Melbourne

Back in April (I know how slack I’ve been at blogging lately!!), Shaun and I went to Melbourne for a quick holiday. We had an awesome time despite how quick the trip felt. I got to meet his younger brother Kurt and Kurt’s children Scott and Jessica – they were fantastic! We went out on a few day trips together and spent some good time just getting to know each other. They are great kids and Kurt has a great sense of humour which I really enjoyed.

We had a sneak peak in the Salvation Army Trade store but didn’t buy too much – it was in a gorgeous little suburb not too far from the city though… I would have lived there in a heartbeat! The streets were narrow and lined with great big trees over hanging the roads – you can just imagine the colours seeing as we were coming towards the end of summer and heading into Autumn as well! Cute little old houses most of which had been done up… *sigh*…beautiful – and of course a couple of great cafes in a nice little corner block of shops right in the middle of it all – fantastic I say!!

After some pretty hairy negotiating of the map, anyone who’s tried to drive Melbourne will sympathise I’m sure (!!), we stumbled across the Crocs shop (and couldn’t resist a purchase!!) then I introduced Shaun to the big, wide world of IKEA…it left even him speechless! By the end of the tour of the showroom however, he was fading, so after a few quick purchases we made for a Dressmart kind of shopping complex then home. Surprisingly, we didn’t actually spend that much money or buy that much but it was fun just to wonder and window shop – or it was for me at least!!

My trade-off, however, was the tour of the MCG – Shaun was like a boy in a toy store! It was pretty impressive actually, especially to learn that the biggest crowd ever was for a Billy Graham visit and that, not only had our guide been there for it, he had also been a counsellor on the night and was a retired minister! - we had great chats along the halls of the MCG! Another person in our group had also been there on the night… small world!! We went through all the rooms where the commentators sit and every chair was sat in (hence the photo!) – including the plush leather never-will-be-able-to-afford-these-seats chairs as well!

ANZAC Day was pretty special as we went to a classic AFL clash between Essendon and Collingwood at the MCG. Having a crowd of nearly 90,000 stand for 1min silence was pretty cool…despite the cellphone that went off just behind us! Shaun is a long time Essendon supporter but we won’t mention the score on the day…!

Kurt and the kids are coming over again in October so we’re looking forward to some more time there with them. It’ll be good to see them. I met some of the other family members – the infamous Aunty Liz and Uncle Ian, Michael and Donna and their children too. We got stuck in traffic trying to get to their house for dinner so it was a bit of a whirlwind visit but still good to put faces to names.

And that…was Melbourne!

A Woman's Worst Nightmare

I thought you might all appreciate a giggle at my expense...

I was in the bathroom this afternoon and, after washing my hands I looked up into the mirror to see what disheveled state I might find myself in. On being pleasantly surprised (ie - it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be) I decided to check out the rest of my appearance and, as every woman has to admit to doing, I asked myself the age old question 'does my backside looked big in this' or not... again, I was pleasantly surprised - the trousers were ok as far as I could see!!

You would have thought I left the bathroom on at least a small cloud 9 wouldn't you? Well I almost did but the rather embarrassing side to my story was that as I turned around to check out my 'appearance', my backside - despite how good it may have looked in the trousers - was big enough to start the hand dryer... all on its own!!

Absolutely and utterly.... shattering!! :-)

Easter Camp

Wow!! ...What an amazing weekend I've had with the youth of the Central Division!!

I have to confess that I started this weekend a little nervous as to exactly how all of this was going to come together - despite hours of planning with my team!! - but God came through and moved sooooo powerfully that I've just been blown away with how great this weekend was!

We started the weekend on Friday night just with a bit of fun, some games and then just a time of chilling out and getting to know one another (and a movie!).

On Saturday, Peter Whaanga, our speaker for the weekend turned up and shared the first half of his testimony and I think more than a few were shocked at his life story. We broke into small groups before lunch and then came back with our questions for Peter afterwards. It was a session that went longer than we expected as the youth kept wanting to know why he's so different now... funnily enough, we weren't letting Peter tell them why - we wanted to hold off the change in his life until Sunday night. Ever dangled the salvation carrot before with a captive audience for a weekend? It's powerful!!

Our theme has basically been how our choices affect our lives and how Christ brings FREEDOM so Saturday night was 'The Love Connection'... all about how quick choices/shallow choices can affect our lives but if we bring God into every choice then life takes on a whole new meaning. A bit of fun in the name of 'love'! ...a few interesting outfits but hey - there's always some who go the extra mile!!

Sunday morning was 'The Journey'... we woke them up at 4am (150 evil looks came my way!!), gave them milo then piled them all onto a bus (and a whole heap of Army vans - looked a hard case convoy down the motorway!!) and took them to Owhiro Bay. There, Sammy and Brent had arranged for a cross to be set up with glowsticks on the hill...we had to walk about 12-15mins to get to it. Liam, Nickee and Brent played and sung The Old Rugged Cross, then Brent spoke about the journey to the cross for Christ and Sammy spoke about the resurrection... wow! Powerful moments! We all grabbed a glowstick and then made the walk back. The weather held of perfectly - rained on the way home!

After letting them sleep and recover (a bit!), the morning session was a reminder that we can not only be prisoners because of how we're living and our choices but that we can also be prisoners in our minds by listening to Satan's lies. FREEDOM comes from Christ and He can bring FREEDOM in so many different ways!

Sunday night was incredible. Peter Whaanga came back and our youth were hungry for answers! He told why He is such a different man today - because of Christ - and then after sharing his conversion, the invitation was open and there weren't too many left in their seats. Decisions for Christ were made (Praise God!!) and a huge number of youth came seeking - seeking FREEDOM, seeking a closer relationship with Christ, repenting and getting things right - a move to live His FREEDOM better!

Monday was encouragement to take the FREEDOM they received from God on Sunday night back into their home settings - basically back into life with them. It was a reminder that this week was probably going to bring more challenges than they may have thought last night but not to forget that they will be victorious if they invite Christ into every decision, every choice and not deny Him or the work He did in their lives over the Easter weekend.

We closed the weekend with a testimony time - a time of telling others what God had done in our lives over the weekend. This was really good to see so many different people sharing. Lastly, our youth leaders stood up with their young people and they shared how God has challenged and grown them.

I LOVE being in this division with this bunch of youth. The leaders I had over the weekend were an amazing support to me and I learnt SO much from just watching them. The youth challenge me and make me want to get closer to God...weird huh?! - especially when thats one of the main things a DY probably wants for their youth! I hope that they feel that challenge as well.

...I'm just blown away by how things went this weekend. I had sooo much fun! I'm so tired I think it'll take another day to recover but it was ALL worth it! My team, you were AWESOME! To Eugene (aka Shaun) thankyou for being there over such an important time for me - you were an AMAZING support in ways that no-one else would have known. Thank you Lord, for showing up and having your way with our young people!

The Gift of Prophecy

I had a pretty cool night last night.

Something happened that I have never before seen in my life - but so you can really enter into the mood (or as Rob Harley would say - so I can really hang a picture in the gallery of your mind!!) I need to give you a little background info...bear with my ramblings for a second if you can!

I don't know about you but everytime I've been in a church setting where there has been anything vaguely resembling the use of the gift of prophecy, I seemed to have missed out! I was always out of the room helping with something (or in the loo!!) - just not one of the ones who received a prophecy so I never, and I mean NEVER, have had anyone prophesy over me... or even near me for that matter!!

You'll all be pleased to know that I made it through this stage of life unscathed - the wound I thought was there I've discovered is not and I've moved on!!

Last night however, all this changed...

Shaun and I were sitting at the rugby - yes in the 'cake tin' (Hurricanes vs Bulls) - and I say sitting as the game was not exactly at a nail-biting moment until all of a sudden, the Bulls were nudging dangerously close to the touch line (right where we were sitting!). So as we both contort facial expressions that translate to 'please don't let them score' (!!) and we watch the Hurricanes keep the Bulls back, I hear a voice to my right...

Shaun ever so casually leans my way and says (among other things), "...and number 14 is gonna score the next try!" I looked back at him and smiled one of those, 'Yep! Of course! Anything you say!' kind of smiles - you know, the type where you don't want to go anywhere near that 'I'm fully taking a chance but "I know my rugby" ' kind of look!! - and next thing I know, and I seriously mean within 60 seconds, after a scrum inside the 22 (or lineout - can't remember which!), all of a sudden the Hurricanes break free and are running hardout down the field. Before we know it, a pretty slick pass makes its way to Hosea Gear and guess who scores right in the corner? None other than number 14! (and you'll be pleased to know, here ends my attempt at any more rugby jargon!!)

I'm not sure who was more shocked, the Bulls fans or us!! We jumped up and down with the rest of the crowd and then, what actually just happened, hit us!!... and I must say, I sat back down with a bit of a grin!

I may have missed every opportunity of prophecy for the past 30years but after Shaun's efforts last night, I don't think I have any complaints - I have my very own, walking, talking, prophet!

....well that's if one try scoring prediction counts! - I mean really...let's not get into the gift definition war tonight because if it doesn't count, I'm not sure who'd be more disappointed - me or Shaun! Let's let it count eh?....eh?!