It is unusual trying to think through all that the last few weeks has entailed in order to provide an accurate depiction for everyone back home. Time has flown by since the last time the blog was updated. It's hard to believe that we have just entered the downhill stretch of our trip--there are only 3 weekends left. It is safe to say that each one of us has fallen in love with life in Australia in one way or another.
We last left off on the Sunday of UniImpact. The topic of the message for Impact was "I still haven't found...the perfect relationship". This seems to be a common theme amongst the students at UQ. Since our first week here, Corey and I have been a part of a bible study on campus. The discussion durig the bible study the next week was a great way to follow up Impact. The students here are very intellectual so it is hard not to remain silent out of fear of incompetency during these times. During the discussion, one student began questioning what he was living for. "If God is truly as big as we know him to be then why is He not enough for us to change?" Let's just say that it was a beautifully intense conversation following a question that most of us are scared to face. Please continue praying for the unity and strength of our team because we are fully engrossed in such a post-modern society. Also, that the students understand their need for Christ and that they are broken without him.
The following Saturday was our day off so we obviously traveled to the Gold Coast. It was great to spend the day with Impact staff and some students from Uni. I wish I had pictures to post right now. It was so relaxing but it definitely helped strengthen relationships with the students that were able to break away from their studies.
Later this evening, we are leaving for Lake Moogerah(sp?) for Reload. This is a retreat that provides students with an opportunity to rest before exams, build relationships with other students, and step deeper into a relationship with God. It has been great to see God work this past week through students He is bringing to the retreat. Please pray for the leaders of Impact and those preparing their talks--that the spiritual conversations and sermons will spark curiosity for non-believers and new believers alike. Thank you for your prayers. We hope you are doing well.
In His Hands,
Brittany and the rest of the CCP team.
Taylor Barnes, Corey Faust, Anna Garrison, Brianna Radcliff, Leah Shepherd, Cristin Foster, Brittany Yates, and Ben Weber
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Our Beach Project Video!
Here is the video that we made to share our experiences with Beach Project. Hope y'all enjoy!
CCP to SBP video
CCP to SBP video
Saturday, May 21, 2011
It's not weird, it's different!
Hello friends and family!
We hope that you all are doing well. As we've made cultural blunders and picked up Aussie slang, we've learned that life here is "not weird, it's different." We have been very busy the past week getting acclimated to the Australian culture and the University of Queensland campus where we spend the majority of our time. We thought we might give you a glimpse into some of the things we do everyday, so that you will know better how to pray for us.
Four days a week, we have training time in the morning. The Uni Impact staff (the ministry we are partnering with over here) come once a week to train us in adapting to Aussie culture. Another day of the week, we have a time of training on prayer led by Ben. On the other mornings of the week, we have team evaluation time, discipleship groups, and time to rest and take care of personal business. The mornings are a wonderful time to prepare us for the busy afternoons.
In the afternoons and evenings, we've been spending time on the University of Queensland campus. While there, we participate in Bible studies, discussion groups, and Uni Impact meetings. We spend as much time as we can each day hanging out with students and getting to know them. The students and staff here have been so wonderful to us, and we are really enjoying getting to know them. It has been a privilege to get to know several students here and we covet your prayers as we seek to encourage the believers and share the gospel with non-believers. Please pray for us as we seek to build relationships!
Anna in front of the UQ sign
On Thursdays every week, we get the privilege of helping with mercy ministries here. This past week, we were able to assist a local family from Christ Community Church (the church we attend while here) in cleaning up from the flood that devastated Brisbane a couple of months ago. They were so kind and hospitable to us, cooking us lunch while we cleaned up their back yard, washed windows, and packed things into boxes. We also get to participate in Community groups on Thursday evenings with various members of Christ Community Church. The church here has been a real encouragement to us as we see their love for Christ and their passion to reach the nations.
A few of us after flood clean up
We also get time to rest and relax as a team. On Friday evenings, we have a team dinner and social. This Friday, we went to a delicious Thai restaurant. We then enjoyed a trip to Mt. Mee on Saturday. The view from the top was incredible! The drive up was awe-inspiring and our dive into a cold pool under a waterfall was freezing, but a highlight of our trip so far. It's been incredible seeing the natural beauty surrounding us here in Brisbane. The glory of the Lord shines throughout all of Creation!
The view from above the falls
Tonight (Sunday night), we will participate in the final Uni Impact meeting of the semester. Please pray that the gospel will go forth and that the Lord would bring conviction and encouragement to His people.
Please pray that our hearts would be fixed on Christ, that our team would be unified, and that our lives would be a testament to the faithfulness and love of God. We appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers and look forward to sharing more with you soon.
All the best,
Cristin, for the team
We hope that you all are doing well. As we've made cultural blunders and picked up Aussie slang, we've learned that life here is "not weird, it's different." We have been very busy the past week getting acclimated to the Australian culture and the University of Queensland campus where we spend the majority of our time. We thought we might give you a glimpse into some of the things we do everyday, so that you will know better how to pray for us.
Four days a week, we have training time in the morning. The Uni Impact staff (the ministry we are partnering with over here) come once a week to train us in adapting to Aussie culture. Another day of the week, we have a time of training on prayer led by Ben. On the other mornings of the week, we have team evaluation time, discipleship groups, and time to rest and take care of personal business. The mornings are a wonderful time to prepare us for the busy afternoons.
In the afternoons and evenings, we've been spending time on the University of Queensland campus. While there, we participate in Bible studies, discussion groups, and Uni Impact meetings. We spend as much time as we can each day hanging out with students and getting to know them. The students and staff here have been so wonderful to us, and we are really enjoying getting to know them. It has been a privilege to get to know several students here and we covet your prayers as we seek to encourage the believers and share the gospel with non-believers. Please pray for us as we seek to build relationships!
On Thursdays every week, we get the privilege of helping with mercy ministries here. This past week, we were able to assist a local family from Christ Community Church (the church we attend while here) in cleaning up from the flood that devastated Brisbane a couple of months ago. They were so kind and hospitable to us, cooking us lunch while we cleaned up their back yard, washed windows, and packed things into boxes. We also get to participate in Community groups on Thursday evenings with various members of Christ Community Church. The church here has been a real encouragement to us as we see their love for Christ and their passion to reach the nations.
We also get time to rest and relax as a team. On Friday evenings, we have a team dinner and social. This Friday, we went to a delicious Thai restaurant. We then enjoyed a trip to Mt. Mee on Saturday. The view from the top was incredible! The drive up was awe-inspiring and our dive into a cold pool under a waterfall was freezing, but a highlight of our trip so far. It's been incredible seeing the natural beauty surrounding us here in Brisbane. The glory of the Lord shines throughout all of Creation!
Tonight (Sunday night), we will participate in the final Uni Impact meeting of the semester. Please pray that the gospel will go forth and that the Lord would bring conviction and encouragement to His people.
Please pray that our hearts would be fixed on Christ, that our team would be unified, and that our lives would be a testament to the faithfulness and love of God. We appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers and look forward to sharing more with you soon.
All the best,
Cristin, for the team
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The First Few Days...
Hello Family and Friends!
Thank you for all of your prayers as we journeyed over the Pacific Ocean. We arrived in Brisbane with no hitches in our travels on Thursday to a city in the midst of a mild late fall/early winter and having skipped May 11th completely due to crossing the International Dateline. It's been quite an adventure already.
May 12th we arrived in Brisbane and got settled in our new home, the Navarre Holiday Lodge. We have two separate apartments, one for the guys and one for the girls, however the boys think they can come over whenever they feel because the girls have all the food. After coming back to lodge and finally unloading our luggage, we refreshed with a shower and snacks before heading out to do a little sight seeing. The uni Impact staff took us to a place called South Bank where many students go to hang out. It is a nice little park, where they even have a fake beach to hang out at. There were also some cool trees, some that even enticed us enough to climb them (the jet lag hadn't quite hit us). After visiting and hanging around we went back to the car,taking what is called a city cat, to us it is a ferry, and we were rushed off to a Welcome to Australia party. We were meeting all sorts of people, not that we could tell you all the names. After dinner the jet lag had really hit us so we weren't really in the party mood, more like getting home and sleeping mood. BP witnessed us falling asleep among his house and he took us home for us to finally get some rest.
May 13th we woke up feeling refreshed (for the moment) and then started getting ready for the day. We met up with the uni Impact staff for orientation. There we learned about the Aussie culture, day to day schedules (which really you should pronounce it like shhedule to get it right over here), and then just what their ministry already looks like. We were so eager and ready to go, so we broke up into our respective groups and headed to the uni (university). There we met members of the core team and really started to form friendships. After spending a few hours getting to know people and a feel for the campus we headed to The Vil and ate some great fish and chips( fish and french fries) with the staff. BP then whisked us off up the mountain across from his house and we caught a beautiful glimpse of the city! It was so neat to see the city lit up. We started feeling the jet lag again and we headed back home to sleep some more!
May 14th we were given the opportunity to get to know the girls and the guys got to know the guys. We had brunch! The guys had a barbecue a 10 in the morning, but barbecue here doesn't mean the same thing as in America. They just basically grilled all their breakfast foods. The girls headed to the Aviary, where Joni the staff girl lives, and had pancakes! There we got to really know some of the core team girls and really just get to bond. Some of us then took the opportunity to serve a family and help them with some of their yard work after the floods had destroyed their yard. They even had chickens that we decided to catch and play with. The rest of the team went out on the town and bought groceries for us. WE NOW HAVE A FULL REFRIGERATOR! woohoo! :) We then babysat the Phillip's kids and really bonded as a team as we just chilled all night long!
May 15th we got up and headed out to church. We attended Christ Community Church. They have a morning tea in the middle of their worship and sermon, so we arrived then and then stayed for the second service worship. We then came back to sweet home navarre lodge and had a nice team lunch. Cristin cooked a wonderful chicken pot pie. It was great to just enjoy each others company, especially over some home cooked food. After lunch we laid out by the pool, okay not like forreal lay out but just sat by the pool in sweatshirts. (the weather really isnt too bad here). Anna shaved Coreys head while the rest of the girls watched. We then all headed out to New Farm park and tossed the rugby football around. It was quite interesting, especially when it got stuck in a tree and Anna climbed it to get it down but Corey knocked it out before she could get it. After we headed to UQ and went to the Great Court and talked and prayed. Now we are back at the lodge just enjoying each other before we start going full speed ahead tomorrow.
So far it has been a great time just getting to know the Aussie culture and just really getting to know each other. We can't wait to share the rest of this trip and once we start getting into our real schedule. Each day is going to be exciting and new! Please continue to pray for our hearts and just to give us strength the rest of this trip.
Love yall!
-Brianna, for the team
Thank you for all of your prayers as we journeyed over the Pacific Ocean. We arrived in Brisbane with no hitches in our travels on Thursday to a city in the midst of a mild late fall/early winter and having skipped May 11th completely due to crossing the International Dateline. It's been quite an adventure already.
May 12th we arrived in Brisbane and got settled in our new home, the Navarre Holiday Lodge. We have two separate apartments, one for the guys and one for the girls, however the boys think they can come over whenever they feel because the girls have all the food. After coming back to lodge and finally unloading our luggage, we refreshed with a shower and snacks before heading out to do a little sight seeing. The uni Impact staff took us to a place called South Bank where many students go to hang out. It is a nice little park, where they even have a fake beach to hang out at. There were also some cool trees, some that even enticed us enough to climb them (the jet lag hadn't quite hit us). After visiting and hanging around we went back to the car,taking what is called a city cat, to us it is a ferry, and we were rushed off to a Welcome to Australia party. We were meeting all sorts of people, not that we could tell you all the names. After dinner the jet lag had really hit us so we weren't really in the party mood, more like getting home and sleeping mood. BP witnessed us falling asleep among his house and he took us home for us to finally get some rest.
May 13th we woke up feeling refreshed (for the moment) and then started getting ready for the day. We met up with the uni Impact staff for orientation. There we learned about the Aussie culture, day to day schedules (which really you should pronounce it like shhedule to get it right over here), and then just what their ministry already looks like. We were so eager and ready to go, so we broke up into our respective groups and headed to the uni (university). There we met members of the core team and really started to form friendships. After spending a few hours getting to know people and a feel for the campus we headed to The Vil and ate some great fish and chips( fish and french fries) with the staff. BP then whisked us off up the mountain across from his house and we caught a beautiful glimpse of the city! It was so neat to see the city lit up. We started feeling the jet lag again and we headed back home to sleep some more!
May 14th we were given the opportunity to get to know the girls and the guys got to know the guys. We had brunch! The guys had a barbecue a 10 in the morning, but barbecue here doesn't mean the same thing as in America. They just basically grilled all their breakfast foods. The girls headed to the Aviary, where Joni the staff girl lives, and had pancakes! There we got to really know some of the core team girls and really just get to bond. Some of us then took the opportunity to serve a family and help them with some of their yard work after the floods had destroyed their yard. They even had chickens that we decided to catch and play with. The rest of the team went out on the town and bought groceries for us. WE NOW HAVE A FULL REFRIGERATOR! woohoo! :) We then babysat the Phillip's kids and really bonded as a team as we just chilled all night long!
May 15th we got up and headed out to church. We attended Christ Community Church. They have a morning tea in the middle of their worship and sermon, so we arrived then and then stayed for the second service worship. We then came back to sweet home navarre lodge and had a nice team lunch. Cristin cooked a wonderful chicken pot pie. It was great to just enjoy each others company, especially over some home cooked food. After lunch we laid out by the pool, okay not like forreal lay out but just sat by the pool in sweatshirts. (the weather really isnt too bad here). Anna shaved Coreys head while the rest of the girls watched. We then all headed out to New Farm park and tossed the rugby football around. It was quite interesting, especially when it got stuck in a tree and Anna climbed it to get it down but Corey knocked it out before she could get it. After we headed to UQ and went to the Great Court and talked and prayed. Now we are back at the lodge just enjoying each other before we start going full speed ahead tomorrow.
So far it has been a great time just getting to know the Aussie culture and just really getting to know each other. We can't wait to share the rest of this trip and once we start getting into our real schedule. Each day is going to be exciting and new! Please continue to pray for our hearts and just to give us strength the rest of this trip.
Love yall!
-Brianna, for the team
Monday, May 9, 2011
The Beginning of our Journey!
Dear Friends and Family,
We embark on our journey to Brisbane, Australia tomorrow morning! Thank you for all of your prayers, support, love, and encouragement. This trip would not be possible without y'all!
We look forward to sharing with each of you how the Lord will use the investment you have made in our lives in Australia. Check this blog often to hear updates from us and "follow" us as we fly across the world, cross the international dateline, and grow closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All the best to each of you!
Cristin, for the team
We embark on our journey to Brisbane, Australia tomorrow morning! Thank you for all of your prayers, support, love, and encouragement. This trip would not be possible without y'all!
We look forward to sharing with each of you how the Lord will use the investment you have made in our lives in Australia. Check this blog often to hear updates from us and "follow" us as we fly across the world, cross the international dateline, and grow closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All the best to each of you!
Cristin, for the team
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