Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Crystal Creek Photos (Queensland, AUS)










Pre-Camping

Currently in my 4th week of lectures (5th week in Australia) and preparing for 2 weeks of camping. 

Life is flying by in an exciting and amazing blur.  Lectures have all been so intense.  I know God is moving in me and building me up, I just pray that this isn't one of those temporary changes.  I want this to be a lifetime change.  To live deeper in His grace daily. 

This week we are learning about intimacy and fear of God.  How God longs for a relationship with us.  One that is deeper than this distant creator but one that is close.  Isaiah 62:5 ... as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you...."  Our relationship with God needs to be less about discipline and more about striving to know God on a deeper level.  Read the Bible like a love letter from God rather than a strick set of rules and regulations.  If we love Him, we will obey His commands because we want to serve Him. 

Life has been awesome living in constant intercession and prayer.  One of the things I love most about this place is that we are always living in prayer.  In all that we do, we bring it to God.  He is revealing Himself in ways I never knew He could. 

On another note, had an amazing weekend.  Youth Street on Saturday was Nerd themed.  We (the Jan DTS) carried it to a whole other level of nerdiness.  Seems like us leaders have more fun than the crew do half the time.

Sunday was "Fun-day" and we had pancakes for breakfast at one of our leader's houses.  I don't think I've laughed so much in my life.  We literally were just sitting in a group making faces.  It's amazing how something so simple and childish can bring absolute joy.  Then, I went with two of the Aussies in my class to Crystal Creek which is about an hour from here.  It was beautiful.  I will include photos. 




Sunday-Funday with my Aussie friend, Emma, and Aussie leader, Dave.



What a bunch of Nerds! (Vianee "Ger", Laurie "UK", Chelsea "USA", Hannah "Den", Me)

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

A Glimpse of My Day

5:15 am I get up.  By 5:30 am I am running or hiking up the huge hill here with a group of my peers.  The sun comes up around this time, so it's beautiful to sit at the top and stare out at the ocean.  Then we hike back down. 
Breakfast is at 6:45 am.  We have quiet time to pray and read our Bibles for about an hour after that, then we either have worship or prayer time in groups for an hour or so.
We have lectures until 12:30 pm and then lunch.  Lectures are pretty in depth, intense Christian and Bible teaching.
Then, we all have chores (I clean our flat which 9 girls live in). 
We usually have an hour or so of free time (I usually swim or read), then dinner.  Depending on the evening, we have free time or Outreach Prep and sometimes more lectures.
Saturdays we do "Youth Street" which starts at 1 pm.  About 100 of the local teenagers come and spend time with us.  I am on the Dance Team, so we teach and learn dances.  We'll be performing in a few weeks. 
Sundays are usually free days.  We usually walk to the beach, swim, and play games.  There are stingers (jellyfish) and tiger sharks here, so we can only swim within special nets set up.

Cockroaches, Cyclones, Sunburns, oh my!

Life is a giant whirlwind.... possibly a cyclone. 

Speaking of cyclones, I just went through my first hurricane.  Category 5, one of the worst in Australian history.  Yay, welcome to "Down Under." 



We are into our fourth week of DTS.  It is intense.  My processing is going to take a long time.  Just like when I returned from Nicaragua, I don't think half of this will hit me for months if not years. 

Our first week of lectures was on our identity in Christ.  Powerful stuff.  Learning that we are co-heirs and conquerors through Christ.  Why do we fear, what holds us back?  Knowing that the God who created the universe is our advocate, we should stand in righteousness and truth.  I wish I could give you a glimpse into what God did/is doing in me but am not sure if words are sufficient.  I cannot live in the fullness of Christ, if I do not completely believe I am loved and made new through God.  I started to realize this and refuse to let fear or anything else bring down what God has done for me and what He plans on doing in me.

The second week of lectures was on Confession/Repentance.  Although we are new creations in Christ, in order to live for Him, we need to make sure we have a right heart and clear conscious before Him.  If our thinking and actions are convoluted with sin, we allow things into our lives that are not in direct relationship in our service to Him.  It is not just important to confess our sins to God, but sometimes we need to confess to others and be reconciled.  Ken Mulligan, our base director, gave these lectures and really challenged us in our relationship with God, along with our knowledge of the Word. 

We are now in our 3rd week of lectures and it is on relationships.  So far, we are learning to have a right, healthy relationship with God.  All of our other relationships are a reflection of our walk with God and our maturity in this area. 

So far, I have really loved all of our lectures.  But, it's not just about learning.  If I can't take this knowledge and apply it, then it is useless.  Pray my pride is broken and I am open to the fullness of what God wants to do in me.  My friend (and staff leader), Maddie, had a word for me the first week.  It was "Refinement".  God wants to mold and refine me.  I pray I am eager and willing. 

What I'm saying here is a very pale, simple description of what we are learning.  There is so much more depth to it.  If you have more questions, feel free to ask. 

As far as life goes, we had a blast celebrating Australia Day, a few weeks ago.  Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi! 













Then, Australia week was followed by a cyclone which wreaked havoc on Townsville up to Cairnes.  Thankfully, there was no loss of life that I know of.  Lots of big trees blown over.  We waited it out in our powerless, dark, hot, leaking flat.  We had a bit of flooding, but otherwise, no real damage to our place.  It was interesting running around in the middle of the night with a headlamp, winds blowing outside, trying to find pots, bowls, and buckets for the leaking ceiling. 

More on life later.  I know this is a really brief synopsis, but my brain is ready to explode so I'm going to go.

With love from Aus, Erin!