August 18th

This morning began with Ali going out to do a little more shopping in one of the many shopping complexes along Queen Street Mall. The aim was for Ali to go early and get back in time for us all to go to the beach this morning, however what with labyrinthine shopping centres and ferries advertising the wrong destination (was easier to tell where they were going by watching out for the direction they came from rather than the signs on the boat,) Ali only just got back in time for Ian to pick me up and take me along to the UQ Foundations group.

Ian had a meeting today, so I was left to fend for myself at only my second (and final) visit to Foundations. Conversational English had very few people today - only five - and three of them were new. Because Ian wasn't there I seemed to be the default Aussie slang and complex, English word interpreter. The three new girls were all from China, and I really wished I'd worn my Redcliffe T-shirt again to help break the ice. I led one of the small groups in the Bible Study meeting afterwards. This was a little tricky because most were still learning English, but they worked quite well together, often talking Chinese to each other to explain what we were doing.

We paid another, last, visit to Koorong, the Christian bookshop and had to stop ourselves buying too many books. One that made me smile is the Australian Pilgrim's Progress - for example:

On his way out of the Homestead Chris had a quick word with the Watchman, Peter Porter, to ask if he'd seen any other swaggies passing by recently, heading in the same direction.
"Yeah," said Porter, "As a matter of fact I have. A bloke about the same age as yourself."
"Did you catch his name?" asked Chris.
"Yeah - I asked, and he told it was Faithful, though people generally call him Fair Dinkum."
"Really! That's bonzer! I know that bloke. He's from my home town, and he used to live just a couple of blocks away from my house..."

This evening Ali went to Bridges. She played table tennis with her usual lack of flair, tried playing a didgeridoo and failed miserably, played a board game and got virtually none of the questions right, and had a really great time. There was a really interesting (that word again!) discussion about church membership which really helped clarify the value of, and need for, membership within a Baptist church community.

August 11th

Jon had the opportunity to visit the same couple as last time (two weeks ago). The lady had been at the womens meeting yesterday and had taken a copy of my devotions home with her - she has already given a copy to her neighbour.

While he was out I did some preparation for Sunday. Jon got back just before lunch and I went straight out with Ian to the Foundations group. They were having a pancake party to encourage newbies to the group. There seemed to be more people round and the conversational English class (based around a newspaper article on the water shortage here) attracted a bigger group than the previous time I was there. Afterwards we moved into a time of games followed by worship. As we were waiting for the games to begin I spoke with one girl, from Hong Kong, who happened to have been born in England – near London! Her parents moved back to Hong Kong when she was about 5 so she doesn't remember much about the UK.

I took the girls along to South Bank, leaving Jon to work on his sermon once I had got home. Ian rang me while I was out to tell me youth group wouldn't be happening so having got back and told Jon, he decided to go to Bridges. As we arrived home we found Jon taking pictures of the beautiful sunset - the colours were amazing!

I didn't say anything yesterday but we heard about the news from the UK at around 7pm Australian time. It is a weird experience to know all that is going on back home. We are hoping it won't affect our journey back which is coming all to quickly - we can't believe we've got less than two weeks left!

Jon has just got in from Bridges - he found the group really encouraging tonight as he saw the young people really starting to build relationships with each other and grow as a group. When he gave out a leaflet advertising the prayer event we are planning, they were all shocked that we are going home so soon. They can't believe it any more than we can!

August 4th

Ali has gone out with the Bridges group for a social evening this evening, so I am writing today's blog entry.

We started today with Ali going to visit the lady that she and Ian weren't able to visit earlier this week. She found the visit both encouraging and interesting.

After the visit we had a little time, so we visited the local Christian bookshop - 'Koorong', and tried not to buy too much. The stores amazing; there is a small adventure playground outside for kids, a play area inside for toddlers with a children's cartoon video playing, loads of books, music, videos, etc. The range was amazing, and many of the prices were excellent. If only we had Christian bookshops like this in the UK. We want to go back - but may need to pay for excess luggage if we do!

We got back just in time for me to go with Ian to the University to join with the Conversational English class and Bible Study group. The class was interesting, and the Redcliffe t-shirt was a talking point again with the Chinese students in both groups.

Ali's just got back. She had scones and jam at 9.30 - someone said it was a very English thing to do, but Ali said not at 9.30pm! There was a lot of discussion about accents, and apparently someone said I sounded like Jamie Oliver - I guess it's an improvement over being told I sound like Tony Blair yesterday, but I'm not too sure.

July 31st

While waiting for Ian to arrive for a meeting with us, we spent the morning organising the placement project that Ian has asked us to plan. Once he had arrived we discussed this weeks activities, and reviewed last week.

Things planned for this week include: going to the Baptist college here and sitting in on a lecture, more conversational English, Home Group, Bridges Group, leading next Sunday's serviceas well as doing the children's talk and giving our testimonies and some other things as well!

This afternoon Kerry drove us up to Brisbane's Redcliffe - it's just not the same as ours! He took us to visit his parents (they know about us via Jon's family and Kerry), then on to Wynnum.

July 28th

This morning Jon went and did some visiting with Ian, and because it was raining the girls and I stayed in the apartment. The girls played together while I worked on my sermon – again.
When Jon came back we swapped over and I went to a student bible study group. We had an unaccompanied worship session! A new Christian gave their testimony and then the group split into two parts to discuss a bible study about 'Walking in the Spirit'.

I got back around three and did some more preparation work as Jon and the girls had gone out This evening Jon has gone to lead the study at the Bridges group. He said he got asked lots of difficult questions, but it was really good.

July 24th

I worked on my sermon this morning while Jon took the girls to the park. Ian then came over and we discussed the proposed plan for the week. He seems to think there may not be enough to keep us busy – but I think there will be, as there are several things to prepare for this week. Proposed activities include: conversational English, visiting people, Home Group leading, University Student Ministry, Bridges Group, Garage Sale, event advertising and all that Sunday will bring with Ali preaching and an event called 'The Living Room' in the evening.

This afternoon we went along to the Museum of Queensland which was really interesting. They had so much to look at we didn't finish so we are planning a return visit next week sometime. There were exhibits of stuffed animals (never seen a polar bear so close) and lots of information about animals under threat of extinction. The girls really liked it too, especially Beth - who loves polar bears.

This evening Jon went along to a deacons' meeting while I carried on working on my sermon.

Tomorrow is our official day off, but as we have already planned to go out on Thursday to celebrate Rebekah's birthday, we are hoping to get some planning done for events later in the week that we will be involved in.

July 21st

Up bright and early again – for Jon at least (3.45am!). Maybe we haven't quite got over jet-lag yet! We got ourselves organised then went on our first Australian bus to the local supermarket. Really cool being able to have a really good look at what is on offer. Bizarre things like Dove chocolate (that's Galaxy in the UK), lime cordial (which is an intense green and looks like disinfectant), multi-coloured popcorn (that the girls were desperate to have, and we weren't as we thought all the e-numbers would turn them hyperactive) and a vegetable called brolliflower (a cross between broccoli and cauliflower – looks like a cauliflower but is green!). In the afternoon we walked down to the river and caught a city ferry upstream to a place called Sydney Street. We then caught a CityCat back up river to North Quay. Once home we did some preparation work for our childrens talk for Sunday.

This evening I went to Bridges (a student group) at the church. There were 9 people including me from several different countries. We played a few games, then Ian did a short talk about Baptism and Communion. As we left one girl said I had a very attractive accent, like Keira Knightly, and I spoke proper English – I said I was very flattered!