I bought a 1000 piece puzzle of the map of Australia in September 2015. I was hoping that my daughter would be inspired to complete it just like the previous two she did a few years ago. When I look at the massive puzzles she created that now hung at home, I am amazed by the beauty of the scenes and the dedicated patience that went to finalising them.

But having done some studies on dementia, I realised that for brain health, I should be doing it myself. So there I was, starting the journey with trepidation. Do I really have time for this, I asked, worried about my hectic schedule.

I convinced myself that the exercise would do me good. I forced my weary eyes and foggy brain to give it a try. My knowledge of Australian geography is minimal, so that in itself is a reward.

As I picked up every

piece I learned about Australian geography – that Lake Disappointment is in Western Australia, that Anxiety Bay is close to the Great Australian Bight, Indonesia is a neighbour and that the Indian Ocean, East Timor Sea and Arafura Sea can engulf us.

But most of all, I learned that life is very much like a puzzle. We start with a humble piece and we start growing, as we collect more and more experiences. There are the strong, vibrant colours that mirror our joy and milestones; the dark, sombre colours that reflect our sad, lonely, anxious times; the neutral colours when decisions are ambiguous, confusing us as there are no distinct clues; then the need for borders so we don’ t dodge the structures of life.

There were times I sat for hours able to link only a few pieces and frustration set in. These are moments in our life when we want to force victory but the Lord teaches us patience instead.

There were instances when I picked up pieces at

random and they clicked like magic as if a hand guided me. These are flashes when divine guidance is strongly manifested and we receive supernatural favour.

Once I was looking for a missing piece and found it stuck inside the fold of a dinner chair. It reminded me of the times

that during adversity, trials, tribulations, great sorrow, addiction or sin, we can forget the missing piece. As we try logic, science, knowledge and the arts to resolve our life’ s conflicts, we painfully realise God is the missing piece we have been searching for.

When I clicked the very last piece after three months of intensive labour, on 8 December at 10.30am, I felt a tremendous sense of triumph. But there was sadness as well. It is very much like finishing a good book. I was grateful for the daily company and the healing, the puzzle had become somehow a comforting friend.

This reminded me that one day, the final piece of my life would also be sealed by the finality of life, called death. As I look at the completed puzzle, I marvelled at the completeness of the panorama. My

grand-daughter Eva, aged 6 congratulated me:“ Good job, Grandma!” Would God say the same of me?

This New Year 2016 can be a wonderful opportunity to build a work of art. Many times everything looks like random pieces thrown at us, but if wisely placed together, we can see we are heading for a chance to build a masterpiece.

Our life experiences are not random pieces with no sense. The adventure becomes magical, if we are able to catch the significance of every moment, trusting that God often gives us clues as we move on to the next connection.

“ For we are God’ s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”( Ephesians 2:10)

( For comments or feedback, email evamarie09 @ bigpond. com)

Religious Organisations

CONNECT CITY CHURCH Sunday Worship Services

North Campus 10:30am-12:00pm Unit 3, 60-70 Mahoneys Road, Thomastown Contact Ps Buddy Abadilla + 61 421 055 883

West Campus 10:30am-12:00pm 15 Perkins Avenue, Hoppers Crossing Contact Ps Max Flores + 61 425 816 285

East Campus 10:30am-12:00pm 8 Commercial Rd, Ferntree Gully Contact Ps Ernie Iradiel + 61 408 639 392

South East Campus 5:30pm- 7:00pm Uniting Hall 1 Coral Drive, Hampton Park Contact Ps Ernie Iradiel + 61 408 639 392

Iglesia ni Cristo ADELAIDE CONGREGATION

ADULT WS: Wednesday 7.30 PM, Sunday 9.30AM Every last Saturday of the month Tagalog 7.30PM CWS: Sunday 11.30PM 501 The Parade, Magill, South Australia Francis Ferdinand Salas Mobile:: 0451 667 226 Email jrfsalas @ yahoo. com

MIDLAND CONGREGATION

Caversham Hall 2280 West Swan Road, Corner Benara Road WA 6055 Brother Harlito Brioso 0409 471 904 Brother Jerry Espolo 0439 907 262 Adult Worship Service: Tuesday 7.30pm Sunday 8.00am Children’ s Worship Service: 10.30AM Sunday

Port Adelaide Group Worship Service c / o Raul C, Santos 0433 217 794 raulsantos007 @ yahoo. com. au 11 Clearview Crescent, Clearview, SA 5083 Australia Adult WS: Thursday 7.00pm & Saturday 4.00pm

PERTH CONGREGATION

Brother Federico Beltran, Jr. 0403 022 056 jc. bel49 @ yahoo. com 494 Morley Drive, Morley, WA 6062 Phone + 61 8 9275 8514 Fax + 61 8 9275 8514 Adult WS Wed 7:30PM English Thu 5:30AM Tagalog Thu 7:30PM English Sat 3:00PM at 7:30PM English Children’ s Worship Service 5:00PM English

KALGOORLIE Group Worship Service

Brother Reynaldo De Guia, Jr. + 61 423 658 307 jeckdeg @ yahoo. com 13-A Warman Way, Boulder, WA 6432 + 61 8 9022 7268 Adult WS Wed 7:30PM Sunday 6:30PM

MILDURA Group Worship Service c / o Henry Degamo, Jr. Mobile: 0403 462 096 jojojr08degamo @ yahoo. com Unit 1 / 7 Wittman Avenue Mildura, Australia Worship Service Schedule: Thursday 8:00PM, Sunday 5.00PM

NEW LIFE BELIEVERS FELLOWSHIP INC.

Contact Person: Pastor Ernie Cartas Address of Church Service: 6 Helene Street, Ardeer, Vic 3022 Mobile:: 0425831754 Email: erniecartas @ yahoo. com Website: www. nlbf. net Church Service: Every Sunday, 10:30AM to 12:30PM. Other services please check our website.

MELBOURNE CONGREGATION

Brother Brian McMahon Mobile: 0423 690 474; 0430 930 710 241-245 Civic Parade, Altona Tel. No. 9398-2396 Fax No. 9398-1866 ADULT WS: ​Thursday 10:00AM and 8:00PM​ English, Sunday 8.00AM and 10.30AM ​English ​Every last Saturday of the Month 6.00PM​Filipino ​CWS: ​Sunday 8.00AM ​English

BRIMBANK CONGREGATION

Brother Rivie Lagasa, Sr. Mobile: 0433 543 779 Keilor Down Community Hall 70 Taylors Road, Keilor Down, Vic. Phone 8361-6398 Fax 03 9390 6846 ADULT WS: ​Tuesday ​8:00PM ​English Wednesday ​10.00AM​ English, Saturday ​5.00PM​ English ​Every last Saturday of the Month 7.00PM ​Filipino CWS: ​Saturday ​6.30PM ​English

SHEPPARTON EXTENSION( Brimbank Congregation)

Brother Robin Rupido 0487411960 478 Wilson road, Wyuna East, VIC 3620 Adult Worship Service: Wed 7:30PM

MERRILANDS CONGREGATION

Brother Ronald Calencia + 61 424 554 821 wonderboy _ orig @ yahoo. com Merrilands Community Centre 31-35 Sturdee St., Reservoir ADULT WS: ​Thursday ​8.00PM ​English Saturday ​9.30AM​ English ​CWS​: Saturday​ 11.00AM ​English

WYNDHAM CONGREGATION

Brother Al Ocon Mobile: 0422 560 945 Tarneit Community Learning Centre 150 Sunset Views Blvd. corner Leakes Road, Tarneit Fax 03 9748 2971 ADULT WS: ​Wednesday ​5.45AM​English Wednesday ​8.00PM​ English Saturday ​7:30PM​ English CWS: ​Saturday ​6.00PM​ English

DANDENONG CONGREGATION

Brother Enrico Velante Mobile: 0433 601 004 Fleetwood Primary School Hall 101 Fleetwood Drive, Narre Warren, Vic. Telefax 9799-6962 ADULT WS: ​Wednesday ​8.00PM​English, ​Saturday ​6.00PM​ English ​Sunday​6.45AM ​English( 1st to 3rd Sunday) Filipino( 4th or Last Sunday of the month) CWS: ​Saturday ​7.45PM​ English

Advertise in this section( 03) 9369 4324

ST. ALBANS UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA

( Including Methodists, Presbyterians & Congregationalists) CONTACT: REV. JAMES S. MURRAY 24-28 Elaine St. corner East Esplanade, St. Albans, Vic, 3021 Phone 03-9379 5448 Mobile: 61-418 233 475 https:// www. facebook. com / stalbansunitingchurch Email – jimurray @ netspace. net. au Multi-cultural Church – First Uniting Church Filipino Congregation in Australia English Service 10:00am( Sundays); Tagalog Service 8:30am( 1st / 3rd Sundays only)

FIRST BORN GOSPEL CHURCH

( an IAFB AUSTRALIA CHURCH) Contact: Ptr Ben – 0412 335 077 Mobile: 0416 542 012 Ps. Ramon 0400 266 636 1 Malcolm Court, Narre Warren Vic. 3805 Email: fbgchurch @ gmail. com

Worship service – Sunday 10.00AM-12.00PM

NARRE WARREN Extension( Dandenong Congregation)

Brother Dindo Cuevas Mobile: 0402 537 522 12 Von Nida Drive, Cranbourne North Telefax 03 9799 6962 ADULT WS: Wednesday 6.00AM ​English( Filipino- Every last Wednesday of the month)

KINGSTON CITY GROUP WORSHIP SERVICE

Aries Marquina Phone 0429 877 123 Moorabbin Primary School Worthing, Moorabbin, Vic. Telefax 03 9799 6962 ADULT WS: Thursday ​8.00PM; Sunday 9.30AM English Children Worship Service( CWS): Sunday 11.00AM

GIPPSLAND GROUP WORSHIP SERVICE

Brother Richardson Suniga Mobile: 0448 949 406 ​Traralgon Court House ​161-166 Franklin Street, Traralgon, Vic. 3844 ​Telefax 03 9799 6962 ​ADULT WS: ​Thursday ​7.00PM ​English ​Sunday​ 10.00AM​ English

St. Martin de Porres Parish Laverton

Bellin St., Laverton Filipino Mass, every first Saturday of the month, 6.00pm anticipated Mass

GOD WITH US

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLIES INC. Contact: Pastor Roger Bucao / Pastor Nancy Bucao 55 James Street, Dandenong Vic. Contacts: Pastor Roger Bucao- 0434 330 447 Pastor Nancy Bucao – 0434 339 011 Email: rogerbucao @ gmail. com Services every Sunday from 10.00AM to 12.00PM Everyone welcome.

Satellite Churches GOD WITH US, CHELSEA Chelsea Height Community Centre Thames Promenade, Chelsea Heights Contact: Pastor Fred Fererro Mobile: 0412 029 516 Sunday Services from 10.00AM- 12.00PM

AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST FELLOWSHIP( GWU Cranbourne) Cranbourne Public Hall Cnr Clarendon & High Streets, Cranbourne, Vic Contact: Pastor Dick Marcial Mobile: 0430 006 095 Sunday Services from 10.00AM- 12.00NN

GOD WITH US, ROSEBUD Rosebud Memorial Hall Point Nepean Hwy., Rosebud Sunday Services from 5.00PM- 7.00PM( GWUICA is affiliated with the Australian Christian Churches formerly known as AOG)

11 Dandenong Road East, Frankston VIC 3199 1 / 28 Pickett Street, Footscray VIC 3011 Ph.( 03) 9770 0066 Fax:( 03) 9770 0466