A Love That Never Fails

Sorry in advanced for the long post. If you hate reading, like me, you can skip ahead to the beautiful pictures I'm about to post. Cheers!

Over the past few weeks I've spent a lot of time looking at my friends pictures as they travel to countries where tiny shirtless children are playing in the streets and giving hugs to them (my friends). I honestly can't help but to feel a little bit of jealousy build up inside of me. My heart longs for countries where hospitality and a sense of love are more freely expressed than materialism. Unfortunately, I find myself in a place where it could not be any more opposite of that. Before I start, though, I do need to mention that the missionaries and Student Life students have been incredible, and we are very blessed to work along side of them.

This last week, we've spent about 20 hours on campus initiating conversations with various students. More than half of the students we initiate with are not interested. And from there, it's very hard to get into a conversation where the person is willing to ask further questions or show any enthusiasm. I've had many awesome conversations with people and shared the gospel with most of them, but I've realized something very terrible... Often, I don't truly have a heart for them. I have no love for them. 

I had never had this problem before while doing evangelism. I first started noticing this problem when I sat down with a guy earlier this week and went through perspective cards with him. His answers were apathetic, and he could hardly care less about about the conversation. I honestly don't know why he would even take it. Instead of showing compassion though I answered his apathy with a bit of my own. Eventually, that became my attitude. After having a good discussion with Jon, I realized that it was going to have to be something that I relied on God to do for me. I can't force myself to love people... That's not really genuine love anyway. I can, however, do a couple other things: I can let God love through me, or just allow him to work on my heart for others. 

A couple of days ago, I was outreaching at RMIT (University). Before I started any conversations, I prayed that the Lord would allow me to connect with the students I talk to, and if not, that I would love them regardless. The first student I talked to was named Francis. He happened to be a Filipino accounting student. For those of you who may not already know, I studied 3 years of accounting and I'm part Filipino as well. BAM! Anyways, it was awesome and we had a great conversation.


It was not hard to have some compassion for Francis. We shared some pretty awesome things, other than the fact that I dropped accounting like a rock. More importantly, my heart was changing through each and every conversation as I began to care for students I talked to more and more.


And even more important than the last more important is the fact that we are only here for a short time. Relationships tend to take a while to form and thankfully our friendships with them are not nearly as the ones that they'll potentially make with the SL students on those campuses. 

As for myself, I need to learn to grow in my love for others regardless of the situation or person. 

I need to begin to form a love that is relentless. 

A love that is patient and kind. 

A love that protects, hopes, and preserves. 

A love that never fails. 

(Compliments of 1 Corinthians 13)

1st picture is of Melbourne Central. All the others taken are the mountain we climbed earlier today

Tim Tam, Slammity Slam

In the last week we've experienced many exciting new things:


1. Tim Tam slamming
2. Visiting the Pacific Ocean in Australia
3. Celebrating Emily (project director) and her birth
4. Experiencing a culture of awesome new adventures
5. Doing our first campus outreach


As I begin to grow closer with the people and the culture of Melbourne I begin to start loving it more and more. There are things that I'll probably never grow to enjoy, such as the high prices. But I have begun to see Melbourne and its beauty through our small journeys and trips that we take.


So before I get into anything else, I must bring you the joy of Tim Tams and slamming them into your mouth. It's this thick chocolate covered cookie with what I can only describe as delicious awesomeness in the middle. The concept of slamming them comes from taking a Tim Tam, biting off opposite corners of it, and using it as a straw on a hot cup-a. We usually use hot chocolate or tea. What happens is the cookie starts to melt in your hand from the heat of the liquid, so you have to slam it into your mouth. There is nothing better than multiple flavours being stuffed into your mouth at the same time.


This past Thursday we did perspective cards with the students at RMIT. Although, it's technically their winter break, students can still be found on campus. I must admit, it was probably the most personally disappointing perspective experience. My partner Hannah and I must have asked around a couple dozen students, only to get into a semi-awkward conversation with a this one guy and his friend. It was pretty much a confirmation that students here are extremely apathetic towards the gospel or just religion in general. I did get in a conversation later with an interior design student who was an atheist. The atmosphere around Melbourne is very polite but keep-to-yourself... Unlike in the states where I probably wouldn't even spend a couple minutes before getting in a pretty awesome conversation. I'm trying to keep positive though and just allow God to work through everything. There's nothing really else I can do but rely on Him. The spiritual atmosphere is dead, but I believe we have a purpose here and I'm excited to continue to be rejected by hundreds of students over the next few weeks... Only because I know that there will be students whose lives are rocked through the work that is done by the summer project students as well as STINTer's and staff. Anyways, please keep us in your prayers.






Here's a little bit of a photo dump for you to enjoy:
1. M. Kilda (pacific ocean)
2. Awesome mime on the street
3. Melbourne Uni
4. Pacific coast
5. Lake Humes
6. Train station
7. Eiffel tower look alike
8. RMIT
9. Randomly decorated road

A Little Melbourne For Ya, Mate

As a quick summary, we arrived early Saturday morning and spent the entire day doing a scavenger hunt around the city. Jet lag has been a major component in my lack of function. Allergies have also been killing me as well. I struggled pretty hard this last week to get used to being here in Australia. I didn't think it would be too much of an adjustment from America - given the two countries have a lot more similarities than most others - but it is. At around dinner time is when my body tells me that is time for bed. But enough about me...

Melbourne is beautiful, lively, and a cultural hot spot. The people here are friendly and polite and many of my Australian stereotypes of been filled quite successfully since arriving here.


So just in case you have no idea what I am doing here I'll explain, since I currently have a better idea.


This first week we went to a Student Life conference called Mid-Year Conference. Student Life is the equivalent of CRU back in the US. It is much smaller however and full of wonderful Asians. At this conference (which was held in South Wales - We are in Victoria) we got to meet the students and missionaries and spend an awesome week in worship and teaching. A small handful of these students attend the "Uni's" that we will be attending. Now that we've returned to Melbourne, we will be reaching out to the campuses (mostly a school called RMIT) talking to them about Jesus and maybe recruiting for Student Life. In our downtime we may do some fun things like watch a game of footy or visit cool places. I laid eyes on my first pack of roos the other day. Also, I got to eat a kangaroo hot dog and it was delicious!


Here's the lake by the camp we stayed at:

Anyways as much as i enjoy Australia there have been many things I don't enjoy.


1. Prices here are out of control. If you want to not be hungry you better be prepared to empty your wallet. Btw, just like the Czech Republic and Poland, money here feels like it's from monopoly. It's just so fun looking I can never take it seriously.


2. Water fountains are as rare as unicorns out here. Thirst is a common problem we have and not having water fountains around is a good way of not solving this problem.


3. Vegemite. It's terrible. I've been told to put butter with the vegemite. But the amount of butter it would take to cover up the terribleness of the vegemite would overcome the taste of the bread as well.


4. Winter. This doesn't have anything to do with Australia. But when you go from sunny, warm America to chill, wintery Australia, it is never an improvement (at least in my eyes). More clothes to pack. Sickness from cold. Just a long list of reasons for why I disapprove of cold weather.


Well mates, cheers for reading my blog! Goodnight to me, and good morning to you ;-)