for the country was great.(no surprise that this was not Rochelle’s best experience!) Seeing Ethan grow up with ‘The Boys’ has been a blessing…except for their influence on him with a round ball! Other highlights have included Trevor and I taking our many pastor / priest or minister friends for some ‘counselling’ on what ever local golf course was available!

To the work itself… I have grown in the awareness that our Heavenly Father is happy to provide when we step out to use his gifts to help the church.

I have loved seeing groups who are experimenting with new ways of being church together use our gifts. Some have really set up community events that have provided an opportunity for visitors to meet the congregation in a visitor friendly way. Finally it has been very fulfilling having the urge and opportunity to write material for our genre that seeks to unpack old ideas about God that really communicate in fresh ways. Looking back to see so many faces from all over the country who we have stayed with has made our lives rich. Thank you all for your love and encouragement.

We have been blessed out of our socks to have worked with and travelled with those wonderful Wrights…a sensitive and caring family and not only Mum and Dad! This stuff has had to have been about God calling and providing because of the way things have turned out.

Next year I will be taking up a 1year part-time contract position with Siena College in Adelaide (an all girls Catholic College) teaching Drama whilst trying to complete some study. From then on God only knows! Look forward to hearing from you during the year. Grace and Peace. Grant.

So… Thank you!

We would all like to take this opportunity to say thank you for your interest, support, care, encouragement and love as well as all of your other practical help… We couldn’t have done it without you!  So keep on journeying, have a happy Christmas and God bless you all for your part in our art! Love from…

Kerryn, Trevor, Rochelle & Grant.

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