Australia: Walking, Learning

I'm writing this late Friday night, following another great day with the youth of Ann Street. Today about 35 of us spent the better part of the day on a bushwalk through an unbelievable rainforest less than an hour from Brisbane. We hiked about 2 ½ miles through lush tropical forest. It was a peaceful and stunning experience as we took in the beauty and talked with new friends during our trek.

Our evening was another culturally-enriching experience. We were invited to a meal hosted by aboriginal elders of the Brisbane suburb of Logan. They wanted to follow up on time we spent with them last year. As we sat and ate together, they explained their story- one of aboriginal Australia with its struggles and inequities- and their work within the community to improve the lives and future of their people. We were blessed by their commitment to the welfare of the indigenous people of the country, and sensed a growing relationship with them.

Tomorrow, I (Mike) will make a 4-day trip to the Solomon Islands to attend the dedication of the Solomon Pijin language Bible. KACC has supported Bob and Amy Carter as they worked to complete this monumental task, and they asked if we could provide someone from the church at the ceremony. Well, I just happen to be in the neighborhood (only about 1,000 miles away!), so I decided to make the jaunt. The team will be in the capable hands of co-leaders Robert and Liz Crews, and they'll continue the blog from here, even as I add my part from the Sols (Internet willing). Please keep us all in prayer the next few days as we are apart. We anticipate God doing great things in our midst!