Team Australia was met by a warm welcome into Sydney on Saturday morning! Greg and Catherine picked us up from the airport at 6:45am in a big church bus and took us to our first stop: the fine dining establishment known as Macca’s. (Or McDonald’s to the rest of us. But the golden arches really do have better options here—even a full espresso bar and table service.)
We spent several hours at Circular Quay that afternoon, fighting off our jet lag with unhealthy amounts of coffee. The ocean air was a refreshing change after nearly 20 hours in transit. Even more refreshing was the fellowship with friends, both old and new, that day.
Michelle (the chaplain at Tara Anglican School for Girls) and her family welcomed us with such exuberance and warmth, and we immediately felt at home with them. Greg and Catherine greeted us with the biggest hugs coming off the airplane, and Greg was able to stay with us for the entire day and help get our communication lines all sorted. They both play such an integral part to this mission trip, and are like the Aussie parents to this team.
We settled in to our various billets that night. Jared, Daniel and Troy stayed at Michelle’s house, Brad at the home of a schoolteacher, and Amber and Hannah with another teacher (whom Amber had stayed with on her first trip in 2015). Tabitha moved into an extra room at the girls’ boarding house on the school campus.
On Sunday some of us went to church with our billets, and some slept off the rest of their jet lag. We met together to attend a school function and an evening church service, and after one more day of acclimatizing were ready for the week ahead.
The first day of ministry at Tara was a blur of activity, but filled with a steady underlying sense of team unity and openness to the Lord. We began the day by being introduced at Junior School Chapel (ages 4-12), and our funny American accents were an instant hit. By afternoon recess, we were surrounded by a mob of children who were close to bursting with the excitement of welcoming their new friends.
After only the first day, it has already been a blessing to see the team operate with an ebb and flow to leadership. Our gifts and personalities all complement each other well, so that where one is weak another is strong. The differences between us add flavor and fresh perspective, rather than discord.
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)
In the coming week, we have a very full schedule between sharing testimonies in Christian Studies classes with some of the older students as well as helping to lead chapel services for the girls. In the classes, we will only have about an hour to share with the students and then answer questions and converse, so please pray for the opportunity to go deep with them even in such a short period of time. Please also pray for continued stamina and spiritual alignment with the Holy Spirit for every member of this team. We have been shown such incredible hospitality here, and are humbled by the joy that greeted us on our arrival. So we also want to lift up a prayer of thanksgiving to God for his abundant generosity and provision.
Most of all, please continue to pray that the Lord would do his mighty work here, and that hearts would be turned to Jesus Christ in faith.
With love,
The Australia Team
