Hi-dee ho neighbors! I feel like I haven't updated my blog in forever...actually it has been forever! I need to fill all of you in on what is happening here in Aussieville. These past couple of weeks have been crazy with all different kind of activities involving lectures, fun with friends, and "slummin it". I have learned so much. Every week literally gets better and better. I cannot believe I have already been here for 8 weeks! It is so surreal. I am in no rush to come home! I do miss all of you though!
YWAM Perth:
I guess I should go ahead and start from where I left off. That would make the start of this blog all about my birthday here in Aussieville! I guess the best word for this birthday would be "unforgettable". It was a first for several things, the first time my birthday has ever been ridiculously hot, the first time I was away from my family, and the first time I had fish and chips. It was really great getting to celebrate it with new friends. I wouldn't have changed it at all. In YWAM, if it is your birthday, they celebrate by giving you a birthday table that you can invite 7 friends to sit with you at, they sing you this amazing birthday song, they say "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie...Oi, Oi, Oi" after the song, they give you an amazing birthday cake that is decorated all fancy, and last but not least, you have to give a speech in front of everyone. I talked all about Louisiana in my speech! Represent (fist pump)!! It was just a great but hot day! I wouldn't change it at all!
Our lecture for the week after was about relationships between family, friends, opposite sex, employees, and last but not least, God. It was a really great week. It showed me areas where I need to grow to have more of a closer relationship with God. It showed me that I need to listen to people more when they talk. It also showed that marriage needs to be given to God. He needs to have full authority over me in every area.
That weekend, we did something called "slum survivor". It showed us what it is like to live in the slums. We were only allowed to bring the clothes on our backs, sleeping bag, toothpaste and toothbrush, and our Bible and notepad. It was pretty intense. We went out to the bush where there was not anyone but us around for miles. It was absolutely gorgeous. We had to make houses out of cardboard and tarp. We definitely sucked at making a cardboard house for ten people to fit in. We had to learn how to make a rock stove and a water filter. Some of the places we will be going will need to have instruction on how to make those things. I also had to use the bathroom in a drop hole. It was so weird. I call it the drop off though. It sounds cooler. We were only allowed one meal a day while we were out there, rice and lentils. Our portions were small. We had very few water at all times as well. It was very challenging at times, but I wouldn't change a thing about it. We grew as a team and just really bonded.
This past week, we were taught in lectures about "The Father Heart of God". I thought it was going to be for people that came from broken homes and didn't have a fatherlike figure in there house. Oh boy, was I wrong. It was all about how much God truly loves us. All of us got something different out of it. God really showed how much he loved me and how much he wanted a romantic relationship with me. I am His bride. He really proved that to me this week. Towards the end of the week, we started talking about how the enemy has told us lies in our life about different things. On Friday, we had application day ( the day we really intercede and deal with our issues on the topic) and I don't think there was a dry eye in the place. It was so good to hear everyone get relieved of the lies they were living under, including myself. God just really moved through my group this week. It was so awesome!
On the Wednesday, during that week, we went for a second time as a base to the beach. It was so funny going this time to the beach because we now all know each other. The first time, everyone felt kind of awkward. This time, everyone was associating with everyone. We were all just comfortable with each this time.
On the Saturday, several of the girls in my group and I decided it would be awesome to go back to the beach. We were going to go all day. Well, that got changed because we found out that we had a meeting at 10:00 in the morning on the Saturday in our classroom. We were kind of upset at first that we weren't going to get a lot of tanning time in. When we walked into the classroom, there was a huge table set up very nicely and tons of good breakfast food on the table. The guys in our group (only 4 of them) decided that they wanted to bless us girls (18) with a delicious breakfast to thank us. They wrote a poem and personal notes to all of us. We had pancakes with fruit topping and whipped cream, scrambled eggs, over easy eggs, sausage, bacon, coffee, and all different kinds of juices. It was so yummy! Best meal ever! We then went to the beach after. I got really really sunburned! I look like a lobster!
Every Thursday, we go out into an area in the city where bars, night clubs, and sex stores are really popular. We go and evangelize. I have been loving it so much! Every week I have been so encouraged because the peoples hearts are so open! You can tell God is moving in Perth. For the past two weeks, I have felt God was calling me to certain people. I would see someone and know that is who God wanted me to talk to. Each time I only talked to one person. Both people had one thing in common. They are atheist. They wanted nothing to do with religion and were not open to me sharing the love of Christ. I started off both conversations saying who I was and who I was with. That is all they wanted to hear. I felt that God was saying to me that I just needed to listen to them talk and just really pay attention to what they are saying. Smile and act joyous!
This week, we are learning about evangelism. It is going really good and it is definitely a week of encouragement towards evangelizing out on the streets.
Next Tuesday, we are doing a walk-a-thon to raise the extra funds we will need for outreach. I am still $1,000 short of what I am needing. I am still praying and interceding with God that He will provide what I need to go. My school in general needs $42,000. We have all been getting up super early to really just pray that God will somehow provide. We know He will provide in some way that will really bless us. I have a form that talks about the walk-a-thon and how you can help me out. If you are interested you can email me, facebook me, or comment on this blog entry telling me you want to help out. Give me your name and email address and I can send you the form. I am so thankful for everyone of you who follow my blog. It really blesses me that you would take time out of your day to hear a little bit about my life right now! You guys are the best!
Aussie lingo:
"Whacka" means "idiot"
"Yabber" means "talk"
"Yakka" means "work"
"Sprung" means "caught doing something wrong"
"Rubbish" means "trash" or "to criticize"
"Prezzy" means "present"
"Oldies" means "parents"
"Nipper" means "lifeguard"
FYI, Drop bears are not true!!!
