WONDERFUL Australia 13 April (Dawie J)

Australia was wonderful. It was one of the best. With a great home next to the river .It was just wonderful.

A few times we went to canoe on the river (I was the best off course). We went upstream and downstream.

I even went to an Australian School and they loved my accent.

The first week we went to Culburra beach. It was wonderful to swim and boogybord. One day we went to Featherdale wildlife park. There were all sorts of animals.

They were all Australia animals Koalas, Kangaroos, Tasmanian Devils and Dingoes you name it. It was wonderful seeing all the new animals.

And the Koala that you could get close up with, name is Charlie. We went to watch rugby. We watched the Stomers vs Warathas. It was nice to see the game but the Stomers lost but stil it was wonderful. We watched the Bulls vs Warathas.

This time the Bulls won. Hilsong church was wonderful we even saw a few Bulls rugby

Players at church Friday and Sunday. Maybe that is why they are doing so well in the

Super 14. We took two fairies. It was wonderful to ride on the water. So for me Australia was just amazing. I feel that we must comeback. Because we did not stay long. But it was still wonderful. You might not believe it but I wrote this blog all on my own (did I say wonderful to much? But believe me it really was wonderful)

Being Downunder was great, Mate! (Tinus)

May I beg your patience at offset? I have just finished my second cup of coffee and breakfast burger at the Sydney International Airport and am, I confess, only now waking up. Those that know me might be aware that I am an absolute expert at being fast asleep with my eyes open. It is now almost 7 am local time and we got up at 4, after hitting the hay at 12:30.

...YYYAAAWWWNNN…

Good morning all!

Has anyone ever realized that at times in one's live, after a specifically enjoyable experience, for example, everything seems to assume a greater radiance than before? The sky is bluer, music seems better, memories are sweet, but my father still can't sing. Well, this is one of those times for me.

We are about to bid the land of Aus farewell.

…

If you did not appreciate that sentimental moment, please turn off the music, tell the kids to keep quiet (hopefully none of my school mates have this problem yet – who knows what happens in my absence) and reread.

We are about to leave Australia…

Well, I know not of you, but to me, that is almost tragic. I loved Switzerland and I absolutely prized our time in Singapore, but when we left those places it felt right – like it was time to go. This is not, however, the case at present. I simply enjoyed Australia and Sydney the most thus far!

Not only was the natural beauty of the South wonderful and the animals so strange, they crawl into your heart, but the City is postcard beautiful! (Sorry Windhoek, but you're not my favorite city anymore. Don't worry Namibia, I only need to glimpse at the sun rising over the desert plastered on my desktop to know that I will never love another like I love you.) To be completely honest, though, it was not any of these that made the time here so brilliant. It was church…

If you think of music when I say "Hillsong", you're perception is so limited! Hillsong is a church!

To try and explain why it meant so much to me would be futile. You need to experience it. The good news is, though, that you do not need to travel to Australia to do. Just go to church! (Namibian churches, please don't disappoint me.)

I was confronted with GREATNESS while here.

I sat in a GREAT church known around the world. Sang GREAT well-known songs performed by some of their original artists and songs so fast and new, I struggled to keep up. I Saw GREAT people in person: Lisa Bevere, the wife of my favorite author, John Bevere, for example. I was amidst GREAT pieces of engineering. I just came from the GREAT Singapore, a country that elevated itself to one of the cleanest, most efficient, highest literate, safest and GREATEST places on earth in one generation. I saw GREAT gatherings of 15 000 plus believers. I met GREAT leaders that have impacted the lives of millions.

And I do not mean GREAT as in wonderful or fantastic, I mean GREAT as in noteworthy, significant and leaving a legacy. GREAT like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther and Jesus Christ are GREAT. GREAT that changes the world. GREAT…

So, what is GREAT? Have you met anyone GREAT? Have you ever been to a GREAT church? Am I the only one that struggled with GREATNESS and wanting to be GREAT as these things I see are GREAT?

This is my conclusion, that GREATNESS is simply this: To be told "GREAT" by the King! Does He think my life is GREAT? Do I obey Him? Does the GREATEST Entity ever to exist live in and through me? If so, then I am GREAT!!! Catch my drift?

So, Namibia, you are GREAT!

Would it not be wonderful if I could stop this post here, simply having encouraged you (I hope)?

Instead, I wish to share with you (church leaders please listen, this is our conclusion as a family) a few points that make the churches we have visited work:

1. Salvation is a priority and it is actually achieved and not just talked about. Members continually bring unbelieving friends to church and an altar call is made after EVERY SINGLE service. I encourage this practice. These churches grow by the day!
   
2. The church functions as a body. Each one has his or her task to fulfill. A massive number of volunteers keep the ship sailing. Some give time, doing something as simple as making coffee (cafe grade filter coffee and cappuccino) and others give skill, making sure the church is still legal.
   
3. No one does something they are not good at. Those who talk or teach on stage do so because they are gifted to do so and not just because they are on the leadership team and it is their turn.
   
4. The church rests on the work of a great many people and volunteers, each operating from his or her gifting and availability, not on one pastor, leader or leadership team. (This was worth a second mention.)
   
5. Everything that is done, is done with tremendous energy, passion, commitment AND EXCELENCE. Everyone does it because the really want to (who wouldn't want to serve if you understand Christ's sacrifice for us)
   
6. Leadership is central! (P.S. My father was not the only one who mentioned this point)
   
7. Services are relevant. If that means you need load music, so be it, if you require a somber attitude, make sure you got it, but be relevant to the culture and context you're called to shepherd!
   
8. Messages are Bible based, relevant and true!
   
9. Small groups (cell groups, etc) are central.
   
10. Discipleship training is held throughout the week.
    
11. Saturday night services are wonderful and part of my father's dream.
    
12. It is all about Jesus, His life, death and resurrection and the reality that He lives in us and seeks a real relationship with us. (Religion, religious practices and theology is something I last saw in the lifeless church buildings of Europe).
    

So, in conclusion: Namibia (and thus everyone there who thinks I am speaking to them. Yes, I mean you.) You are GREAT. I miss you. You are honestly number one. The best country in the world! (OK, so I'm madly in love with Africa and am thus biased.) But you've still got a long way to go. So start doing what needs be done!

Blessings

P.S. I am awake now and plan to enjoy watching movies on the way to NZ

Australia – 7 April 2009 (Chrisna)

They are real! That is kangaroos and koalas, they are real and I saw both today! It was so amazing – I praise God that He made them and I could see them and not only a picture of them. There are so many animals and birds in Australia that you do not find elsewhere. I think God enjoyed every moment while creating so many different animals and birds and plants and mountains and seas! We serve the Almighty God! I am so grateful that we as a family may see so much of that diversity in a 9 month period – I am so grateful…

This is me and Charlie. (Charlie is the koala, the only one that was not in his own house, but sleeping outside!) You will see a mix of amazement and longing(for the real Charlie)

We've been in Australia now for 12 days, mate, and it's been a real blessing, (but I think I said this of every other place we've been to so far!) We were 2 days in Sydney – long enough to be spoiled with a barbeque at our home exchange house and to visit Hillsong Church (what a blessing both events) and then for 5 days down south to a small coastal town, Culburra Beach.

Our neighbor welcomed us with a shepherd's pie – may God bless her. We saw rainforests of eucalyptus trees and waterfalls and the most spectacular sea sides.

And we saw 1 kangaroo in the wild (those today were in a wildlife park, but not in cages. I do not like zoos at all, but today's outing I will do again)

We came back to Sydney over the weekend and again visited Hillsong. God's Holiness struck me once again. He is Awesome and I really love Him! We've managed to change our plane tickets to fly to New Zeeland only on Monday i.s.o Saturday. That way we can attend ALL the services and celebrations at Hillsongs over Easter. As in Singapore, they really put a lot of emphasis on this important event, and use it to reach the Lost. I do pray that in Namibia this can also be true. (But using this wonderful long weekend to get away, will be a hard habit to break)

After church on Sunday, we walked over the Harbor bridge, went to the Sydney opera house (the one we always see on pictures and now could take our own picture of!) and we went on a ferry ride. Sundays they have a family pass on all the public transport – you can take trains, busses and ferries as many as you like, for 25% of the price of a normal ticket. (it's no secret that we go for all the "specials", discounts and real "value for money" – that way we can experience the place where we are and we stay within our budget ) I had to remind myself, like today, that this is real. It's not "just a dream". It was as if I realized once again how privileged we are. I am so grateful… (I was actually sad to leave Singapore, I enjoyed it so much there, and here God is giving us a totally new and different experience. Yes, I am really grateful)

Our house is next to the Woronora River. Dawie J goes kayaking daily. I sit on the side of the river to watch him. I am the lifeguard – I pray that he will come out of the river safely and will not need me, because the water is too COLD! God granted me my request every time. Yesterday, after the kayak time, Dawie J and I made a list of all the things that we can give thanks for, just for the past 1 hour. It was amazing – we could just go on and on. We realized once again how many "thank you's" there are in every moment of life. We must just see them, they are there!

Another fact that I was reminded about once again, was the importance of every moment. It's not only the big events or the mountain top experiences that make life special, but it is the every moment. How does my moment look like? What do I think, do, say? God's gift for me is the present – I must, no, I want to live for His Glory!

It is so special to have this time with my family. It's a blessing to be able to focus on them, serve them and be with them. Of course I miss Charlie (I don't mean the koala this time), but I know he is well cared for, and now is the time to give all attention to my other 3 men. We really love being together and experiencing everything together. It's as if this time is "bonus time". I really enjoy sharing life with Tinus and Dawie J and Dawie, the love of my life, and am looking forward to Charlie returning soon. Thank you, God, for these men.

Thank you for every person praying for my mother. She is doing great. She received radiation therapy and there is no pain in her back anymore. All other tests she went through also revealed that there is no cancer in any other organ. We firmly believe that when a repeat bone scan will be done in May, it will be clean. That I say in the Name of Jesus.

Before I sign off, there is one more blessing I want to share. This blog I am writing, I'm writing on my own small little laptop! Dawie bought me a laptop, now I can read and write and (hopefully) be creative at any time! This is the first ever personal computer, (or any high tech something) excluding my cell phone, I have ever owned! This is so wonderful. I think I am grown up now..? What do you think, mate?

Bottom-line and summary of this post: I am so grateful! Praise the Lord!