did you say... muster the sheep?

The more we travel around Victoria, the further i get from knowing what I know.... but i love it and i love experiencing new things! One day we were staying with a family who were sheep farmers. They were set to muster the sheep that afternoon to separate the pregnant sheep so they could care for them properly. So there we were... in the midst of hundreds of sheep, helping round them all up. Jennifer drove a 4 wheel drive that normally gives them a feed and we had to honk 4 times to get their attention so they would follow us. We basically lured them in... lied to them. we thought the sheep would finally catch up to us and ram into our truck demanding food... oh farm culture... i like you.

The make-shift Portland team....

So im on the PR (public relations) team, giving tours of the ship, setting up the big tent and/or doing media stuff for the tour... But an opportunity came up this week to switch it up a bit and go to Portland (with two other friends) to go into high schools and do presentations about the ship and PNG... First of all, doing school programs is completely out of my 'safe bubble.' I'm not really much of a public speaker or a performer, so i didn't know why, or how, but i said yes... believing that God wanted to open my eyes a little bit more. And He did...

18 School programs, speaking to over 1,500 high school kids, 1 home group, a youth group, a sunday morning service... all with this done with a "make-shift team"... The responses were incredible. Some are going to initiate spectacle collections … some schools are going to collect toothbrushes... And some were just moved to tears because they've never heard the message of HOPE…. i don't doubt that those sitting listening to our message could relate to one of the stats that we focus on … that 1 in 4 Aussie youth suffer from depression…. they've heard and our hope is that they would find LIFE.

Port 4: Geelong, Victoria

After that wonderful sail that I wrote about, we find ourselves in the state of Victoria! ... Geelong is on the bottom of Australia and its getting colder as we head not only down south, but into the winter season as well. What I've seen of Geelong, i like. I got to cruise around my bike and found the most awesome footpath that took me along the oceanfront. i found good coffee, good culture and good people.

One thing I get to do as a 'photographer' is to to go Civic Receptions of each city. It sounds so snazzy but its basically, and usually, a formal welcome from the mayor and respresentatives from the city council to tell us that they are behind our cause and we have their support. The support we have from the mayors and city councils is a huge statement. People see the good in what we are doing. Regardless of their faith in God or not, the message that there is value in life is loud and clear and is non-negotiable. this is once again, God's heart for each sphere of society to be influenced....

Them cheeky dolphins...

Check out this video of those playful cheeky dolphins on our sail from Ulladulla to Geelong!... As you can tell- we were pretty stoked about it... we were like little girls!!

the big blue ocean IS poetic...

Pictures won't do this entry any justice. Nor will my words... But i'll try to explain how amazing the sail from Ulladulla to Geelong was! ... We set sail on a Monday evening and I'm not going to lie, a few of us were a bit on the edge knowing that a 2 and half day sail was ahead of us through the Bass Strait, which apparently is known for the roughest waters in Australia. So we thought we'd be seeing those horrid red and green buckets again!... But to our surprise, the sail was as flat as a lake! The waters were so calm... so smooth... so still... so amazing. One of the first mates that was with us thats been travelling the Australia waters for years said he has NEVER seen the Bass Strait like he did on this sail! ... We were completely blessed by the morning crip sunrises, the amazing indescribable sunsets, the unexplainable sea and sky at night and to top it all off... there were dolphins! ... Not one, or 5, but a whole clan... or whatever you call a clump of playful cheeky dolphins that just wanted to play! ... I've never seen anything so amazing ... maybe on the Planet Earth DVDs or something ... but for me to see it with my own two eyes was quite epic.

... i don't think i've ever been so content and so at peace as I was on this 2 day sail... i was thinking of it and i dont think i've ever really related to the writings and poems of those out at sea... until now. i see now how poetic, how revelation giving and deep the wonders of being a part of the big blue ocean could be ... but the thing is, it always... ALWAYS comes back to the Creator of it all... and how awesome He is that He would give us all this to enjoy... so thanks Dad... you are amazing.

Port 3: Ulladulla, NSW

"Were not in Sydney anymore."... That was my first thought when I walked up onto the deck of the ship and took a look at where we docked at 7:30 in the morning. Ulladulla is a beautiful small quiet fishing town of approximately 9,000 people, with amazing beaches and quite hilly. But Ulladulla has the most friendly lovely people. We found it to be quite the perfect break, especially after the big city.

So one of the things that I do is give tours of the ship to the public. yes... joanna, the tour guide. who knew? but its awesome hearing stories and being front and center seeing people respond. One of my favourite stories was meeting this couple that was just on holiday and they came to visit the ship, not knowing anything about it. So they went on the tour, heard about the needs in PNG, and the guy headed to his car and said, "I'll be back, I got some sunnies in the car."... I thought he was going to come back with a pair... but he came back with excitement and dropped 8 pairs of sunglasses that he found in the cracks of his car... just collecting dust. "These will be better use in PNG." he said...

People are moved. People want to do something. People see that what they have in their possession can change a life and restore eyesight in PNG. With this whole ship tour, we are in some sense simply informing people and giving them a practical way for them to help. People come alive when they give of themselves....

So that was a bit of this town. I loved it and I loved the weather. But let me just say that Ulladullas' got some mad hills that kill me on the bike... so thanks a lot for the work-out Ulla-ulla-ulladulla... 'til next time...

Hillsong Hills...

I was in Sydney, so of course I had to at least TRY to make it to the Hillsong church!... So our new wonderful kind friend, Terri decided to drive us all the way out there and save us from figuring out the trains, buses and all that jazz ... So we stepped into the Hillsong Hills church and couldnt believe we were there! I just kept thinking of all the Hillsong DVD's ive watched, all the powerful teachings and cds ive listened to, all the Hillsong worship songs i've played year after year ... and it all came out and was birthed from the annointing of this one church that is world-known and carries so much influence. So it was awesome to finally be there... now if Darlene was leading worship... shoot.... maybe next time....

Port 2: Sydney, NSW: Smack in the middle of Darling Harbour

So how was the first sail on the Pacific Link you ask?.... Well, lets just say that it was a memorable one. Not because of the beautiful sunsets and calm seas... but because of the very opposite of that actually. The stormy weather, the 3-4 meter waves, which, i'm not going to lie... didn't make the sail fun at all. I was explaining to someone that it was like the evil twin of the Pacific Link came out at sea... tossed us around like rag dolls... and basically everyone got seasick of some kind. Again, not fun. I was fortunate enough (and smart enough i guess) to be one of the few on the ship that took motion sickness pills ahead of time. And so, it saved me from having my head in the bucket for 8 hours! ... And that friends... was the first sail.

But after all that, we eventually made it to Sydney. And there we were... docked smack in the middle of Darling Harbor, one of the biggest tourists attractions in the city. Its as if someone gave us first class elite tickets to be docked there. Our backyard was insane. Starbucks was a 40 second walk, along with the worlds largest IMAX theater... 6 million people in this metropolis city... And there we were... with a huge 'I WANT TO LIVE' banner plastered all over the ship. Of course people wanted to know why we were there and what we were all about!

So thats how a lot of it got started. People would come up and ask us what we were all about. And bam- open door. Conversations from why we were here, to how I got involved with YWAM, to what my job was... all circled around the very reason of helping the poor and needy and because of God. People were moved by what we were doing to help PNG and the Aussie youth.

So Sydney was awesome and I got my city fix... but at the end of the week, i think i was quite ready to see the country again...

Port 1: Newcastle, NSW: And so it begins here in Newie...

And so... it begins here. Our first port of the "YWAM Australia and PNG Ship Tour!"... NEWCASTLE. On the chilly Feb 23rd morning, more than 100 ywamers from newie and townsville welcomed in the MV Pacific Link ship that travelled 6 days (which wasn't the smoothest sail with 7-8 meter high waves!) from New Zealand! The moment i saw the ship on the horizon, it was all surreal. I can't imagine what my leaders have been thinking, as they have desired to begin a ship ministry for years... YEARS ... and this moment was significant. A beginning of something completely new... And here I am... front and center, seeing it all unfold. And so i sit here very priviledged to be part of the YWAM ships history... maybe someone will write a book one day & they'll write about this filipino photographer chic that lived on the ship. ha....

Other than tackling a whole lot of and the not so fun stages of pioneering something, it was great to finally be in the city of newie that i've heard about for ages. it really is a great city with amazing cafes that are... what? ... open until 11 p.m.? a foreign thing for us townsvillians.... so it was great to reconnect with good friends from the newie base and see for myself that newie guys are in fact... crazy... (the good kind though.)

and the first week of tours? ... absolutely awesome. we have seen over 1,000 people come visit the ship and respond just in the first week and... without it sounding cheesy or cliche... my eyes opened up. what we are attempting is beyond anything i can comprehend. but what i can see... port by port... face by face... is about change in the nations of papua new guinea and australia. and so i say again, i am very priviledged... and so stoked to be part of it all...

A-hoy mateys....

Well... the compulsive blogging begins once again...

I'm going to ATTEMPT to take you on a journey for this next season of my life. I am stepping into a SHIP world... you know... Maritime... that i've never dreamed of being a part of but now i am here and i want to take you with me... The "YWAM Australia and PNG Ship Tour" has finally begun!! ... This is a major part of my ministry and I am full on, front-row and literally, on-board of the MV Pacific Link ship! ... As of February 23, we have begun the 16 port tour of Australia, with the purpose of bringing awareness of Papua New Guinea and bringing a message to the youth of Australia that they can make a difference with their life... and opening the door into missions is just one way...

And so here i am... like i said, im going to attempt to bring you on a journey on all the highlights of the ship tour as i am in a different city in Australia for the next 10 weeks... so come along with me, and bare with me as i try to update you as much as possibe as i try and find free internet at McDonalds or wherever i can... a-hoy mateys... i am sooo excited!! ...