The next installment...

Hello I'm back!!! Bit rubbish at keeping in touch so sorry if I have neglected any of u!

Well first thing to report is that I'm down with the Aussie lingo now so I can communicate with the locals!!!

It has been an epic couple of weeks - we have done three weeks of lectures now - the topics being church planting, the characteristics of God, and the Holy Spirit. The speakers have all been amazing - really down to earth and passionate about what they are speaking about, it's obvious they are living what they're preaching! Lectures are pretty laid back as we're encouraged to treat lecturers as equals and not put them on a pedestal so we can feel free to ask questions whenever and have a bit of a joke with them as well! The speakers generally stick around in the afternoons and sometimes evenings so we really have loads of opportunity to pick their brains and talk to them about anything we don't understand or just generally chat with them. Our speaker last week had the most amazing and inspiring testimony. He was on of the most feared gangsters in Cape Town, was really violent and thought nothing of killing people, on drugs, was an alcoholic and involved in Satanism. But then he had a powerful encounter with Jesus and he just broke down in tears in the middle if this park and gave his life to Jesus. He completely turned his life around, came off the drugs and started preaching, giving his testimony at events and church services. Loads of gangsters and other people he knew gave their lives to God through seeing the change in him. He's now involved in YWAM in Sydney and is one of the most funny, down to earth, gentle people I know so it's just amazing to think he had such a violent past. God can change the most hardened people!

Anyway, the last week in particular has been a big one in terms of what God is doing in our lives. We had a time of ministry on Fri morning and Paul Richards (the speaker for that week and one of the people involved with setting up YWAM Melbourne) prayed for each of us individually, and had prophesies for each of us about what God's calling for our lives were or things which God wanted to deal with, for example healing emotional stuff. What God said to me through Paul was spot on and blew me away! (not literally...)

Another thing to update you on is the fantastic relationships we've developed with the next door neighbours - there's a married couple who have two sons, one aged 15 and the other is 20. We've now got to the stage where we just wander in and out of each other's houses, they really are just like family. We've been round a couple of times now for a meal and they've been over to ours for dinner (or even just coming over for desert!). The mum is catholic but the rest of the family don't particularly have any beliefs but they are so interested in what we're doing and are always asking questions about what we're doing and what we believe - they've even sat through one of our lectures and been here during praise and worship sessions. Last week when we were round at their house we had an impromptu worship session and ended up praying for them! God is definitely doing something in their hearts as they just can't keep away!

On Sat we went to see the YWAM ship at Geelong which provides dental and medical services to the people of Papua New Guinea who have limited health services and struggle to get the treatment they need, causing unnecessary deaths. So we helped out with giving tours (the public and go aboard the ship while it's moored in the harbour and not on a mission trip!) and then spent the rest of the day on the beach, followed by a dance event (including hip-hop and tribal dance!)in the local skate park, promoting the work of the ship (anyone who's interested can find out more info at ywamships.org). Oh and by the way, the dancing was AMAZING! Made me wish I could dance like that! The hip hop dancing was incredible!

Right, I'm going to get myself a cup of tea now, typing is thirsty work...

Love to u all and keep updating me of your activities up in the Northern hemisphere - I enjoy hearing what you're up to!

Lorraine xxxx

PRAYER POINTS!!

- Direction on what to do after DTS.
- For spending money to last out - I have all the money for the school fees but not much left over to spend so pray God will provide what I need
- Spiritual protection as God is moving powerfully in a way I have never experienced before, which is exciting, but it does mean the enemy will not like it too much! So he will be trying his best to un-do what God has done. For example, I have felt very flat and discouraged this weekend. This is directly after I got prayed for on Fri and I don't think that's coincidence!
- Please pray for renewed faith and trust in God this week as I've been feeling a bit weak in that area this weekend :(
Lastly, please pray for the relationships we form with the people we meet that we can be a real encouragement to them and that God will bless them and they will have a real experience of God and get to know Him personally. Especially the family next door!