Melbourne was an experience. Lots of things happened and I don't really know where to start - so the beginning seems like the logical thing to do.Before I set off for my 3 night trip (super-short) trip, I asked God to use me somehow during the trip to do His work, and I thank God that He gave me opportunities, encouragement, along the way. The trip also provided me with a nice time of sight-seeing in the CBD and some shopping along the way too. =)
Our flight to Melbourne was delayed for 2 hours and we subsequently ended up sitting in the airport lounge talking. After getting what we could for our $7.70 food vouchers (which evidently was a packet of chewies and a bottle of Mt Franklin) we sat and talked to pass the time away - there's a pic below of some of them sitting around looking bored.
The subject came up about the book - The God Delusion (a book by Richard Dawkins that says that religion is made up by man - or something along those lines) and the first opportunity came for me to talk to my work friends about God and Christianity. Thank God because I was able to explain to them that what The God Delusion was saying about Christianity, is different from what real relationship with God is - and was able to also talk about why Christians are so passionate about talking about their faith (I was able to tell them that the Bible says they are going to Hell if they don't believe in Christ as their Saviour). It was difficult, and I was nervous the whole time, but thank God for the opportunity and the words that He gave me to say too.
We then got on the plane and headed off to Melbourne and then St Kilda. When we arrived, we went out for 'dinner' at 10:30 Melbourne time, and over dinner, another opportunity came to talk about God! This time, someone had brought up the topic of Jewish Culture and was trying to explain what kosher meant. Thank God that I had been reading the Old Testament, because I was able to explain to them about what the Jews believe and why they are still doing these things today (because they believe they need to do these things for their salvation, not realising that their Saviour had already come 2000 years ago).
They then asked questions about Muslims and Mormons and thank God again, that I had recently seen read up about Mormons (there was a video on ninemsn Most Watched) on the Internet and had also recently seen a video on Islam, Judaism and Christianity - and was therefore somewhat equipped to tell them what I knew. They were all very interested and asked quite a few questions.
The last opportunity came when one of the girls asked me about relationships and I was able to explain to her why I'm not 'on the prowl' for guys like all the other single girls at work. I was able to give her a quick summary of what Josh Harris says in his books and in the end she agreed that what I had said made sense. I doubt she remembered our conversation though, because she then proceeded to get significantly intoxicated =P. And so it was for the rest of the time with my work buddies - after that, they weren't that great to talk to any more because they were either drunk or hung-over for the rest of the trip.
And so it goes on to the Melbourne part of my trip. I stayed in the Oaks Griffin Suites (which were really nice btw) and had the room to myself because one of the girls couldn't make it to the conference as she was fully sick (the bad sick, not the good sik).
I went out on Saturday night to have dinner with Shan, April and Kenny from Bethel and then Koko Black (yummy hot chocolate place) with the three of them plus Pat and Joyce. It was a really fun time of catching up and fellowship and I really enjoyed my time with them(if you guys are reading - thanks heaps!!). I was supposed to follow them to Bethel the following morning, but I slept through Shan's wake up call (which is REALLY unusual for a light sleeper like me) and got up at the time I was supposed to meet Shan and April at the City Train Station - OOPS!
I then went out on Sunday to see (and buy) Melbourne, and met with Sarah later in the day. It was good to catch up with Sarah and she really filled me with crazy ideas to buy a place in Melbourne and move over there and do the six-month-first-home-buyers thing... I am really considering it! I have even looked up places on realestate.com.au hahaha (seriously!). Her place is awesome and it's so close to the Queen Victoria Markets and CGF (Ebenezer BP's City Gospel Fellowship). I went with Sarah down to the Markets and then we went to CGF at 4pm (heheh I like the starting time for their church =]).
The people there were very friendly, and I was sad that I couldn't stay longer because I had to go to the airport. They meet in a townhouse in the CBD (there's a pic below of me standing outside) and the group is predominantly uni students. The service was run by young people and it was really like a little mini version of our own Sunday Worship Service in a house. Very cool indeed. Two people came up to me and the conversations went like this:
Them: So where are you from?
Me: I come from Perth and I attend BPCWA
Them: Oh... Yeah we had Pastor Ed come over for our camp! Do you know
Adrian?
[Sarah giggles]
Me: yeah I do... He's my brother!
Them:
WHOA... really?? OK then, send him my regards!
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