kiss the world awake

tauranga, new zealand: a very ideal "jojo-city" if i must say.

2011-04-26T18:01:00.014+10:00

new zealand's given Maori name is "Aoteaoa- the land of the long white cloud." ... not that i could literally ever be on a white cloud, but i reckon if i could imagine myself being on one, i think i would have the same feeling of when i was in new zealand for my holiday ... amazing, breath-taking, refreshing, and it was just darn beautiful... hands down, one of my most favourite places on earth that i love love love.... (did i mention LOVE?). i was only there for a week but i realized tauranga is like a little wrapped up beach-culture-country-side-cute-cafe city... a very ideal 'jojo-city' if i must say... it was great reuniting with old friends and making some new ones too and to top it all off- these photos above are taken on one of my every day walks where i was staying in 'Gideons Fields' which was incredible.

but i must mention that i went to new zealand mainly to photograph my friends, lauren and sefo's wedding. i met them back on the ship tour last year and was great seeing them again... but just our luck, it rained on the Big Day which was a challenge but it was alright... theyre islanders! ... no worries- it didn't phase them. :) we ended up getting some great shots either way and ended up being such a sweet simple wedding...

go, see & listen & to tell ...

2011-03-07T12:12:00.008+10:00

its quite simple really... i go to the nations, meet amazing people, hear their story, write a few notes, snap a few photos, capture some footage ... and i get to be a part of telling it... i not only find it as my 'physical staff responsibility' being part of this YWAM organization, but a calling... to go, to see & listen, and to tell... this is what makes the ship ministry real and why i love what i do... to put names to faces and tell their true personal stories.

with all that said, check out some videos i edited... this is why we do what we do...

* filming credit shout out to nick verwymeren & stephanie anderson... whoop-whoop.

cyclone yasi... bruised, but not beaten

2011-03-01T21:58:00.003+10:00

there's a first for everything... so why not experience my FIRST EVER cyclone in tropical queensland! ... and while were at it, why not make it the most severe storm in Australian history to ever hit the coast?! ... well thats what we got ... im sure you heard it all on the news, but on february 2, Cyclone Yasi packed winds up to 300 km (186 miles) per hour and was declared a "category 5" cyclone (the highest rating) and it was headed straight for our Northern Queensland Coast... yup, the very coast where i live...

when you are preparing for a natural disaster to hit, you never really know the severity of it until its ACTUALLY happening and then you find yourself taping up your windows or filling up water bottles or finding an extra mattress to keep in your bathroom (you know, just in case the roof of your house caves in and you need shelter during the storm)... things like that, i never thought i'd ever find myself doing.... but i concluded that its better to be safe than sorry... words i grew up with but have more truth to it when you are preparing for the ugly Yasi to come barging through your door...

the anticipation of Cyclone Yasi grew and grew until it hit the coast at about midnight. all i remember was the night being so hot with crazy, strong, loud winds that hit our house like i've never felt before... morning came... the winds subsided and we knew we were all safe. thank God that there was no severe damage to any of our property and the worst of the worst was pretty much ripped out trees everywhere and no electricity for a couple days... and c'mon, for a category 5 cyclone, we were really really blessed and God really had protected His people with no deaths from the whole storm ... like i read on a local paper, "we were bruised, but not beaten"... and this storm was just another thing to make Australia come together...

Here's some photos that my friend Gerald took the day after the cyclone hit Townsville:

dare i say it... fair dinkum.

2011-03-01T17:16:00.005+10:00

january 26 marks Australian Day ... hmm. how shall i explain what this is? ... well, according to wikipedia, australia day is the official national day of Australia. the day commemorates the arrival of the first fleet at Sydney Cover in 1788... and a whole load of other history tid bits that i can't bother to mention at this moment... but its also a day to reflect on what the Aussies have achieved and what they can be proud of! ...

all is know is, that as a foreigner living in this amazing country for nearly 4 years, have found a deep appreciation and love for this nation and its people. some of my closest friends i've made over the years have been australian so though i still may consider things oblivious, i've learned how to adapt to their ways, their lifestyle, their foods, their sayings, their shopping, their accent, their culture and their 'oh-so-loving' humour... and so we dressed up for a traditional aussie bbq, marked ourselves with aussie tattoos and gear & celebrated and enjoyed a massive bush dance! ... thank you australia for being so dang awesome... and dare i say it... fair dinkum.

san london frisco

2011-02-23T15:48:00.006+10:00

ahh. san francisco... another day trip worth mentioning while i was back in california. my good friend sam (that i met and worked with in australia), came to visit me in san jose for a couple days before he returned to his English home-land after his around the world ticket. so i was very priviledged that san jose made the cut on the itinerary and have "THE samuel nudds" to my hood. so of course i had to bring him around san francisco! ive been there a million times but its always fun bringing a newbie to the city. it was an adventure and a half taking the 'BART' (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and finding our transportation from place to place... From clam chowder bowls at Fishermans Warf to the buzzing shoppers in Union square and to of course, the always windy and cloudy Golden Gate Bridge... it was awesome... sam, it was nice having you 'guys' visit... see you in 'San London Frisco' one day...

a chilly california coast day trip ...

2011-02-22T13:51:00.005+10:00

i really do love california.... the city, the snow, the mountains, the ocean... all within hours drive from where my family resides... there's a gorgeous city called monterey, along the coast that i was able to visit a couple times for some special day trips with my cousins and old friends. it was absolutely gorgeous and being on the coast and on the ship all year, it made me feel so nostalgic. Walking along cannery row, feeling the amazing sea breeze, eating the yummiest clam chowder, and all the other things that make up a 'chilly-california-coast-day-trip' brought me smiles ... highlight? ... check.

no matter how familiar or foreign

2011-02-22T11:58:00.005+10:00

So if you haven't noticed, there's obviously this trend re-occuring on joannaorpia.blogspot.org... and that is that i am seriously incapable of blogging about the current. give or take, i'm usually two months behind anything that is currently happening in my life right now. if it annoys you, i apologize. but i know like always, i'll end up vomit blogging, catch up with myself... and then find myself in the same predictable place.... i guess its true.... old habits die hard...

which brings me to news that i was able to spend my holidays in california! ... yes, that was waaayy back in december/ january... (and this is where my disclaimer comes into play) it was way back, but just wanted to acknowledge that it was awesome that i was able to spend time family and friends, catch my breath from the crazy year, reconnect with old mates and to capture moments like this with my family... i've said this a million times... but yes, home will always be home... no matter how familiar or how foreign it can be ...

another one to chuck in my books

2011-01-17T13:55:00.003+10:00

... and just a few more special random png moments to share with you that really did make this a trip of a lifetime ... here's to another one to chuck in my books... Thanks God ... it was absolutely incredible...

A few highlights....

2011-01-14T16:16:00.006+10:00

Usually, every new village/district we went to would put on an extravagant welcome (or farewell) from the locals in their traditional dress with amazing dances and song, an array of gulf province food and even a few dramas... and it was a highlight of our day every time. No matter how many times we saw this, we always found ourselves so overwhelmed & blessed with the preparation put on for our welcome/farewell! ...

Now why wouldn't this be a highlight? Whether sunrise or sunset, and for every meal we ate on the after deck, watching the locals paddle across the river was a beautiful calming sight and made us realize how privileged we were to be there... and what a way to end the day....

Spontaneously gathering the massive crowds of all ages, singing kids songs whether acapella or with an out of tune guitar, and playing games to entertain and see them all laugh brought much joy to me.... and i'm not going to lie- it was all about the "Banana Song." Thats the big guns we pulled out and never failed to win them over...

We needed some footage & photographs of the M/V Pacific Link in action, so one morning, me, nick and Roger got to jump in the zodiac and drive ahead while the ship was cruising through the river. It's not a big ship, but it looked huge out there and it was pretty cool to see it from a distance with the awesome Gulf waterway backdrop! ...

So there's a saying that "God flicked them out of his hands" and thats how the Gulf Province was made... Thus, the mud. This picture was taken from our small boat... yes... you got it- AFTER we had to cross this mud. i found myself in nearly thigh-high mud ... and this all became part of our daily trip into and out of the villages and though it wasn't the simpliest- it was sooo much fun and when you are out there- you really just don't care and is all part of the adventure! ... and plus- see all the locals that walked us out? ... They just wanted a laugh to see us foreigners trip and fall into the mud.... see?.... everyone gets something out of it.

i wrote about Junior in the previous post... But still- meeting my little buddy Junior was such a highlight for me, especially for the week in Baimaru. Actually, i guess you can say that Junior was kind of a 'significant' highlight to cover all my png kid highlights. they are just all so free and innocent so much fun! ...

And of course, our means of travel in the Gulf has to be a highlight! ... As if travelling on the 32 meter ship wasn't enough... we got to the villages in small boats (called dingys), or the zodiac. Or even some of us in the locals' canoe boats... Out travels were sometimes a 5 minute- or an hour ride... either way, it was all part of this unique adventure and part of the Gulf Province lifestyle....

... And then they stole my heart

2011-01-14T13:05:00.007+10:00

Being in PNG, we met hundreds and hundreds of people of all ages and for all different reasons. But every once in awhile, you just come across a few in the crowd, that despite any cultural difference, language barrier or age, encounter special moments with them where you know that a difference was made in both of your lives... Here's a few people that have changed mine.

His name is Junior and he is the most brilliant 4 year that i've ever met! ... no joke. The day we arrived to Baimaru, he unexpectedly became my little special sidekick buddy and made my days in the village more exciting. He surprisingly discovered a natural gift in photography as he took my camera in his tiny little hands and composed better shots than i've seen most people do for the first time... and not to mention his cheeky responses and genuine innocence stole my heart.

Meet Karara. He was a chef in WWII, serving the Aussie soldiers. We found him in Baimaru Village where he was legally blind in both his eyes. After a cataract surgery onboard, he was able to see again! He was a definite cheeky showman! this picture says it all... I told him to smile for the camera and we went off making all these faces... Karara and his family surely made an impression on most of the crew and his story came full circle of joy being restored.

This is Delma. She had just received a pair of glasses and by the looks of her massive smile, she was quite happy about it. Shortly after this picture was taken, my friend Jennifer and I couldn't resist giving her a hug. Next thing you know, she broke out in tears of happiness. Receiving a pair of free prescription glasses may seem so simple, but i sure believe it touched this woman and spoke to her about God's love and hope and that she hasn't been forget.

This is Juniors mother, Wendy and his littler brother Kingston (who i wanted to eat! he was soo darn cute)... with all the time i spent with Junior, I was also able to build a friendship with his mom and really get to know this kind sweet woman. Wendy waited in the clinic all week to eventually find out that she had a thyroid in her neck and not only that- but she found out too that she had a bun in the oven on the way- and she didn't even know it.

I can't forget to mention Shelly. She was part of our 'posse' in the one of the villages and pretty much laughed at anything we would do... Just having her sweet spirit around us was a breath of fresh air from the long days in the village. A special girl for sure who I look forward to seeing where her vibrant personality takes her....

the big sha-bang: png outreach

2010-11-16T11:38:00.008+10:00

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

2010-10-28T13:55:00.015+10:00

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 ...

2010-10-27T12:22:00.017+10:00

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

2010-08-30T21:31:00.005+10:00

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

2010-08-30T21:01:00.010+10:00

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

2010-07-28T21:42:00.004+10:00

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? ...

2010-07-09T10:17:00.004+10:00

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

2010-07-08T21:27:00.004+10:00

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

2010-07-05T18:19:00.006+10:00

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

2010-07-05T17:23:00.002+10:00

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

port 10: Southport

2010-07-02T10:48:00.004+10:00

... 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

2010-07-02T10:16:00.004+10:00

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

2010-07-02T09:58:00.003+10:00

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

2010-05-10T22:37:00.009+10:00

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

2010-05-10T21:39:00.006+10:00

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

2010-05-10T20:25:00.005+10:00

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

2010-05-08T11:21:00.004+10:00

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

2010-05-08T09:53:00.008+10:00

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 ...

Port 5: Adelaide, South Australia

2010-05-04T14:49:00.005+10:00

so here we are in adelaide... i've been looking forward to coming to this city for ages and it was quite awesome and artsy and busy... although, i wasn't too impressed with where we were docked. it was out in the boonies and once a tour was done, it was like ghost town. it ended up being alright though. i got to meet these awesome grade 8 students that were more than happy to be there and were so stoked about collecting spectacles for Papua New Guinea! those are the groups that make our day...

12 apostles... minus 5...

2010-04-09T16:07:00.006+10:00

I've seen it in all the Aussie calendars and books about places you MUST visit in Australia... that is... travelling the Great Ocean Road and visiting the 12 Apostles in Victoria ... and I've made it! ... another thing i can check off my list of things to see in this amazing country! Me, shey and jennifer got to visit the 12 apostles one afternoon ... but apparently... theres only 7 apostles now. A few years back a few of them collapsed and it changed the face of this place forever ... it didn't bother me though cause it was quite spectacular! ...

did you say... muster the sheep?

2010-03-28T16:57:00.011+10:00

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....

2010-03-28T15:49:00.007+10:00

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

2010-03-28T14:51:00.014+10:00

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...

2010-03-27T21:17:00.004+10:00

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...

2010-03-27T20:13:00.012+10:00

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

2010-03-27T19:41:00.009+10:00

"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...

2010-03-27T16:54:00.007+10:00

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

2010-03-27T15:59:00.012+10:00

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...

2010-03-25T19:57:00.011+10:00

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....

2010-03-25T19:33:00.007+10:00

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!! ...

an aussie chrissy & the charismatic carolers

2010-01-04T17:52:00.015+10:00

You know those little baby jumpers that say "My very First Christmas?"... well i wish someone got me a onesie that said "My first Aussie Christmas"... because thats what it was... as much as i did have my heart set out on going home to chilly california as i do every year, i must admit that i had a pretty amazing time celebrating the holidays with friends... my family... here in townsville! ... We enjoyed each others company, stuffed our faces with the best food and continued with cookie gluttony, sat around and watched movies in the air conditioning, opened our overflowing stockings with goodies and presents and sang the most horrid off-key christmas carols... all these things were fun and made it all special, but one of the best things was knowing that I wasn't 'alone'... not only am i talking about a physical presence of people... but a deep deep joy of knowing that the Birthday Celebrant Himself, the One who I am in relationship with, knows everything about me and knows everything that I needed to make me feel rested and happy... and He gave that to me... and that... is a priceless gift.

The Charismatic Carolers from joanna orpia on Vimeo.

... and now just for fun... and speaking of something priceless.... This is how we ended our Christmas Day... and yes, we literally went door to door and surprised our friends with our oh so wonderful rendition of carols... until next year...

uncontrollable weather & jumping castles

2010-01-04T13:10:00.000+10:00

If someone told me i'd be a wedding photographer more than once, i'd laugh... im laughing now... I just recently photographed my friends' sisters wedding down in beautiful Byron Bay in New South Wales (2 hours from Brisbane)... Despite the lack of SD cards, evident pressure and working under uncontrollable weather (boo for a bit of rain, but whoo-hoo for the overcast), it ended up being quite fun & enjoyable... it was a farm wedding & they hired a jumping castles for the photos! ... doesn't that say enough? ...

Australia & PNG Ship Tour Video.... done.

2009-12-31T16:07:00.001+10:00

So why did I go to Papua New Guinea back anyway?... Well, long story short... our centre is getting ready to bring in a medical ship next year that will provide medical aid to the people of Papua New Guinea. So working in the media department, we were given the task to create a video that would give people an overall picture of what we are trying to accomplish and how people can be involved. So I went to PNG to photograph and gather video footage, came back and edited, my genius friend nick did the motion graphics, and our brilliant friends did the soundtrack ... it was a 4 month journey getting this all done (and trust me- it wasn't the easiest) ... but yet... it was all worth it and very rewarding seeing the finished product. And we know that this tool is going to be multiplied for more purposes that one ...

twenty seven and counting...

2009-12-31T14:52:00.005+10:00

Its pretty big to say... but... i may have had the best birthday celebration this year ... well, it goes pretty high up on the list... me and my friend sam had the same birthday week so our friends planned a camping trip for a couple of days out at Bagal Beach... it really is who your surrounded by when you blow out the candles that makes it so special and memorable... and i have been so blesssed with some good mates to bring in the new year... happy 27 to me...

a Kelowna destination wedding ...

2009-12-31T13:48:00.007+10:00

I made a trip last summer up to Kelowna, Canada for a couple of my best friends' Stephen and Amanda's wedding. Yes, my crazy partner-in-crime-for-years Stephen got married! ... It was a sweet honour being a part of their wedding party and though the visit was too short, it was heaps fun and weddings are a great excuse for reunions. i reckon they should just call it a 'wedunion' or a 'unidding'.... okay maybe not...
check out more photos of the wedding here

"Excuse me... Are you the professional wedding photographer?"

2009-12-31T12:07:00.005+10:00

There's a first time for everything... and so, why not photograph a wedding for the first time?... and thats exactly what I did for some friends in california this summer... I've never seen myself as a wedding photographer for many reasons, but mainly because of all the pressure and i dont know how i would handle the first excruciating experiences of possibly screw ups and being placed as an amateur wedding photographer ... but eh, you got to start somewhere. and its quite humbling confessing you don't know what the heck you are doing. but i gave it a go and i am actually quite pleased with the outcome for my first wedding! ... although i'll be steering away from the "professional wedding photographer" title as a profession, i'm more than open to learning and gaining more experience... until next wedding...

PNG: A few out of the thousand...

2009-12-30T17:59:00.013+10:00

once upon a time... long long ago... wayyy back in may of 2009... i went on a 6 week media outreach to papua new guinea that opened my eyes to the beauty and needs of our neighboring nation ... i can't really put my experience i had in words. thats why photographs are good ... Here are only a few out of the thousands of photos that i still need to sort through. stay tuned... i'm TRYING to make a book .... maybe it will be done by 2012... :)

preserve my existence

2009-09-24T12:06:00.010+10:00

nearly 6 months later of no blog entries... apologies. i promise i haven't fallen off the face of the earth. i guess somewhere in the middle of going to papua new guinea for 6 weeks in may, working on a ministry video project that consumed my life for approximately 4 months, going to america and canada for the wedding fest in july, saying goodbye to best friends here month after month and trying to keep sane with my everyday thoughts and responsiblities... i figured it was due time for a blog entry and preserve my existence on here. i am finally starting to feel like im catching up on life again...though i may have to back track a little bit, as some significant things in my life have happened that i would love to share with you all... so hang on- i'm beginning to show my face to the world again...

a voice in the dark videos

2009-03-03T21:09:00.008+10:00

"The most confronting part, is now that you've heard, now that you know... You've got some kind of responsibility... TO DO something." - Words from Mike Murray to provoke action after you've heard about the injustices that are going on today... In the craze of everything, i finally uploaded these videos that stephen, nick and myself worked on the end of last year... it was a project we fully embraced because it was no question, our hearts, to use media & music to be a voice in the dark...

A Voice in the Dark (video #1)° from stephen on Vimeo.

A Voice in the Dark (Video 2) from stephen on Vimeo.

A Voice in the Dark Report Back from stephen on Vimeo.
And in a nutshell... THIS is what happened on tour...

meet Cyrus Jamal

2009-01-30T13:43:00.004+10:00

After four years with my canon rebel 300D ... it was time to say farewell. i've acknowledged how good & faithful its been to me over the years here. But really... it was due time. Good things come to those who wait... and with that said, let me introduce you to something good.... and that is my new Canon 50D... also known as Cyrus. (like that? though some friends insist to call it Cyrus Jamal). There are too many features on Cyrus to wrap my mind around as of right now, but as i go, i'll learn. This is by no means to gloat about material things in my possession, but to see this as more of a testimony of God's faithfulness when it comes to... yes... even these material things that can be used as tools to serve Him... I must acknowledge my most amazing generous parents and a few supporters that really helped me out and I really... I am so so very grateful.... so with all that said... you stay tuned for photos brought to you by Cyrus...

* David needs a voice

2008-11-19T01:00:00.013+10:00

ywam reef to outback initiative. media/music tour. northern queensland australia. mt isa and cairnes. oct 27 through nov 7. highschools. youthgroups. churches. injustices. prostitution in thailand. poor health care in west papua. abuse in indigenous australia. poor education in vanuatu. poverty in indonesia.

* David needs a voice.

* Justice needs you

* A voice in the dark

2008-10-14T17:17:00.003+10:00

her name is jessica... shes our friends' daughter and she melts my heart whenever she turns the corner.... shes stolen my heart... yes she has...

its a time warp

2008-09-30T17:01:00.004+10:00

yes, for awhile it was all about 'manga faces' but we've moved on in our lives and begun 'yearbooking yourself.' this brilliant website... which falls highly under the office distraction category... takes a picture of you that you upload and you can see what you would look like from the 1950's all the way to the 2000's... so heres jaso and aidan and myself through a time warp. its hillarious.... now go... yearbook yourself... www.yearbookyourself.com

its not just birthday cake

2008-09-30T14:43:00.004+10:00

im not really sad here. i just thought that it would be funny cause everyone has smiley photos of them and their birthday cake so i thought i'd do just the opposite and pout. im 26 now. i could do anything... okay maybe not anything still- its a pretty legit age. *phew* im at the brink of my mid-20's.' entering a new year of my life, like i've always found, surprises me everytime. i know this shouldn't be the case, but since i've been in ywam, my birthdays always seem to fall on the oddest days of a transition and so "this day" hits me like a brick of emotions & insecurities and all these other funny thoughts. but then something embraces me that i can't really explain and everything ALWAYS turns out, and i sit back, look around and observe the people who i share my birthday cake with.... it not just a birthday cake. its the ones surrounding me that makes bringing in the new year so special. (but of course if i had my way, i would have my family and friends from home here). but during this week long celebration of hiking up and spending a day by the waterfall, spending an evening under the stars at a bonfire, more dinner parties, more cake, and having a 'beverages around the world' combined pub birthday party with 2 good friends of mine... i'll say that this one is pretty high up there... and it gives me no reason to pout...

Well, shiver me timbers and sharpen me sword

2008-09-30T11:48:00.006+10:00

this is what happens... you tell a bunch of ywamers theres going to be theme party and they talk about it for weeks prior to the event and i'll tell ya... when theres a theme party around this hood, we go all out or we go home... so the amazing comm life department hosted a pirate murder mystery party called "Murder Among the Mateys." basically, it was a night of role playing and everyone got a character to act out and throughout the night, you got clues to figure out who the murderer was... i played the galley wench 'Uma Scarr'. yah. good times... it was absolutely brilliant how everyone got into it.... oh like i said, we get into it or we go home... arrrrrrrrrrrr....

pin the nose on rudolf

2008-08-06T16:57:00.004+10:00

we actually did it. we had Christmas in July at nick and saras and oh what a glorious celebration it was! from eggnog to hot apple cider, to caroling in the neighborhood, to putting up the mistletoe (also known as tomato leaves) to watching Elf and playing pin the - not tail on the donkey- but you guessed it... pin the nose on rudolf. we had a lot of good laughs and christmas outbursts whenever someone would walk in and our neighbors most likely thought we were nutz... but you know what, seize the day... were evidently bringing life to the community and its even merrier when you do it with friends.... merry jolly christmas in july everyone and may the yultide carols make your heart all warm and fuzzy until the real thing... next up? ohh.. if we only knew...

O, say can you see

2008-07-09T14:15:00.005+10:00

yes, i am living in Australia for the time being... but it doesn't necessarily mean that the American holidays don't live on. probably because i'm pretty much surrounded by Americans and you can't really forget about these events. so yes... my friends and i decided we were going to celebrate independence day with a mini sparkler ceremony down by the beach. it was great fun... though towards the end it felt like it turned into a toxic inhalation party because of the fumes and the sound of cancer coughs... we created memories anyhow and was quite memorable.

sing with me now... "O, say can you see by the dawn's early light... What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming..."

this is my space.

2008-04-08T17:39:00.007+10:00

this foto is taken in my office and this is what i look at everytime i look up at my ceiling over my desk. my friend did this. and yes, it is my space. which therefore, makes it joanna space.

world- this is xavier

2008-04-01T14:45:00.009+10:00

oh... allow me to do the introductions...

world- this is Xavier Moses Haythorpe...
and Xavier, say hello to the world....

so my good friends luke and angela just welcomed their fourth and last child into the clan last saturday, march 29 at 6:28 p.m and hes a cute one i tell ya and hes been smothered with lots of love already... i was honored to be right there in the room to greet the little guy and to capture these moments of life- and to be reminded once again that this... life... is a miracle. i keep this up- i'll be a mid-wife slash fotographer... or mid-fotographer or foto-wife... okay, this entry is done. check out my flickr for more fotos of the birth of baby moses...
welcome to the worldxavier

flowery foo-foo easter sunday dress

2008-03-28T10:29:00.017+10:00

happy resurrection day.... im a bit late (whats new) with this entry but still- i hope that everyones easter celebration was splendid... some random thoughts came to me about my childhood and celebrating easter sunday growing up... and how everything as a kid is exciting... you know, my new flowery foo-foo easter sunday dress with white tights and the matching white pink hat and white gloves, dying the eggs and bringing it to the easter egg hunt in my cool matching basket.... all of it... *sigh *.

He is... risen!

agree with mr. miller

2008-02-07T11:42:00.000+10:00

there's a bit in one of donald millers books where he writes, "everybody has to change, or they expire. everybody has to leave their home and come back so they can love it again for all new reason"... i'll say now that its not necessarily the reason why i go home, but i can agree with mr. miller when he writes about going back home and loving something again for all new reasons. i was just recently home in california for 6 weeks and i had a fantabulous time! it was full of good eats, good company, good food, good sleep, good tv (although debatable but compared to aussie tv its true), good times and basically... good everything. a short trip to l.a. also allowed me to see some good friends i haven't seen in years and reunions are never short of sweet. and i came to a realization in the simplicity of all, that my heart will always be with my filipino-american peeps... whether it might be for a couple weeks or a few months, i don't take for granted my time that i get to spend at home and i always find gratefulness in my heart for friendships and family over there. but i was ready to face the year and get back into y-wizzle and now im back in australia! if i keep to my goals, i'll be updating more on my blogger and won't keep you guys wondering what im up to... keep bugging me but it come down to it and if you must... say i stink at blogging and then you'll see more posts... cheers.

happy birthday Jesus

2007-12-25T19:09:00.000+10:00

this one goes out to the birthday celebrant of the season.... who deserves all glory, all honor and all praise! happy birthday Jesus! .... everyone now... "hip-hip hurray! hip-hip hurray!"... merry christmas friends.... i do hope that your celebrations are jolly and full of cheer and that Jesus is celebrated in the midst of it all...

oh sweet solitude

2007-12-19T19:03:00.000+10:00

.. i've been on the go for most of the year in australia doing what i love, meeting some extraordinary people, and seeing myself as a part of the bigger picture (although i still find myself piecing pieces together to really know what that means!) .... it was due time to come back to cali-cali... and so here i am .... writing this entry from a place i love to call HOME... theres nothing like being with family for christmas and catching up with old friends face to face... and ahh... theres a million things that i need to and want to do while i'm here but im taking it easy, resting, and as my friend johannes put it... "oh sweet solitude." its exactly what i need and its so good. so the plan is for me to be here until mid-january until i return to townsville and continue on being on staff... until then- i wont refuse to stuff my face with good american- (and filipino!) food, great customer service, family, friends and a cold christmas by the fire....

i miss you... yes you

2007-12-05T20:13:00.000+10:00

so we took this picture for my good friend, fellow communications staffer and foot harasser, peter cabrera... who just recently left reef to outback after being here nearly 5 years. we had some good good times and all the peterisms and everything that came with it will surely be missed... and as much as i would like to dedicate this whole entry to mr. cabrera, let me broaden this for a bit... because doing what i do, here at y-wizzle, and seeing people come and go every few months doesn't really get any easier... for some people- maybe. but not me... i've come a long way and found life long friends who at some point in life ive connected with... so... to friends from california to hawaii to switzerland to brazil and everywhere in between... "i miss you.... yes you."

hands down

2007-10-22T19:19:00.000+10:00

okay. i am officially the worst blogger in the world.... and i apologize to the world. you just have to imagine maybe- 3 or 4 blog entries in between this one and the last.... but yes, in my shame, i'll remain loyal.....

so heres the big news... the school of design finished... exactly a month ago today...so not only was it the day of the graduation, exhibition, student assessments, cleaning up the classroom.... but it was the day i entering a new year of my life... yes, it was my birthday as well ... i remember 4:00 rolled around and i felt like i haven't stopped moving since i woke up that morning.... and i just needed to... sit. so i did... i hid and i found a quiet place... acknowledged God in thanksgiving and contemplated how significant this day was... taking a look at all the work of the 6 students at the exhibition was overwhelming because sometimes it felt like it was all about the blood, sweat and tears....but it all paid off and i felt like a proud little mama and and knew that nothing of this would be possible without God's grace and faithfulness... hands down to the charters club.... peter, stephen, mary, laurel, deedee, shalom, bart and phililpp... the coffee kept us sane and i say ... job well done...

the charters club

2007-08-10T16:21:00.000+10:00

and here they are ladies & gents... 6 students... 3 staff. its one big happy family...left to right, we have philipp (germany) peter (texas) bart (indiana) shalom (sydney) laurel (california) deedee (california) mary (georgia) and stephen john bryde (australia) .... the first ever school of design at RTO... the 'charter's club' as we declared ourselves in the beginning of the school... and we are officially half way done with the school (yes friends... that shows how much i suck at blogging). we've had some pretty amazing God-sent speakers come through imparting the 'goods' to the school ... including mr. joseph avakian, emma blake from perth and at the moment, neil shanks... follow the links to my friends blog and you can read up more on what we've been covering week by week. i can't even explain right now in one blog entry what God has been doing through me, the staff and the students up to this point... i just wouldn't be able to find the words. being trained in a 3 month design school is much more than color theory or grid layout friends... but its really coming to know and grasp our hearts and minds around the fact that we are CO-creating with God. its been fun for sure, but i can't deny that its been a challenging, learning time for us all... but inspiring above anything. and the thought of God coming along this creative journey is such a privilege... so just you wait... were not done just yet...

2007-07-08T02:42:00.000+10:00

joanna* originally uploaded by stephenjohnbryde
well friends... the School of Design has officially begun and you can officially call me Miss School Leader.... its craziness i tell you.... but it the reality and its been one week and one heck of a ride already. i just had to stop the other day, gather my thoughts, and to really just thank God for the significance of this school happening after waiting for so long. you've heard me say this a million times but it is 'vision becoming reality' and im stoked to see what God is going to build up, rise up and unlock in these students..... im lucky. i have front row seats....

the countdown begins...

2007-06-13T17:09:00.000+10:00

and the countdown begins... *sigh*... here we have one of the reasons why God has called me back here to Australia... to lead a 3 month School of Design. click on the poster ad and check it out... the school hasn't even started yet but i've been on some ride with God these past few months leading up to this point. but im stoked. speakers are nearly booked and we got 6 students right now!... but praying in faith for more.... theres still much to do so pray for us... its gonna be here in... 17 days, 10 hours, 37 minutes, 10 seconds... 9 seconds... 8 seconds... you get the point...

the first time i met Saké

2007-05-07T20:41:00.000+10:00

it all started when my friends fish died the night she was leaving australia... "rest in peace Red Betta Fish"... so with all this fish talk i thought it would be cool to get some kind of little pet while im here... so the other night, some friends and i went to the night markets in town and we were just about to leave and then i turned the corner and there it was... the first time i met "Saké" (also known as "saki")... so i paid my 6 aussie dollars, went home and i was stoked that i had a pretty little fish to take care of! its amazing.... seriously, its kinda funny how something so little that just swims all day in a 1 litre jar can make me happy....

a really long dejavu

2007-04-27T14:54:00.000+10:00

soo.... im back in the land down under! that is... AUSTRALIA... for those of you who are geographically challenged... after a year and half im back at the ywam base and its all so familiar but yet all so different at the same time. its like a really long 'dejavu'... but making new friends and reuniting with old ones have made it a sweet return and the transition quite easy. but if i said the hard part of getting over here to Australia was the hard part, i would be lying... in fact, its quite the opposite... cause i'll be leading a 3 month School of Design that starts in July! and so im here... (and when im not star jumping in front of our YWAM base vehicle) i'll be praying and preparing with my friends, my staff... stephen john bryde and peter cabrera. im not quite sure what the heck im doing, but heck, im here... in obedience and in faith... and trusting God more than ever in this journey that He's called me to in the land of oz...

one encounter

2007-02-22T18:27:00.001+10:00

apologies for the long silence... and i greet you all with a belated everything... though i confess... a few weeks of this long silence is dedicated to the prompting of Gods calling to missions in cambodia and thailand. its a long story of how it became, but basically, i went on a missions trip with my young adults group from my church in san jose for a couple weeks... talk about unexpected! i take a look back and if someone were to say to me that i was at home for this very reason to go to cambodia... i wouldnt argue one bit. i know that it was all in the divine plan of God... and i just fell in love with cambodia...

im still overhwhelmed and feeling all the post-outreach re-entry hoopla... and as i sort out my thoughts about cambodia, i settle to share with you this quote that almost became a theme for this outreach... "never underestimate the potential of one encounter."... we saw hundreds of kids in the villages, people everywhere walking or riding bikes on the streets of Siem Reap, busy people in Bangkok bound somewhere.... and yet, i realized, that no matter who they were, every encounter i had with them was a chance for the Lord to impress Himself through me and the Jesus in me. and it would happen during that 'one encounter.'... theres nothing like the unseen and what happens when eternity is altered for the glory of Him...

there goes another one...

2006-12-05T03:42:00.000+10:00

i can't count anymore... they're going one by one. another one of my good friends jamie bartley is no longer a bartley, but a Whittmore. it was a beautiful sight, to witness their wedding, a dream in the flesh. to see jamie and dan together... in love... in commitment... *sighh* im stoked that i got to go to medford for the wedding... or you could say reunion. well those of you in ywam could agree the beauty of a ywam wedding is that, not only do you go to the wedding, but it disguises the event to a big ywam reunion... faces you thoughts you'd never see again and then you open the door, and bam, theyre there and next thing you know, you find yourself laughing together like there were no years or months in between that you've been separated. so this 'ywam- its a small world' ordeal thing- its true... you say 'see you later' cause your bound to see each other again... just look at us, half Brazil outreach team was back together! ... ohh, and jon hans.:) ... good times guys....

thanks day happy giving

2006-11-24T04:53:00.000+10:00

in other words... happy thanksgiving everyone! wherever you are in this world... whether you do the traditional sit down turkey-yam-pumpkin-pie dinner thing with family or not... whether your an american or not... whether you celebrate thanksgiving or not... i say lets just get on the same page here and just stop where you are and say a little horizontal 'thank you' to the ONE who has provided for everything and anything we ever needed... so with that... thank you Jesus. you rock my world...

now go stuff your faces.... cheers.

i bid adieu...

2006-10-17T15:22:00.000+10:00

its been almost a month since the school has ended but since i'm such a closure person... i have to acknowledge the school of design that i staffed in burtigny, switzerland. 13 creative, unique minds and personalities that looked at everything through a cheese grid... (really) ... and they have ended well and i have been honored to have worked with them... my friends... who have taught me more than they would know. (okay, sounds like im writing my thank you's in my debut cd) ... but anyhow, it only took a matter of a few days for us to spread out all over the world to return 'home.' ... i bid adieu to beautiful switzerland and once again have left a piece of my heart in another part of this world and hope to return there one day... sante to all i've come across these past 6 months... good times in the great land of cheese...

love at first bike

2006-10-05T21:58:00.000+10:00

love at first bike... i know, cheesy. but it was true.... i went to visit some friends in amsterdam last week and right when i got there, i was pulled in by the city. amsterdam is famous for its free-spirited liberalism, diversity and tolerance and is the most bicyle friendly city of the world... yes, bicycle... a friend had an extra bike so we cruised around the city like it was our own. (thank you jesus that i didn't get run over)... and the whole city is like its being hugged by these canals. of course, seeing good friends always warms my heart, but to have amsterdam as the backdrop just made it all the better. in all the uniqueness and creativity of this city, i left utterly inspired...

(literally) writing with light

2006-09-12T20:14:00.000+10:00

one clear night in the village of burtigny, there was once three friends named peter joanna and cliff... just when they thought summer was over, there came a warm bright night that inspired some photography experiments. it was mostly led by cliff (while peter and joanna were merely the subjects... also known as really really ridiculously good looking models) so for this particular random journal entry, joanna must commend cliff from jersey for being the photographer that he is... and for (literally) writing with light... and for taking joanna back into the school of photography for a second...

if i sit still enough...

2006-08-22T19:52:00.001+10:00

with only my plastic bag in hand, i got off the easyjet flight about a week ago in beautiful edinburgh scotland! even though i found myself in the midst of all the UK airport security chaos from all the terrorist attacks, i made it. and it was all well worth it... i missed my chance a year and half ago to go to scotland when i was in the UK but another opportunity came up. a few weeks ago, my good friend joel came for a visit and convinced me to make it to scotland one weekend while he would be there (with the maui school of worship outreach)... it didn't take a lot to convince me and honestly, i couldn't have asked for a better time to go... with the Fringe going off (the worlds largest arts and cultural festival) there was heaps to see and reuniting with my friends from maui was such a sweet time.... it was so flippin amazing! i've decided i will go back to scotland one day... and discover more of the beautiful rich history of the scots... but for now... if i sit still enough in the silence, i can still hear the bagpipes carry a melody...

school of outter voice

2006-08-04T20:26:00.000+10:00

i guess you can say that i wear my 'staff hat' for the school of design with a little bit more confidence than when i first started about 4 weeks ago. it has been a stange eerie process transitioning from being a student for 2 years to being a staff but its been such a learning experience. this season is definitely a time for me to sit on a spring board into traning and leadership skills for future plans. i must say that the students in this school are amazing natural talented divergent extroverted people who... i must add... like to practice their '"outter voice." :) they are great and love 'em to pieces... im learning right with them and tapping into God's creative as we create, design and be inspired...

kiss the world awake...

2006-07-18T18:05:00.000+10:00

once in awhile, you hear a quote or phrase that just makes you stop... and think.... and then stop again because its just so darn good... i heard one from the amazing sue rinaldi herself, who quoted a writer that said we must be people who "kiss the world awake." whooa... "kiss the world awake"... there came a revelation, that we as christians, have been given a responsibility to gently go, with all that we are, knowing in confidence that God is living in us... to create a response... and wake up those who are lost and dying in this world... lets kiss them awake... not kiss them to death...

as the ywam rhythm goes....

2006-06-18T23:19:00.000+10:00

as the YWAM rhythm goes... its that time again to reflect back at all the things that i've learned in the last 3 months, how much i grew spiritually, mentally ( but unfortunately, i cant say physically) and how i've advanced just a little bit more in life. its coming down to the last week of the school of communication foundations and this quarter i've been challenged left and right from speaking publicly to interpersonal relationships to cross cultural communication. it was good stuff and will benefit me in the long run for sure ... and with all that, i'll be saying goodbye, see you later or see you never to the people i've gotten to know and have grown close to over the last few months. although i'll still be in switzerland until the end of september but thats a whole other journal entry that awaits...

great land of cheese

2006-05-08T22:15:00.000+10:00

i've made it to the great land of cheese... Switzerland i mean... and its as beautiful as i've imagined it to be. i'm now here in burtigny, switzerland doing my last course called the school of communication foundations. the students. the ywam base. the content of the school. the food.... its just been amazing. im actually surprised myself with adjusting to living in this small french speaking village but i definitely know its a God thing since i was pretty much over thr transition thing... but God is good... and so is the cheese...

for the newly weds

2006-04-26T00:36:00.000+10:00

i'd like to dedicate this one to charmaine and ferdie.... my good friends that just got married back in california and sadly enough, i wasn't able to be there to witness their special day. this entry wouldn't even come close to making up for my absence, but i just wanted to honor them and wish them all the blessings in their marriage! these two are amazing and i love 'em to bits and pieces and have both meant so much to me over the years... blessings to you guys in your new marriage. now go make 'em ferdie jr.'s! (DODE. haha) CONGRATULATIONS...

a hui hou

2006-04-11T01:55:00.000+10:00

can't say that it was the end of the world, but it was the end of my journey in kona, hawaii. for the last 2 years, i've been completing different schools at the university of the nations... it became a routine to fly in every few months or so but now that im coming to the end of this degree, i've stepped off the campus knowing i wouldnt be back in awhile...its as cliche as it gets, but you dont realize what you got until you've left it. so i say aloha to the beautiful big island of hawaiii...a hui hou... until we meet again...

snow... in hawaii?

2006-03-08T11:37:00.000+10:00

i saw it with my own two rainbow shaped eyes... i saw snow in hawaii! so my friend peter took me up to mauna kea the other weekend, the tallest volcano in hawaii (it rises 32,000 ft from the ocean floor) and mauna kea literally means "white mountain" in hawaiian. when youre up that high, you get kinda loopy... weeeee... there was no sunrise we could rave about that morning but heck... there was heaps of snow. it was a blessing that we got to go up to the summit cause on our way down, they closed off the road because of the snowstorm! so im glad we went (thanks pedro) and that i got to see just another piece of this mysterious beautiful big island of hawaii...

back in the 4th grade

2006-02-16T11:49:00.000+10:00

there's a lot of things that i wish i pursued as a kid... and one of those things was playing the violin. if only i wouldlve sucked it in and enjoyed being in my 4th grade violin class. but now that im older, ive been keeping my eyes open for anyone to teach me (and for cheap cause lessons can be expensive)... well, it so happens theres a classically trained violinist doing her DTS and her name is Sirja from Finland...we got to talking and now, im taking violin lessons for an hour each week! im no violinst and who knows if i'll ever be called one, but heck, i played my first piece last weekend... it was called Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. :) it was awesome but kinda ironic that i felt like i was back in 4th grade....

one day... one day...

2006-02-10T11:13:00.000+10:00

i'm realizing more and more how much i love being here at this ywam base in kona and that im in the midst of being in a melting pot of cultures, languages and generations each and every single day. theres over 31 nations represented right now, sitting in my own backyard and its amazing. i'm reading this book called "Foreign to Familiar" by Sarah A. Lanier. it talks about understanding the differences between hot and cold climate cultures... very interesting... you can say im getting cultured each day. part of that is learning japanese...日本語を学びたいと思う... (okay, i cheated and just put that in the translator thingy.) but learning the language take times. ive always been fascinated by the japanese culture and im claiming it now, that one day... one day... i'll get to japan...

visual storytelling

2006-01-17T08:21:00.000+10:00

im back on the rock in the middle of the pacific ocean called the Big Island... also known as, Hawaii. its great being back and back to my "normal" dark brown color... and this quarter, im a student in a 3 month course called the School of Illustration. What is that you ask? Well let me tell you what i learned the first day (since i myself didn't really know what it was all about)... we like to call it... "visual storytelling." illustration is used in marketing, chilldrens books, etc. to communicate a 'story' or subject. i'll tell you this much, its a lot different not working on my computer everyday, and instead, the pencil and eraser are my new best friends... heres some work that i did in the last 2 weeks. we already got our stuff made into greeting cards and me and my classmates sold some of our art already. to be honest, i didn't know i had THIS art in me. but here it is...ta-da...

"Breakfast with God"... our first project using pencil. our topic was to illustrate how we spend our mornings with God. here i am, with my empty bowl, ready to get "spiritually fed"...

'twas the night before...

2006-01-01T21:15:00.000+10:00

'twas the night before... no, not christmas... but the night before i left for kona after being back in california for almost 2 months. it always comes down to prioritizing spending time with friends or packing my bags... i still haven't figured it out. so why not have everyone come over WHILE i pack? thats kinda what happened and i didnt mind. i'll never say no to comparing guts (ahemmm...hi hipol boys) and looking through old fotos with friends i grew up... i must say that i enjoyed my relaxing and refreshing time at home, especially for the holidays... but of course, the journey must go on...

golden yellow leaves

2005-12-23T19:56:00.000+10:00

during this time of year, some people get snow... some people get sun.... what do i get?! beautiful golden yellow leaves up and down my street in san jose... ive never enjoyed turning into my street as much as i have these past few weeks. as i stared at these leaves from my window, there came joy and sadness as i knew that these leaves wouldn't look like this forever. in a matter of a few days, the wind and rain would strip these trees from its intense color and beauty... but i also knew that it would bring a new season...ive realized that in my life and through the "transitions" we face, God has a divine purpose and plan for the times before and after the 'golden yellow leaves' are present. theres times we can feel stripped from all that we know and all that were comfortable with, and it can be tough, but next thing you know, the new season is there and it'll bring beauty that we haven't ever thought to imagine.

the center of the universe

2005-12-16T16:33:00.000+10:00

so our friends tiff and ryan from ywam maui, just had a baby...jericho levi is his name. the cutest little baby "in the whole world" (that ones for you tiff!)... so me and my friend jon took the greyhound... yes, the greyhound... which by the way was what we like to call a "cultural experience."... at least it was for me! but the 9 hour bus ride was all worth it once we got to medford, oregon... it was like a ywam maui reunion and i got to see some old friends from my DTS and the Studio. it was good times hearing the guys jam out once again and see what their lives outside the ywam bubble really looked like. i must say it was kinda weird... but good. :) but i'll tell ya, these medfordites are something. i love you guys and thanks for the good times in the center of the universe called medford....

change is good.

2005-11-17T07:10:00.000+10:00

yup. thats me at three... or two...:) but anyway... im back home in san jose california and its good to be back to be with my family for the holidays and to catch up with good friends here. i'll be here though christmas but time is already going by so quickly... im reminded everytime i come home that change is always happening. friends getting engaged, people moving, and of course, realizing that the kids i use to teach during VBS are now leading worship at youth group... its scary but eh, change is good.

its a small world

2005-11-16T16:36:00.000+10:00

its as cliche as it gets... but its the best way i could describe this ywam journey of mine. but i've come to the end of yet, another chapter of my life. i've spent the last 7 months in townsville, Australia at the ywam base (Reef to Outback- look at all those beautiful people) doing the 3 month school of digital communications and then doing the internship in communications. i loved what i learned on the techny design side of it all and i loved what i was able to impart to that ywam base during the internship. i've never been so inspired to co-create with God in this area and i know full on that this is where He is calling me... i know i've just seen the tip of the iceburg and i believe the door to Australia and my ministry there isn't over just yet. theres some plans for the coming year that i've been really praying into and i'll share more when things are confirmed... but as of right now, i know this. "many are the plans in a mans heart but its the Lords purpose that prevails."... its a theme of my life so i know nothing else but to trust in Him... but i must say, in the "meantime" im going to miss my RTO family for sure. i've come across some amazing people that now have a piece of my heart. i give them the best star jump ever. it was bitter sweet leaving, but i wipe those tears away and i want you to sing along with me now... "its a small world after all... its a small small world." i'll see you mates again one day...

clean, green and beautiful

2005-11-11T15:30:00.000+10:00

so without overdramatizing it all... my DREAM came true and i made it to new zealand! what you hear about new zealand is all true...its clean, green and heck- pretty darn beautiful. it must be one of the most beautiful places ive ever been and the whole time i felt like i was in the middle of a calendar photo shoot or something. it was a constant reminder of how awesome are God is... how creative He is... how big He is... and how He created all this for us, his children, to enjoy... me, my friend kristina and my sister joyce spent a week around the south island and it was good times... driving (i must say im not the best at map-reading), hiking (go kristina. approx.11 miles in 5 hrs and 45 mins. whatta charger), kayaking, horse back riding (ummm...just ask me and i'll let you in on a little secret of how it feels like falling off a horse.. .haha). it was good times for sure... although my digital SLR bailed on me in new zealand... let me say again... my camera broke in NEW ZEALAND. isnt it ironic? its getting fixed at the moment so she'll be right... oh the lessons we learn...

what we do

2005-11-03T00:26:00.000+10:00

...and here we have stephen, jo and teva and myself illustrating what we do when the party is dying down... crush a good pair of sunglasses with your bare hands that belong to your friend who is unaware of the enterainment you just gave the group, take the broken pieces and and take a really really ridiculous foto... good times for sure... oh how im going to miss this place

i finally got one

2005-11-02T00:12:00.000+10:00

i finally got one... a picture with a koala. :) it seems everyone here at Reef to Outback has a picture holding a koala but since i didnt do my DTS here, i never got one... until i recently tagged along with the DTS and finally got my turn. :) can't say that koalas aren't the cutest thing ever. especially when they wrap their little paws around you...

its over.

2005-10-17T15:28:00.000+10:00

so its over. my 6 month "fast" of coffee is over!... and i had my first cup of coffee last weekend and that mysterious comfort all came back to me... including the coffee breath! those of you that dont know... i gave up coffee last april (when i first got to australia) and what was suppose to be a month, ended up turning into 6 months. i guess i thought it would be an opportunity to somehow, "cleanse" my system from my addiction that started when i worked for starbucks. sure this can be all about coffee if you want to see it like that, but God taught me a lot through this. its about the choices i needed to make everyday, the discipline, and standing strong in the things i say im going to be committed to. believe me, being with my passionate coffee addict friends of mine (umm, refer to 'once upon a saturday' entry), i couldlve easily given in... but seriously, with His strength, i've endured...

once upon a saturday

2005-10-04T21:02:00.000+10:00

once upon a saturday, stephen, kristina and i were set for a "cafe hopping" adventure. we celebrated stephens 21st birthday (and my prolonged birthday) and we hit up 5 different cafes in half a day and it was just one of those days that felt... complete. good atmosphere, good fotographs, good company and a cuppa too many. it was so much fun but then we cruised back home and had some friends over for a SUSHI party... this one is definitely going on my top five. thanks guys for a greeat day.

age a number?

2005-09-23T12:13:00.000+10:00

so... i turned the big 2-3 last wednesday. i know, dont need to tell me that im getting up there.:) well... the highlight of my day had to have been having everyone rock out their togas at family night. we celebrated 7 september birthdays. can you say 'birthday cake galore"? it was brilliant... so i reckon we all heard that "age is just a number." but you know, my "birthday day thought" was that theres so much more than age being a number. its taking a moment to reflect back on all the experiences, lessons, revelations, memories, friendships, relationships, and the simplicities of life that make all the difference. most importantly, its taking a look at the goodness and faithfulness of God in the 23 years of my life and i am forever grateful for that... happy new year to all my september birthday friends...

undercover fotogs

2005-09-20T00:37:00.000+10:00

fotography. 'writing with light.' call it a minor addiction of mine. an obession that every glance should be convinced to be turned into a photograph. whether it be a frown, a smile, a tear... if only i had a mental camera built into my brain and when an unexpected moment comes, it'll work its magic... too bad its not possible... so instead, i guess me and my good friend stephen john bryde will have to settle for looking like really really ridiculous good looking undercover fotogs...

the wee morning hours

2005-09-06T02:09:00.000+10:00

i don't know what i'm doing. its past 2 in the morning and i have base worship at 8:30 tomorrow... actually, today.... i guess i just wanted to write this entry before i go to bed and say thanks for checking this thing out. *yawwn* its time for me to go to sleep now. all you back in America are probably still sleeping in and enjoying this wonderful day off from work. happy labor day to all...