Wait, it's almost over? How did this happen!?

I can’t believe I only have a week and a half left in Australia. I think I vastly underestimated how quickly these people would become my family and this place would become my home. I have learned, seen, and experienced more in the past two months than I could have ever imagined. It is going to be incredibly difficult to close the book on this adventure, but I’m not done with YWAM Newcastle, and I’m definitely not done with YWAM or travelling the world. This is just the beginning of the many adventures God has in store for me.

It has been a hectic week or so for me. We’ve been working hard at the blue house doing a lot of sanding and cleaning, a little painting, and some hardcore digging up bricks and moving dirt. This may surprise you, but I’m not a huge fan of dirt, sweat, or manual labor. It has been a character building work experience, for sure. Only for you, Jesus. Only for you.

But there is more to life in Newcastle than getting on the tools. Music has not been a stranger, and I am loving it! I have been able to sing for base day worship (Wednesday morning worship, prayer, and intercession with all staff and students) and Youth Street Live quite a bit. I have also been leading worship at International Church for some awesome Asians. We had an open mic night at the base as a fundraiser for the creative department, and I played at an open mic night with my mom, Melissa, last night at a hippie café. We also have a lot of open mic nights at Youth Street, and I am on the music team. There are so many talented musicians on base, and everybody is really supportive of each other. It’s great. I have been getting a lot of encouragement, and I continue to feel a calling to pursue music in some form, whether it’s my own music or leading worship or somehow tying it into ministry or a combination of all of these things. God has blessed me with a talent and a passion, and I can’t imagine letting it go to waste. I’m just anxiously waiting to see where He is going to take me with music and how He’s going to use it for His glory.

In other news, let me just fill you in on a couple random adventures that have recently occurred in my life. While on an Aussie expedition such as this, you have to be up for anything. Like improptu Korean festival performances and Beauty & the Geek balls. Last Friday, my dear friend and mother, Melissa, fell suddenly ill and couldn’t perform at the Korean Festival at International Church. Since I was the only other person in the house that knew the song and could play acoustic and sing, after a little crisis aversion, I took over the job. So, I went to the Korean Festival and led a band that I had never rehearsed with and sang the song in a ridiculously high key, and we rocked it the best we could. And the Koreans loved it. The festival was heaps good. There was an awesome Korean band that showed us how to worship like rockstars and go for those notes even if you know there’s no chance of hitting them. There was a very accurate and hilarious portrayal of the differences between Korean culture and Australian culture. There was an 11-year-old kid that played piano like a freaking machine. And there was really gross Korean food. Quality stuff. Then afterwards, I was swept off to my ball because every girl deserves one. It was a beauty and the geek themed youth group dance that I was invited to by my Aussie fiance, Ben. It turned out to be more like a rave – disco ball, fog machine, mosh pit, the works. And there was awesome dessert. It was a great time. This is what we call making memories, folks.

It really is going to be hard to go. I knew this was going to be a life-changing experience – how could living in Australia and serving with YWAM for the summer not be? But I had no idea what I was in for. I will absolutely be telling stories about my summer in Australia to my grandkids, and I will never forget the people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve had, and the things I’ve learned. And I plan on taking full advantage of the rest of my time here!

God is awesome. You should try putting all your faith in him. It will most likely turn out great.

-Ray Ray

I rapped a Beatles song. Just another day in the life at YWAM Newcastle.

I have three and a half weeks left in Australia. I don’t understand how this happened. My adventure is nearly 2/3 done. Part of me is excited to see my friends and family at home again and part of me is excited to get back to the ministries that I’m involved in at home but part of me knows that the second I leave Lewis House to go home, I am going to be devastated. I really have become part of a family here. Living in community has its challenges, and I have been feeling especially challenged lately, but I have learned so much from living here, and I really do love every single person in this house. And I love the spirit and energy of YWAM Newcastle. Lewis House is a haven for the crazy, and I love it! Where else is it okay for a white girl to rap to a Beatles song?  

So, for an update on life:

We have been trucking away on renovations at the corner house and officially got some paint on the interior walls at the end of last week. That means that I have a lot of painting ahead of me. Some kind words of warning from my slave driver: “I hope you get some rest this weekend, because you’re going to wish you were dead next week.” Thanks, Dave.

I have also been involved in a lot of worship lately, which has been heaps awesome. I was on the roster for Youth Street Live for the past two weekends, base day worship last week, and I led worship at International Church today. I feel super blessed that God has opened doors for me to get involved while I’m here.There is nothing better than using the gifts God gave me to praise the Lord!

And for those of you that haven’t really picked up on the Youth Street thing, let me explain to you. Youth Street is a Saturday program for Newcastle youth ages 11-17. We have YS Teams from 2-5 every Saturday. I am on the music team - holla! There are also sports, skate, scoot, dance, and surf teams. The teams all reconvene for dinner then head to Youth Street Live, which is pure awesomeness. We start with worship – Youth Street style. We always open the night with a random cover song, crazy dancing, lights, loud noises, etc. then go into skits, a speaker or two, prayer, and whatever else the Spirit has in mind for us. Then after hours involves dance parties, ping pong, open mic, a café, and hangout time. Youth Street has absolutely been one of my very favorite things about my experience in Australia, and I can tell you a few reasons. 

Reason #1: Last week for worship, we covered “Grenade” by Bruno Mars, and my dear friend Melissa busted out a screamo breakdown. Last night, we covered “Can’t Buy Me Love” by the Beatles, and I rapped a verse. In a sparkly red trucker hat that says “100% Pure Aussie.” Yes, these things really happened. And I have video evidence. Warning: I am 100% pure gangsta. (Okay, maybe 99%.)

Reason #2: There has been a particular crew (don’t be confused like I was at first, “crew” refers to the kids, not the staff) that God has really put on my heart and that has been opening up a lot to me. He has been asking a lot of questions and putting a lot of trust in me, and I am excited that God is moving in him. Prayers would be greatly appreciated that God will not only work in his heart and continue to encourage him to open up to me but also that God will give me the right words to say and the patience to not give up on making a breakthrough.

After five and a half weeks at YWAM Newcastle, the most appropriate word to describe the current condition of my life is “exhausted.” As I put on the same dirty work clothes everyday and go to the house to breathe in more sawdust and paint fumes, I have to remind myself that even though I’m not in DTS lectures or leading a Bible study or playing with children in the projects, I am serving God. And I can grow in the Spirit painting a house just as easily as while leading a music team if I have my mind and heart in the right place. As I mentioned in my last blog, most of the things that I have learned from this experience have been in indirect and unexpected ways. And I know that after I get home and process everything that I have experienced here, God will continue to use this trip to teach me more and more. And even though I am already starting to stress out about all the things that are going to hit me like a ton of bricks when I get home like having to buy a new car and going back to work and getting everything in place for the new school year, etc…I am still in Australia! And I’m going to love every minute of it!

-cRay-Z

(That’s my gangsta name. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhwOzsypOiU for clarification.)

Heaps good, aye.

I have now been in Australia for approximately three and a half weeks. And it has been nothing short of amazing. Living in a hostel with a whole bunch of people who fit into either the “crazy” or “awkward” category makes life pretty interesting. It has been sad to see some really awesome people head off on outreach or on holidays or go home to apply for new visas, but there is a whole new batch coming in for the July quarter. I am quickly learning to accept the constant flow of people moving in and out of Lewis House at any given moment, and I am getting pretty accustomed to the standard meet and greet questions.

But not only am I meeting heaps of awesome people from all around the world, I got to hang out with a GVSU friend last weekend! Ashley just headed home after studying abroad up in the Sunshine Coast for about 5 months, and we happened to both be in the land down under on my twentieth birthday…so of course, we had to celebrate in the one and only Sydney, Australia. It is an amazing city, and it was an amazing birthday weekend with some amazing people. Awesome as. Heaps good. We hung out at the Opera House, Darling Harbour, Botanical Gardens, Manly Beach, Bondi Beach, walked the Harbour Bridge, watched dolphins swim in the ocean, ate the BEST pancakes ever at Pancakes on the Rocks…Feast your eyes on some pics:

And here are some awesome quotes from the one and only Ashley Wilson:

Watching dolphins at Bondi Beach -

“They say that when you see a dolphin, there either is a shark or there isn’t.”

Walking the Sydney Harbour Bridge -

“Someone could punch me in the face right now, and I’d still be smiling.”

Yeah, I missed her.  

Also, I just want to add that YWAM is heaps awesome because you can manage a free place to stay complete with transportation and awesome hospitality and running into people you know on the streets of Sydney that invite you to some random person’s birthday party for free Asian food. Sick as.

On another note, let me update you about my everyday life. I have been working on renovating a house, so I’ve been getting on the tools and getting dirty painting and spackling and caulking and cleaning and stuff. We have also been delivering heaps of phone books as a base fundraiser. I am on the music team for Youth Street, our awesome Saturday youth program, and that has been so much fun! I also have been leading worship at an international church on Sunday mornings. And I am on the roster to do some singing for base worship and Youth Street Live. Yeahhhh, mission building!

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. I am usually always busy. There is always something to do at Lewis House, and there are always heaps of people around. It’s awesome and really fun, but it can also be exhausting. My lifestyle in Lewis House is vastly different than my lifestyle at home – in some ways better and in some ways worse. I am still adjusting and learning and seeking different ways to see God work through me and around me. A lot of people have asked me if mission building at YWAM Newcastle is what I expected. I really tried to come in with no expectations because I had very limited knowledge of what this experience was going to be like, and I am glad that I came in with an open mind. It has helped me to be up for anything and appreciate everyday for what it is – serving Jesus and experiencing Australia! I knew this experience was going to be life changing, and in many ways, it already has been. But I reckon I am going to take a lot from this trip that I didn’t think I would…and some things I hoped to get out of this trip are going to be more of a struggle than I thought.

And even though everyone here wants me to stay and do a DTS, never fear Michiganders and Grand Rapidians and Lakers  and stuff…I am definitely feeling God calling me to finish up my degree at Grand Valley before I depart on any longer term epic adventures. I see a DTS and lots of world travel in my future without a doubt, but I know that God’s not done with me at Grand Valley yet, and I am very excited to see how he is going to use the next 1½  to 2 years that I have left there.   

-(Gamma) Ray

Exodus 4:3 The LORD said, “Throw it on the ground.”

http://www.hulu.com/watch/99944/saturday-night-live-snl-digital-short-on-the-ground