Youth Rally

This week has been the youth rally for the church here in Bamaga. We were not sure what this meant and when only about 5 youth showed up for the opening night, we wondered what was going to happen. (Part of the reason for so few is a big funeral in the town that day.) On Thursday the games began. We met about 25-30 youth at the courts in town to play sports and to hang out with them. It was a lot of fun playing volleyball, basketball, and touch rugby with them. We also encouraged everyone to come to the church at night. That night ~20 young people made a commitment to Christ!!! It was awesome! We went up and prayed for them and showed our support for the decision that they made.
Friday was more of the same, but a little more organized games with teams. By the way just a side note-during lunch some of our group played "around the world" shooting baskets and I finally won something!!! That night some more youth came to the church at night! It is awesome to see God working here.
Today and tomorrow is a celebration of 60 years since the people came into Bamaga. We were at the opening this morning and it goes on through tomorrow, but we are taking the afternoon off because most of us are pretty worn out from playing sports for 2 straight days!
Well I will continue to keep you updated. We are past the half way point of our outreach now. In 4 weeks we will be back in Brisbane.

Ants

Ants, ants everywhere! You would not believe the ants around here, it is like nothing I have ever seen before. They are everywhere and in everything. We have even started calling them "sprinkles" because they look like chocolate sprinkles on the food. It is amazing how used to having them around we are. - Okay one short story-I poured out cereal into a bowl on Sat morning and it was like a mad rush of about 10 ants sprinting out of the bowl in every direction. I just had to laugh. I poured the rest of my cereal and by that time they were gone so that I could eat it! ;)
During quiet time last week I was walking around and spotted some ants and began to think about them in a new way. We should be working here like those ants. They work hard moving things that seem impossible to move with their size. They work together to accomplish there goal. They search out what they need and share it with the rest of the ants. They do way more than what we think they should be able to do because God has given them what they need in order to survive. God has blessed us way more than these tiny little ants and we need praise Him for all of the things that He has given us.
Things are going good. School is out for 2 weeks on holidays between terms, so our schedule has changed a lot. We have done some door to door and street evangelism and that has gone fairly well. I think some of us are getting a little frustrated because we really haven't seen a conversion yet, but we need to remember that is in God's plan and we just have to plant the seeds.
There is a youth rally this week. I am not really sure what exactly that includes, but we will hopefully be getting the chance to be with youth a lot and share with them. This Weds we are hosting a movie night at the youth center. Also the youth center is hosting a Dusk til Dawn night on Monday and they have allowed us to do the activity planning for parts of the night. Please pray that the youth will attend and that we will be able to have an impact on their lives.
Please continue to pray for direction for the students, both during DTS and for God's plans after graduation. Many of us are still waiting for God to reveal to us where He wants us to be and what He wants us to be doing when the school is over.
FYI we have a prayer meeting at 6 am every morning here, so that is 4 pm there. So if you would like to pray for us during that time we will also be praying and thanking God for you!
God Bless you all!

Opportunities

Hey everyone! Things are going very well here in Bamaga. We are all adjusting to the warmer temperatures and the humidity (from what I hear it is like Michigan right now). We walk almost everywhere we go and so we really get to experience the heat. Though we were blessed by the people that run the resort next door to us, they allow us to swim in their pool for free!!!



I am still working in Grade 1 at the school. It is getting more and more fun as I get settled in with the kids and they get to know me. I even helped lead the other day when the teacher had to leave to pick up her son that was sick. I am also going to the Activities Center after school to help with the kids there. It is an after school program where I play with the kids and help with their snacks.

We have been praying for the kids in the school and activities center. some interesting things are they asked Joshua to pray before their Parade (weekly assembly) on Friday. We prayed about being able to do a skit for them and they are allowing us time tomorrow!!! Also at the activities center they pray before they can eat their snacks. These are positive signs that people are open to the gospel. Please pray that we can continue to make connections with the people and share our outreach programs and what God has taught us.

Another prayer request, a few of the people on our team are short on their funds for outreach. We have been praying and we know that God will bless us all, but I thought that I would inform you all as it affects our whole team and we would love your prayers. We have already been blessed with meals and groceries from the wonderful people here. I am sure that we will continue to see God's hand on this situation.

We had another long weekend as Monday was the Queen's Birthday Holiday. They took us swimming at another spot on Sunday afternoon. It was nice and cool fresh water, and no crocodiles! Then on Monday they took us out to the tip of Australia. It is the northernmost point of Australia. We walked for a little bit through the rain forest and then hike up some rocks to get to the beautiful shoreline.

There are now others waiting for the computer so I better go. I will update you again soon!
Please continue to pray for me and my team as we seek God's direction. Thank you for your support!

Week 1 in Bamaga

Hello from steamy hot Bamaga!
We arrived safely on Friday and spent a very relaxing weekend just getting to know the town a little bit and settle in. Monday was a holiday so that we didn't start to work until Tuesday. There are so many opportunities for us and we need prayer for discernment on which ones we are to pursue. Right now I am working in the Primary school with Grade 1 students. There are about 25-30 kids in 2 classes. I help out the teachers doing little things and just try and do what I can to be available for them. It is getting a little easier everyday as I get to know the teachers and students and they get to know me. I believe I will be working with them for 3 days a week for the next 3 weeks, then they have holidays for 2 weeks and someone else will help after that.
The rest of our group is spread out in the school, daycare, retirement home, and the youth center. We also go to Siesia to play sports with some kids in the evenings.
The people of the community are all very nice and hospitable. The boys and girls each have a house that we are staying at and people bring us treats and food almost daily. (So much for the diet, if people offer food it is offensive to say no.)
Please continue your prayers:
-Pray for me as I am the student leader for outreach.
-Pray for Sione one of our leaders as he tries to get his visa extended and join us.
-Pray for direction and guidance to the correct opportunities.
-Pray for continued health.
I will be able to check my email every few days so please keep me updated, it is great to see new mail.
Thanks for your prayers and support!