I'd like to apologize about the lack of updates. I have few opportunities to get on the internet and keep everyone in the loop.
This week, we have started to go to the campuses for evangelism. Oh, and they are flat out gorgeous! It would be impossible to explain what's happening in my heart right now, but the Lord has already done so much since Monday, when we first started sharing at the universities. The more times I approach people, share my faith, and get to relate to students on a personal level; the more comfortable I am with all this missionary stuff! :)
On Tuesday, a few of my teammates and I went to a different university that Student Life (the Christian club) has never set foot on. As pioneers, we set up an info booth at their orientation day and walked around and had great conversations. That was a difficult day. People's hearts, here in Australia, have really been hardened to the gospel. However, I got to have very engaging spiritual conversations with people of really diverse beliefs. Needless to say, it has been exhausting! But it is SO worth it!
I have been learning a ton about ministries and the Lord's grace. He has been answering my prayers and working big things in the hearts of the lost. I know that incredible things are happening, even if I can't quite see the outcomes yet. All I can say is God is so good!
Australia is such an amazing country! I wish I could explore more of it, but the Great Commission sort of beats out adventuring in the outback. Sorry family back home, but I am most likely coming back here later on for a more extended stay.
Prayer requests:
My team and I would love prayer for boldness and sustained emotional energy from the Holy Spirit.
Also, please pray for the lovely individuals we have met so far, that they will be open to the gospel and maybe even welcome Jesus into their lives!
Oh! The family is going to our first Aussie footy game! Oy oy oy!
Cheers
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
I'm writing to you, my friends, from an adorable cafe in Melbourne, Australia. Yeah, that's right.
I take no credit in getting here. It was all from the Lord and all the generous supporters who have been keeping me in their prayers along this journey. I cannot tell how much you have blessed me.
Recap: the 16-hour plane ride was so much easier than I had expected. I slept through most of it; thank goodness it was a red-eye. Jet lag was almost completely erased from the situation because our leaders kept us awake until 9pm on the day we arrived - by way of an epic scavenger hunt throughout the incredible city of Melbourne. We searched for landmarks and fun cultural centers, and we had to ask the Aussies where things were. They are SO FRIENDLY by the way! And I cannot get enough of their groovy accents. Needless to say, it was a fun day, and the sleep we got that night was the best ever.
The last few days have been filled with amazing works of the Lord and great conversations within our team. From our loopy times of trying to laugh without smiling to the intimate times of prayer and worship, God has been bringing us close so that we can unify in His love as we spread the Gospel. We have been reading and studying the Gospel of John, and each time I read it, the gravity of the Lord's sacrifice and immense heart for the world just increases.
Gotta go, I don't have much wifi access, so it's been difficult to update y'all. Bear with me!
God is so good!! Cheers!
p.s. I saw wild kangaroos yesterday. :)
I take no credit in getting here. It was all from the Lord and all the generous supporters who have been keeping me in their prayers along this journey. I cannot tell how much you have blessed me.
Recap: the 16-hour plane ride was so much easier than I had expected. I slept through most of it; thank goodness it was a red-eye. Jet lag was almost completely erased from the situation because our leaders kept us awake until 9pm on the day we arrived - by way of an epic scavenger hunt throughout the incredible city of Melbourne. We searched for landmarks and fun cultural centers, and we had to ask the Aussies where things were. They are SO FRIENDLY by the way! And I cannot get enough of their groovy accents. Needless to say, it was a fun day, and the sleep we got that night was the best ever.
The last few days have been filled with amazing works of the Lord and great conversations within our team. From our loopy times of trying to laugh without smiling to the intimate times of prayer and worship, God has been bringing us close so that we can unify in His love as we spread the Gospel. We have been reading and studying the Gospel of John, and each time I read it, the gravity of the Lord's sacrifice and immense heart for the world just increases.
Gotta go, I don't have much wifi access, so it's been difficult to update y'all. Bear with me!
God is so good!! Cheers!
p.s. I saw wild kangaroos yesterday. :)
Thursday, July 12, 2012
briefing
Hello ministry partners!!
I am writing from Los Angeles, where our three-day briefing has been taking place. I arrived on Tuesday, and I have since had the blessing of getting to know my project teammates and attend seminars. These, coupled with our team meetings, have already been so helpful in preparing us all for the ministry we will be doing down under! God's amazing love has been so present here, and my new summer family is bonding a ton! We get along like we have all been friends for months, though we just met a couple days ago (although a few of my teammates are from Cal Poly and I loved them already).
We have been staying in dorms at a university before we leave, where the meetings have been held. Staff members and Cru leaders have been facilitating the seminars that show Cru's international vision, how we want to love the Lord, how we can love our team, what to expect from changing cultures, and how we are launching a movement overseas.
From talking with teammates who have been on missions to Australia before, the culture there is very apathetic to the gospel because they are usually not raised to even think spiritually. All they know is life in this world, and they sometimes don't even question what happens when we die. It will be difficult to engage in spiritual conversations with Aussies, more than it is to talk with Americans who have grown up in a society that is more aware of Christianity.
Despite the challenges, I feel like the Lord is planning big things for our team, and I just want to be there now! Alas, we have to wait another day before we head to LAX for our direct, 17-hour flight to Melbourne (pronounced MEL-bun by the locals). I am so ready to get out of this heat and layer on some awesome sweaters for the winter weather!
God has been so good, and the more I prepare for this adventure, the more I understand that I am not here by accident. His plan is TOTALLY worth surrendering to.
Next time I update, I will quite likely be in the southern hemisphere!
G'day!!
I am writing from Los Angeles, where our three-day briefing has been taking place. I arrived on Tuesday, and I have since had the blessing of getting to know my project teammates and attend seminars. These, coupled with our team meetings, have already been so helpful in preparing us all for the ministry we will be doing down under! God's amazing love has been so present here, and my new summer family is bonding a ton! We get along like we have all been friends for months, though we just met a couple days ago (although a few of my teammates are from Cal Poly and I loved them already).
We have been staying in dorms at a university before we leave, where the meetings have been held. Staff members and Cru leaders have been facilitating the seminars that show Cru's international vision, how we want to love the Lord, how we can love our team, what to expect from changing cultures, and how we are launching a movement overseas.
From talking with teammates who have been on missions to Australia before, the culture there is very apathetic to the gospel because they are usually not raised to even think spiritually. All they know is life in this world, and they sometimes don't even question what happens when we die. It will be difficult to engage in spiritual conversations with Aussies, more than it is to talk with Americans who have grown up in a society that is more aware of Christianity.
Despite the challenges, I feel like the Lord is planning big things for our team, and I just want to be there now! Alas, we have to wait another day before we head to LAX for our direct, 17-hour flight to Melbourne (pronounced MEL-bun by the locals). I am so ready to get out of this heat and layer on some awesome sweaters for the winter weather!
God has been so good, and the more I prepare for this adventure, the more I understand that I am not here by accident. His plan is TOTALLY worth surrendering to.
Next time I update, I will quite likely be in the southern hemisphere!
G'day!!
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