During my quiet time this morning, I sat on a little table just outside our favorite cafe here in Melbourne. With the rain falling and the sounds of the city fading, I began to reflect upon the last fourteen days of our time here in Australia. It has been awesome to see how God has been working in and through this group.
The first week on campus was challenging. For some, we struggled to dive deeper than mere surface conversation. Others found it difficult to transition from survey questions to presenting the Gospel. This seemed to compliment the fact that we were told that we would be facing strong sentiments of apathy among students… We spent that weekend wrestling through thoughts and questions concerning the previous week. He answered.
The apathy that we faced was more of our own than that of the students which pointed to our need to step out in faith and “giv’em Gospel” and watch God work. With conversations focused and pointing to Jesus, we saw Him open up conversations that we weren’t supposed to have. He rolled away the screen of apathy, which gave way to people wanting to know more about Christ. As much as we desired to see the Gospel change lives, we also have seen how it changes our own lives day by day.
Our work on campus has proven to be physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausting. And though it is bittersweet seeing our time on campus over, we are encouraged to have the next few days to both debrief and venture the city. Although we desire to be home, we wish we had more time here so that we might share the Gospel with every student. However, we are excited for the opportunities we will have to see the Gospel at work at both Palomar and CalState when school starts.
We left the comforts of Southern California to proclaim the Gospel and now look forward to returning home with the Word of Life resonating in our hearts and proclaiming from our mouths. We have so many stories to share when we get back home, but before we do…
We have:
a date with some kangaroos, koalas, platypuses, etc.
some beach houses to visit,
shopping to do at the largest flea market in the southern hemisphere,
a city to tour, photograph,
a plane to catch,
and a day, with more than 24 hours, to experience (this one is for RP).
“Gospel SSnnaapp!!!” —–> ask me about it when we get back.
-Josiah
Posted by Brenda on August 7, 2011 at 4:25 am
So excited for what God has done both in and through all of you! From your blog I sense that He has done as much “in” each of you as He has done “through” you! That is so exiciting! I pray that each of you is filled with His joy and you de-brief, experience the city and come home to us! So eager to hear all the stories and how God has changed lives!
Posted by Ryan on August 7, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Gospel snap! I love it.
The pictures are brilliant too. I can’t wait to hear about the trip!!!
Rp