OK, OK, I'll tell you...

So, I've had several people ask me how I got Des to be in this picture three times. No, for those of you who don't know Des, he is not a triplet. It was just a bit of fun that we had with the camera... I have a new camera that has a feature for taking panoramic pics... you actually take 3 separate pics and then the camera stitches them together. I just had Des stand in each one. :) It was just something that we did, not much thought put into it before hand, so the fact that it turned out so good made it even funnier for us. Thanks for playing the game.

Richard and Jen

Some of you may have heard me tell that on my way back to Australia from LA this last time (March) I met a girl, Jen, on the plane. She was moving to Brisbane to be with her man. Jen and I hit it off and have kept in touch since then. She and Richard were married yesterday and I had the privilege of not only being at the wedding, but I was asked to say the prayer of blessing for them. It was very exciting for me. You never know who you may meet when you just talk to the people around you. I never would have imagined that when I got on the plane that night, that I was about to meet someone that would become a good friend.

The wedding was a small event, held at their house, with a BBQ afterward. Again, I was blessed to be witness to their commitment to each other.

MIB 2008

The team from Knott Ave. has now returned after two amazing weeks here in Australia. What a blessing it is for me to have a team come each year and be a part of the things that I am lucky to do full time, and to meet the people that are my Aussie family. The past two weeks have seen the team spending two days with our kids and youth from Ann St. , being a part of our Community BBQ, as well as spending some time in Eidsvold and Cherbourg. There is so much to tell about both of those places and the history that they hold... but I am not sure I would even know where to begin. Most of it is just so sad. All I can say is that my heart breaks over the stories that we hear about what has happen to the Aborigonal people in the past. While we were in Cherbourg we got to meet a lady, Annie, that had been sent to Cherbourg and then taken away from there and sent to Palm Island. There was a documentary made about her story, we got to be there and see it for its first ever public showing, and afterward I met and talked with her. That was certainly a highlight for me. Also, our time in Eidsvold, just being there and reconnecting with the young people. It was only 4 weeks since the last time I was there, so we were able to pick up right where we left off. Near the end of their time here, we spent the day at NAIDOC (National Aborigonal Islander Day Of Celebration). This is a huge festival that takes place each year, just to celebrate the Aborigonal and Islander peoeple. I had someone tell me, "It is good that after hearing all of the depressing stories of the history of the Aboriginal people, to end with a happy time, a time of celbration." How true that is!

All of these things were great and I am so blessed to have these opportunities, but for me personally the greatest highlight of the time with MIB was the fact that it allowed me time to build up stronger relationships with some of our young people from Ann St. It is hard to put into words the impact that the MIB team has had on me, as a result of their willingness to open up to the young peoeple that I hold so dearly to my heart. I know that they have returned and will have some great memories of their time here, but I get to stay and continue on with those relationships. It is my prayer and desire that I can carry on with the momentum that MIB have created.

I know that this is really just a small snapshot of what we did with the the team, but it is just to hard to put it all into words. Just know that I have been blessed with getting to know and to work alongside an amazing team. But most of all, that although I have been here, it has changed me and challnged me to grow even deeper in realtionship with these young ones. Please pray for me as I still continue to process all that I feel God is doing in my heart as a result of the time MIB spent here.

Good times in Eidsvold!!

this is just going to be a short one, but hopefully fun.....this past weekend I went to Eidsvold. We had a great time hanging with the kids and having fun. While we were there, I took this photo... I just want to know of any one notices anything about the pic.... have a close look. :) if you click on the picture you should be able to view it bigger... and those that were there, you can't play this game.

This Weekend

How great has this weekend been.... first, I was at a women's conference in Caloundra on Sat. That was an amazing time listening to some very inspiring teaching on "Being a woman of influence". To realise that we don't have to have a 'name' to be a person of influence, but that we can be an influence on those around us... positive or negative, therefore I should be making the most of all opportunities to a positive influence. We also had heaps of fun just being together with friends.

Then, this morning at church we had the privilege of seeing Oscar and Claudia be baptised. They are a married couple from Columbia, that have called Ann st. home for several months now. Praise God to see His hand at work in their lives!

It is just a reminder to me that no matter who we are or where we are, God loves us and is continually working in our lives.

So Many Things...

It has been a while now since my last entry. I have been so busy that when talking with a friend to day I did not believe her when she said that it has 'almost' been two months since I have been back in Australia... Really, I feel like it has been heaps longer than that... oh well, at least I know I am busy.

Over the past month I have been enjoying getting to know some of the students at the high school. It has been a slow process, as there have been a couple of weeks that I was not there for various reasons. And I know, that these things take time. I have also been busy getting plans made for the team from Knott Ave. that will be here in less than two months. I am excited to have them back again, some familiar faces and some new one's. Sunday School is off and running. it is great to be back with the kids and teaching them about the Lord.

This is just the beginning of what I have been up to.

I have been doing some very fun things too. A couple of weeks ago, one of my friends turned 40 and her husband gave her a surprise party, but not just a party, it was on a boat along the Brisbane river. We cruised the river for 4 hours. He had also arranged several more surprises for her throughout the night that we got to enjoy. Traditional Island dancing by some of her nephews, as well as her two sons. It was very special.

Last week for our women's ministry, aka 'Chicky Chat' we had a high tea. We had a wonderful time, eating more food than we needed to, and having a wonderful time of fellowship. We have many international students that have been attending Ann St. so it was fun to treat them to a high tea.

Then came the 'American' Party... some of the girls that I went to the Outback with in Dec. had asked me to bring a few American treats back for them.. so I did. That night we enjoyed a dinner of Sloppy Joe's & Mac-N-Cheese, and then enjoyed things like S'mores, pixie sticks, and much more. Talk about a sugar high!!! it was all good fun.

Kondilla Falls

I was emailing my brother earlier this week, telling him about a day trip that I took with a couple of friends a couple of weeks ago. I then got to thinking... I need to tell more people this story. Some may be impressed, others not, but I am still going to tell the story. So, Lena, Sara and I head off to the Sunshine coast (north of Brisbane) for a day out. We first went to Montville, a quaint little town that has cafes and cute shops. After enjoying lunch, we went to Kondalilla falls, not too far away from there. We took our 20 minute hike through the rain forest until we got to the waterfall and water hole. Lena and I were prepared for a swim. I knew that the water was going to be freezing, but hey, I walked there for the swim... nothing was stopping me. It was freezing, but we enjoyed a swim. A bit short, but at least I went in. Had a great time sitting under the water fall too. We got out and were standing on one side of the water hole when a couple that had been standing on the other side came over to tell us that there was a fresh water eel in the water and that we could see him. I walked over and sure enough, there he was... big and ugly, peering up at the surface. All I can say is thank God I was already out of the water. Now, I had been there before and been told that they were there, but if you don't see them, you don't think about it. I do have a picture of him, but do to a slow internet connection I am unanle to post them. (If any of you are on Facebook, I have them there.) So there you have it... I swam with the eels... ok one eel and I did not know that he was there. To top it off, on our way back out, we saw a snake slither across the path. It was a great day... and well, was happy to see some of God's creation up close and personal.