Umm, that was cool. AKA How I ended up in a paper dress lip syncing Shania Twain
Well you can wait for that I guess. I’ve had the most awesome weekend, yet I feel like I’d miss something if I didn’t try cover the past week or so.
The past couple of weeks have been hard, mainly due to experimental problems and long hours. Watching TV definitely did not help- and I think that I was being affected by the Destiny Church march and Beslan hostage situation than I really let on. I don’t think I really cared what happened yet still watched in morbid interest the CNN images and read about all the action online. Kind of odd really. I was woken to the real world by Jess H. I went over to her place last Friday and it was a real blessing. We are both Christian, yet really different people. We’ve known each other since first year, and our relationship hasn’t always been smooth, but somehow its managed to survive. And anyway, one thing we did (apart from homemade pizza, wedges and lolly cake) was to pray for the hostage situation which was still going on at the time. She just very quietly, yet strongly asked for peace in the situation and offered herself in the place of one child who hadn’t heard the gospel. This was amazing, not because of the un-likeliness of the statement to come true, but the amazing heart that Jess showed for God, and that sacrificial spirit will be such an amazing blessing to so many people one day. It was such a privilege to witness that, and I’m honoured to be able to have seen it from the beginning and I guess compare it every now and again.
Another cool person, who I’m only just getting to know, even though we’ve been going to the same church for 4 years is Jen Lin. It amazed (and still does amaze me) what an awesome heart for glorifying God that she has. She also did an amazing job with DW and really stepped up with the MCing of events. She must be one of the most under-rated people in CE.
Experiments are going well- well good enough anyway to say that things are moving forward- but I’d rather write about other stuff. Last Thursday was pretty bad as a Christian- everyone seemed to be taking pot shots at God and the Bible and started backstabbing and gossiping. It was pretty disheartening. What was worse was my lack of response, and even “going with the flow” of the “conversation” which I’m quiet ashamed of. Not my proudest moment, but hey- I have the chance to try again, so praise God for that aye? I’m also glad I went through it, because I guess it’s something that I’m going to face more and more. The longer you live, the more chance that you have of a negative experience with a particular group of people right? I mean who would have thought that Christians would have marched on Parliament again?
But anyway survived all that, and left for DW 04- or as Alex prefers the “demon casting out camp”. It was heaps of fun, and also so refreshing. The dirt road, was interesting… the truck with the full on head lights and the large dust cloud was quite hairy. Good thing we stopped when we did- Jared’s brake lights were a bit close for not being able to see through the dust. However, it was great to wake up to the birds, and see the mountains covered in snow (not “white rocks” aye Mel = P?). Really expected to see a couple of hobbits run past, but no, only kids on bikes. En hakkore (found in Judges perhaps?) was a little bit of solitude in amongst the noise and chaos of life. Really, like one big quiet time.
Which was funny, because it really was. God spoke to so many people over the weekend, and I learnt heaps from the most amazing speakers- and they’re my friends! Like Dan’s thoughts on the Church which I’ve probably heard a million times before, yet still love hearing it. Sam’s talk on life groups was just wow and I got heaps out of his “Not so much the talking as the doing, not so much the doing as the being” quote. Abbey’s gifts exercise was really encouraging, and Kristy’s talk on taking God anywhere and everywhere you go was really on the spot. Steph gave this great talk on journeying and Dave Hawkes’ talk on missionaries filling needs was neat. Carmi’s talk on missions was passionate as always. But what really stuck with me was Yog’s rendition of Aesop’s fables.
Particularly the one about the twin brother’s carrying burdens back from far away lands. One stops to help people, the other doesn’t. Guess which one succeeds in carrying his burden back? The one who helps others. And that’s what I found myself doing this weekend. Just chatting with people and hanging out with them. Praying for them when they needed it, and just sharing with them what I’d done and finding out about them. God just put people there for me to talk to and we shared. It was great. And not only that I got blessed by blessing them, they also blessed me with smiles, advice, words of encouragement, high fives, laughter and well- love.
Which was very useful. Because I did struggle at times during DW, especially in certain areas of my life which God challenged me on (groan…). But if I didn’t get that, then I reckon something would be wrong. And yes, I’m seeking guidance and help on the matters. But, it was cool to walk with other’s struggles as well as my own. I guess I’m starting to realize that no one but God has the answers to everything anymore, but we’re all hiding struggles that come out at various times, and that we’re all reliant on God and each other for our strength in those times. Its one of the big lessons that I’ve learnt this year: that at the front (cutting edge, small c, e) you can’t rely on yourself otherwise you’ll lose. That goes for research and life- the answers kind of come as you go along.
I also got to do some random stuff, like wear the “encouraging hat and scarf” (the encouraging smurf) and lead everyone in shakedown exercises-which was crazy, and probably wouldn’t have done unless Shelly and Andrea hadn’t pushed me up. Or, end up in a group full of girls (bar me) and get dressed up in a paper dress, and red wool hair extensions as “Shania Shane” and lip sync “Man I feel like a woman” in front of everybody. (thank goodness for Carmi’s dancing!) Couldn’t quiet beat Reuben’s spice girl though! Touch in the cow paddock (with real cow pats) and Dan “bonding” with the cows was also pretty out there. Ah the most random of times…
What excited me the most about DW 04 was the potential that was beginning to show- like Matt P and Joe, who are definitely growing in stature as men of God, like some of the first and second year girls who are stepping up to, and beyond the mark (There’s just so many!) and even those who were struggling showing heaps of guts and asking for help and starting to overcome their struggles. The concept that everyone is a pastor is beginning to become a reality, and that is so neat to see that we aren’t reliant on superstars anymore, but anybody could do it. I thought it was cool that we could supply all our own speakers and still have room to boot? Wouldn’t it have been cool to hear from people like Penny, Yasmine, Shelley, Josh, Jared and so many others? (Yeah, I’d probably count myself in there, but I got to speak into individual’s lives anyway which I far prefer- which is good doing med and all…)
Trip back with Soo Sian, Mel, Ekta and Viviana was heaps of fun. ( Yes, Bing with all ladies again- this is becoming a notorious habit!) The whole guy-girl thing was interesting, as was the debate about the pronunciation of my surname- Brendan “Ung” anybody?
Roll around Sunday night post car cleaning with Penny, and helping Louise edit her movie. (of which 3 have been done on my computer, go u good thing!). The M8s skit wasn’t too bad-perhaps I’m biased by knowing all the actors :P. Steve Gwynn was good, but I really wasn’t in the mood for praying for anybody. But that was super cool(ng)-(private joke) even though I’m not certain I did it all quiet successfully. I just really felt God do something in people’s lives last night and that they’ll be a blessing for it. I’m really enjoying the privilege of praying with/for people, even though it does carry heaps of responsibility.
Right well, I’m going to stop there and get some shut eye. Good for you if you read this in one sitting. and yay, Becs is back!
