Cabin

Our weekend of rest and relaxation was very nice; I wanted to share some pics and thank you all for your prayers! It was way, way too short; we will need to do it again. Each morning I was the first one up, which gave me a perfect quiet time with God. So I took my cup of coffee and my bible and sat on the deck of the cabin to have some one on one time. As I read and was still, begging God for answers to all of my problems, the birds in the trees kept breaking my peace and quiet. Blue Jays jumping from branch to branch, pouncing on the crumbs in the dirt below; a woodpecker, tapping on every branch in search of his next meal-which he indeed found. The noise was loud and bothersome. I watched that woodpecker bounce around tapping noisily on every branch, seeking his treasure. And while at first I was annoyed by the break in my quiet time, I realized that God got my attention and was speaking to me.
“Therefore I tell you do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” - Matthew 6:25-27
I have heard this verse and read this verse many times in my life, because I am a worrier. I worry about everything and everyone. Even when things seem smooth in our life, there is always someone I can worry about. I feel like God has to hit me over the head sometimes and say “let this one go, I will take it.” He brings people into our lives that are hurting more, and losing more and suffering so much more than me. I am blessed beyond what I deserve, and have difficulty keeping that in perspective. Every day, before the Throne of Christ, I have to lay down my burdens…everyday.
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Liz

Australia.

So it's been a couple of week since we got back from Brisbane, Australia. I have a couple of observations about the trip.

First. For the first time I could see a look of hope on some of the kid's faces in Eidsvold. Considering the lack of someone at the Christian Centre this is good news. I can see the work the people from Ann Street Church of Christ are doing there is working. I can understand how they don't see much change, but I see it. It's like the Rez. Each time I go back I can see little changes on the faces of the Apache kids. God is at work on the Rez and in Eidsvold.

Second. I can see that God is at work at Ann Street. The worship team is awesome and the preaching the two weeks we were there was awesome. Well one week anyway. I could listen to Mike every day and not get tired of him. Anyway, the leadership has banded together to make things work in the aftermath of the Senior Pastor leaving, and if the two week we were there is any indication then they are moving in the right direction.

While I was there I got to hang out with Carlos. What a great guy. He invited me into his house and treated me like I was family. I think he is an amazing person. If you ever go on one of our GO!Teams to Australia I hope you get to meet Carlos. I don't think you can stay at his house as I will be there.

It seems like such a long time ago that we went to Brizzy. I have a ton of stories to tell but after a while it only sounds like bragging. If you want to know more I will be happy to tell you. Just let me know.

I would like to thank everyone who helped KC and I go to Australia. I know these memories will be with me always.

And finally I would like to thank Tim and Kylie. You two are an inspiration to me. The way you two love not only each other but others makes me long to be like you. You have three wonderful boys. I love each one like they were mine. What? Yes I said "MINE". I don't know if you knew this, but the Saturday we went to the Lions game I was able to spend about an hour walking and talking with Hayden. He is such a joy to be around. If all Christian children were like him this would be an awesome world. Thank you for being you, I love you guys like family.

I'm sure I will want to tell you more in the future, so I reserve the right to revisit this subject again.

Thanks for your time,

Robert

Aussie 09

Let me explain, there is too much. Let me sum up.

We flew into Brisbane.
We went to Brisbane and got to hang out with the kids from Ann St.
We went to Logan and cleaned up around the Christian Centre.
We went to Ann Street Church of Christ and had a Community BBQ.
We got to see Aboriginal Dancers dance for the Coming of the Light celebration.
We went to Ann Street COC and listened to Mike preach.
We went to Eidsvold and got to hang out with the kids there.
We went to Musgrave park for NAIDOC (National Aboriginal Islander Day Of Celebration).
We went to Ann Street COC and had a prayer walk.
We went to the Gabba to see a Lions (Aussie rules Football) game.
We went to Ann Street COC and I had... I mean got to preach.
We had lunch at Ann St. and watched Aboriginal dancers.
We went to Church at Musgrave Park and I preached again.
We flew home.

Well that is the summary of what we did while in Australia. But that doesn't even tell part of the story of our two weeks.
Each time I go to Australia I am amazed at the way we are accepted into the community. It seems the more we go to Australia the more the people at Ann St. treat us like family. They feed us and this trip they danced for us. This is special because the dances were put together just for us. They spent several hours on Saturday just so they could dance for us on Sunday. Amazing!
Before I finish for today I wanted to tell you one story.
While we were in Eidsvold, we stayed up to around 12:00 playing games and sitting around the bon fire with the teens in Eidsvold. I know this sounds like a small thing but these kids are hungry for relationships. The more I travel the more I realize how much relationships are a part of presenting the Gospel. It seems like we should know that instinctively but the truth is we usually don't. There is one girl in particular, who was there the first time we went to Eidsvold four years ago, she has been around each time we've been back and this time she responded to an invitation after Carlos spoke. The leadership of Ann St. has promised to send her Bible studies and follow up with her. This shows how important our trips to Eidsvold are, and how important relationships are.
I will blog again in a few days as there is a ton of things on my mind.
Talk to you soon,
Robert

How about "I'm sorry."

This morning we went to Europcar car hire (rental). We had a reservation for two 8 passenger vans and one car. They called this morning to say there was a problem. Kia had recalled their mini vans and we couldn't get them. They said we could have a 12 passenger van, a seven seater and one car.

After voicing our displeasure, Daun S. said fine we'll take it. Then they said the only problem is the 7 passenger won't be there until 9 or 9:30. We were supposed to pick them up at 8:00.

So we wait around Tim's house and wait and wait and wait.

We go to Europcar, 9:15, and they said it will be only about 15 minutes. As Daun talks to the woman (We'll call her Allison because that was her name) at the counter she explains that too many people have extended their rental. Daun tells her the story told to her on the phone and she says she can't understand why she would be told that. Turns out the guy (we'll call him Jamie- his name) is sitting right there. Daun was not happy. Me? No I wasn't happy either. We were supposed to be at Family Fun Day at Musgrave park at 9:00 for NAIDOC. We sign for the 12 passenger and the car. Daun takes Tim's Tarago (8 passenger Toyota minivan). Tim takes the 12 passenger and Tim's wife Kylie takes the Camry (rental). Carlos and I stay to wait for the 7 passenger. 10:00, only 2 hours late. As you can tell our 15 minutes has been almost an hour. At 10:37 I ask "What are the chances we are going to get out of there in the next half hour?" Jamie gets on the phone and talks to the guy driving the car and tells us "he's almost here. 10 minutes or so." "Or so" always gets you in trouble.

I say to Allison, "You gotta know this isn't right". She says "There is nothing I can do". Me-"I understand that but you know this isn't right." A- "We only have so many cars and when some people extend (their rental) there is nothing we can do." Me- "The other people who don't get a car are not my concern." A- "I'm sorry" "but..." This word can only lead to trouble in a situation like this. "There's nothing I can do." She should have stopped at "I'm sorry".

I am reminded of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry is renting a car and they don't have the model he ordered. He tells them they know how to take a reservation they just don't know how to keep a reservation. By the way...I took the insurance!

Anyway I go off to the toilet, I know but the bathroom is where you take a bath and the restroom is...well they don't call it that here in Australia, and when I get back there it is an almost brand new Mitsubishi Pajero, (only 2000 K's on it, don't ask me, I wouldn't know what a Kilometer was if it jumped up and bit me) RED. I look at Carlos and say, "We can't have a red one, it's bad luck." He looks at me with a confused look and I just smiled at him. He smiles at me and tells Jamie, "We have to have a black one." Allison and Jamie look puzzled. Me- "Red is bad luck." C-"We have to have a black one." J- "If you are waiting for a black one you are SOL." Only he actually said it. We all laughed.

The tank on the Pajero is only on 7/8 of a tank. Allison tells us to go to the petrol station and fill it up and she will meet us there and pay. Me- "Look, don't worry about it. I don't care I will fill it up I just want to go." A- "I insist." I was surprised she didn't say, "It's the least I can do."

I get in look at Carlos and say we are going to the petrol station because she insists. We both just laughed. 11:22.

Musgrave park was Awesome. I got to see Ruth Ghee and introduce KC to her. She grabbed KC and hugged her like she knew her all her life. I wanted to cry. I will blog on that in the next day or two. Just so you know even after the morning we had it was a great day today. You should all come to Australia next year.

In Him,

Robert

It's just me...

Well, I know you are waiting to hear more about the Australia Team from Robert (me too!) but I know they have been extremely busy, so hopefully soon. Daun has given them a full schedule as usual! It has been much harder for me being at home this trip than any other, why you ask? I've been asking myself the same thing. It may be that for our past 8 wedding anniversary's, Robert has been out of the country. I have been with him for 3, 2 in Australia and 1 in Mexico City, and quite frankly it is NOT the same being on a mission trip then being on say vacation, but at least we were together for a few. This last Friday was our 24Th anniversary, I wonder where we will be on our 25Th? (or if we will even be on the same continent) It may be that KC went for the first time, and she and I have grown really close and I miss talking to her, cooking with her and even driving with her. It may be that I'm use to having my best friend and husband here with me to eat dinner with, talk over problems that come up, help make decisions, hug, etc. Or it may be that I wish I was there, playing skittles with Bonnie, Boyo, Lennie, St John, Wayne, Jessma, sitting by the fire with Ayeesha, Peydon, Nita and India, seeing how big Hayden, Sam and Tysin have gotten, scratching and sniffing Tim's shoulder, having some serious girl time with Daun and Kylie and Regina and Lena, enjoying the company of the friends at Ann Street and listening to my husband preach and sharing my testimony, listening to amazing stories from Elizabeth, Lyle and Hazel, Nan, Jon, having deep late night conversations with Daun, and...

I wonder...

Liz

"Do you think he wants some cheese?"

If you didn't know I have this mental aversion to cheese. It all started when I was going to school in Long Beach. Suffice it to say I literally cant swallow when I try to eat melted cheese. I've tried. Liz and I go to Northwoods for a nice steak dinner and they serve this cheese bread, it looks really good. Each time I go there I tell myself to try it. I pick it up and boom my brain says no. So I give it to Liz all the while feeling like a failure.

So our first night here in Australia I'm sitting at the table having an awesome conversation about Jesus and relationships. They were having a youth group over and we were really having a good time. Then it came time for dinner and guess what we were having. NACHOS! What was I going to do. They were all made and ready to go. One of the kids brought me a plate. I was done for. I knew if they served it I had to eat it. So I asked God to get me through it. I ate the whole plate and didn't get sick. Thank you God. Without Him I wouldn't have made it.

This is the seventh year I've spent my anniversary in Australia. (Happy anniversary Liz. I love you with all my heart.) Two of them Liz came with me. So when i get home I'm taking her to Northwoods for our anniversary dinner and have me a piece of cheese bread. Maybe.

From down under,

Robert