Well, I had a great birthday! I woke up early, and Hanna and Steven met me at my house and we all went to the city. We ate at Pancakes on the Rocks (where else?). I got chocolate pancakes with chocolate syrup and cream and chocolate ice cream on top. They were so yummy!! Then we went to Circular Quay (where the Opera House and Harbour Bridge are), and took a ferry out to Taronga Zoo. When we got there, we decided we didn't want to pay for a Sky Safari (which is basically a ski lift) or a bus, so we decided to walk up to the zoo. So the zoo starts at the very top, and you work your way down. Well, we ended up entering the exit way, and we didn't pay. I know, I know...bad...but honestly, we were so confused. There was just a way to walk in and no ticket counter or anything. So we basically worked our way up, and then back down. It was alot of fun! The only thing that was kinda sad was I didn't see any platypuses, or....(dun dun dunnn)...kangaroos. I know what you're thinking right now: "How the heck do you go to a zoo in Sydney, Australia and not see any kangaroos?". I actually didn't even think about it until the end of the day when the zoo was closing, and I asked myself that same question. Oh well. I'll be here for a while, so no worries! Kate didn't get to go with us because she had church stuff to do all day, so I'll go again with her sometime.
After the zoo we went to Blockbuster (yes, they have a Blockbuster here!) and tried to rent a movie, but I had to have proof of residency, so I didn't get to rent a movie. I have a ton of movies here, but they are all American movies, and the DVD player in my house is obviously Australian. They have different region codes. America's is region 1, and Australia is region 4. So we went home, and my housemates had baked me a cake and bought me some sweets and decorated the house. It was so cute. We watched a movie and had cake. A couple more people joined us. My connect group leader is Aussie, so she had some movies. We didn't have many options though, so we watched A Walk to Remember. Haha. The guys really appreciated that one. ;)
So that's my birthday story. I'm 19 now. It's such an awkward age, you know? It's inbetween two "big" years. 18 is when you're a legal adult (in America, at least), and 20 just means that everytime someone says your age, you don't have to hear that obnoxious "-teen" at the end of it anymore. I'm not at that point yet, but I can't wait til I am. Haha. But then again, sometimes I can't believe that I'm here in Australia, living on my own (well, in a house of 7 girls, but you know what I mean), and going to Hillsong! Sometimes that actually gets a little monotonous, because honestly, there isn't like a magic feeling you get when you walk into Hillsong. It's just another church. But at the same time, it's not just another church - it's a phenominal church that is impacting the world, and the community here.
Yesterday at church we did something a little different. Instead of having two Sunday night services, we had one big 6pm service to worship and pray for the world. We didn't have a message, but rather, Pastor Brian and Bobbie and the church all prayed for what's going on in the world. Church was packed. Seriously, it was SO full! The stage was pushed back to convention mode (basically, there are two modes: theater mode, which makes the auditorium smaller and more intimate, with less floor seats, and then convention mode, where they make the auditorium huge, with tons of seats on the floor). The seats at the very top were all packed out. It was great. Darlene led worship! It was the first time I've seen her lead worship. Haha, I know, I've been here like 4 months now, but she's been touring. She's actually not over the worship anymore at the church. She handed that over to Joel Houston.
After worship, Pastor Brian asked all the American students to come onstage. Talk about nerve-wracking! I was smack in the center of the stage, in the front with a bunch of students beside and behind me. 3 brave students led the whole church in prayer for America. I thought it was so awesome, because one thing you learn whenever you move to another country, is that people around the world aren't too fond of America, or Americans. Even people here will judge you automatically if you are from the US. But it's all good...just gives me an opportunity to show people that not all of us are arrogant and prideful. :) I thought it was so cool though, that the church prayed for America, all it's leaders, the upcoming election and the economy. We didn't pray for a specific candidate either. Rather, we prayed that God would have His way. I love how everyone put aside their differences and united together in one cause. I have been praying for my family, personally, in these hard economic times back home. All I can do is encourage you...no, URGE you with all my heart, to keep sowing into God's Kingdom. Keep giving your tithe and even offer God more than what He asks of you. Even if you don't see the results instantly (and they may not just be financial), they will come. Malachi 3:9-12 says,
You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
I love verse 10, when God promises that He will bless us if we are obedient with our tithe. I know that tithe today isn't emphasized that much in church, but it is vital! Before I moved to Australia, I got a revelation of just how important it is to tithe FAITHFULLY. I began to take all of my income and set aside my tithe before I did anything - before I put any money in the bank, any gas into my car, or paid for anything. God seriously blessed me so much when I was back home making my own money. I saw promotion in my life and my job, and now God is blessing me here at Hillsong. How awesome is it that even though I don't make my own money, God has and is still providing ways for me to be here! My family is awesome, and I often pray that God will bless them immensely. When I first got here, I didn't know how to give my tithe, because I felt like the money I had wasn't my own, but rather, my family's. I was just so used to using my own money. But God spoke to me one time in church and basically just told me that the second anyone in my family deposited money into my account, it became mine. That is their intention for me, so now I have no problems giving tithe and offering, and when I do it, I sometimes pray that God will bless my family (particularly, my dad, because he is my main source of funds here...but i also pray for everyone else who has ever put money into my account) for providing me with money so that I can tithe. So please, keep tithing faithfully, and whole-heartedly, and you will see God's blessings on your life. I think it means so much to God when we continue to obey and stay faithful to Him in the hard times. He sees every little you do to further His Kingdom, and is pleased! Remember that we're not putting our trust in the econonmy, but in God. These times are the times where we can truly exercise our faith, and come out so much stronger in the end!
Whew, anyways...then Pastor Brian assigned different sections of the auditorium to pray for different countries. I got to pray for Australia. Then Pastor Bobbie (Brian's wife) came up and prayed for the church - not the physical building, but the people, who make up the church. It was awesome!
I also got to step up and really be stretched on Sunday. I do Venue Control on Sunday mornings (it's basically security), and I got to lead my team for two services. It was hectic, and fun!
A couple weeks ago, we had our Worship Band Class performance. My band's target audience was kids. We wore crazy tie-dye shirts that one of the girls made, and had lots (or "heaps", if you're an Aussie) of fun! I have some new pictures on the slideshow on this page, so be sure to take a look! :) I will be uploading some on facebook as well.
Well, there's alot coming up here. Along with deadlines that I have to make for assignments to make sure I don't get deported, we also have the big Hillsong 25th anniversary celebration coming up this Sunday in the city! I'm so excited! The stage is going to be on the water and everything. It's gonna be awesome! I'll keep ya informed! :) Talk to (and see) you soon!
I'll leave you with this simple hymn:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangley dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
1 comment:
Rian I miss you soo much! Reading this made me cry!! because I see how much you are growing over there and it makes me want to go with you love!!!
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