Lost.

if you read this title a though about the popular TV program, shame on you. unfortunately im referring to the good ol definition of the word - WHEN YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE IN THE WACK YOU ARE!?

i love how often we go on late night adventures. and strolls about the city. but its getting rather ridiculous how often we get misplaced.

j.r.r tolkien once said, not all who wander are lost.

i wish that was always true, because it seems im getting a lot of experience on the topic.

Australia is incredible. but i have a problem with a few things. here are the two things im going to change when i'm in charge of the south pacific. im going to put street signs on every intersection. common sense you would think, but im continuously baffled by the random deciding where they locate the signs. its like a gamble that you come up to a corner and there will be a sign to indicate the street. and its usually a losing bet.

the second thing is im going to improve is more creatively naming the streets. im tired of living off a street that has essex middlesex ussex and sussex roads. its just confusing. and lets be serious its only the last part of these street name im going to remember anyway.

i know i said i had only two things i would change but i just thought of a third beef. they reuse street names in surrounding suburbs. the other night we were lost, and came across kent road. (which was miraculous marked by a sign) and as we live off a kent road, we were relieved that we were headed in the right direction so we followed the street. only to come to the end and realize Kent rd. box hill was a different street than Kent rd. Surry hills. camon' seriously. not only is that not the right street. but were not even in the right suburb yet.

now i feel like i want to wrap up what turned into a complain-a-thon up. and contradict it with a few statements.

ive yet to get lost alone. which means were always with our good mates. so these are rarely unfun adventures. and as tired as we get, we still find enough energy to do outrageous things.

and were learning and finding out parts of the world that we otherwise never would. and lastly nothing is better than hitting the pillow after a night of wandering.

night friends.

Decision Made.

After what seemed like endless praying and contemplating, we finally submitted our outreach locations and the groups were mashed out.

the groups are as follows:

Mozambique

- Lasi

- Laura

- Parker

- Marcello

- Vidar

- Matty

- Yat Sing

- Jayne

South Africa

- Scott

- Jordan

- Jon

- Lanah

- Lucy

- Lacey

- Niina

Zambia

- Colin

- Raf

- Jamie

- Josh

- Alli

- Kristen

- Anna

I am super pumped, so the plan is we all fly into Jo berg South Africa, then the three groups disperse to our three outreach locations. every group will look a little different, but ours specifically will look like 1 month in Zambia and then well work our way slowly back to SA, stopping in villages and cities along the way. Then, for the last month all the groups will be in South Africa. and we will meet up with the opportunity to reach the masses as they arrive to watch and participate in the World Cup.

Super stoked.

an please keep us in your prayers as we work to get towards our $4500 goal for outreach.

and definitely, definitely Zambia in your prayers as well.

thanks mates.

Football Idiots.

if youve ever seen the movie green street hooligans. you have a glimpse into what the boys on our dts aspire to be on football nights. my good buddy Vidar, has got me convinced, im a Manchester United fan through and through. Hes crazy about them, like has pre-game jitters from the time he wakes up till game time which is usually past midnight... the games are played on weekends which we have off. so when Man United plays we usually make an effort to get into the city to watch the match and support our club. theres an English Pub in the city called Charles Dickens Tavern. which draws quite the crowd even at 3 am to watch a match. because really to all the people down there, its only 10 back home in the UK. and perfectly normal time to be out drinking.. the songs and chants are an experience in and of themselves. being a part of it is a riot. and when MAN UNITED wins. its a good night.

so on sunday night, we went into the city for the much anticipated Liverpool match. we found ourselves in the sports bar of the crown casino watching it on practically a movie theater screen. ...oh wait let me mention as I was walking into the casino this lady in a fluorescent blue jumper caught my eye sitting at the smallest slot machine in the whole place. this is approx 12 30. k moving on. we watched the match, livepool scored first, but United ended up winning 2 -1. and it was a great night. no money was gambled, we weren't there for that, but again it was a rad place to experience the game.

so around 4 were leaving the casino. make it back to our van and realize that we lost Marcello.

- honestly how do you lose a 23 year old Brazilian in the city. so Matty and I went back into the casino and couldn't find him anywhere. but I did find a lady in a bright blue jumper playing the slots at 4 30 am on a tiny slot machine, looking very tired as if shes been there for say... over 4 hours.

good times.

and play responsibly.

Stephanie DeGiovanni is in the Building.

So who wouda thought it. Thousands of miles around the world, in Australia, I get to see one of my best friends from my hometown. Ive ran into acquaintances at Disney land and things like that. Which is rad. But i mean this was something else. So we planned to meet at my train station (Chatham) around 5. (she was taking a train in from Geelong, where she was staying). So 5 rolls around. And train after train run by. I gave to her what i thought was pretty impressive directions.... just forgot to mention to look out for express trains. Whoops. Turns out one of the many trains that zoomed by earlier. Steph was on. So we get a hold of each other. Thanks to some more superb planning. And generosity from lucy who insisted i take her phone. So. With Steph now about 14 stops past mine, we worked out a way for her to catch an express back and i would meet her at a larger station in Camberwell. So i hopped on, an got to Cambewell, sat on another bench for some more time. Until, the fateful moment occurred. Stephanie DeGiovanni getting off the Flinders street train that i ride every week. Classic run hug in forigen country scene occurred. And I was now chillen with my good ol friend in my new home. So we went out to an amazing Italian restaurant Sophia’s in Camberwell, and theres a story that goes with that, but can really say it on the internet. So anyways moving on, we get back to the base. Introduce her to all our new mates. She catches up with raf, and we had Thursday night meeting. That was great, we caught up exchanged stories. And Parker Myself and I set out and brought steph back into the city to the train station for her train back to Geelong. We got her there in time and saw her off. Went for an ice cream and then we decided to head home. But no. The city had different plans. The last train was done for the night, and Parker and I had a 4 and a half hour walk still ahead of us. But that’s another story for another blog post.

Part II

On Saturday, Raf and I convinced our leaders to take several of us on a road trip to Geelong to see Stephs dance performance and do the ship tour. So once again, classic see each other where each other shouldn’t normally be scene. And we catch up once again. That was awesome. We got to meet her friends this time, and watch the show, which they killed by the way.

Kawika

This dude is from Hawaii, this dude has dreads, this dude was a pro surfer, this dude is crazy for God, and this dude above many other amazing teachers, has been my favourite week of lectures. he spoke last week on the Kingdom of God. legit, I probably know triple what i thought i knew before. we had hours of extra lectures and times with him because well, we honestly couldn't get enough. am totally down with almost everything he was on about. the four main points his ideas were based around were:

1) God is Good

2) Nothing is impossible

3) Jesus won Complete Victory

4) We are significant

he really explained HOW GOOD he is. how literally NOTHING is impossible, the Victory was totally and all incomprehensibly COMPLETE. and everyone is SIGNIFICANT.

thus far. fav week in terms of lectures.

cheers.

silence fast.

josh is doing a silence fast today. hes not talking for the entire day. the purpose is to understand how much useless stuff people say on a day to day basis.

i would never do this, but i support him none the less.

anyway, so today josh and vidar bet a mcdonalds dinner on a game of darts.

vidar lost and now he is talking josh out for dinner.

josh cant talk.

its just the two of them.

Vidar brought his ipod.

IHOF update

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE of FOOTBALLERS

Top: Josh Deeks (ENGLAND), Jon Hoke (USA), Jordan Milano (USA), Jamie Grantis (CANADA) Bottom: Vidar Gundersen (NORWAY), Marcello Barros (BRAZIL)

(week 2)

this is us. now 8 - 0.

cheers.

Decisions Decisions Decisions

So its about that time in our Dts where we have to start looking towards outreach.

we have been told to pray and think a lot about where we feel we are meant to go. our group of 21 is going to be split up into 3 groups of 7, to go to either, South Africa and Mozambique. South Africa and Zambia. or South Africa (Jo Berg and Capetown). this is huge. its kind of a secret. your not really meant to share your decision with other because we should be choosing for the right reasons. so this is whats going on right now. the final groups should be revealed shortly. im absolutely nervous stoked about it.

and be sure, well keep ya posted.

[title not necessary...]

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Nelson Mandela

Hernia Shmernia

i havent mentioned this much to anyone up untill recently, because its somthing i didnt much like talking about. cause it just made me feel worse to think about it. but if i did mention this to you earlier, then you can understand the magnatude of this for me... also if i didnt mention it to you take my word. and believe in the power of God. so the story goes. about 2 or 3 weeks ago i was pushing myself to the limits full on with sports and work duties. and from carrying a couple fridges up some stairs (one of many possible causes) i strained my abdomin and developed a hernia. i was nervous. did this mean no sports? i was kind of freaking out. so i booked a doctors appt. asap so i could know because i couldnt do anything anyway untill ive seen the doc anyway. so 2 days later i get in to a General Practitioner and she gives me the news. looks like a left ingurnial hernia. face dropped - awful news. i mean routine in terms of severity. so its not like my life was in much jeopardy, but they usually always end in a necessary repair (surgery) which does mean 6 weeks off my feet. and absolutely no sports. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. i tried to imagine myself still having fun, at a SPORTS dts. watching everyone else do what i love, and just sit on the sidelines. so this was the deal. we just had teaching on the kingdom of God, his ability to heal and his omnipotence in our lives. so i gave it to God. many people prayed for me. the two i remember especially is johnny Westwood and Raf. so. its now two weeks later, since this problem has occurred and im finally getting into see a specialist.

oh wait lemme back up. i didnt exert myself physically in the time this happened as i was cautioned that this might worsen the symptoms. EXCEPT the time i played ball with kot and the Sudanese guys. i went full on that day, yet it was fine. i really feel like this day was the turning point.

so i get into see the specialist. encouraged and honestly believing that i have healed. he tells me it looks like it has repaired itself, the time off must have done me good. and i was very lucky because this is rare. so, heres my two options; i can believe that i am lucky yes. or i can remember that i gave it to God, was healed, and believe in him.

Welcome to Ping Pong Dojo. You can call me Sensai

Lately on base. a new craze is emerging. Table Tennis. incredible. since the school finally purchased some new paddles, (or batts as their called here). someone is literally playing ping pong on the table at just about all times.

the best, is every week the three dts's in the area meet here and that is when the serious ping ponging goes down. there are 5 Koreans, 1 Chinese guys that come from the other dts's when added to the englishmen and american plus myself that can really play, from our group, that makes about 9 of us who are constantly in contention for the title of the pingpong master. as a joke the guys from our dts like to call it the pingpong dojo when were playing with our Asian friends. and when that is going on, and I am the self proclaimed sensai. it is all in good fun. and we never really play tournaments. but winner stays is generally how it goes and generally allows everyone to see who reigns supreme. i love that is on our base, cause josh, jon and i play often. but i love it when everbody is here, even tho their is a rare chance that i do lose and have to wait to play again. i love that i convinced them Canadian level table tennis rivals that our our asian mates. but mostly, I LOVE PLAYING PINGPONG.

ps. Jer my serve is so sick. you will never beat me again.

The Best.

so Fridays and Saturdays are a little different here, a little unique. We take a break from classes and go do evangelism all over. this could mean a whole many different things. Barbaques on the beach...helping old ladies garden....talking with people on the street....or just connecting with people however we can. essentially building relationships. Naturally as a sporty person in a sports focused dts. i wanted to do this through sport. i signed up to go to the western suburbs which is the lowest income level area in Melbourne. a lot of the immigrants make it there, because obviously they have little money and need somewhere to go. so theres not much of a better place to have a go at Evangelism. we went with our friend Faylani who knows the area well and she brought us to the public park with basketball courts, soccerfields and tennis courts. she says this is usually where some of the African guys play ball. some of the Indians play Tennis, and just about everybody else plays soccer as she put it. i went hoping the best. but arriving in a pack of nearly 20- which could easily look overwhelming.. to find only small groups of guys already doing their own thing, i expected it to be tough to integrate ourselves into the activity. obviously as soon as i noticed a few guys playing ball. i watched from a distance. knowing that i had to play. in the few minutes i watched, i could tell, these guys were LEGIT. like not just neighborhood kids messing around. but they play for teams... but still come to the hoops to mess around. sure enough a few from our group offered to have a game. i could tell it probably wasn't the best idea when they offered them vs. us. ( they would have dominated) so i joined in and suggested mixing and splitting the teams. they were game. and thats what we did. we balled. they went tough thats for sure. they really wanted to make it clear that they play for serious. and i absolutely loved that. my team won. and my mates decided that maybe they would call it quits after one. i hoped i could have done that all day tho. so when i noticed the guys from my group leaving and there where 6 Sudanese. I figured that was my chance, and they would prefer to go back to their 3 on 3 game. But no, the one guy Kot, i played real well together with, told one of his friends to take a seat because the 'canadian' was on his team. that was rad, so we played three on three. i wish i could show you video of these guys slammin and jammin, but ill have to get that next week. so we played, intensly, games to 11, after ever game. looked at each other, than someone would say, run it again? and we would play again immediately. after about 5 games of playing full on, in the australian sun, i made the mistake of asking to hold up a sec, i need to go get my water. the one guy litterally asked "whats the water for?" when i told them i was thirsty, they actually laughed. and we just continued playing. i had to remember they were FROM AFRICA. so that was tough. but i had crazy respect for these guys. by the end of it, 2 hours straight or so, im drenched in sweat, dry throat, parched. and these guys wernt the least bit bothered. that was cool, but i think next time im going to bring water anyway. at about 5 the group was rounding up. and looking at me like were about to go. so we finished the game and had a few minutes to talk. we didnt chat much throughout, because of all the balling. so the 2 guys asked me to join their basketball team. and to come to practice thursdays. i had to tell them as much as i would love to join their all Sudanese basketball team, im hear for a different reason and live on a base a little ways away. so that would be tough. but again i was super stoked they offered.

oh then i told them it was a Christian organization i was with and i was a christian and the all immediatly felt they needed to appologize for swearing during our games. so that was funny. but i told em it was cool and nice to get to know them , and i told them that i would likely be back in the area. so i got some emails. and were in contact. i cant wait till friday, so i can run again!

the other thing that was amazing about this. is that for the past week i didnt do much in the way of sports because of my injury. but other than the fact of having no water. i kept up amazingly. also after not playing ball in a while. i was stoked to play at my potential. i feel real thankful becasue i really felt like its necessary to gain their respect first. to eventually build a relationship. so word. good work jesus. glad that day ended up being sick. it really was THE BEST.

Wonqa

Wonqa was our most recent speaker. he is a massive dude from Fiji. really honestly a great man.

he was speaking on studying the bible. and man, did he know his stuff. he knew the bible inside out.

it was cool to have time throughout the week to get to know him by playing rugby or whatever, but it also had some crazy good insights on the word. im starting to realize a patter here, with the speakers. there all way different in style and personality... and they're all way amazing.

IHOF UPDATE. two more wins on wednesday. record now 7 - 0 :)

Hero of the world.

I have been learning lots, and trying to help as many people as i can.

but i had no idea my impact until i came across this video.

http://en.tackfilm.se/?id=1267597973135RA46

Two - One & Three - Two.

here at our YWAM base Sunday, Monday is essentially our Friday Saturday weekend time. so at approximately midnight last night. we caught a train, and headed into Melbourne. our intentions was to go to an extremely English Pub and watch Manchester United win the Carling Cup. the last train runs at midnight an the game starts at 2. so we had a few hours to kick it downtown on a sunday night. this consisted of mostly laying around on park benches and picnic tables and going in and out of mackers the Australian McDonalds. that was all good and fun. but as 2 am rolled around, we headed down to the Charles Dickens pub ready for our night to begin. the game was great. Aston Villa versus. the mighty Manchester United. i promised Vidar on the train right over, if MAN UNITED wins the Cup. ill be a fan for life. a lot a pressure. but i figured the team could handle it.

ok so picture this, its 2 something in the morning. were in a basement english Pub. packed. standing room only. all the Aston Villa fans are in green on one side. United fans in red on the other. as the game momentum changes you can feel it in the room. singing and cheering its hard not to go crazy when rooney scored. throughout the game, cheers got loud, tempers roared. fights broke out. And. Manchester united won 2 - 1.

so that takes us to about 4 45 am. first train home runs around 5 3o. perfect. train station nap for about 30 and then ready to go home. hungry and tired. we made it home by almost 6. so only just over an hour until the hockey game. and when i say the hockey game. you better understand "the" refers to Olympic gold medal game. powered through till 7. Canada vs. America. a top the list of the nice things to do living in an international community. is watching CANADA hockey with several Americans. i mean not to be overly offensive. but i remember all the chirps when we lost in preliminaries. so a little bit, feel it. but what a game. over time. crosby. not a bad way to go. raf and i went bazerk. ran and yelled then yelled and ran. it was good times. best part of all, Canada won 3 - 2.

oh. then i slept for the entire day.