Sunday, February 14, 2010
Praying Trees
Yesterday at Sunday fellowship in the evening, we did something really cool. At least, I thought it was pretty neat. There are a lot of trees on campus here. Some are native to NZ, but there are also a lot of them that are from other countries. Basically, we got into small groups and then went around the campus to different trees on a map we got and prayed for the country that specific tree was from. We prayed for the believers, the missionaries, the unbelievers, the governments. We spent a couple minutes at each tree, and it was so cool. We all learned a lot, and I figure, each country got about a half hour of prayer all together. Remember to pray for our fellow Christians in countries around the world who aren’t free to worship as we are.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
God makes me laugh
I’ve been planning since I got here to get up in the mornings and do a quiet time of reading my Bible and praying, but it’s just so easy to hit snooze on the alarm. You know how it is. Well, there was a lady named Elizabeth Thomas who gave a couple lectures on quiet time with God and prayer, and it really made me want to do this even more. That evening, I asked God to give me motivation in the morning to get out of bed and go do my quiet time. Then I realized that could come in the form of a bug in my bed or something like that, so I took it back. Yeah, I know. Whatever. In the morning, I got up and went outside to spend some time with God—just me and him. And it was amazing. So glad I did it! Halfway through my quiet time, I remembered what I’d asked for the night before. Motivation.
That morning when my alarm (my cell phone) went off, I grabbed for it, and it fell off the shelf onto my bed. Then I grabbed for it again and it fell to the floor. When I realized that this had been my motivation for getting up in the morning, I laughed. God can be so amusing! Anyway, just thought I’d share that because it really impacted me.
That morning when my alarm (my cell phone) went off, I grabbed for it, and it fell off the shelf onto my bed. Then I grabbed for it again and it fell to the floor. When I realized that this had been my motivation for getting up in the morning, I laughed. God can be so amusing! Anyway, just thought I’d share that because it really impacted me.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Hot tubs and hermeneutics
I had one of the most amazing natural experiences of my life on Thursday! So at Capernwray, we’re placed in family groups that we do stuff with once or twice a week. As a kick-off, my group went to a beach near a town called Kawhia. It was about an hour and a half drive from school. We ate fish and chips first, which was yummy. Anyway, then we headed to the beach, but this wasn’t any normal beach. It had black sand, and there was something special that happened as the tide was going out. Can anyone guess what it is? That’s right (or wrong, depending on what you said)! There were hot springs under the sand, so if you dug a hold in the right spot, it would fill with hot water! We dug a natural hot tub! It was about a foot and a half deep in the middle and around seven feet in diameter. Basically, we ran back and forth from the hot tub to the ocean and watched the sunset. It was amazing! I have lots of awesome pictures I just put on facebook, so go look at them!
On Sunday, I went to the Salvation Army church. That was an experience. About thirty people, and totally unorganized. But it was really focused on evangelism. And everyone was really nice. The sermon was like five minutes. And the music was kind of…well, everyone sang their heart out whether they were on key or not, which I thought was really cool. So yeah, that will be interesting. We’re going to the same churches for the whole time we’re here.
Oooo! And we got to pick a seminar we’re going to do for the whole term today—out of four. I’m doing hermeneutics. If you don’t know what that is, look it up! I’ll write more when I can. :)
On Sunday, I went to the Salvation Army church. That was an experience. About thirty people, and totally unorganized. But it was really focused on evangelism. And everyone was really nice. The sermon was like five minutes. And the music was kind of…well, everyone sang their heart out whether they were on key or not, which I thought was really cool. So yeah, that will be interesting. We’re going to the same churches for the whole time we’re here.
Oooo! And we got to pick a seminar we’re going to do for the whole term today—out of four. I’m doing hermeneutics. If you don’t know what that is, look it up! I’ll write more when I can. :)
Monday, February 1, 2010
End of Vacation
I love NZ! It’s so beautiful here! Okay, so it rained a lot in the past two days, but that’s okay. It was still warm. We went to Mission Bay yesterday. It was nice, but just normal. Nothing special about it. We collected a lot of sea shells, and Janessa and I hiked up a mountain and found a memorial. That was cool. There was a great view from the top. I broke my flipflop, which sucked. That evening, we hung out at the hostel and played Dutch Blitz and Cheat. Fun times!
Today, we went to Long Bay. It was farther away, but it was so much more fun and beautiful! I finally found some cheap flipflops at a mall before we left. They were $2.50! Yay! Anyway, after the slow hour long bus ride, we made it to Long Bay Regional Park. We walked along the beach and over the rocks and took lots and lots of pictures. Then we hiked up the mountain and took pictures up there too! There were lots of parasurfers (no idea if that’s what they’re called) at the beach. That looks like so much fun, but I couldn’t do it. Too much skill involved. ;)
This evening, we were going to go to a Thai restaurant, but it was closed because it was a holiday here today. Some anniversary thing. So we ended up going to a Greek restaurant, which was really yummy. Then we came back here and packed up. We’re leaving for school tomorrow morning! Can’t wait!
Today, we went to Long Bay. It was farther away, but it was so much more fun and beautiful! I finally found some cheap flipflops at a mall before we left. They were $2.50! Yay! Anyway, after the slow hour long bus ride, we made it to Long Bay Regional Park. We walked along the beach and over the rocks and took lots and lots of pictures. Then we hiked up the mountain and took pictures up there too! There were lots of parasurfers (no idea if that’s what they’re called) at the beach. That looks like so much fun, but I couldn’t do it. Too much skill involved. ;)
This evening, we were going to go to a Thai restaurant, but it was closed because it was a holiday here today. Some anniversary thing. So we ended up going to a Greek restaurant, which was really yummy. Then we came back here and packed up. We’re leaving for school tomorrow morning! Can’t wait!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Well, I’m finished in Australia. Went to see the fireworks on Australia Day, saw some more kangaroos, went shopping in Ballarat again, got a delicious dessert called a vanilla slice, went to the University of Melbourne with Imogen for her academic advice day. It was so hard to say goodbye. I had so much fun in Australia!
As for right now, I’m finally in NZ! And it really is the land of the kiwi. Everything has a kiwi bird on it! The hostel is really nice. And clean. That’s a bonus. We did a lot of walking today. Went downtown—to one of them anyway. Bought a few things. Went grocery shopping. Tomorrow we’re planning to go to the beach, provided we can figure out the bus system. Pray for us! I’ll post pictures on facebook as soon as I can. Off to school in a couple days!
As for right now, I’m finally in NZ! And it really is the land of the kiwi. Everything has a kiwi bird on it! The hostel is really nice. And clean. That’s a bonus. We did a lot of walking today. Went downtown—to one of them anyway. Bought a few things. Went grocery shopping. Tomorrow we’re planning to go to the beach, provided we can figure out the bus system. Pray for us! I’ll post pictures on facebook as soon as I can. Off to school in a couple days!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Melbourne and the ocean!
The past two days have been awesome! Yesterday, Ebony and Imogen and I went to Melbourne. We took the train, which was totally cool! I wish we had a train to ride in Saskatchewan. It was so fast!
In Melbourne, we went to this adorable market called Vic Market where there were all these little shops and food. I bought a scarf and some kangaroo earrings (yes, I know, such a tourist! haha). Then we went to the art gallery, ate lunch, and saw some really old European paintings.
There was one painting I just couldn't get over--in the modern art section... Oh my goodness, it was, well, to say the best of it, unimpressive. It was just...paint. Red and orange and blue and purple and green and yellow spread over the canvas--and the frame--in no order or shape or anything! Not even a special texture! And some of the colours were overlapping, and it just looked terrible! I could have painted it with my eyes closed.
Then we went to a restaurant called Koko Black. It was a chocolate restaurant, and we had a drink called an iced chocolate. It had milk and chocolate and icecream and I don't know what else in it, but it was sooooo good! After that we went to a department store called Myer that was seven floors! That was a bit of an adventure trying to find what we wanted.
That evening, Imogen let me drive. That was totally weird, driving on the left side of the road on the right side of the vehicle...I kept turning the windshield wipers on when I wanted to signal. But an interesting experience. And now I can say I've done it!
Today, Imogen and I went to the ocean. We drove to Geelong and got lost there. When we finally found the Great Ocean Road, we went to a beach and went boogie-boarding, which was totally awesome! The water was surprisingly warm too. But yeah, we rode the waves, and I got salt water in my mouth and my nose lots. Got tumbled around under a big wave at one point. Kind of scary.
After we'd finished at that beach, we kept driving and found a fish 'n' chips shop. Besides the fish and chips, we had calamari rings...yeah, that's octopus tenticles. So gross! Well, actually, they didn't taste that bad except for the texture was slimy and rubbery.
We went to a lighthouse and to another beach. Got some more pictures. Then we went home. It was a great day.
Oh, and I found my new favourite chocolate bar ever! White chocolate KitKat. Mmmmmm :)
I also have a prayer request. I think I might be catching a cold, so if you could pray for me not to, that would be great.
In Melbourne, we went to this adorable market called Vic Market where there were all these little shops and food. I bought a scarf and some kangaroo earrings (yes, I know, such a tourist! haha). Then we went to the art gallery, ate lunch, and saw some really old European paintings.
There was one painting I just couldn't get over--in the modern art section... Oh my goodness, it was, well, to say the best of it, unimpressive. It was just...paint. Red and orange and blue and purple and green and yellow spread over the canvas--and the frame--in no order or shape or anything! Not even a special texture! And some of the colours were overlapping, and it just looked terrible! I could have painted it with my eyes closed.
Then we went to a restaurant called Koko Black. It was a chocolate restaurant, and we had a drink called an iced chocolate. It had milk and chocolate and icecream and I don't know what else in it, but it was sooooo good! After that we went to a department store called Myer that was seven floors! That was a bit of an adventure trying to find what we wanted.
That evening, Imogen let me drive. That was totally weird, driving on the left side of the road on the right side of the vehicle...I kept turning the windshield wipers on when I wanted to signal. But an interesting experience. And now I can say I've done it!
Today, Imogen and I went to the ocean. We drove to Geelong and got lost there. When we finally found the Great Ocean Road, we went to a beach and went boogie-boarding, which was totally awesome! The water was surprisingly warm too. But yeah, we rode the waves, and I got salt water in my mouth and my nose lots. Got tumbled around under a big wave at one point. Kind of scary.
After we'd finished at that beach, we kept driving and found a fish 'n' chips shop. Besides the fish and chips, we had calamari rings...yeah, that's octopus tenticles. So gross! Well, actually, they didn't taste that bad except for the texture was slimy and rubbery.
We went to a lighthouse and to another beach. Got some more pictures. Then we went home. It was a great day.
Oh, and I found my new favourite chocolate bar ever! White chocolate KitKat. Mmmmmm :)
I also have a prayer request. I think I might be catching a cold, so if you could pray for me not to, that would be great.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Just an update
Well, I've been in Australia two days now, and it's been amazing so far! The flights over went okay...long, but okay. I didn't end up sitting beside anyone who was extremely loud, or smelly, or fat, or anything like that. ;) Watched some movies. By the way, Coraline is definitely worth seeing.
Something really amazing on the thirteen hour flight was that I flew from the northern hemisphere to the southern. It was dark the whole time, and the constalations changed. That wasn't even the coolest part though. It was that I got to see the world from God's point of view. That's how I see flying on a plane. It was amazing to see the stars that way. Silence on the airplane, staring out the window at a billion stars at the same level as me. I could have been on a space shuttle! It was absolutely stunning.
As for all the security and customs stuff, I got stopped at security in Saskatoon and in Auckland. Random explosive tests both times. I don't know, I guess my carry-on looked like a bomb. :P However, I got through customs fine. The baggage check took forever, especially since the guy who asked me if I had "anything to declare" (like fruits or vegetables or meat or drugs or whatever) kept the paper I'd filled out and didn't give it back. Supposedly I needed it later on. Go figure. The guy who was going to check my suitcases was super nice though and went to find the form for me. He was gone for like ten minutes, and I got so worried that he wouldn't find it or whatever. Eventually he came back...without the card. I was like, oh crap. And then he just said, you're done. Go ahead. I was sooooo relieved! Thank you, God!
I'm in Ballarat right now, a small town about an hour and a half from Melbourne. It's so cute. Lots of historical buildings and stuff. I'm staying with friends on the outskirts of the town, so I ended up seeing some kangaroos yesterday in the backyard! That was so cool! Definitely a highlight already.
Oh, and I got sunburn today. Just thought I'd mention that for all you Saskatchewanians in the cold back home. Supposed to be thirty degrees tomorrow. ;)
Something really amazing on the thirteen hour flight was that I flew from the northern hemisphere to the southern. It was dark the whole time, and the constalations changed. That wasn't even the coolest part though. It was that I got to see the world from God's point of view. That's how I see flying on a plane. It was amazing to see the stars that way. Silence on the airplane, staring out the window at a billion stars at the same level as me. I could have been on a space shuttle! It was absolutely stunning.
As for all the security and customs stuff, I got stopped at security in Saskatoon and in Auckland. Random explosive tests both times. I don't know, I guess my carry-on looked like a bomb. :P However, I got through customs fine. The baggage check took forever, especially since the guy who asked me if I had "anything to declare" (like fruits or vegetables or meat or drugs or whatever) kept the paper I'd filled out and didn't give it back. Supposedly I needed it later on. Go figure. The guy who was going to check my suitcases was super nice though and went to find the form for me. He was gone for like ten minutes, and I got so worried that he wouldn't find it or whatever. Eventually he came back...without the card. I was like, oh crap. And then he just said, you're done. Go ahead. I was sooooo relieved! Thank you, God!
I'm in Ballarat right now, a small town about an hour and a half from Melbourne. It's so cute. Lots of historical buildings and stuff. I'm staying with friends on the outskirts of the town, so I ended up seeing some kangaroos yesterday in the backyard! That was so cool! Definitely a highlight already.
Oh, and I got sunburn today. Just thought I'd mention that for all you Saskatchewanians in the cold back home. Supposed to be thirty degrees tomorrow. ;)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
