Hillsong Hills...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A-hoy mateys....

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

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

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

an aussie chrissy & the charismatic carolers

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

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? ...