This week was long. This year before my coming here was absolutely mentally taxing. I've found it interesting that my time here hasn't been difficult mentally, but rather physically. We sweat so much, it's not even funny. This is good though. We still don't have temperatures like Phoenix, but it's getting closer. Today it's supposed to be somewhere around 30* C, which is roughly 100* F (I think.. math is not my thing). I'm also learning the joys of humidity again. It's been nearly 11 years since I traipsed around the South with the Young Continentals for six weeks.
This week our lecture topic is "Clear Conscience" and it is being taught by the director of YWAM Townsville, Ken Mulligan. It's been a challenging week for many people. His teaching style reminds me of a professor in college. His goal is that we would stop and truly consider and establish the foundations that we live our life on. He doesn't want us to take things at face value - the things we've heard from the church for years for example - but he wants us to really ponder what we believe and why. There is a lot of practical application for this. How can we share the Gospel of Christ if we don't first truly understand and believe in our hearts what we say we believe? How can we claim to be walking with The Lord in deep and intimate relationship if we don't know what His Word says? Like I said, it's been a challenging and exciting week. There have been questions raised that I didn't even consider worthy of questioning because I thought I knew the answer to them. I'm excited to delve deeper and to discover for myself what I truly believe.
It's not all work around here though! Last Sunday we got to go as a group to the Billabong! I had imagined it being mostly like a zoo. Oh. My. Goodness. No. It was one of the coolest experiences ever. We walked into the park and immediately saw kangaroos hopping around. They have free reign. You can get up close and personal and even get a picture while you're petting a kangaroo. A few of the other native Aussie animals we got to see were a wombat, cassuaries, a dingo, a larakeet (like a parrot), a baby crocidile, an olive python, kualas, ducks, turtles, and a huge crocidile. It was quite the adventure. We had tour guides around the Billabong, so we also got to hear information about the animals and their history in Australia. It was a great day!
Straight after that we traveled to the Strand (the name of the beach here in Townsville) and go to go swimming in the ocean, and had a BBQ. It was a little funny that we went and saw the cute kangaroos in the Billabong, and then ate roo shikabobs afterwards. There was chicken as well though! I thought the kangaroo was good (and no, it did not taste like chicken).
Life on the ship is still going well. We're experiencing what it truly means to live in community and to prefer one another and honor one another. Especially since for two days this week the toilets weren't working and we had to go up on the warf to use the dock toilets. All is well now and operational!
On Wednesday we worked at the new city campus. Every time I step onto the campus I am just amazed at the incredible blessing it is. We were cleaning one of the blocks that is most likely going to be accomodation. It was hard and sweaty, but it was so good to be able to pour into this place that will impact and change lives forever. We also were honored to be the first DTS to have lectures on the new campus on Wednesday night! That was quite the night! It's amazing to see all that The Lord is doing here in Townsville.
Last thing for today is the interesting fact that I have only seen crunchy peanut butter here. And I've eaten it, which is quite the feat!
Until next time,
Katie
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