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