Greetings from Sydney!
I apologize on behalf of the group in taking so long to update. Last week we were at Forest Edge Camp and didn't have access to a computer/internet so we had no time to update. And this week has just flown by so it's been a bit difficult to stay up to date.
Camp was all about community. The basic premise was that we (the campers and staff) were from a space ship - The Horizon - that had left earth five generations before us and now we had landed on Io - a moon of Jupiter. We were to be a test colony to see if everyone on the ship could move onto the moon and start life over there. Throughout the week all the games and activities related back to the theme in some way. For example we played one game (which reminded me a lot of capture the flag) that was supposed to be a training exercise. In another game most of the leaders dressed up in crazy costumes and acted as though we were part of a mutiny on the Horizon. We had a coffee shop one night which was meant to be a party that the natives of Io (the Ionians) were throwing for us - the test colony from the Horizon. We also had a virus outbreak in which the leaders again had to act a little crazy and the kids had to "cure" us. Basically in every game that we played there was no winner. It was all about the kids working together - as a community to survive.
We really saw the Lord at work through the camp staff and in the lives of the campers. It was amazing to see how three different groups of people (Cedarville team, Forest Edge staff and Suburban Baptist young adults) could come together and really form a community - that was our biggest prayer as we wanted to be able to model a community to the students. Also there were several campers who for whatever reason came into camp believing it was something else, meaning they didn't know it was a Christian camp. Many of them were turned off by Christianity at the beginning but by the end of the week they were telling us they'd be back next year.
I think everyone would agree that it was an amazing week overall. We had a minor injury on the first day (Justin W. hurt his wrist on the trampoline.. .but he's fine now) and a few were feeling under the weather throughout the week but praise the Lord there was nothing more serious than that.
It was difficult for all of us to say goodbye as we left Forest Edge and Hoopers Crossing as we had become quite close to the people that we had been with for 2.5 weeks. I know I now have a new excitement about eternity when I'll see them all again :)
This week has been very busy for us and I think we're all starting to feel tired. Health has been a continued struggle - nothing serious just colds and such - but its enough to make people weary. We've done a bit of sight-seeing in Sydney (the Opera House and such...) and have had serveral different opportunities to interact with the folks from the Anglican Parish in the Hills District of Sydney. We've done several church concerts, children's clubs and senior citizens meetings.
Please pray for us as we wrap up our 4th week and head into our final week in Australia. Pray for health and strength as we're all tired. Pray that our focus would remain here with the people in Sydney as we are missing friends from Melbourne and from back home in the States. Pray that we would continue to use each opportunity we are given to pour out the love of Christ. And pray that we would continue to serve and love the people of Australia as well as each other.
Thanks for your interest in and support of our ministry!
Sarah
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