Life So Far...

Hey All,

It's been a while since I gave a detailed report on what's been going on. I wrote a huge letter to a friend recently and have decided to take a huge chunk and post it, seeing that there's no point and re-writing the same thing (plus I'm lazy). Here it is:

Since starting college, life's been crazy! (but Good)! I get on the train every morning at 6:35am and arrive at 8:00am at the Hillsong City Campus. If I was going to the Hills one, it'd be like 3.5 hours of travel in the mornings by train and bus...... Since I'm going to Hills, I get on a express train and then have 5-10 minute walk from the station to the college. I don't have to worry about connections which is great!!

(As you know) I am in the Worship & Creative Arts stream and have all the courses that go along with that. Every morning before classes I have leadership groups (which is, in my case, a group of 12 guys) where we discuss our life at college, problems, things to pray for, etc. It's like a 15 minute small group every morning. There are 300 students in the city side (700 at hills making 1000 total), so small groups is a great way to get connected with people.

Since arriving there, I have made quite a few Canadian friends at the college. I was suprised at the number of people from Canada there... including 2 people from NFLD. One of the Newfies lived in New Brunswick for a couple years and a guy from Ontario served in the army and served at Gagetown. The other Newfie moved from NFLD when he was 14 (to Alberta). He lives near the college with 3 other guys and their place has become like a 2nd (actually... 3rd...lol) home.

As a student we have to be involved in weekend and weekly ministry. For my weekly ministry, I have been assigned to street teams. We wear bright orange shirts and go out into the local community and help people. We don't go out, stand on a soap box and preach... we just live Christ to people and love on them.

For street teams, I am assigned to the worst suburb in Sydney and all of Australia: Redfern. It is very poverished and at the center of it is The Block. The Block is a area of land that was obtained by the government for the aboriginals (like a native reserve back home). Being in a very poor suburb, the quality of living in the block is crap. I am assigned specifically to the block and will have an interesting road ahead of me. Please keep me in your prayers as it is a bit dangerous (although the street teams have never head much of a problem). We are in groups of at least three, so don't worry, we're not crazy!! We wear gloves, long pants, and full shoes for extra protection.

For my weekend ministry, I am involved with my new church here: South Coast City Church. Normally, people that go to the college will have Hillsong as their main church. Since SCCC is my church, I can do weekend ministry with them, saving travel. It also also we to be involved with what I'm here for (Music Ministry) more often. Think about it. 100 W&CA (worship) students needing placement in a church that is already filled with creative people that aren't students. Yes, there are times when God pulls you away from your called area to teach you in other things, but I really feel God has placed me in SCCC for a reason; for their benefit as much as mine.

I have played piano at SCCC the last 2 weeks and it has been amazing. A couple weeks ago the pastor shared the vision of the church for the coming year(s). One of the key parts of the vision is Acts 20:20, talking about the church loving people, having "effective spirituality, meeting in public and house to house, etc..... When he said it, I thought "20/20 vision".... like 2 senteces after I thought it, he said "we used to call this our 20/20 vision"... I was like... wow. God spoke to me right then and said "yep, you're in the right place. You're where I want you to be". I was like....WOW....

Below are some pictures taken at SCCC during a practice (I'm the one playing the keyboard):