Sorry, haven't been around

The past month has been so chaotic! I'm sure most people have stopped visiting my blog.
It's uni holidays, I'm sure that it doesn't mean I'll be blogging more if the past 2 weeks have been any indication of my free time.
Let me go back to the end of November.
Probably the most exciting thing I did was being in the Schools Spectacular. It's basically the biggest variety show in Australia, and it is done by public schools around NSW.. It showcases talent - vocal, instrumental, dance and composition. It was actually on the ABC (channel 2) on Sunday night. My mum's choir was singing in it and I went as her other staff member. It was really fun, we had 16 year six kids and we looked after them Thursday: 7:30am-2pm, Friday: 6:30am-12am, Saturday: 11am-12am... They were long days but very worthwhile. I had a wonderful time!! I really enjoyed it - I never had the chance to go when I was in primary school so it was a bit of a compensation thing... and i was on TV!!!!!!!!!

That weekend, after the schools spec on Saturday night I went up the blue mountains to a camp... it was like a training camp for PY summer camp (presbyterian youth). The actual camp is on boxing day to new years day, but all the leaders went away for preparation. That was good fun, on Sunday arvo Jono came down to Sydney and we hung out for a while.

The next week I spent organising things, getting ready to go away to NTE (national training event). That was a fantastic week!!!!!!! one of the best!!!!!!!!!!!

So Saturday morning, bright and early (6:15am infact), I headed off in my car to pick up Jess, Chris and Ed from my uni and we drove to canberra. This is where the first part of NTE was held. Basically NTE is a camp for Christian uni groups around Australia. We all get together in Canberra have intense bible talks, studies, workshops and things for 4 or so days, and then we head off on "mission" in our uni groups. My uni split into 3 teams - my team went to Narraweena (basically Dee-why) - but before I get onto mission... more about Canberra.
We had 2 sets of talks, one was on Dueteronomy, a book in the old testament - basically all about God's law, and the other set was on the church and the importance of that. They were both really good and really challenging. In our study groups (or strand groups), we had to write a talk on part of the bible. I did Luke 2:25-35

Luke 2:25-35 (New International Version)

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss[a] your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."

33The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

This was quite challenging, we spent 4 days looking at the 10 verses and discovering what they meant. It was great!
I also went to a workshop. This was on how to read the bible 1 on 1 with someone. It was great! I learnt so much!! I won't write it all here because I'll be here for days (well not days, but I am tired). So, if you want to know more, just let me know!
We also spent a lot of time just hanging out getting to know each other... I have made some great friends over the week!!!!

So then, on Wednesday we headed back to Sydney to Narraweena Baptist Church. This was the most memorable part of the mission... so challenging!!!!
We had to do a variety of things... (it was also really hot so it was physically challenging too!). We stayed with families while we were there. I stayed with Maria and Peter Reedy. They had 4 children, Granny (her real name is really hard to pronounce), Cara, Kathleen and Matthew. They were lovely!!!!!!
So, while we were on mission here are some of the thigns I did.
1. Half our gruop went to Arranounbi (sp?) the special school in Allambe Heights. This was incredibly challenging - but wonderful relating to the kids and hanging out. We put on a scripture lesson it was great fun!!!!!!! Perhaps the most memorable things were the pantomime we did, and when a kid ran out in the middle shouting "TOILET! TOILET!" it was so cute, but also just talking to the kids.... so many good memories!

2. While I was at the special school the other half of the group went to a nursing home, the guys there also had a great time, hanging out with the elderly people and learning from them. This half of the group then came back and put on an "outreach lunch" for some elderly people... we arrived near the end of this and got to talk to some of the older people. It was a very good time, and we were all very relfective afterwards. That afternoon we went to the beach and just hung out. That afternoon Jess and I hung out and had a good chat.

3. The next day (friday), we had visitation - we were going around to elderly people's houses in the church. I was quite emotional at this point of the week, and so when teh couple I was visiting pulled out this was ok. I stayed back at the church and had some 'alone time' while the others visited. We also had Youth group.... this was great I gave my testimony.. after youth group we went and did some christmas light sighting... so funny!!!

4. Saturday we did door knocking. We went around to people's houses, rang their doorbells and invited them to the church service on Sunday night (carols service really). It was very good... I learnt a lot. That afternoon I went with Amy, Stezf (silent z :-P), Corey and Jodi to see harry potter. This was great fun. I also saw Human Nature! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... so much fun! That night we went back to Jodi (one of the staffworkers) house and hung out. We played some games, ate dinner, made salad (hehehehe), and i cried some more...

5. Sunday we had church. I was still really emoitonal... so I cired a lot then too. But we ran church in the morning. I was on the music team so we played- this went really well (Go Di, Jess, Otza, Corey and me!!!). Allan spoke (he did really well - it was on Jesus' ressurection, so good to be reminded of... hope and assurance). Kieren did a testimony and so did Di... and we had communion. It was really good - a great service. I cried lots in the meeting afterwards as it was just before I was going. After church Jess and I had lunch with our family (and the people Maria were babysitting) and I went home.

6. Sunday night I played at a carols service in Epping. This was great, I saw bec sarah and moni - it was nice to hang out with them a bit.

... I'm tired now... might finish later...

jen