GRACE

What an amazing week it has been! I’ve received so much outpouring of God’s grace I simply can not contain it and my joy has been spilling over the edges.


Since my last update, there has been a great victory over my struggle with the relationships here. On the same night when I posted my last update, I met with God and cried out to Him with all my emotions, longings and frustration. It was only then when I had thrown myself down to the floor, kicking and screaming in a tantrum that I could actually hear God. O boy, was it amazing what He was saying to me! My God is a jealous God, and He wanted to confront me of putting my trust in relationships and people around me instead of fully unto Him. He wishpered in my ear that He wanted all of me – that He longed for intimacy like I’ve never known before with Him. And there, after cleansing my heart and thoughts, I allowed God ro rock me in His arms where I found my love and comfort.

I think many times we forget to be authentic in our relationship with God. We get caught up in the routines, and somehow think that we need to act a certain way around God. Well, that’s simply not true, and will turn into hypocricy. For me, I tried really hard not to be angry with God, but once I allowed God to see that I was angry, He was able to take away all that and open my eyes to see the reasons behind the scenes. Always go to God just as you are.

That encounter really changed me and I changed my attitude towards my relationships here too. Im not anxious to speed up the friend making process anymore, and patiently give people time. What is the most dramatical change thought is I genuinely consider Jesus as my best friend and in my freetime choose to go to Him, hang out with Him, sing to Him and talk to Him. That gives me an enormous amount of energy and joy as I place my trust in Him alone to provide all those things that I will need here – including right kind of relationships!

Saturday I hanged out with Jonna before her departure to Perth, we had a great time chilling out in the rainy city!! We missed our beloved Mari-Anne there by our side badly.. Sydney isn’t just quite the same without her here. For the sake of her memory we grabbed a cup of coffee from Gloria Jeans, and sat in my secret spot on the Rocks in the Harbour taking pictures and chatting about our journey with God.

When we said bye and walked to our own bus stops, I had just missed the bus and had to wait for 30minutes for the next one, but I simply chose not to get upset and man, was I glad then I always carry my pocket Bible with me! So I started reading, and MAN, God poured down such an insight to a poetry passage Ecclesiastes 2 that I could have killed for a pen and paper!! I was so amazed and kept reading the passage again and again, every time receiving more and more understanding to it – so once I got home I rushed to my laptop to scribble down some notes. It turned out as a full on mini sermon I could preach one day! And the best part is I actually really want to preach it! and I always thought I had a hard time to understand the poetry books in the Bible.. not anymore!

Here by the way is my Carpark serving team, the blokes that faithfully serve with me in the 11a.m service every week to find a parking spot for everyone. They are the coolest! We always share the most bizarre chats through our walkie talkies... :)

Sunday we had church in the very heart of the city, in CAPITOL THEATHRE!! I served in the 11a.m morning service in street greet team, so I stood in a corned of an intersection with a bright neon yellow cap and bright orange vest helping people to find the way to the new venue :)

After the service we hanged out with Ashton, Keith and Florence and grabbed a handful of new people who had come to church! Esmeralda, Amy and Laura were lots of fun to hang out with, and we headed to King’s Cross to have the world’s best meatpies for lunch! Afterwards we slowly rolled over ourselves to Botanic Gardens and finally to Circular Quay, where we took a little rest after some yummy ice cream right next to several wedding picture shoots!We played a few fun games and got to know each other a little better before we headed back to church for the night service – which totally blew my mind! Brian Houston preached a powerful message about how we NEED MORE NEED.. I am totally inspired by his thought!

And oh, I nearly forgot to tell ya.. My mate Ashton is serving in the kids ministry, so he got the honour to be Max the mascot on Sunday night!! HOW FUN IS THAT?! :D we totally cracked up when we saw him jumping around outside the venue… !

Monday I worked at Pasha, it was really good. I like the place and the relaxed atmosphere, and the guys are fun company. It’s really a blessing to have this job!

Yesterday I just worked on my assignments after school and had a fun night at Connection Group. Im having a bit of a flu but won’t let that slow me down – Im hoping to visit the Reed family on Saturday since I haven’t seen them since school started!

Anyway, gotta go – ned to have a shower before school starts. Hope you are all doing well around the world where ever you are my beloved friends and family! I love you and miss you!

Lots of Love,
-P

Day in day out for God

It’s been a while since I last had the chance to update, it’s starting to be busy with the Lord business which is of course good, hope you all understand I don’t have so much time on the laptop these days anymore unlike when I was still on holidays..

Well, a lot has happened since I last wrote! We sure did go surfing and it was crazy dangerous out there.. I kicked the boys up from bed at 5 a.m sharp (rise and shine, it’s butt whipping time!:D), packed Josh’s tiny little car and off we went! When we arrived to Bondi beach it was still pitch black so we had to wait for the dawn. Currency was dangerous and we had seven stripes (the amount of the set of waves to the first breaking point where you want to get to surf) to get out there. You can only imagine, three beginners and Josh out there, he first doubt if we should go at all. Anyhow we gave it a go, but we didn’t get through all the way out. It was really rough out there and with the new long board I borrowed from Josh I was unable to duckdive, so got damped pretty bad quite a few times. I didn’t give up though and Josh taught me some tricks, but we ended up just cathing the whitewash and drinking heaps of salt water trying to hit the waves for a decent surf.. :) Sounds odd, but it was still lots of fun! Just the bizarre fact it was 6 a.m and we’d have to be at school by nine created a certain atmosphere! It was so freezing though… The wind was the worst! Anyhow I was alright, since I had a wetsuit.. See how it pays to think ahead? :)

School obviously has been happening, and our INTENSE studies are over now, which means we actually get to do tutorials and stuff like that – I would describe it as shewing the messages we receive! It so good, and church involments are starting to be clear to us. So my schedule is filling up with all these amazing and exciting things to do for different ministries. Im delighted that it’s all happening! We’ve got out first assignments as well – o-ou… :) No just kidding, it’s good. Very challenging but that’s why we’re here for right?

So Jonna, my Finnish friend arrived back to Sydney last weekend and obviously I got to spend some quality time with her! We hung out and spent Valentine’s together, missing the third piece of our puzzle – our dear friend Mari-Anne. We were both surprised by the fact how ordinary it felt to be back in Australia and how much we missed Mari-Anne to spice up our days.. I received lots of goodies from back home, M-A had advised Jonna with her divine knowledge of my preferences, so I got my favourite rye bread, my all-time favourite lollies (Smurffi!) and other goodies which made me want to cry out of joy! Of course we had to grab some Starbucks for the sake of good old times, but all the sudden it was not as fun when no-one was arguing to go to Gloria Jeans instead..

I have a total praise report to share with you – on Saturday when we were having dinner out with Jonna after church I was offered a job!! The owner of the restaurant asked if we were from Hillsong and when hearing our yes, asked if we’d need a job to do some hours! I have been planning on starting job hunt since my finances have not been adequate to meet my living expences – and there I sit, only having had asked God to quide me and a job is literally thrown at my face! So I started to work there, it’s only 2 minutes walk down the road – SO CONVENIENT! I am so blessed! I only work one day a week and it will cover my expences plentifully, leaving me even with a little money to spend on random things :)
HOW GOOD IS GOD?

I’ve been facing a week of testing, since I am starting to feel really lonely here. I have people AROUND me all the time, but I feel like I have no real friends. Im getting tired of all the chit chat and small talk and long for genuine sharing.. but since no-one really knows anyone yet that doesn’t really happen. With Ashton and Ben I can share my heart, but Ash is off to his classes and we don’t see each other too often. Benny has truly been my rescue, but I still long to have girlfriends too – and that doesn’t seem to be happening too well. So I’d truly appriciate your prayers to be wise about my relationships here and God to point out the right people to me. I’ve had a really hard day and feel so lonely right now, but Im so glad I have Jesus as my best friend and I can just lean on Him and trust it all into His mighty hands. I lean on His chest and am held by Him, and I pray this season of dryness will bring abouts intimacy like I've never known before with Him.

We were painting a massive curtain today for tomorrow Fuel night at the church garage after school, and I feel Im getting kinda connected into Fuel life little by little – Wednsday we made check-up calls to new Fuel kids to see if they are coming on Friday night. I really loved it and will be doing it weekly, connecting with those teens and making sure they feel plugged in and cared for! Teens are just so amazing and I am discovering a whole new passion for this crazy age group I've been tossed into to be involved!

I am most happy and feel alive when I am serving at church - no matter what kind of task it is. So I am aiming to be productive and hope I will bring blessings into people's lives along the way!

Well, gotta go now, but hope you are all well back at home - know this: I am missing you all and I have to admit Im a bit homesick right now in the midst of it all... Love you all!!

Lots of Love,

-P

School has started!

G’DAY MATES,

Wow - what a week it has been!! School started and everything has been so exciting and hectic, I hope I will be able to update you on the most important events of the week! Everyday so much happens that it’s hard for me to keep on track.. It’s amazing!

So school.. I LOVE IT! We are having two weeks of intense studies, so we only study two courses at the moment – however so much to think about and it has really challanged my thinking! Their method is kind of to tear down all your beliefs first and then start building from the scartch, and it’s actually really great coz we all come from so many different backgrounds! I've met two Australian students, Ben and Josh, and we have become real good mates with Benny :) He's really into learning Finnish, so I teach him and in exchange he teaches me to play the quitar! They both study at the Youth stream too so I get to share classes with them! We've been hanging out heaps, Josh has a car so we drove to Cronulla one night and Annina and I took a skinny dip while the boys were busy with their own things.. so much fun! So this is my friend Benny :)

I absolutely love chapel times, we have chapel twice a week, where we get to worship for an hour during school time! I’ve only been here for a month, yet already twice during worship random people who do not know me have delivered a Word from God to encourage and challange me!! It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit leads people to say things you need to hear, about things that have taken place and things that will come to pass..

I’ve realised I am one of the few students who actually came here with the attitude of spending themselves and taking every opportunity to serve the people in His House! We are going to be so busy during the year, but Im so much looking forward to just doing as much as I can and that really isn’t the attitude for the most.. which is a shame, because they are the only ones who actually loose in the deal!

So I have Mondays off from school, then school from Tuesday to Friday. Saturday is off as well, but I go to church during the night : ) Sunday I serve in the CarPark at 11a.m and 1p.m services! Plus to school, Monday nights I attend a course called Shine – it’s my fieldwork so I first need to attend the course and then I get my hands on the ministry work there! It’s about empowering women and helping them to discover their value in Christ! So that is very exciting and well placed ministry since I have a heart to release women in ministry! Im sure God’s going to use this opportunity as a exertion platform for greater things.. : )

Tuesday nights I attend a Connection Group and Im planning on starting to lead one for teenage girls, since we do it forthnightly. Wednsdays I attend Powerhouse (my age youth night) and Thursday mornings I serve in the Sisterhood (womens ministry) in the bus transportation which should be fun! Friday I go all out and lead in Fuel, the youth ministry for 13-15 years of age. So as you can see, I have filled up my calendar pretty well by the end of first real week of school! This really isn’t usual here, but I’ve got so much encouraging words from God that I know this is exactly why He called me here for and I will certainly not allow anyone to slow me down!

I went to Fuel on Friday with Ben and I was so scared, but it all turned out to be so awesome! I fit in so well.. most of the kids there thought I was around 16 :D :D what an compliment for such an old fart I am..! ;) It was so much fun, all the leaders are so much fun and the spirit of togetherness is so evident. We had a cooking theme so we had ”chef hats” made out of cartboard and white binbags! I got to show around to three new girls, which was quite hilarious since it was my first time in Fuel! However they had a great time and their parents were real keen to brings them again since I used a few minutes to chat with them too.. I know I know, I just tend to get along with the parents so smooth!! :)

Saturday we took off to Manly beach. It was such a HOT day +45… Cooking as you can imagine! :) We took the ferry there, and spent most of the time playing in the waves. Unfortunately we got huge swarm of bluebottles (nasty jellyfish) in and we were advised not to go into the water. Of course you know me and I thought to be above all that :D I had a quick dip, long enough to get stang by one.. :P My knee bubbled with blisters but I wasn’t too concerned, and endured the pain like a man! We took a scenic tour on the cliffs and it just took our breath away.. SO BEAUTIFUL!
This is Ariel, he is one of my new cool hard working friends! He's a missionary kid and really into taking part in serving, so we are on the same wavelenght with school :)

And my good old mate Ashton was of course with us too :)
Sunday I served in the CarPark, and it was sooooo much fun! I mean many people whine about their Church Life allocations (these are things we need to serve in to complete our course and quite often have nothing to do with the subject we study) but I decided to give my best shot and do whatever they told me to do as well as I could. Well, no suprise, I got many people telling me I should be a Teamleader because of my excellent work,sunny and initiative attitude :)

We shared an international dinner after the night service – lots of good food and friends to chat with. I cooked mashed potatoes and meatballs in brown sauce, yummy! Unfortunately many people came uninvited – as college people apparently do – so I hid the cake we had baked with my friend Jenn and we sneaked out with it to share it with the core team :D I made my roomies real happy by bringing some home and we had a cake party that night!

Tomorrow we're gonna go surfing with Josh, Ben and David before school, so I have an early wake up call around 5a.m! I am so excited, Josh has an extra surfboard for me and Lisette will lend me her wetsuit! School doesn't start until 10a.m so we have a good few hours to surf at Maroubra beach since Josh has a car and is going to drive us there!! :) CAN'T WAIT!

Until soon again!
Love,
-P

Beach, sun and lots of fun!

Beach, sun and lots of fun!

I am so so sorry for taking so long to update, please do forgive me you all precious people! It’s not that you all wouldn’t be on my mind everyday, but it’s just been really hectic after the Retreat, having had school started and all! Man, I love it! School is so awesome, we had enrolment and orientation days before the Retreat, where we got general information and enrolled to our courses..



I have big news to you all – I changed my pathway from kids to youth! I was sitting there in the auditorium when all the sudden I heard God speaking to me directly, questioning my choice of a pathway. I realized it would have been the easy thing to do since I am gifted with kiddos, have done it quite some time by now and feel comfortable around them! However this year is about being challanged by all means, and for me to take the kids pathway when my church desperately needs a youth ministry established would have been both selfish and comfort-seeking. I wrestled with God for some time, trying to argue and justify my preference, until I had to admit He was right and I was being a coward. I mean I have never worked with teens and I am intimidated by the thought of it, but I knew right then what God wanted me to do – so I signed up for teens! Is that cool or what?

The Retreat was INCREDIBLE. I served on the first night in registration, so I travelled to Central Coast on my own early in the morning. The night was phenomenal –lots of praise and prayer until the late hours of the night. I got really lucky with my roommates – Annina, Amy, Alana and Ulla were the best and we became friends instantly :) I've started to meet girls finally!! We only had two beds and five girls, so I slept on the floor, cuddled up in all the blankets and towels we could find. I felt like a bird in it’s own little nest – but slept well like I always do! Next day teaching was so challenging we could expect something very special to take place. After the Tribal war on the beach our night session totally exploded – we worshipped God for over two hours, having a massive dance-party there! Our youth pastor had to shorted up his message to get everybody to bed in somewhat of a decent hour.. It was awesome. Lives were changed that night!

God took so good care of me there – firstly placing me into a great flat with the girls, then blessing me throught awesome teaching and also feeding me throughout the whole Retreat! I simply had $10 to eat for 3 days, but sure enough, when I left from the retreat, I still had $10 in my pocket and my tummy full from all the eating throughout the weekend! We got a lift with Ashton and Florence from Mark and Ben, so it was luxury to sit on the back seat chilling and singing oldschool worship songs after it was all over. It was so so good but both spiritually and physically draining three days!

After the Retreat we had Monday off (they are always our days off since church is closed and everyone kinda needs a rest after serving all Sunday long :) ) and I chilled out at home reading a great book called ”The Shack”, trying to rest my voice after the intensitivity of the retreat worship sessions! Later on I went over to my new Aussie mates place, Ben and Josh – two nice blokes from Newcastle whom I am especially fond of in the student crowd. It’s been great getting to know all these people and there are still around two thirds yet to be met! Unbelievable. I love the fact that even if our campus is considered big it’s possible to get to know everyone whereas at Hills it’s simply an impossibility!

We had an awesome start for the school, going to visit Hills campus on the first day of real school and had Robert Fergusson teaching for the whole day on communication –absolutely mindblowing! Afterwards we went swimming and Ben and Josh taught me to play the quitar a bit – they are pastoral (youth) students like me but are also great artists, having all kind of musical instruments all over their place! Believe it or not, but these mates have a whole drumset in their flat!! It’s always good hanging out with them since they know how to serve some Aussie tea with a slash of milk!

Today we had some more great teaching and I am really getting pumped about what God is going to establish during this year in my life! Tomorrow we have the ladies ministy meeting (the Sisterhood) and I get to serve in pampher, so that will be so much fun! I would have so much more to tell but I quess I'll never have the time to write about everything that happends here, so hang in there and keep writinh emails to me :) Now I need to rush off to get to Powerhouse youth meeting on time!

Lots of Love,
-P