Australia….the outback….Steve Erwin…..Keith Urban….Crocodile Dundee. Okay, so I will admit that Australia always seemed like an interesting place, but it wasn’t on my top countries to see. In either case, I am so pleased thus far. We haven’t really started our ministry, but we can already see many opportunities here in Byron Bay.
My team is camping out with two other teams (Malachi and Seven), which is a huge change from last month. The campsite is about 30 minutes out of town so we have been getting good exercise each day….oh did I mention it is hot and muggy? We have been getting some rain, so some of us have had a little flooding in our tents (Ashley and I included). The camp has free showers, coin-op laundry, and coin-op barbecues. This is definately a month for us to be creative on finances.
Our food budget is about $18 a day for all meals for our team of seven. Basically we are living in a 1st world country with a 3rd world budget. Add in the fact that Karen and I can’t have gluten (breads, pasta, etc.), and there is no refrigeration….it gets tricky. That’s okay though, God is showing up big time and it is just the beginning. Here is a summary thus far….
Considerate driver Ray picks us up from the airport, tries to negotiate deals for places for us to stay, and is all around great. We set up camp in the blazing sun, squad bonding occurs, long walk to town, chased by green snake down sidewalk. Meander around town, see dreads, hippies, bikinies, naked 
kid, bare feet, tarot readers, Jesus written on walls, random bibles outside of art store, sit down to rest in front of store- look up and realize we are sitting under a sign for marijuana, laugh.
Seek out places for free food (success on Friday nights- free barbecue from YWAM). Start to cross street only to risk our life and bolt back, as we see a lady standing on the street offering free falafel ball samples (hey, $18 a day folks….this is The World Race). Get offered a ride on a psychedelic bus to Nimbin (drug capital or the world) only to politely say “no thanks.” Seek out places to watch the 
Super Bowl in a week….success….Go Saints! Super Bowl ministry anyone??
Teammate in need of removing a pre-melanoma mole, pass a Skin Cancer Clinic along the way…..works out, God is good. Hike into town to go to a bar to watch a comedy show, comedians are vulgar and blasphemous, teammate gets pooped on by some bats (they poop a lot!), good samaritan and Sarah spend 30 minutes helping her clean up….good samaritan is out to dinner for her 2nd 
wedding anniversery. Get offered a ride back by some guy who dances and blasts music the whole way back….awesome.
So, that is what is happening right now:) We don’t know what we will be doing next week, but things will unfold soon. Options: homeless ministry, Nimbin ministry, street/beach ministry, etc. All three teams might move into a 3 bedroom house together, as will save a lot of money on accomadations and food (refrigeration and free stove use). Right now, my diet of rice crackers, peanut butter, and piece of fruit or carrot is sustaining me….thanks to the prayers we say before eating:) It’s not impossible friends, we are blessed beyond measures.
