So I realise that I haven't blogged for a long while... sorry.
Well I have finished my second year with NET Ministries Australia! Wow, what a whirl wind of a year that was. I wish I could tell you everything that happened but that would take me 11 months, it was by far one of my most challenging and fruitful years, in fact the past two years have been. It's been a growing process in many areas, particularly my faith, the main lesson being that God does everything, on the days where I was tired, sick or too plain lazy, God came through and did it all for me, carrying me like a big sack of potatoes.
I've formed many memories being at Mazenod College, and I have definitely found a home in Melbourne, particularly in the incredible community of Mazenod. I wouldn't change these past two years for anything in the world, I've had two unbelievably amazing teams, two awesome communities and one massively epic experience. I would challenge anyone reading this who has never thought of doing something like this to maybe think about it, it will change your life.
However, one door has closed and another is just about to open and next year I will be heading down to Lincoln University just outside of Christchurch where I will begin my studies and hopefully be able to share with you the whimsical life of a Catholic girl at University. I head down in February, but I am sure some stories will come up between now and then.
I have so much to say for what the past few weeks have brought about! Training has been great, there has been so many fun times with the 54 netters that have been there. I've also already been to Melbourne once, been back and forth to Brisbane, smelt bush fires nearly been flooded out, been to hospital (already, I know) done our first encounter days and sooooo much more! It's been full on and totally crazy. To be honest I don't even know where to start.
Katie and I flew to Australia on the 3rd January ready for Music Training. I spent 5 days playing guitar for 6 hours straight, lets just say that my fingers weren't too happy about this, but I absolutely loved it. I can now play 8 chords on the guitar instead of 4 :) It was so hot for the whole first half of training, there were several bush fires hanging around the surrounding areas of Brisbane, I was in no way affected by them but they did make the sunsets look pretty awesome!
Sunset from the street of my first host home ... how beautiful. God always turns the hard stuff into something beautiful
We traveled up to Peregian for the beginning of training. It was hot for a long time, hard to sleep and just sweaty all the time, 2 showers a day were not enough. We were on retreat for the first week of training and it was great to take some time to take my faith on that next step because you can never be close enough to God, no matter what you do. I was really relaxing and amazing to learn so much more.
I have been to hospital since being at training. I had a serious Asthma attack and had to be taken into hospital. I had Jeremy (on staff) drive at over 80km/h down a gravel road. I was fine after getting to hospital. Whilst this was happening all the other Netters were having personal prayer during adoration and I started to breathe again when they brought out Jesus in the monstrance when I was on my way to hospital ... Jesus literally saves!
Teams were announced just over a week and half of being at training. Crazy stuff. I'm being sent t Mazenod Catholic Boys College in Melbourne. My team is great, I'm on a five person team this year. Brigid, Travis, Erica and Simon. I'm looking forward to it this year, it's going to be a fun one!
Back - Front: Me, Erica, Brigid, Travis, Simon
Not long after team announcements, we had a massive down pour of rain ... for days. It had started flooding north of Brisbane. During one of the sessions we were having the ater level started coming up really fast and we had to sand bag the main hall. I was running between the volleyball court and the main hall filling bags with sand. It was really fun. Luckily we weren't flooded out but it was extremely close!
'If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking'
We have also been down to Melbourne as a team already. Mazenod college asked for us to come down and attend the year 12 retreat. So for 5 days we just packed up and went to Melbourne for 5 days. It was so much colder but it was really fun. We were able to meet the year 12 boys, there are so many of them, in one year groups alone there was 188 young men. Over all Mazenod has 1200 students all of them boys. Myself and the 2 other girls on my team, a few female staff are the only women in the near vicinity.
Flying down to Melbourne for the first time
Yes, it was cold enough to stand there in a doona!
Since getting back from Melbourne we have been going through the last bit of the training process like crazy! We have been back in Brisbane for the past week, doing last minute things for our encounter days, which went really well. The only thing we need to do now is be commissioned which is happening this afternoon. We then fly out to Melbourne on Sunday and the year officially starts! Bring it on!
Our theme scripture for this year is Romans 10.9 (which happens to be my Emerald team brother's favourite scripture. 'If you declare with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Him from death, YOU WILL BE SAVED!' I love this scripture as this is what we are doing all year!
This is our theme song this year. Nothing is Impossible by Planetshakers
Thank you for all the prayers and I will be able to keep this updated a little easier once I arrive in Melbourne. God bless!
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