Hey, it’s been awhile (finding free wifi is not easy where I’m at in Australia, and when I do find it, its difficult uploading photos and editing, so please bare with me on this post, as I am getting the hang of things).
I have so much I could say about what I learned at Launch in Atlanta, how I managed during the 3 full days of the longest airport travel of my life (ATL->Denver->LAX->Shanghai->Singapore->Gold Coast), and what we have been doing since we have been here in Byron Bay the past week. But I can’t fit it all into this short post. If you want to look it up, I am in the most eastern point of Australia:
^^Here is my wonderful squadmate Tristan Lensvelt
I will tell you in short:
- my squad and I are sleeping on the floor of a church.
- eating communal meals (each day a different team cooks b/l & din.)
- I am so grateful for the responsibility of stewarding the team money as “treasurer”.
—— As most of my close friends know, I really enjoy being involved in food and money. However doing that with a team of 6 and being responsible to log everything into the system correctly is definitely a an area of growth. - We have a budget that changes with each country.
- We have been eating well, but as I expected, a lot of quick meals, cheap carbs and dairy (please pray that I poo again).
- The town of Byron Bay is a popular haven for young travelers/backpackers from around the world, many people here are searching for something, and in this saturated hippie and new age culture most people are super open to talking about their views on spirituality. 🙂
- The mission here is really focused on hearing Gods voice and being relational.
We have been partnering with some leaders at YWAM. Which is another missions organization. For an example: Thursday night we did music, and free pancakes and chai in the park.
(By the way, as you are reading this, my last night is your today. #timezone)
What has relational ministry looked like so far?
The best way for me to describe it is being in the here and now, striking up conversations & taking a deep interest in people. The challenge for me this far is figuring out new and creative ways to do that.
Some of my squad mates have set up sings and sat on the Beach and in the park where they pass out food, braid hair, do henna, give away spiritual art that they write a message on, playing games with people, and of course praying for people.
In addition to spending time with travelers, we have used this time to set up intentionality among our team. What do we value as a whole and how to better grown into that so we can be better unified.
Eric (team leader), Jacob, Shelby, John-David(JD), Me & Alyssa = TEAM FREE FALL (check out their posts and videos in the side column)
So far this week, one valuable bit of advice I neeeeeed to be reminded of is something my (SQL) squad leader Sara said: its not about a perfect product or doing the task well; the focus or goal should always be loving each other in all we do. That is the ultimate goal.
It reminded me of something my favorite professor/ counslour/ and humble wise man told me in class…. It’s not about living a Good Christian life, he could care less if we did that. He wanted us to truely believe and know that we are deeeeeply loved. And when we stand on that rock, everything else can flow from it…
then Mr. Gariss would say “Now go slay Dragons”.
I am finally coming around to a deeper understanding of what that means. And I only expect to continue growing in that; it is why I am HERE.
