the big sha-bang: png outreach

what a year, what a year... its been a crazy time being on the ship tour and living on the 'hunk of glorious' metal most of the year... but the big big-shabang to top it all off was the fact that i got to go on the medical outreach to PNG!... i was so privileged to go back (but to the Gulf Province this time) for such a unique outreach with such unique individuals... i went specifically to do media with my other crazy visual communication gurus, nick and stephanie... we went for about 6 weeks, with a camera in hand and an open heart as we stood back as the medical people did what they needed to do... but we listened with open ears and open eyes, the stories of the PNG people that found their way into our hearts... i am no doctor, but being a part of all of this this year has shown me a close up picture of what hope instilled in God's people looks like...

it was a ball and i loved every bit of it. and now, its our turn to play our part and do what we went to do ... and thats to tell their story... so here's a recap video from the outreach that i edited and put together with my awesome team ... stay tuned for more stories from png ...

highlights in 6 months

All tour talk aside... travelling the east coast of australia had its perks. here are some of my highlights i've had in the last 6 months...

one of the best parts of travelling australia? ... was seeing that a cafe culture DOES exist in australia ... i went to so many great cafes through my travels and best part of it all was that they actually stayed open past 6 p.m. *gasp* ...sorry townsville... the rest of australia's got this one...

i remember one time we weren't in a time crunch to get to a port, so captain jeremy made a decision to anchor out somewhere. so the decky guys took down the zodiac and we found ourselves exploring a close by beach somewhere! ... and my first time in the zodiac...

this is one of my besties katie morrison. she said she would never sail on the ship. i think her nightmares of great whites taking her life out in the open sea convinced her she would never ever be part of the ship. who knew she would have a change of heart ... i was stoked. who wouldn't want to experience 6 weeks of travelling australia with one of your closest besties? ... ... sleeping (literally) 2 feet from each other down in our cabin, chai's & long blacks, mcdonalds every port, laughs in between tour groups and deep & meaningfuls late at night ... glad you were there with me katie. there were times i would've thrown myself overboard if you weren't there to keep me sane ...

People would always ask me what my favourite port was ... and it was a close call. but there was just something special about hobart, tasmania that made me fall in love. people said it reminded them of wellington, new zealand. it was artsy and cultured, nippy in the morning and evening but sunny during the day, and i just found it easy to get around with the compact layout of the town ... hobart definitely had a warm, homey, friendly feeling to it all and i wouldn't mind going back one day ... one day ...

Another highlight was when i left the ship for a week and went to Portland with Shey & Jennifer to do some school programs ... take 3 big, loud personalities and put them together for a week and you can only imagine what went out... we are wearing matching $4 panda hats from woolworths in this picture ... doesn't that say enough? ...

Out of all our sails... i will never ever forget the sail from ulladulla to geelong. in between the perfect sunsets and sunrises and clear night skies, i saw for the very first time dolphins swimming alongside us as we sailed. at first it was 1 dolphin, then 6 then 10 then it was a whole school of cheeky dolphins...

15 out of 16 ... what a life ...

bare with me while i backtrack and vomit blog for a moment ...

Lets take it back to the beginning of August... This is where the 16-port Australia Tour officially ended for the YWAM ship! ... unfortunately, it didn't work out for me to make it to the last port to Thursday Island but for the most part- 15 out of 16 ports was pretty darn awesome. i have nothing to complain about. i still remember the first moments of stepping on to the ship back in february, sitting in my bunk downstairs and saying to myself, "what the heck am i doing?!" ... and nearly 6 months later, i look back thinking about where i was able to go, the people i got to meet, the friendships i've made and the moments of realizing the huge significant platform of change we've had travelling this nation. words don't do much justice ... and thats why i do what i do with media. check out the recap video i put together of what we were able to do and where i've got to go most of the year ... what a life ... what a life ...

port 15: cairns

Cairns. a 4 hour drive north of Townsville.... the only city that i've actually been to before the tour and it was great to be back... and it was great to be back on the ship for tours after a 3 week break. i was a bit rusty but i managed.... and i'm not going to lie, it was a bitter sweet week for me though... it was the last stop for me for the Australia Tour... *sigh*... regardless- i wanted to end well and i did... this city is pretty touristy and so we came across a lot of backpackers. usually open-minded european ones that were up for anything... up for seeing the world and an adventure... and soul searching for something significant to live for... you can say, the perfect target audience for what were doing if you ask me... so the responses were great!

and then that prolonged goodbye... sunday night came. and so me and janna said farewell to our friends that were sailing on to Thursday Island and on to PNG without us... we got in the car and began the 4 hour drive back to Townsville... somehow closing this chapter in our lives... i'm not going to say THE END... because my friends ... it isn't....

port 14: townsville

This wasn't just another port city we were visiting for a week ... it was Townsville.... the final berth city of the M/V Pacific Link!... we sailed into good 'ol T-ville and there they were... the 80+ YWAM RTO excited staff waving & welcoming us with the colourful flags of the nations on the break wall... i'm not gonna lie- we felt pretty darn special and it was an overwhelming welcome home... i'd like to think all the excitement was about the individuals travelling back on the ship - but i know it wasn't 100% about that... it was more about the significant moments that was unfolding right before us, that my directors and leaders were praying, dreaming and fighting for for years.... the Pacific Link was home... in Townsville.

And so the busy week began full of tours, receptions, fundraisers, and all that jazz … we have so much favour with the Townsville City Council, the churches, schools, etc. so call it a 'big deal' … whatever you want to call it. fact is- we've been going off about this ship tour for ages and now that our friends, partners and sponsors from Townsville actually see that the ship is here is yet another exciting thing to see more people come on board.

the ship was in townsville for 3 weeks and it was fun having it in town... but the show must go on...

port 13: bowen

ahh. and so we made it to bowen... bowen is the location for the epic film "Australia"... and so as you walk around this small town, you'll see lots of memorabilia and all that jazz that claim its fame to this movie.... I wouldn't blame them. it was a wonderfully made movie... i love Bowen and I loved where we were docked... look at that jetty! it was seriously a 10 minute walk and though it seemed like it went on forever, i didn't mind it at all... it was good 'jojo time' to think and clear my head on the days events and the sunsets were amazing ... and as for tours, anyone that would take time to walk down that dodgy wooden jetty to come see us had to have some sort of genuine interest in what we did... and thats what it turned out to be... and that what we like... thank you bowen.

... who gets to do this? ...

again, i found myself walking up to the aft deck on our sail from gladstone to bowen, looked out at the beautiful massive uncomprehending big blue ocean and asked myself (again), "now, who the heck gets to do this?"... there it was again... thankfulness.... and so there we were, ahead of schedule... so the captain took us through the Whitsunday Passageway and we anchored somewhere for a good 4 hours. the boys went fishing... some went for a swim ... and some of us got in the dingy to get to the beach around the corner to explore... far out... again, who get to do this? ... now i'll let the photos speak for itself...

port 12: gladstone

gladstone... closer and closer to 'bogen-ville' we get... like similar ports on the north tour, it was a bit quieter than what we expected.... but still- we just had to give it all that we could... the extra mile you know? ... and to be honest- those stragglers that came around a bit after 4 that 'just missed the opening hours,' were probably the most genuine people and most keen to be involved in what we do. when we go beyond the 'opening hours', it puts things into perspective that its not just putting on our nice tour guide faces, but its what we actually believe in... and its what we are called to do... and we really want to see people get involved... so good good times in the extra mile... and good good times with the $20 underwater camera and glowing soup ...

port 11: brisbane

So there we were in Brisbane... I'm not going to foo-foo it up and make up stories ... but it was a bit unfortunate that we were tucked away under a bridge that expected slower tour days... as usual, we scoped the area to check out our surroundings the first night and we walked a good half hour to see if anything was open... and there it was... a Mobile station... so we what did we do? ... ate meat pies and ice cream, drank L&P and hung out in front of the mobile like a bunch of teenage hoodlums... our first taste of Brisbane. oh well... don't get me wrong- there were some awesome things that came out of our stop in this city... like raising 7 grand at the fundraiser... or making great connections at the medical reception and getting donations of medical supplies... or having awesome free hot showers or doing our laundry on shore ...

Sail from Southport to Brisbane

The sea never seizes to amaze me... or rather... the Creator of the sea never seizes to amaze me.

port 10: Southport

... so as you can see... we were NOT in the ghetto here in southport! this was our view from our 37-meter Pacific Link that was tucked away in the middle of these million dollar yahts and that looked out at all the high risers that covered the Goldcoast! ... this was the first of the whole tour to be docked in an area like this and it definitely brought a different element with our tours. contemplating on the wealth & success that was surrounding us, it was quite humbling coming to the realization again that we do what we do is not for self-gain or leisure, but because God has clearly given us a call and purpose beyond ourselves... and because of that- in the midst of all these yahts and boats in South port... sets the Pacific Link apart and is richer than the rust tell us...

port 9: Ballina

After a 3 week break in Townsville... we regrouped back in Ballina for the second portion of the tour... the North Tour... where we would be travelled up the coast of Australia until we made it up to Townsville at the end of June. And so... we kicked it off in beautiful Ballina (close to Byron Bay)... Small towns plus a good prime spot where people walk plus no other boats is ideal for being an attraction doing tours! ... i actually took the picture on the very top which was quite odd being on shore seeing the ship come in. im usually on it but it was awesome being part of the crowd to welcome them in... so as good as the break was in townsville- i was ready to go at it again! ...

blog freezer

Forgive me again while i blog vomit these next few journal entries ... Just when i get on top of it- i just fall right back in a silly blogger freezer.... so bare with me while i back track and tell you more about the North Tour (the second portion of the 'YWAM PNG and Australia Ship Tour) ... but for now, let me share with you this picture that was taken right when we got back from the south tour... this is what happens when you clean out the vans from outreach and you find jumpers and medical scrubby thingies...

south tour: complete

i've taken hundreds of shots of sunsets. and 2 things i've learned about them that is quite relevant to the place i sit as i contemplate on the last 10 weeks of this 'ship life' i've lived...

one, as much as i don't want to rely on post-editing photos, one things' for sure... that I will never, ever be able to capture the translucent rays, the unexplainable colours & intricate clouds as I would see them with my naked eye. its just... impossible. and i think God made it that way at times... that as much as i capture moments, and write about my experiences, and tell story after story, its just kept... a mystery. between me and God. and as much as i find joy in sharing with all of you about this adventure, i know that i've only scratched the surface and i won't ever be able to share the full extent of the things i've grown and gained because of the greater purpose that i've carried inside of me.

and lesson two of capturing sunsets... just when you think its the best, it only gets better. for this sunset shot, i probably took 20 shots before and probably 20 shots after this one ... just when i thought it was the most beautiful and vibrant, in a matter of minutes, the colours of the sky only got crazier & deeper... if only i wait, will i see. i am so grateful for what i've been through and what God has done through this tour, but I know He is so faithful and FAR from done... i am soo excited! we still got North Tour and PNG ahead! ... if only i wait, will i see...

so there you go... sunsets.

port 8: eden, new south wales

Eden, New South Wales... When we were usually docked in a city for a week, we were only in Eden for 2 days. When we usually did tours from 9 to 4 p.m, we did 1 day of tours from 12-8 p.m. When we usually had about 10 or more people on the PR team, we were down to 5 original PR team members (but its okay... just put a nice ywam shirt on the deck hand guys and engineers, and no one will ever know... wink wink) ... so as you can see- we were winding down and this our last port for the South Tour before our break....

It was an amazing ending in this lovely scenic small town of 3,500 or so. We had close to 200 people visit and hear about PNG in the first few hours. We had a tour almost every quarter of an hour and we had heaps and heaps of people come and donate spectacles & sunnies. i've said it before, but small towns are the best for this and we were once again, the 'big deal' of the day. theres a true genuine spirit that comes out of these communities ... and major potential for the youth that just want to do something big with their lives.

.. and that... was the LAST port of the south tour...

port 7: hobart, tasmania

Hobart, Tasmania... i'll be honest. all i really knew about this island thats located at the very bottom of Australia was that it was this mysterious place where we send our visas to get get processed... to my surprise, we docked, and this city jumped right on top of my favourite cities i've ever been to. tough call... buts its true. its absolutely beautiful, fresh, compact & cultured.... an outdoorsey nature scene and city feel and everyone is pretty friendly. our friends from new zealand compared it to their home and i agree. but there we were... in tassie... still in australia. i found this to be a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to tassie. but then again- this whole ship tour is a lifetime opportunity! 3 years in australia... and its only now i'm getting to REALLY see it... far out....

this ones' got her sea legs

Every sail is different... and its uncontrollable. when youre out there... youre out there. and there's nothing you can do... and so, when we head out to the open sea, i do in some sense, have no choice but to entrust my life with the captain and the rest of the trained professionals on board (and of course, the Big Guy thats with us) .... But here are some photos from the sail to portland, victoria to hobart, tasmania. if you are geographically aware, that means we sailed across the Bass Strait which is notoriously the roughest waters in australia... so we mentally and physically prepared ourselves for the 2 and half day sail and this is what it looked like. it wasn't as bad as we thought though (if it was, i wouldn't have been able to take any photos!) the worst it got was about 5 meter waves and a lot of rocking, but i wouldn't neccesarily call it the 'smoothest sail'... i try to be careful sharing this cause theres still a number of sails ahead of me... but i'll share with you that i didn't chuck up once in the last 2 months and i think its safe to say that i got my 'sea legs' which.... am quite happy about. :)

port 6: portland, victoria

I dont know about everyone else, but i absolutely loved being docked in smaller towns... Portland, Victoria for example... you would think you wouldn't get that many people coming to visit the ship but its actually quite the opposite. when a YWAM medical ship rolls in a smaller community, we pretty much dominate the town, cruising around in our vans and we basically become the 'bid deal' of the week. the genuine responses from the locals and the hundreds of spectacles and toothbrushes that were dropped off was very encouraging. it puts into perspective once again why we are doing what we are doing... its exciting to present something so tangible to people that just want to do something to make a difference ...