Celebrating 'first downs'

Friends,


Sorry for how rarely this blog has been updated.  It was meant to be something our whole team could use to share stories and prayer requests.  Little did I know that people on our team would be keeping their own individual blogs!  So, if you have some time and would like to read about our various perspectives on our trip to Australia, here are some blogs for you to check out:


Hannah S:  http://australiasp12.blogspot.com
Teo:  http://ocmd2011.blogspot.com
Julie:  http://juliegoestoaustralia.tumblr.com


As for me, I would sum up our ministry here as a lesson in celebrating 'first downs'. I'll explain what I mean, but I'll warn you up front that for the analogy to make sense, you'll need to know the basic rules of football (or, as they call it here in Australia to differentiate it from soccer, rugby, and Aussie rules football-- "gridiron").


In football, we're often so demanding of our favorite team (let's go Steelers!).  When our team has the ball, we're often only satisfied if the drive ends in a touchdown.  If we have to punt, or even if we get 3 points from a field goal, it doesn't feel worth a cheer.


And yet, this attitude probably betrays a wrong understanding of the game.  A possession in which our team moves the ball down the field, even if it doesn't end in points right away, can change the momentum and advantage of a game in our favor.  A key first down and an effective punt are often worth some celebration.


Similarly, our emotions in ministry can reveal a misunderstanding of just how long and complex a person's spiritual journey is.  Here's what I mean.  When we love people, we desire to see them believe and experience God's love for them in Jesus Christ.  Sometimes, anything short of that full faith and love feels like a failure.  We don't celebrate the 'first downs' of what God is doing in people's hearts.


For instance, when we engage Aussie students in spiritual conversations, they often enter the conversation steeped in spiritual apathy or even disdain for religion in general.  We have in the last few weeks had many great talks with such students about God, faith, truth, afterlife, etc.  Now, typically at the end of such a conversation there is no triumphant moment of repentance, belief, and transformation.  Like when watching a football game, we might be tempted to be discouraged at a perceived 'failure'.


BUT... these conversations might be the first times these Aussies have ever had fun with a Christian.  They might be the first time these students have ever truly considered what might happen to them after they die.  It might be the first time they've considered the life and message of Jesus.  As we meet with these students again for coffee a few days later, it might be the first friendship they've ever had with a 'religious person'.


We simply have to celebrate this!!  I don't care if we long for a touchdown-- games ultimately hinge on first downs.  And in a post-modern culture that largely sees God and religion as irrelevant, people's eternal destinies often hinge on meeting, befriending, and having honest discussions with a Christian.


I, for one, am thrilled that God has sent me here for a while to possibly be that Christian for some of these students.  For actual stories of our activities, conversations, and relationships, please read the blogs above.  Julie's most recent post has a really cool story about her new friend Sophie.


Until next time, thanks for praying for us!
Jon

Lessons on being sent

Last week our team went to the winter conference for the ministries of all the schools here in Melbourne.  For an entertaining account of our time at Lake Hume, please check out Teo's post (the previous post on this blog).  One of the main themes of the conference, though, was very relevant to our time here, and I wanted to briefly share that with you.


For the entire conference, at our main meetings we were taught out of John 17.  This is a long and beautiful prayer by Jesus, often called the High Priestly prayer.  In it, He prays for and reveals many things; among them is the fact that He was sent.  Some excerpts:

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 

They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

In fact, 'sending' on mission seems to be one of the foundational principles of God's interaction with the world.  God the Father sent God the Son.  God the Father and God the Son sent God the Holy Spirit.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit now send us to "make disciples of all nations."  Jesus captures this final thrilling piece of the puzzle in His prayer as well:

As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

This is not only an amazing truth for all followers of Jesus, but it resonates especially strongly for us while we're here in Australia.  We aren't just here arbitrarily-- we have been sent with a mission.  


Please pray for us as we begin to hit the campuses of Melbourne this week for prayer.  Next week we begin our three weeks of forming relationships and sharing the message of Jesus.


Also, take a moment to consider... to whom is God sending you?

Australiaa

As a quick summary, we arrived early Saturday morning and spent the entire day doing a scavenger hunt around the city. Jet lag has been a major component in my lack of function. Allergies have also been killing me as well. I struggled pretty hard this last week to get used to being here in Australia. I didn't think it would be too much of an adjustment from America - given the two countries have a lot more similarities than most others - but it is. At around dinner time is when my body tells me that is time for bed. But enough about me...

Melbourne is beautiful, lively, and a cultural hot spot. The people here are friendly and polite and many of my Australian stereotypes of been filled quite successfully since arriving here.


So just in case you have no idea what I am doing here I'll explain, since I currently have a better idea.


This first week we went to a Student Life conference called Mid-Year Conference. Student Life is the equivalent of CRU back in the US. It is much smaller however and full of wonderful Asians. At this conference (which was held in South Wales - We are in Victoria) we got to meet the students and missionaries and spend an awesome week in worship and teaching. A small handful of these students attend the "Uni's" that we will be attending. Now that we've returned to Melbourne, we will be reaching out to the campuses (mostly a school called RMIT) talking to them about Jesus and maybe recruiting for Student Life. In our downtime we may do some fun things like watch a game of footy or visit cool places. I laid eyes on my first pack of roos the other day. Also, I got to eat a kangaroo hot dog and it was delicious!


Here's the lake by the camp we stayed at:

Anyways as much as i enjoy Australia there have been many things I don't enjoy.


1. Prices here are out of control. If you want to not be hungry you better be prepared to empty your wallet. Btw, just like the Czech Republic and Poland, money here feels like it's from monopoly. It's just so fun looking I can never take it seriously.


2. Water fountains are as rare as unicorns out here. Thirst is a common problem we have and not having water fountains around is a good way of not solving this problem.


3. Vegemite. It's terrible. I've been told to put butter with the vegemite. But the amount of butter it would take to cover up the terribleness of the vegemite would overcome the taste of the bread as well.


4. Winter. This doesn't have anything to do with Australia. But when you go from sunny, warm America to chill, wintery Australia, it is never an improvement (at least in my eyes). More clothes to pack. Sickness from cold. Just a long list of reasons for why I disapprove of cold weather.


Well mates, cheers for reading my blog! Goodnight to me, and good morning to you ;-)

Quick update -- 7/1/12

Friends,


We're doing well here in Melbourne!  So far we've just been focusing on adjusting to the jet lag and learning the layout and transportation of the city.  Yesterday we had a scavenger hunt that had us asking Aussies how to get to different landmarks, jumping on trams, getting lost, and in the process learning more about this awesome city.  Today we checked out a church together and spent a wonderful afternoon at a BBQ with a Christian couple and some students involved in the Cru ministry here ("Student Life").


Tomorrow we head to a conference where we'll be able to meet, worship with, and befriend many of the students involved in Student Life!  This will hopefully enable us to partner with them in outreaches, prayer, evangelism, and fun in the coming weeks!  Please pray for our time at the conference-- specifically for friendships that God will use.


We're coming to the end of our first full day here in Melbourne.  It's already been at times exhausting, overwhelming, emotional, hilarious... basically, you name it.  I think I speak for everyone when I say I can't wait for the next 5 weeks here.


Thanks for keeping up with us, and thanks so much for the prayers!


Jon

No Reserves. No Regrets. No Retreats.

Before I begin, I'd just like to thank everyone for their support. These last few months have been just a tremendous time of trusting the Lord and seeing support come through in the most marvelous ways. Now that I have finally reached my support goal, I am preparing myself yfor half a summer of Australian evangelism.  I only call it that for now, because I actually have very little idea of any details. But, either way, I'm excited no matter what.

I'm sure many of you have already heard of William Borden but for those of you who haven't (or maybe have forgotten) here is a link: http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/regret.htm


For a long time after hearing this story, I was confused, and not even with William. I was confused with God. Although it's hard, I actually can understand the passion William had. Even to the point of giving up his inheritance. His heart longed for so much more in this world than what most people desire. Yet, I bet when most people read his story, they see him in a different light. They probably see him as someone who traded wealth and prosperity for death.


But as I was saying, I desired to understand why God would let someone with a heart and passion like this to die before he had any chance to reach Asia. It just didn't seem right.


Well, I've definitely learned a few things since my initial reactions to this story.


1. God doesn't thrive off of us giving up our time, resources, or even our lives. It is for our (human kind) benefit, and our benefit alone. 


Psalm 103 paints a beautiful picture of this


2. Our actions don't change God's plans.


"I know you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted."
 - Job 42:2


3. If our work here on Earth is not for His glory, we our glorifying ourselves and/or each other. I'll never know all of Borden's thoughts throughout his ministry, but from what I read, his actions definitely represent a man who is directing the glory towards the Lord. 


4. God exalts the humble. Again, only God truly knows his heart and deepest thoughts, but usually the act of giving up a large inheritance and social status to live and minister with the poor and needy is one of humility.


"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."
- 1 Peter 5:6


Borden's humility is most definitely honored in many ways. One of the more obvious ways being that his story is known and has inspired many others, myself included. 

In God's plan, there is no failure 

Only obedience and the fruit that it bears

We may not see this fruit initially

Often times we will never see it through its entirety

I have prepared myself for all of these possibilities.

May I always trust in the Lord through Australia and the rest of my life.

No Reserves.

No Retreats.

No Regrets.

Travel

Tomorrow is the 28th, a day that's been on our calendars for a while now as the day our team flies out of Dulles on our first flight (of 3) that will end up with us all in Melbourne, Australia on the 30th (we pass over the international dateline...how cool is that?!).

Please be praying that our flights go well and without a hitch. Traveling so far over multiple flights can be so stressful as soon as delays begin and such. Please pray that our day of traveling is uneventful and that we will bond over the hours and the miles so we can enter our first day of summer project excited to serve God as a team!

Once we arrive, we'll have some time to get accustomed to the new time zone, culture, and city. But barely 48 hours after arriving, we will get on a bus with a ton of the Aussie students from across the Victoria region to go to their version of the "winter conference," which is called Mid Year Conference there. Oh, and fun facts: the ministry there is called Student Life instead of Cru and the staff are called Missionaries, not staff.

Please pray that our adjustments and travel go well over those first few days. Also, please pray that the americans and australians strike up a bond quickly. The more we collaborate across cultures, the better we can reach the campuses!

Okay, see you on the other side! Off to Oz!!

A Week Away!

Welcome to the 2012 Australia Summer Project blog! This is a blog to follow the happenings and prayer requests of the Mid-Atlantic's SP to Melbourne, Australia. Our team of 8 students and 2 staff will be meeting up in less than a week to embark on a verrrrry looooong day of traveling to the other side of the world. While this is incredibly exciting, please be praying for our team to be preparing well over this last week at home.

Going on a Summer Project is a HUGE step of faith for many college students, including the 8 students coming to this particular project over this summer. They are giving up internships, jobs, time spent with family and friends, and the comfort of home to see what God will do in them and through them when they say "yes" to Him. Pray that he will be what we all depend on as we go out to the world. Pray that He will be our joy and our hope. Pray that we will see His name known in our own hearts as well as the hearts of the students in Melbourne, Australia.

Thank you for your prayers!