Thursday, May 1, 2003
Newcastle, Australia

Wow, it's been tough to get online here. Sorry for the lack of updates. It's certainly not for lack of news...

Last week was spent in Sydney. We arrived Saturday before last and stayed until this past Sunday. We had a great time working at the Edward Eagar Lodge in downtown. We did an Easter service there and took part in several meals, helping to serve as well as sharing testimonies, dramas and dances. Our contact there (Rob) hooked us up with good chocolate and a great place to stay in a nice suburb. We all wanted to make him a permanent part of our team. I guess he wasn't up for it because he stayed behind. But, you know, whatever.

While in Sydney we also visited a rehab place (can't remember the name right now) and got to be a part of the Easter evening service at Uniting Church of Cronulla. I'm so unsure about that name. I probably butchered it... Sorry, bad memory.

Our team had one day off while there. I spent it with Bri and Tiffany riding the train around town, and then we saw Romeo & Juliet at the Opera House. It was amazing. I'll have to write more about everything when I have more time. We also ran into two former YWAMers while in town. This world is way small. We were able to visit Hillsong Church on our last night there for a special worship service called Touching Heaven (?}. This time we weren't actually leading or doing anything on stage, just visiting. That was awesome.

We arrived here in Newcastle early Sunday evening. The people here are very friendly and welcoming. Monday was a bit of a day off and Tuesday we started at a local high school doing the Religious Education classes for the students, every day, all day through tomorrow. This has by far been the best ministry times we've had, in my opinion. I'll write a ton more about that later as well. Sunday night we're doing a youth church service here in town. It's geared toward, get this - 12-25 year olds. Coolness. We're staying here until Monday, then it's off to the Sunshine Coast, where we'll be for the rest of the trip. (We may stop for a day or two in Sydney on the way home.)

Oh hey, I had the greatest fall ever on one of our last nights in Sydney. It was seriously a both-legs-flying-up-in-the-air, didn't-think-anyone-actually-fell-like-that-except-in-movies kind of fall. Where's the camcorder when it's really needed?? I've also almost had my nose broken a couple times on this trip. Yesterday it got hit by a rugby ball (darn kids). It's okay, though, because I'm willing to suffer for Christ. (kidding)

Last night I saw one of the most amazing movies. It's call To End All Wars and has Kiefer Sutherland (sp?) in it. David L. Cunningham, the son of YWAM's founder Loren Cunningham, produced and directed it. Pretty intense and powerful.

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