A ramble update

I've decided that I'm going to write a ramble of a blog...so no real idea where this is going to go, but I'm going to type away anyways.

My intense weekend of collecting for the Salvos Red Shield Appeal has finally come to an end. I did my last shift this morning at a train station, and now I've finished collecting forever....well, until Christmas anyways.

For anyone over there in Canada who hasn't heard, this is my final day on The Order (my program here at 614). I've gone through my reasons and explanations so many times in the past two weeks, I really can't bring myself to do it again on this blog...but you can either talk to my family for more details, or send me an email and I'll go into specifics. I will say though, that I'm not leaving with negative feelings towards anyone on my program, and this has actually been a really good opportunity to make amends and bond with several people on my team who I hadn't had a chance previously to get to know. I will still be attending 614 here in Melbourne as my home church, as well as teaching Junior Soldiers. However, after trying out several options, I'm unable to continue my participation on the kid's ministry team at 614 as a volunteer, so I won't be able to be involved in the programs at the Flemington Flats (where I have been running kids programs).

Also need to say..I am not leaving Australia. I still intend to stay here for the remainder of the year, and head back to the great white north in December. I am looking forward to having my time table free up a bit, and have an opportunity to do more things here in Melbourne, as well as build on several relationships with people that I have met since being here.

The last month, mainly since just after Easter, I've been really struggling. There has been several things that have really broken me down and put me in a real negative state of mind that I haven't enjoyed at all. As well, I've been really homesick and just wanting to be in a familiar place that I can hide in and be with family. Since last week I have been doing a lot better though, and really just trying to get through this step of finishing up on my program and then get my head clear and focused and move forward.

One thing that has gotten me through though is really letting it sink in how blessed I am. It absolutely boggles my mind the support I still receive from people in Canada, and it always brightens my day to receive a text message or an email from someone at home. Thank you Jeff for your email last week, because it was exactly what I needed to hear and allowed me to really focus in on God again. Thank you Matt for supporting me through all this craziness and being someone I can depend on when everything becomes a struggle. And thank you heaps to my family. From text messages from my parents and siblings, to getting a Veggie-Tales e-card from Joseph, to getting emails from my Grandparents in BC, and to getting lovely cards and encouraging letters from Family in Toronto....all of it just reminds me of how much love I have at home, and that I know I'm being supported in prayer when I need it the most. God is amazing, and has really blessed me with incredible friends and family in my life.

So...I can't honestly say that I know what happens next. I know that today is my last day on The Order...I know that I'm looking forward to getting a good nights sleep and recovering from this crazy past weekend...I know that I get to go to the Junior Arts Camp next weekend to help teach the art elective...I know that my mum is coming to visit me in 43 days (YAY!)...I know that I'll most likely need to get a part time job in order to be able to financially support myself for the rest of this year. But besides that, I haven't really gotten much planned out. However, I should add, I KNOW that God is taking care of me through all of this, that I'm in His hands, that He will provide for all that I need, and that He has plans for my life that are beyond anything I can imagine.

To end this post, I think I'll say a couple prayer points for anyone who reads this who is able to shout out a prayer for me every now and then.

Please pray that God will provide for me financially, or that a job will work out so that money won't be an issue. Pray that a door will open so that I can continue ministry in some form at the Flemington Flats (where I've been working with the kids team with the Order Program). Pray that my ears would be open to what God wants to say to me, and that I would be open to His teaching and his guidance as things change over the next little while. Pray that I would make the most of every opportunity for the remainder of this year.

Thanks again to everyone who has been such a support to me, both in Canada and in Australia. It means more then you can even imagine. Everyone from home, especially my girls who are starting camp soon, feel free to drop me an email anytime to let me know how you're doing and with some things that I can pray over for you.

Blessings!

More pictures of the fam...

Scotty (my cousin) and Di (my sister)

Scotty, all smiles. (Auntie Mel, he looks so much like you!)

Scotty and his big bro, Joseph.

Do Not Worry...

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Thank God for the Salvos

Well, it's Red Shield Appeal weekend. The weekend where the Salvation Army collects money either door to door, street corners, or at intersections all throughout the country.

It's mid day on Sunday, and I've still got 4 more hours of collecting ahead of me, but I'm already pretty beat. I think that this is the most full on collecting I've ever done with the Salvation Army. Two hours Thursday in a train station, two hours Friday in a train station, four hours yesterday at an intersection, eight hours today at an intersection, two hours tomorrow in a train station, and two hours on Tuesday in a train station.

But we're more then half way finished, and it hasn't been all bad. Just from our church alone we collected about $10,000 yesterday, and thats really amazing. We've had several bizarre interactions with people, lots of sore backs and tired legs, and standing out in some cold and wet weather....but I know that God will use the money raised in some incredible ways to minister to those in need in this country.

Blessings!

So do not fear...

"I took you from the ends of the earth,

from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, 'You are my servant';

I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

-Isaiah 41:9-10

Staying strong in Him...

Blessings.

Lets go fly a kite...

Moment of the week.

Spent this afternoon at the Flemington Flats for our Tuesday after school program that we've been running there. The weather is getting colder, but we still had 22 kids show up, including 2 new ones.

I have a little side kick every week. She's our youngest member, being only 3, and doesn't speak English. She usually just holds my hand and pulls me around to what activities she wants me to play with her.

Today she pulled me towards our fabulous kite we got a couple of weeks ago. So I grabbed it and we walked hand in hand out to the field. As we were walking, two of our 5 year olds came running out to join us as we began our kite adventure.

I must say that it was the most fun I've ever had flying a kite. The three kids are the youngest I've ever flown a kite with, but I've never seen more determination and team work to try and get something in the air. They each took turns to hold it, while another one ran with the string, and the third one did the count down to when it was time to run. Made me smile, and absolutely made my week.

Just thought I'd share.

Blessings!

The fam

I don't have anything interesting to say, but I was browsing through my sister's pictures on her blog, and found these two that made my day..so thought I would post them.

My Siblings: Dionne, Bradley & Donna

My cousin Scott and my bro, Bradley.

The Boys

Isn't this a fantastic picture? I came across it when I was checking out the pictures on my Aunt Mel's blog. That's my Uncle Mike, my four year old cousin Jospeh, and my cousin Scott who I believe is 8 months old now. It brought a smile to my face, so I thought I would share it...

Blessings!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Just wanted to say Happy Mother's day to a fantastic and wonderful mum (who will be visiting me in less then two months!).

Hope you had a beautiful day! Sorry I couldn't share it with you!

Love you heaps! MUAH!

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

What does the worker gain from his toil?
I have seen the burden God has laid on men.
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
He has also set eternity in the hearts of men;
yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Ready to Launch

I just attended the Red Shield Appeal Launch, that was held this year from 614. I don't think I've ever attended a launch in Canada, so this would be a first experience for me.

It's been an interesting morning. We arrived in our lane way at 6:45am this morning, where we usually have a couple of our guys sleeping out, or by the time we normally arrive in the morning there are a few guys just hanging out until the centre opens at 10. But this morning, our jaws dropped when we arrived. There was a tent set up in the lane way, and people everywhere. Being so early in the morning, the first thing that caught our eye was the huge coffee machine that was set up. There were waiters in fancy suits everywhere, walking around with elegant juices (like green tomato juice...who drinks that??) and mini crossants, and fruit kababs. Shortly after we got there, big wigs in business suits and Salvo uniforms started pouring in, as well as heaps of media people with big cameras. I got excited when I saw some guys in Salvo uniforms walking past with brass instruments, mostly because there were several guys that I knew from our xbox system link parties.

After about an hour everyone was ushered upstairs to the temple where heaps of speeches were given, and a lot of acknowledgements were said on behalf of all the important businesses who were represented. It always spurs some interesting thoughts for me when I see so many classy uniformed and suited up people talking about the needy in the city and how the Salvation Army needs money "more than ever" (slogan for the campaign this year). Not saying that the money isn't needed...it's just a bizarre thing to watch so many clean and upper class people asking for it.

So an interesting morning overall...and definitely some things to think about. We have two Red Shield Appeal weekend blitzes coming up, where us Order people get to do some hardcore intersection collecting...good times! Should be an experience anyways (~whispers word 'experience' and does corresponding hand movements..just for you Matt~).

Just want to finish off with this Bible passage that my wonderful Grandparents left for me in a comment in the previous post, that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this morning...

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.

I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Phil 3:8 - 12

Blessings!

Back from holidays...

Well, it's been ages since I've posted so I thought it was about time to at least write up an update.

I am just back at work today after having the past week off. I had a wonderful visit from the fantastic Chris Tidd, who came down from Sydney for a week and a half as he had holidays as well. We spent the past week staying at the most hospitable Matt Atkins' abode, and enjoyed some sight seeing, an xbox system link, three birthday parties, two nights out to the comedy festival, heaps of rented movies, and most importantly, lots of sleep. Also got my first Austrailan haircut...but no worries...I didn't get a mullet, no matter how cool some Australians may think they are.

Overal, I'm doing well. Feeling refreshed and a lot more sound of mind after some much needed time off, and time away from my house and the city.

Oh, I also spent 5 days over Easter at camp, which was an amazing time away. Definitely a different way of spending the Easter holidays, but one that I very much enjoyed. It was great to see a lot of familiar Salvos from all different corps from this division. I also had the opportunity of leading an art elective for a homelessness project, and had twenty-three 12-17 year olds that I got to paint their thoughts reflecting the subject onto a huge canvas. It turned out really well, and was also a lot of fun getting to hang out with a lot of amazing youth.

So, I guess I'll finish off with some prayer requests. Honestly, I am struggling with a lot in terms of the program I'm on. There are a few things that are really breaking me down for various reasons, and some things that my own pride is getting in the way of and just causing me to stress about things that I need to just let go of. I'm hoping for a lot of clairty this week being back at work, and being able to hear God's discernment about a few things. I'll need to make some decisions soon...even just deciding about what I want to get out of this year, and in what ways do I just need to let go and trust God....so prayer about those things would be very much appreciated.

If you're one of the people who have emailed me ages ago, and haven't gotton a reply...I'm sorry! I'm currently working my way through the build up that is my inbox, and fighting through my procrastination to make sure I get some emails sent! Anyone that I haven't heard from, feel free to drop me a line...would be great to hear from you!

Blessings!