Bagistan

     Missions Week. After an increibley rainy and relaxing week of lectures on what to expect on the missions field, the bomb was dropped. "We're going to Bagistan guys!". What? My thoughts exactly. After our gracious 15 minutes of packing time we arrived at the "airport". This is when I understood what was happening. We were about to endure 30 hours of missions simulation. This meant no bed, one outfit, no roof, no toothbrush...you get the picture.
     So after trucking through the airport being detained and questioned we walked outside to a sea of beggers. This was where I learned the valuable lesson of carrying my backpack on my front rather than my actual back. After that maddness our team headed to the markets. We had a few meals we had to prepare for ourselves so we chose some essentials, rice, oats, sausage, carrots, and of course curry sauce. We also had the rare pleasure of dried salted fish chips that we had to eat because it was a gift. Yum. Sense the tone.  While at the market we also picked up our housing resources for the next 30 hours. This meant a tarp and a rope. According to instructions, our "home" was basically under a set of stairs behind a dumpster area. Cool. Oh I forgot to mention that is had been raining for a solid two weeks prior and was continuing to rain all throughout this time, thus resulting in an obviously soaked ground.
     Next on the agenda was an English class. With 10 minutes of prep time we pulled off a surprisingly decent 2 hour lesson. After that we had a bit of time to cook and eat dinner, in the rain. Immediately following a very large dinner portion of sausage, rice and curry we were told we had to attend a house visit. No problem right? Wrong. A huge part of missions simulation is that you HAVE to eat whatever your host offers you. Now most of you reading this have no idea what Vegiemite is, but basically it is yeast exctract, a by-product of beer manufacturing made into paste form. Toughest thing I have ever had to eat. But it was definitely a learning and growing experience. Now it was finally time for bed. All 8 of Team Russia crammed under our tarp and attempted to get some rest. When we realized that was a pipe dream, we all just sat together in the rain and talked the rest of the night and into morning. It was actually a pretty awesome bonding time.
     The next day. Still raining. After an awesome prayer walk, we prepared to lead a 2 hour Bible study. In Russia we will actually be doing alot of this so it was really cool to see how we worked as a team and actually pulled together and led a suprisingly powerful Bible study. Things were beginnning to look up. Now it was time for our host meal. Every team went through a station where they had to eat some sort of the worst case scenario meal for the country. For instance, Team India has the hottest curry known to man and Team Saipan had mounds and mounds of rice and fish. Luckily, Russia is actually known for having really delicious food so we just had to stuff ourselves with a bad pot of boursch and sauerkraut. Now it was time to get a little cleaned up. And by that I mean learn to take a bucket shower. Soaked from the shower and dripping from the rain, it was time to lead kid's ministry. Good thing we won't be doing a ton of this in Russia because this was definitely not our strong point. Thank goodness I had ONE MILLION kids songs to pull out of my back pocket. Thanks Res. Finally, after some gutter cleaning and weed pulling, missions week was finished.
     Holy smokes. What a challenge. What a time of stretch and growth. I have never felt so close to my team, literally and otherwise. It was awful and wonderful all at the same time. It was so eye opening and really brought new perspective. I realized my limits and my strengths as well as all of my teams. It was exactly what we needed to understand how we functioned as a unit and what we can expect on outreach.
     I apologize for the length of this post but I figured it would provide some entertainment. TWO WEEKS TILL WE LEAVE FOR VLADIVOSTOK!!!!

Hello Blessing

     Sorry all. I know it has been a few weeks since my lastest update but things are spinning here! I feel like I haven't stopped to breathe in two weeks. So now, as I catch my breath, I thought I would fill you all in on what's been happening around here.
     Since Airlie life on base has pretty much revolved around gearing up for outreach. Russia here I come. We have been writing sermons and testimonies, preparing skits and dances, and of course HEAPS of team building. This past weekend Team Russia traveled up to Toowoomba for a weekend outreach. Having been to Airlie I thought I had seen the best. But, once we arrived I was in complete awe. I stood on top of a mountain with my team and realized just how blessed we are. After we scooped our jaws off the ground, from the view, we began our never ending cleaning day. On the very top of this mountain resides Camp Toowoomba. It's basically just a place where 3 or 4 ministries merge and work together to reach their community. So we, as YWAMers, tried to bless them in the best way we knew how. We scrubbed that place from top to bottom. On Sunday morning I witnessed one of the coolest things since I have been here. My team led a church service. It may sound minor but I could not have been more proud. Three of the members led an awesome time of worship and then one of the leaders gave the sermon. It was just so awesome to see the growth and the potential in our team. Overall it was a weekend of major blessing, unbelievable fellowship, and outstanding potential.

     The last exciting bit of info I have to share is about finances. Since we all got back after New Years we have been sharing weekly outreach finance updates. The first week I stood up and shared how much I still was in need of and they wrote it on the board along with eveyone elses needs. Week two, when my turn came around to give an update, I stood up, said how much I still needed and then one of my friends here turned around to me and said "No worries. I'll cover that". That night the money was on my bed. Hello blessing.
       So I now have all my outreach funds! PTL. I leave in two and a half weeks so I will probably crank out one more blog. Keep an eye out!

 

Our Bus Runneth Over

     My my, I have so much to tell you all! So much has happened since my last post. I hope you guys like pictures because I have a ton for you.
     So. Obviously Christmas has come and gone. But it was a mighty fine Christmas if I do say so. I was a little wary at first seeing as this would be my first Christmas away from my family but it actually turned out to be one that I will never forget. In the blazing heat, I gathered with my new family and exchanged stockings, shared in breakfast, and had an all day Christmas movie marathon. It was honestly fantastic.
     Two days later, 40 or so of us were jammed in two buses headed up the coast for a ministry week. About 12 hours into our supposedly 18 journey, one of the buses essentially broke down. Strike one. Then it began to pour down rain. Strike two. Then to top it off, the functioning bus began to flood. Strike three. I can't make these things up folks. Everything that could go wrong, did in fact go wrong. Naturally we just laughed. So after an 18 hour trip turned into a 24 hour trip we all arrived safely in Airlie Beach. And man was it worth it. This has been one of my favorite weeks since I have been here. Per usual, we all rolled out our sleeping mats and crammed together to get a good nights rest before the week began. The next morning we were up and running. The "Chai Tent" is where I spent most of my week. Basically every year YWAM sets up a giant white party tent and serves free chai and puts on live music and dance performances. Every night I was astounded by the amount of people who came in just looking for a place to get away from the clubs and pubs and ended staying in there all night just chatting about everything under the sun. We got countless opportunities to minister to people by just talking, listening and sharing the love of the Lord. It was great to see God moving through the young and old alike in Airlie. This is also where we all rang in the New Year together. We gathered as a team and with the billions of other poeple on the beach and watched the fireworks at midnight. There is nothing like it.
      Now, being in Airlie, we obviously had to have some fun. So, on our last day a big group of us decided to take a little ocean rafting tour around the Whitsunday Islands. We hopped on a boat and traveled along the East Australian Current (yes, the one from Finding Nemo) for about an hour then we were dumped on the Great Barrier Reed for some snorkeling. We eventually made our way to Whitehaven Beach, one of the prettiest in the world. Here we set up camp for a little lunch and some time in the sun. But, the coolest part of the day was that this is where we had three people get baptized. Such a great experience! At the end of the day we made our way back to Airlie and then the next day we were on the road yet again. This time we made it with no bus glitches. PTL.
     What a week. Now, back on base, I have to grab hold of the five weeks I have until I head to Russia and make the best of them. My how time is flying!  

Christmas morning  

Presents!!!

Movie marathon

Happy New Year's 

The infamous Chai Tent

Alicia getting baprized!

Beautiful Airlie 

Look at this place!

Airlie

Just another night in the tent...

NYE fireworks on the beach at midnight. There were tons oe people!

Live music

   

Skin & Bones

Here is my testimony dance performed for the base Christmas talent show...

and if this video doesn't work, here is the link... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkwBUuN8sv8&feature=plcp&context=C3d92380UDOEgsToPDskK3v4tRB-xHjAM3a9Mc6S-O

Dashing Through the Bush

     I realize it has been a while since my last update and I apologize! I have been waiting for semething blog worthy to happen so that I would actually have somethinging interesting to write about rather than just rambling on about fluff. So, this past weekend has been pretty exciting and I feel it desereves some notation.
     Friday night began the holiday cheer. We gathered as a base to decorate for Christmas. We hung stockings for every single person, assembled the tree, garnished the dining room and kitchen, and topped the night off with a base-wide viewing of Home Alone. It was really special for all of us to come together to fellowship and ring in, if I do say so myself, the best holiday season. This morning, Sunday, our base volunteered at a festival of sorts. We live just up the street from a train station and this morning they decided to have a bit of a community gathering where there was dancing, singing, art, yummy treats, and trains. Lots of trains. It was such a blast to be able to again perform my testimony and showcase other dances we as a school have been working on. That is about all for the weekend. It was a good one.
       Now for a quick outreach update. A few meetings later, Team Russia has discovered something spectactular. This venture is not going to be as pricey as we were expecting! This is obviously fantastic news. It is going to be almost half the price of what we originally thought. Please continue to pray there will be no complications as we request our visas and also that we will be able to purchase the best airfare. You guys are great! I suppose I should rest up; this week's lecture topic is Lordship. I've heard it's a toughy. Keep your eyes peeled. I may be dropping by a church service one of these days. Here are some pictures, courtesy of my deal friend Paige Motz.

Paige and I at our Christmas Party

                                                     

Oh that's just Jake. 

Merry Christmas

Every good holiday party needs some tasty holiday treats.

My very own stocking!

   

Fred Rogs

      I feel I should begin by informing you that I am currently listening to Christmas music in shorts and a tank top, dripping sweat. That's different. Now on to the important stuff....
     This past week was one like I have never experienced before. Schoolies. This is a week long graduation party for all the "school leavers", all up and down the coast of Australia. It is pure insanity. The schoolies rent out huge party houses or campsites and go on a week long drinking binge. A group of us YWAMers hit the road and ended up in Byron Bay. It is a small, ultra hippie, super spiritual, beach town. Oh and it is crawling with schoolies, ages 14-19. We partnered with an organization called Red Frogs(commonly mispronounced by drunken sillies as FRED ROGS). These guys are slowly making their way around the world. So, as a part of this group we went out every night and walked drunk kids home, held hair while they vomited, handed out candy, set up a pancake and water station, broke up fights, chat with the kids about Jesus if we got the opportunity, and basically did any grunt work that needed doing. Needless to say it was a challenge but such a blast. So at night we would work on just loving on these kids and building relationships then we would have them book an appointment for the next morning and we would go to their hotel rooms or houses or tents and make them pancakes and clean up around their place some when they are too hungover to even function. This is where the real ministry would happen. We got such awesome opportunities to share Jesus' love with kids who were just begging for it.
     Our group also got to partner with the YWAM base in Byron Bay and host a barbecue in the park for backpackers. We were able to dance and sing some for some really neat people from all over the world. Just so you get an idea of what Byron is like, I encountered an older lady who had fallen out of the tree (odd) and when I went to go check on her she was talking to the spirits in the tree. Then she told me the tree told her what "us people" were doing there and she bolted away. It was such a bizarre moment in my life. Funny. But so strange.
     Anyways, although I slept on a roach infested floor every night, probably stepped countless piles of throw up, and went without a shower for the entire week it was one of the most rewarding weeks yet. Sorry is this post is a little dodgy. I am pretty wiped. Looking forward to a new week, however!

Here are a few photos for your enjoyment :) 

Beautiful Byron

Jodie and I at the lighthouse at the most easterly point in Australia

Oh, you know....

Ministry in the park

Dancing my testimony

My lovely team

Я нуждаюсь в деньгах

Я нуждаюсь в деньгах

     That's right. I'm going to Russia, more specificaly Vladivastok!!!!! I found out last night that I am so lucky to be part of an 8 person team traveling yet again to another continent. I cannot wait. I am 150% positive this is where the Lord wants me. He has already completely broken my heart for these people. I will be leaving in February for 7 intesnse and exhilirating weeks. Not to mention freezing. Oh and did I mention it's going to be absolutely freezing.
     On a slightly different note, it is also going to be rather pricey. For my ticket, visa, and general cost of living for 7 weeks, it is going about $4,000. $2,000 of this is due within the next two weeks! Yikes. No worries though beause this is where I am supposed to be and God is faithful. If you guys and gals would prayerfully consider giving toward this mission, it would be immensely appreciated. If you do find you want to give you can make the check out to Helping Hands Ministry with the memo line left blank. This will ensure tax credit.
     This is such an unbeleiveable chance to continentally be the Lord's hands and feet and just share the revelation of His love I have personally experienced. I am beyond grateful. The financial aspect is simply a small practicallity that He is in control of.

Did I mention how pumped I am. Also, if you were wondering what the rando Russian lingo at the top was, it simply states, "I NEED MONEY".

LOVE YOU ALL.