In and through...

Hmm, it's hard to imagine that this time next month, I'll be home.. Honestly I'm ready, ready to leave Australia and continue my journey at home. There is so much I've learned here and I can't wait to put it into practice. Lots of what I learned was during prac week, but it's really taken me til now to realize what that all has been exactly.

I suppose the learning started back when we were prepping for prac week, I'll be honest and admit that it was a bit stressful beforehand and I took on more than I could handle, volunteering for anything and everything if there was more than a minutes pause after the question, "Any volunteers?"

If only I had known what I do after prac week, but I'll try not get ahead of myself. See, I had a mini breakdown before leaving and couldn't decide where to begin in accomplishing all the work I had volunteered for, little did I realize that I didn't have to. Even though I didn't really ask God to help me, he did anyway. He made it so that one of the programs due was set back because there wasn't enough information and had people volunteer to help me. When it came time on prac week to use the programs, things changed a bit too. However God gave other people ideas to help me out. At Crystal Manor, Ashley gave the idea about breaking into groups and having a point system instead of having everyone compete on their own for a Bingo. And through that experience God showed me complete and full joy, that later I used in my testimony.

My testimony... whenever I've given it before I had the whole thing written out and started out by telling about my commitment to Christ at the early age of 3. This time, I went up with a single sheet of paper, only notes and an introduction were displayed. I asked God to speak through me and to about  things in my life that the audience really needed to hear. So instead of staring at the piece of paper in front of me... I looked out at the audience, made eye contact and saw their nods of understanding. WOW, that is something only God could have orchestrated. I didn't come across as a person who has it all together or someone who has nothing more to be taught by God. I was honest and talked about the struggles and victories that have been taking place in my everyday life.

So, the real learning lesson came on the bus ride home, everything came together while reading a book (The Indwelling Life of Christ). Through everything that happened on prac week, even when I thought things were going badly, God was in control. He used the program at the Psych ward even when I was at a loss, and comforted me afterwards when I felt that I messed it up. What did I learn, not to worry. When I've got assignments to do, or events to plan, I need to go to God, lay it at his feet, and trust that he'll give me time and the means to complete it all. This week, I've been able to see it work. I have time to get my assignments done, I haven't been procrastinating either, and when I lost my debit card this week, I waited, prayed and found it the next day all with calmness. This doesn't mean that I sit back and do nothing everyday, but neither do I worry about what I should be doing. Today I'm sitting in a cafe' relaxing, blogging and reading my bible. If we are open to God working in our lives, he will.

Revelation 3:20, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Oftentimes this verse is used when sharing with unbelievers. However it is really talking to believers, everyday Jesus stands at the door of your life knocking, asking if you will let him, to live in you and through you. So, will you let him in?

Prac Week in Melbourne

Prac Week Team: Woodsey, Zach, Seth, John G, Regan, Sam, John D, Ashley, Hannah, Rachel.
So, we left Capernwray on Thursday morning and traveled to Wagga Wagga to put on a small church service for about 20 people. We stayed at at a pastors farmhouse and got a tour of his land and the building where the sheep are sheared.Dinner was awesome, my first steak since leaving Canada! The service went really quite well, for the most part. There were some minor technical difficulties and I may have mixed up some words in the song I sang and said "Crap" instead of pretending that I hadn't made a mistake...
We all had mattresses to sleep on, which we weren't expecting and despite the chilly house, we had a decent night sleep.

Friday was a complete travel day, had a bit of a sleep and got some amazing packed lunches for on the road. Lots of blessings. We arrived at UNOH at 5:30 and unpacked. Board room = girls room, and Library= boys room. 7 toilets, 5 sinks, and 1 shower.... We've got a breakfast roster and a full kitchen to cook in which is so nice. Dinner + meet and greet with the UNOH team was a bit overwhelming at first but good overall.

Saturday:
Girls Fundraiser in the morning where we prepped food and later helped the girls serve, then some of us went to Crystal Manor which was a sort of care facility. It was SO much fun. There was a 57 year old scottish dancer, and some other characters. Later on, Regan and John D headed off to help cater at the Free Burma Cafe, although they ended up "supervising?" instead lol. They had a great time though and Ashley and Hannah went to a ladies group as well.

Finally today we held a church service at the Church of Christ in Dandenon. GT's. I gave my testimony, and Rachel and I sang our duet. This time we were mic'd and forgot to bring the music with us so Rach figured out the chords before we went up... Went great though.  John, Woodsey and Seth delivered a message on the early church, Sam spoke about communion, and John D was on for powerpoint. Ashley had her testimony on video as well. And then Regan and Hannah were at Rainbow kids service instead.
Afterwards the Church made us lunch and it was really sweet. Then was the event of the day, we get to the working Bee after lunch, had the wrong house number but found out when one of the staff came walking down the street asking if we were lost. We went in and talked for a bit about compassion and then came out for some of the team to leave for another church service and the rest of us to change from church clothes.
....and Woodsey doesn't have the key.....
So the key is locked inside, and there is 20 min until church starts and the working bee had already begun. After trying to break in with no success, we called the Australian equivalent to CAA, while the people involved in the service left and had to improvise since they had no musical instruments or their props for the Prodigal son. While I waited for someone to show up and get the van unlocked since I would be the one wearing nylons and a skirt... Everything turned out though since God is good and in control :) And as I was waiting, I happened to look up into the sky:

Eventful, to say the least...

So this weekend has been fairly eventful. Friday we had a Prac Week party for which I made Tweeties, big hit, and we watched some youtube videos. Then since we had a swing dancing night. Woodsey, who took swing dance classes for a year, lead it. There was also milkshakes, which, heads up if you ever go to Australia, are not what you would expect. They are pretty much blended flavored milk with a little ice cream. Then as I was showing Woodsey how to make real milkshakes, Regan was dancing and faceplanted on the tile floor. I was oblivious to this dire fact, since I was in the kitchen. So I came out all excited to give someone a milkshake and didn't understand why everyone had stopped dancing, until I went and sat down by some of the girls and they informed me of what had happened. Regan knocked his tooth out of place and skinned his face in two places, they took him to emergency but there was nothing they could do, so Regan pushed his tooth back into place, and so far so good??

Yesterday, a large group of us went into Sydney. We got to the train station just after 9am and found out that there were no trains leaving from MossVale. However, there was a bus. So after our 2 1/2 hour bus ride we got into Sydney and took a train to Circular Quay to catch a ferry to Manly. We had found out the day before that it was supposed to be +21, and deemed it beach weather. Well, that perhaps was an incorrect judgement. We got to the beach at around 1, and the sun was up for awhile, but once it  retreated behind the clouds, it was time to shop. There were a few markets open on the street for mothers day and I bought a really cool wallet made out of recycled newspaper. I was sold before I heard the story but here it is:

**The man making the wallets found out about a company in the states that sells "paper" wallets that are actually made of plastic, so he wrote them a letter about it but they never replied. So he decided to make real paper wallets and chose newspaper, since many artists and photographers are hired in the making of a paper, but their work is thrown away the next day. He gets new material everyday and the paper gets to live on, through something people use every day.

There were free samples in the market as well, which is always good! Shelby and I checked out all the expensive surfer stores, and didn 't buy anything. Then we met up with everyone back at McDonalds, to catch a ferry back to the Quay and then to Luna Park for some rollercoaster rides! Not the best amusement park I've been to but it was good nonetheless. We were there for a couple hours before heading back to try and make curfew, which because of a bus mix-up we were a half hour late for. There may be trouble tomorrow, but we'll come to that later :)

Quiet Day

I definitely like the idea of Quiet Day, taking the time to spend with God, however the fact that you can't talk to anyone outloud seems a tad ridiculous at times. I mean at lunch when you have something on your face, no one tells you. But at other times people try to communicate through hand gestures, signs, or mouthing words. I mean if you need to ask or tell someone something, shouldn't you be able to?
Anyways I had a great morning, on the bike path by the river. I sat under a tree and read, as well as listened. Then I walked up the path a ways and found a classmate sleeping on a bench with a blanket and pillow, exactly what they told us not to spend quiet day doing lol.

Yesterday, we had a prac week meeting and I volunteered myself to do too much in too little time. I felt really overwhelmed once all I had to do started to sink in, not a great feeling. Then as I was hurrying into lunch, I tripped going up the stairs and hit my knee on the brick, tearing the knee of my jeans, as well as my skin.
This really didn't add to how I was feeling, however, right before I was getting ready to go into town, John reminded me that as prayer partners we should have a prayer meeting. Almost to the point of tears, I agreed. What a blessing, at the time when I needed it most.
In town I bought a new pair of jeans and relaxed a bit, before coming back and starting to work.
I may not be able to finish all the things I have to do, especially not on my own strength, but God can help me, whether its by giving me the courage to ask for more time or placing people in a position to help me.

Sleepy Sunday

I'm feeling so tired today and don't really understand why, my energy has been super low. Had a three hour nap after breakfast and am still not feeling great. I'm not sure if I'm getting a cold or what.

Yesterday was pretty fun though, I went into town and had some noodles from a place called Delicious Noodles and the name of the take-out restaurant did not lie, they were AMAZING!

Then I just hung around the school, after dinner was the student/staff session with Lynton Allen, his pastel drawings really are something! Mine, not so much.

After that we headed to the Briars to meet up with the rest of the students and to get off campus for awhile. Definitely can feel cooped up at CApernwray, even though there is lots of space.
But the night ended in a great game of three on three.

I keep thinking about the month and a half that I have left at school and have such mixed feelings, I honestly feel like I've been here forever and its going to be so weird being at home... I'm sure some surprises are awaiting me too, and soon it will be time to take a leap back into the real world!

Girls Group

Definitely one of THE best girls groups yet! We started out eating grapes and banana bread (made by Emma and Nicole). Then played Frida's favorite game Knives, but used a container of dry mustard instead. It was kind of like Twister. Then we had Indian Leg Wrestles, which Emma started and by the end of the evening, everyone had attempted.

Randy is sitting right beside me right now and is all concerned that I don't "like" him anymore because I'm concentrating on writing.....

An Eventful Saturday

April 28

So it started out a great saturday morning with eggs, bacon and french toast for Breakfast, the night before we had a huge slumber party in the conference hall complete with movies and lots of food. Later on I was on the computer, and I left it on the bed , nek minute, broken power cord.... That was definitely not a highlight of my day. When I was talking to Rachel and Miriam in the hall they invited me to go into town with them and potentially look into buying a new power cord. I agreed. After looking in the shed for some rideable bikes, we decided to attempt "scootering" instead, and decided on Moss Vale as our destination even though we weren't sure that there was an electronic store.

We took the bike path into Mossy and rode down main street on our scooters, riding down some hills on the way, getting curious looks from strangers and talking to old ladies on the way. Then we made our way to the IGA for something to drink. Sitting outside IGA on the benches we talked for quite awhile and then looked at the time... 5:20. I needed to be back at Capernwray for set and serve by 5:45 and Dinner started at 6. I told them there was a shorter way back along the road and they agreed we could try that. At 5:30 I realized that there was little to no chance we would make it back in time, so I called John and let him know that I wouldn't be on time for set and serve.

Then we continued our trek, mostly walking and carrying the scooters since the path was dirt and not pavement. Up ahead we see three guys walking and as we approach them I start to laugh, Rachel turns to me and I say, "what are the chances that we meet people as we're walking on the side of the road..." , since every time before I'd walked on the side of the road there was never anyone else. I decide that this is a ministry opportunity and say hi, and one  answers back and asks where we're going, we talk for awhile then part ways as we go back to the bike path and ride down the hill on our scooters. By this time I'm inwardly reprimanding myself for not saying more, like inviting them to SN @ C,  or introducing myself. All I know is that him and his friends are going to Relay for Life, at at this point I don't know what that is.

So as we continue on the path and see them above us on the hill, I call out and say "Hey, there is SN @ C on at our school tomorrow night if you want to come..." The same guy I had talked to before comes down the hill and asks me what it is, so I explain a bit and Miriam adds a few things, before we continue on the path. Again I think to myself, wow Brianna you don't even ask his name or say yours, but invite him to SNAC!

 As we're scootering I look above us to see if the guys are there, but don't see them. Then Rachel says, hey look they're in front of us. This seemed really odd to me since we should have been faster and they were pretty far ahead. So we start picking up our pace since Im determined this is a God opportunity and that we need to make the most of it. As both of our groups make our way back onto the side of the road to continue walking, I wait til they are done talking on the phone and then introduce myself, along with my friends and find out the guy I had been talking to was Axel and the others were Sam and Pat.

Since the Relay for Life, still dont know what this is, is at the field before Bowral, we are walking in the same direction. Time check: 5:50. I continued talking to Axel as we walk while Rachel and Miriam fall behind with the other two boys. I find out from Axel that he is 19, and totaled his car which was why they were walking, the Relay for Life is a walk for cancer.

As we talked he told me that I should go to the Relay for Life and that If I did he would come to SN@C, at this point we are at the driveway to the school. Time check: 5:59. He gives me his phone number as the girls catch up. Apparently, Miriam and Sam had a pretty lengthly conversation about Christian beliefs and values that Rachel and Pat listened to. We run up to dinner and agree to accept that we re late and that it is our fault, before going into the dining room. Talking over dinner we filled ppl in on our encounter and Randy, Regan and Morgan start teasing me about getting Axels number. However, when I asked if anyone wanted to come with us to the Relay for Life after dinner, Regan said he would.

So after cleaning up, Woodsy drove us to Relay for Life. I text Axel before I leave and tell him we are coming but get no reply.  We arrive at the walk and see to our surprise a kind of fair ground style site, complete with businesses making and selling food, and other family run boothes. Still no text from Axel and M and R tell me they cant remember what they looked like... We walk around and Regan buys some mini donuts that we all share. Still no sign of Axel after a half hour of being there. Finally when wè re standing by one of the heaters, we spot him walking with some friends, he sees us and comes over. We meet his friend Henderick and talk to him while Axel doesn t say much.

This is our first sort encounter with Axel that night. We see him lots after that but he only comes and talks to us another time. This instant he walks away and says that he ll text me later, letting me know that he got my texts and just chose not to reply. Regan thought before we came that theyèd be drinking but I didn t. Unfortunately Regan was right and I smelt the alcohol on Axel and most of his friends. I found out from attempting to talk to him when he came and sat by us at the heater, that he works as a chef at elephant boy cafè. But we all had a pretty good time, despite me walking in on a man peeing in the outhouse. Regan: If the sign is green, it means you can go in... nek minut ..... So after hearing Axel promise again to return, we left and went to see the Avengers with a bunch of other Capernwray students and it was a great movie!