Friday, 08 August 2008

• Friends, Camp & Snow

  So much to say about the past few weeks, and I'm so overdue with this post that I'm forgetting alot of the details, that there's no way to know where to start!

  I guess I'll start at the best place to start in these instances... in the middle!

  Camp

  Camp was wonderful... really it was. God really moved, touched alot of people, and spoke to many hearts, including my own.

   

  Bro Howard Searle preached six services, all relating to the "full Gospel"... stedfastness, witnessing, signs & wonders & gifts, our confession, praise & worship, justification, sanctification, Holy Ghost, removing the idols from our lives... etc. Each service seemed better than the last, and God's presence was just so strong.

    

  We had alot of guests from overseas this time, as well, with youth from New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya (ok, so I know that's cheating... I can't count the same person twice!), America, and Vanauatu (except, I'm not sure she qualifies as youth). We had believers from every state & territory in Australia except for WA & NT... it was so nice to catch up with old friends, as well as meet new!

  

  There were also a few first time visitors who had been invited. One of them was Priscilla, a precious girl who goes to school with one of our young people. She heard about the Message for the first time, came to camp, and was baptised on Saturday in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesse, a young brother from Tasmania was also baptised. It's wonderful to see the Lord still bringing children into the fold!

  

  This camp was fairly short, from Thursday afternoon, through to Sunday. Friday afternoon everyone pretty much slept. That was fun. Saturday afternoon was the baptism, and we tried to organise a youth sing-a-long after it, but that ended up being some mucking around. It was fun tho... there are videos on my YouTube.

  

  The food was good, the weather was cold... as can be expected! The best lunch was when Bro Bennard tried to get us to say his last name. Davina: "How do you smell that?" Ah, good times.

  

  Sunday afternoon the youth got together and practiced a song out in the carpark. That's on YouTube, too. We were all a little late for the evening service, well, the people I was with were, anyway. That ended up being somewhat embarrassing, but we fared fairly well. Afterwards, we headed back to Liz & Dee's for pizza. The youth were wanting to sing, but I was so tired I had to head home. I was so tired, I let DJ talk me into letting him drive, which was a big mistake. He's one scary driver. Kept forgetting to look the other way and stuff. At least it woke me up.

  

  (If you recognise any of these photos, it's because they were mine first, and then stolen. But I assure you all these came from my own camera!!)

  Esther Arrives

  Now we've covered the middle of the story, we can go back to the start. Esther arrived ummm... I can't exactly remember the date now. But it was in the early hours of the morning. So a carload of us youth headed out to the airport after church on Sunday night, and waited and waited and waited (see sis... I DID wait for you!) until she finally came. Then we introduced her to Australian McDs, taught her how to reverse through the drive through (c'mon... it was 2am! How was I to know where the window was?).

  We were driving down the freeway, just talking as we were on the way in, when I got my first glimpse of who Esther really was. She was sitting in the back seat, and we throught she was asleep. Suddenly she says, "I like Australia."

  Why? Because you like the signs on our freeways?

  "Because it's so good to hear young people talking about God. I feel like crying."

  So, she cried. Ah, she's precious.

  

  Esther stayed with me the first few days, sleeping while I worked. I still don't think that's fair, but thus is the life of a working girl. My brothers entertained her the best they could... I'll let her tell you about that. Then she went to stay with Lucia, which was pretty devistating for us. Lucia seems to have survived ok, tho.

  Saturday

  Saturday was my first day off since she got here, so we decided to go shopping. There was some mix up in communication, which, yes, I admit, was probably my fault, so the shopping trip ended up being a tour of the undercover carpark. At least we saved money tho, yes? I think I'd rather drive than shop, anyway.

  That was the day the guys were picking up DJ. We thought they would be doing something fun, but being the interesting sort of people we are, the most exciting thing they could think of was heading back to the M's, and fixing the lawnmower. So us girls decided to go and gatecrash their party, and discovered that DJ was pretending to sleep, so that he didn't have to fix the mower. We completely uncovered that plan, tho.

  

  Then we all headed off to youth group, which is always a really good time. I think we finished the Hebrews book in this meeting. After youth, we did a major car-shuffle, because I had too many guests and not enough seats, and managed to get everyone down to our place. We cooked up kangaroo for them, which explains the scared expressions on their faces. Either that, or it was just being at our house. Which I think scared them enough, anyway. Then we had one of those impromtu sing-a-longs, and I think I have vids of that one, too.

  Sunday

  Sunday we had two great services, but I'm going to be honest... I can't remember what they were, because I left my notes at home. So we'll skip straight to lunch. We managed to get most of the youth down, to eat and sing. It was a really good time, or at least, I think so! There's more videos on YouTube, and I'll see if I can upload some more. Bro Blessing taught us some new songs, and being that the talented Bro Joel was absent, I attempted to accompany them on the piano. Being that I can't play by ear, it was alot of fun, and great experience. The guitars covered me pretty well, so I don't think everyone minded too much.

  

  Monday

  Actually, let's go back to Sunday night. We had no less than six extra people staying over, which my wonderful Mummy bore so graciously. She's great, my mum is. The plan was for them to do Beulah's hair, sleep, and then come to Phillip Island the next day. Half ended up pulling an all nighter, half had to go home, and the other half... wait, there's only two halves in a whole. Beulah's hair ended up taking a total of sixteen hours, so that is a whole story in itself. It still looks good, tho!

  We had a great time at Phillip Island... except, I forgot to recharge my camera battery, and then I left it at home. DJ's camera was broken, and when it decided to fix itself, the battery was flat. And I'm not sure what happened to Renee's photos... Renee?! So, I have no photos. But it was a good day. First we went to an Australian animal park, and fed the kangaroos, looked at the koala's, and there were probably other animals as well.

  We had lunch at the chocolate factory, which was another experience in trying to get everyone fed. Including those who refused to eat. Then we headed to Amaze'n'Things, and had a great time with all the optical illusions, and getting lost in the maze. I gave up (hey, I've done it before!) but the guys wanted to find every flag. Not sure if they succeeded in the end. We were supposed to play mini golf, but it started hailing, so we got a refund. I wasn't complaining about that. :)

  The plans then were to head down to the Penguin Parade, but we'd left it a bit late, and it was raining. Instead, we (eventually!) ended up getting pizza and (eventually!) running up and down the beach. That was actually really nice. Really cold, too. Still no photos.

  Tuesday

  There were much more interesting plans for Tuesday, but Beulah's hair wasn't finished. So of course the hair had to be done. Those of us girls who weren't tied down with hairdressing did a quick shopping trip, in which we learnt of Claire's shopping obsession. We had dinner at Beulah's, and got to know the guys & girls from NZ. Hilarious people. Salem & I cooked... which meant the guys went out and got pizza. Prayer meeting that night was particularly good, with all of us really entering in and praying for camp.

  

  Wednesday

  Tanya invited all of the girls to come up to her place to paint. Esther, of course, was still doing Beulah's hair, so she didn't paint. Those who could, drew, and those who couldn't, painted. I couldn't paint, but I had fun trying. Sis Estelle cooked this awesome meal, and everyone went back for seconds (unlike when Salem & I cooked the night before!)

  Camp started on Thursday, but you already know all about that. I went back to work on Monday, which was terribly unfair, and all the guests seem to have been successfully entertained elsewhere. I do recall lots of late nights tho, and spontaneous acts of randomness, which meant it was entirely impossible to keep up with everyone, let alone gain adequate sleep.

  Saturday - Snow!

  This would now be the third Saturday since Esther arrived, and definately the coldest. We had forty people get together, and drive seven cars up the mountain two hours to the snow. I love travelling, especially with a full car, and in convoy. So that was plenty of fun right there.

  

  It was cold this year. Freezing. I'm sure it was a few degrees below 0, and it was definately the coldest I ever remember being at the snow. Two scarves, two pairs of gloves... and I still froze. That's why I didn't take many photos... it was too cold to take my gloves off! We had heaps of fun on the taboggans, etc, (vids on YouTube) so that kept us warm until we stopped for lunch. Then we burried some of the guys in the snow, and built snowmen and snow sphinxes and snow lambs and snow elephants. Well, everyone else did. I stood around and froze while trying to take photos.

  

  Sunday

  Bro Charles preached Sunday morning, and in the evening we listened to "Confirmation & Evidence." A few of us stacked it on the taboggans (the day before, not Sunday!), including myself, which I know isn't very ladylike behaviour to be broadcasting to the public, but there's a testimony attached so I guess it's ok. I didn't realise until the next day exactly how much I'd injured myself, until I tried to raise my arms in church the next day. Ouch. Especially my left. I didn't really worry about it, and tried to ignore it best I could. Then on Sunday night, I was at the altar praying for someone else, when Bro Kwesi claimed healing for all those who needed it. I didn't think much of it, until I went back to my seat, and discovered I had absolutely no pain in my arms whatsoever. Praise God!!!

  Afterwards

  DJ flew home on the Monday, and Esther went up to see the dear people in W'gong. (She still can't say the full name, and we had so much fun trying to confuse her!) I went back to work. Well, I was already back to work, but work came back to work, so things got a bit busier. I did, however, manage to get the Friday off work, and went in to the city early to pick Ess up from the train. We sat in Starbucks (this was back when they still had Starbucks in Australia, obviously, and only my second time to ever visit one in Australia) and talked for two hours. That was the best. Just sitting, trying to keep warm, ignoring the music, drinking mediocre coffee, but having real fellowship.

  Then, I saw some police standing out in the shopping centre. I asked Ess if she wanted to go talk to them, and she asked why. Being the very spiritual person that I am, I said, "Because they might be lost." Inferring, we could witness to them. Whereupon Esther asked if I was serious. Being the carnal sort of person that I am, I didn't want to deny my spiritualness, and replied, "I'm scared."

  That caused Esther to jump up, pick up her bag, and run out the door saying, "That means we have to do it!"

  I sat glued to my chair, thinking that she couldn't possibly be serious. "Sis... I thought being honest would get me out it it!!"

  "No, that's got you into it!" and then ran after them. I had no choice but to follow, even tho I couldn't see where they had gone. Not that I wanted to know. In fact, I was praying the whole time that we wouldn't find them again.

  But we did. Several times. One time was while they were sitting under a sign that said "Last Days." It meant for the sale, of course, but Esther instantly assumed that it was of the prophetic nature, and took it as a vindication of her mission. She did, however, see the sales-light when I pointed out that we were in a shopping centre. We eventually did find them, and Esther did witness to them. I provided the moral support, from a distance. And thought up all the really good things she could have said, and provided them for her convenience at a later time. I'm really helpful like that.

  We then spent what was probably only 20 minutes, but felt like 2 hours, shopping. Met up with Matt for lunch, went on the tram, went to the museum and looked at the gift shop, went on another tram (does anyone have any idea how hard it is to convince Esther to get off a tram? She'd sit on one all day long!), then went to the airport. That was another adventure. Not the getting there. The getting the luggage through there. Then saying goodbye. Esther made sure she left before either of us had the chance to cry. She's so mean sometimes.

  So that was Esther's visit. Too short, but very sweet, and such a blessing. God taught me so much in such a short space of time. And He's still teaching me so much. More than I can post here, in this post anyway. Maybe another time.

  A word about my "currently reading" ... it's good. I'm recommending it. It's been a while since I enjoyed reading a book so much that I haven't been able to put it down. In fact, I liked this book better than "Azusa Street" for revival history. Bro Bevington was Methodist, so some of his terminology is a little different, but even still, God was such a reality to Him that I've been very much challenged by it!

  Today is 08-08-08. Such a cool date. One year, one month and one day ago, 07-07-07, we went to the snow... Today we gave all the kids off school, but the rest of us had to work. Interesting day, too. But that also says alot about how long it's taken me to get this post up. I first started it about two weeks ago... internet time just isn't as common as it used to be! This post still isn't quite finished, because there's more pics to add, but it will do for now.

  Thanks for reading this brief summary of Esther's life in Australia. If you want to hear more, you'll have to hear it from the Queen herself. Unless DJ does a post, that is...

  Currently Reading Remarkable Miracles By C. G. Bevington see related

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