This past week in Brisbane was filled with good things and blessings. We stayed with a couple named Auntie Lorrene and Bill in their lovely little Queenslander style home. The walls were papered and the dark wood furniture and shelves displayed any number of curios from world travel and antiques of all kinds. Pictures and aged photographs and portraits graced the walls. Doilies sat on tables and buffets and embroidered tablecloths spread over the table in the main room. Only seeing it in person would do it justice.
Auntie Lorrene and I chatted many mornings as we seemed to be always the first two awake, and many nights as we were often the two not watching tv or music videos. I also cooked with her a few different times and it was a wonderful chance to find new recipes and have yet another chance to talk to her.
She is a beautiful woman. So wise. So full of stories. She has three children and a few grandchildren. She has traveled the world doing missions. Her home is open and she is a gracious and generous hostess. The love that spilled from her was amazing. This is what I want people to be able to say of me. I want to be like Lorrene.
It was a huge blessing to me to be welcomed as I was into her life.
Relationships was the subject of our lectures this week. I learned so much from them, and also so much from Auntie Lorrene. It's always hard to put into words what exactly I took from it... Maybe I will know better later. Something simple and good is that all problems in the world are relationship problems, whether between God and man, man and other men, or man and himself. If we took Jesus' new commandment to love The Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself then most of our problems would likely dissolve. Loving is as simple as choosing the highest and best in all situations.
Food has been delicious... I love food, honestly. So many recipes collected, so many new things tried. For those of you who know me, this may be interesting... I ate a bowl of ice cream last night. And I feel fine today. Praise The Lord. I am also beginning to understand the authority I have in Jesus' name and I have been claiming that over my stomach and my migraines. Bless The Lord.
Pennies and tulip trees... I found an American penny in my backpack, a Euro-cent coin in the washroom, and a brown colored five cent Aussie coin today. God still finds ways to remind me that He is hanging around and blessing me. Even as we drove to the airport I saw an African tulip tree--basically another sort of penny for me.
Yesterday afternoon the skies opened and poured buckets of water on us. When I stood under the spray of Victoria Falls in Zambia I did not get wet and soaked as quickly as running through that downpour. It was wonderful. I wished that I could have had extra clothes along so I could play in it. Maybe another time.
After it stopped raining, a rainbow hung in the sky for a while. Some time passed and it disappeared. The heavy clouds started to break apart and blow around as God painted the sky in all sorts of greys and blue like some sort of heavenly stormy ocean. It began to glow in peach and crimson and gold, first along edges and then in all the spaces as the sky turned to amber. Palm trees silhouetted against the brightest halo of gold stood to one side and the ocean was in the sky to the other. As I walked the wind blew on my skin and birds sang and flew between trees.
I am now in JetStar aircraft some thousands of feet above the ground somewhere between Brisbane and Townsville. As we float in bright blue skies above cotton-white clouds a new stage of the journey is beginning to the most beautiful ending.
-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Come away with me
Come away with me
It's gonna be wild
It's gonna great
It's gonna be full of me
'Cause
I have a plan for you
I have a plan for you
It's gonna be wild
It's gonna be great
It's gonna be full of me
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Friday, September 19, 2014
Still Ready to Pick Me Up
Last night we went out as a team to do some evangelism in Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast. It was rough. The person I was partnered with and I, long story short, didn't do much talking to people. I wanted to, but the way it went, it didn't work. Seemed they only wanted to shop or sit. So I tried a few times to talk to people and it didn't really work. They had to go. So mostly we sat around. I was near tears by the end and though I had prayed alone it really wasn't a team thing. Nothing we did was. I felt trapped in that I had to do only what the other person with me wanted.
Today, we went out again, a different group, to tell people about the ship. We had walked a while with nothing happening and we turned around to walk back along the beach. There were vendors setting up for beachside markets all along the walkway. I stopped at a tent and admired a box they had out.
The man and I started talking about the ship and PNG and their health status and governments. I showed him on the flyer where we planned to put different things on the ship, clinics, tenders, triage, and how we were going to extend decks and build clinics. We had a good chat and I was able to tell him the story of Jack the dentist. He was amazed at that and what we are doing.
We also talked about how thankful he was for the American brothers Australia has. I can not aptly describe the excitement and joy our conversation held; the hope exchanged as we spoke.
He gave me a gift, a silver necklace with a clear crystal stone. He said that I should wear it and God will always be able to see where I am. And then he said, "but you already know he sees you."
As I left we introduced ourselves. His name is John and he definitely wants to donate and find out more about it.
It was such a blessing to me to be able to have this conversation. It was a great reminder that even when things go badly, as they did last night, God is still here ready to pick up the pieces and work with me anyway.
Today, we went out again, a different group, to tell people about the ship. We had walked a while with nothing happening and we turned around to walk back along the beach. There were vendors setting up for beachside markets all along the walkway. I stopped at a tent and admired a box they had out.
The man and I started talking about the ship and PNG and their health status and governments. I showed him on the flyer where we planned to put different things on the ship, clinics, tenders, triage, and how we were going to extend decks and build clinics. We had a good chat and I was able to tell him the story of Jack the dentist. He was amazed at that and what we are doing.
We also talked about how thankful he was for the American brothers Australia has. I can not aptly describe the excitement and joy our conversation held; the hope exchanged as we spoke.
He gave me a gift, a silver necklace with a clear crystal stone. He said that I should wear it and God will always be able to see where I am. And then he said, "but you already know he sees you."
As I left we introduced ourselves. His name is John and he definitely wants to donate and find out more about it.
It was such a blessing to me to be able to have this conversation. It was a great reminder that even when things go badly, as they did last night, God is still here ready to pick up the pieces and work with me anyway.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Training in Secret
I had a revelation today (Sunday, September 14) while I sat listening to the message at a Fijian church in Brisbane, Australia. Our DTS walked in and nearly doubled the size of the congregation with our group of 17 or so people.
I'm sitting there listening and I hear Pastor Netani (who we are blessed to have as our school leader) say something about wondering what the call in your life is. I'm sure all ears perked. We, as humans, are always looking for the plan, the blueprint, of our lives.
***Spoiler alert: God doesn't tell us everything and he doesn't show the blueprint. ***
We have to follow day by day seeking him and knowing him so that we know the steps to take.
What Pastor Netani was saying about the call and the purpose of our lives as children is that it is simply to do the tasks our parents set for us.
He gave a story of when he was staying with a cousin to attend school one time and his duties were cooking and cleaning and dishes. He felt like the lady of the house and often wanted to run away. But he didn't. He stayed.
Looking back he says that he saw God's hand in all of it. He was training him in secret to do the things that God had prepared for him.
Training in secret. That phrase jumped out at me. Isn't that what we are doing right now? I mean, Pastor Net wondered "what's the purpose of this? This isn't the thing I am here to do."
And I am here helping to run a public relations campaign and touring the pacific and the east coast of Australia. What? Yeah. And I wonder the same things. At least when we are doing lectures it feels like training, but this?
But right now, he is training me in secret. He is quietly teaching me ... well ... something. I don't know exactly what. But he is preparing me now for the plans he has for me later.
Even though I can't see it. Even though I often want to run away. Even when I can't see that there is a purpose for the things I am doing. He is training me in secret and his hand is still here and still present guiding me into his plans.
I'm sitting there listening and I hear Pastor Netani (who we are blessed to have as our school leader) say something about wondering what the call in your life is. I'm sure all ears perked. We, as humans, are always looking for the plan, the blueprint, of our lives.
***Spoiler alert: God doesn't tell us everything and he doesn't show the blueprint. ***
We have to follow day by day seeking him and knowing him so that we know the steps to take.
What Pastor Netani was saying about the call and the purpose of our lives as children is that it is simply to do the tasks our parents set for us.
He gave a story of when he was staying with a cousin to attend school one time and his duties were cooking and cleaning and dishes. He felt like the lady of the house and often wanted to run away. But he didn't. He stayed.
Looking back he says that he saw God's hand in all of it. He was training him in secret to do the things that God had prepared for him.
Training in secret. That phrase jumped out at me. Isn't that what we are doing right now? I mean, Pastor Net wondered "what's the purpose of this? This isn't the thing I am here to do."
And I am here helping to run a public relations campaign and touring the pacific and the east coast of Australia. What? Yeah. And I wonder the same things. At least when we are doing lectures it feels like training, but this?
But right now, he is training me in secret. He is quietly teaching me ... well ... something. I don't know exactly what. But he is preparing me now for the plans he has for me later.
Even though I can't see it. Even though I often want to run away. Even when I can't see that there is a purpose for the things I am doing. He is training me in secret and his hand is still here and still present guiding me into his plans.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
No Creative Names Left In my Head
So, we just missed the City Cat ferry to Brisbane, so, while we wait, I thought I'd write a bit.
I have a few stories from the past few days... Here they are.
------------------------------
Back in Mackay, we met this little boy at an event he came to with his mother. I was waiting with him for a minute until the volunteer who was in charge of him for the night returned. As we waited, I asked him how he liked the ship. He nearly burst! This five year old kid was so thrilled with the ship that he had decided to become captain–not of any old ship, but just this one, the Ammari. He began to count, "...six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, eighteen, twenty!" When he is twenty, he says he will be the right age to captain our ship.
------------------------------
I met a man on the wharf in Gladstone. He was getting on his boat to go out to the reef for a week of fishing and camping. We chatted for a bit...his name is something like Murray...learned that he doesn't much care for Christianity, but it's a free country, he says, and people can believe what they want. He didn't want to go on the ship, just kept about his business of stocking his own boat to feed about twelve men for a week. I told him when he asked where I was from, what we are doing here, and the like. He was friendly and chatted to me all day from just after we started til just before we finished. It wasn't anything huge, but from the beginning of the day to the end he changed a bit. It started with his seeming almost bothered by us being here, and ended with friendly conversation as we finished off the day. It was cool. I had a chance to share a tiny bit of what I believe, and he brightened my day.
------------------------------
It was entirely unexpected. After church, Netani came to us and asked if we would like to go back to the ship or if we would like to go to the home of some new Fijian friends for a lovo. In favor of an adventure, we hesitatingly chose the latter.
Leaving, now over five hours later, I can honestly say that was the best time I have had in a while. It was family. It was friendship. It was real. God truly chose to bless us today. I can not even say how much.
We drove up and down roller coaster roads to arrive at a little place in the bush. A pit was dug and firewood gathered. Food was chopped and mixed and wrapped. Fire was started and stones were heated. Food was cooked. Laughter reigned. Cultures collided and mixed so beautifully. Food was abundant and so delicious. Contacts were exchanged. Blessings given, tears shed, and embraces exchanged. And as we pull away, I know that this will never be forgotten.
------------------------------
The sail from Gladstone to Brisbane was awful. Blackish waters, dark clouds, rain, rough waves. It felt like the ship was falling apart at times. Other times it felt like a whale was breaching under the ship. It kept slamming into waves. Many people got sea sick... I nearly did as well. We did see whales and dolphins again, as usual, but in my efforts to see them one time I had my hand slammed in the door. Long story short, it's purple-ish now and somewhat sore... Oh well.
Not much else in the way of happenings. I'm on ship ops this week, which means I'm back to cleaning toilets. Brisbane is another industrial port away from the city. Not much is within walking distance. Except for bulk fluid storage, that is. Nine days left of ship tour for Pacific. Then we drive back here to Brisbane.
That's all for now, I guess. Still waiting for the ferry. See you in 104 days.
I have a few stories from the past few days... Here they are.
------------------------------
Back in Mackay, we met this little boy at an event he came to with his mother. I was waiting with him for a minute until the volunteer who was in charge of him for the night returned. As we waited, I asked him how he liked the ship. He nearly burst! This five year old kid was so thrilled with the ship that he had decided to become captain–not of any old ship, but just this one, the Ammari. He began to count, "...six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, eighteen, twenty!" When he is twenty, he says he will be the right age to captain our ship.
------------------------------
I met a man on the wharf in Gladstone. He was getting on his boat to go out to the reef for a week of fishing and camping. We chatted for a bit...his name is something like Murray...learned that he doesn't much care for Christianity, but it's a free country, he says, and people can believe what they want. He didn't want to go on the ship, just kept about his business of stocking his own boat to feed about twelve men for a week. I told him when he asked where I was from, what we are doing here, and the like. He was friendly and chatted to me all day from just after we started til just before we finished. It wasn't anything huge, but from the beginning of the day to the end he changed a bit. It started with his seeming almost bothered by us being here, and ended with friendly conversation as we finished off the day. It was cool. I had a chance to share a tiny bit of what I believe, and he brightened my day.
------------------------------
It was entirely unexpected. After church, Netani came to us and asked if we would like to go back to the ship or if we would like to go to the home of some new Fijian friends for a lovo. In favor of an adventure, we hesitatingly chose the latter.
Leaving, now over five hours later, I can honestly say that was the best time I have had in a while. It was family. It was friendship. It was real. God truly chose to bless us today. I can not even say how much.
We drove up and down roller coaster roads to arrive at a little place in the bush. A pit was dug and firewood gathered. Food was chopped and mixed and wrapped. Fire was started and stones were heated. Food was cooked. Laughter reigned. Cultures collided and mixed so beautifully. Food was abundant and so delicious. Contacts were exchanged. Blessings given, tears shed, and embraces exchanged. And as we pull away, I know that this will never be forgotten.
------------------------------
The sail from Gladstone to Brisbane was awful. Blackish waters, dark clouds, rain, rough waves. It felt like the ship was falling apart at times. Other times it felt like a whale was breaching under the ship. It kept slamming into waves. Many people got sea sick... I nearly did as well. We did see whales and dolphins again, as usual, but in my efforts to see them one time I had my hand slammed in the door. Long story short, it's purple-ish now and somewhat sore... Oh well.
Not much else in the way of happenings. I'm on ship ops this week, which means I'm back to cleaning toilets. Brisbane is another industrial port away from the city. Not much is within walking distance. Except for bulk fluid storage, that is. Nine days left of ship tour for Pacific. Then we drive back here to Brisbane.
That's all for now, I guess. Still waiting for the ferry. See you in 104 days.
Friday, September 5, 2014
Time to Go -- Again
Honestly, this tour is run, run, run. Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, now Gladstone, and Monday morning we sail for Brisbane.
In all the running I have failed to keep you updated. I am trying, but wifi is scarce at best. In only 10 minutes I will have to run again, so this is my hurried attempt at relating what I am able in a short time.
Last you knew of my adventures was Billabong. I'll start there. We will see how far I get.
We moved from Townsville to Hidden Valley for one week before jumping aboard the medical ship. Hidden Valley was a time where we studied the Lordship of Christ intensely with minimal distraction. Amazing things happened. I was spoken to in astounding ways. My life will be changed and is being changed through this time. I have hope for my future and am excited for the promises of welfare and of persecution that I found while seeking God.
After camping, literally a mountaintop experience, we moved to the ship. Our first sail was to Cairns. Like Mark Parker said, it was one of the hardest weeks of my life. Questioning decisions made, and basically just hating the fact I had made them at all... Questioning my sanity. Missing home more than ever before. Wondering what is next and where to go in the future. There is a lot on my mind!
Cairns was crazy, but good. We had so much to do with ship tours, but we also had free time. When you have free time, Cairns is the place to be. Whether it was visiting the Great Barrier Reef (I got to scuba dive for the very first time!), or shopping the night markets, watching fire dancers or listening to friends play piano downtown, there was more than enough to do. It was a welcome break to the constant thinking and working.
We all hopped back on board to sail to Mackay from Cairns. Each time we sail the view is amazing. We often see whales, or at least I do. There are some people who chance to miss them every time. This past sighting, between Mackay and Gladstone, was quite spectacular--the whales really put on a show! Often God paints the sky in gorgeous hues varying from gold to crimson, and mountainous islands often silhouette the sunset sky. It is beautiful out here on the water.
I wish I could remember all there is to say. I feel like what I am writing is only a jumbled mess of unrelated thoughts--a collage of sorts.
Since I am writing all this, I need to say something honestly to you. This tour is hard. More than the fact that I have been terribly sick with an awful cold the past week. More than that I have trouble sleeping at night. More than the fact that it is run run run all the time. It's hard being here in Australia running a public relations tour from a cruise ship as we travel down the coast, basically sightseeing. It feels like a party ship on a humanitarian mission. Don't get me wrong, there are stories of people whose lives have been touched--this including our own. Yes, we are doing it for the people of PNG. Yes, God is using us. But it's rough. Many times I feel useless here. Like I could be doing something more beneficial elsewhere. . . . .something that feels more like Kingdom work. It's hard, too, because our team, Pacific DTS, is split into three different PR teams and we don't even work together at our stops. Even when we sail, most of the girls get seasick and stay in bed the whole time. So the family I have at home is distant, and the family I have here is missing. Time is scarce and rushed, so though the purpose of this whole thing is to save people for Jesus, Jesus is forgotten, it seems, in the chaos. It is hard to find time or a place to listen to and spend time with him.
Mackay was difficult because we had to all stay on the ship the whole time. Gladstone is in town again, or just outside, so we are able to get off and walk around. In Mackay, we were at an industrial wharf and needed to shuttle people between the gate and the ship--and it was 20 minutes from the gate into town.
Today is Friday, tomorrow I have tours all day. Sunday I have the day off and will hopefully get to some free wifi zone for internet access and post some pictures from there. This post has been pieced together in four sections as I find time to add, usually when walking through free wifi zones while I was out on promo. I'm finishing it from the ship's computer...though I have only 10 minutes left. Time time time. Run run run.
Monday morning, 0900, we ship out. Arrive in Brisbane 29 hours later. We stay there [about] a week, sail to Gold Coast, spend a few days on PR and tours, etc. Then we drive back to Brisbane, do a few church services while we are there for a week, and fly back to Townsville. Lectures for a few weeks after that and we fly off to Sydney for our second outreach.
Thanks for watching my updates and for praying. Hopefully, this will have supplied enough information to keep your prayers up to date for a while. Still trusting God will continue to provide finances, so if you would pray for that as well it would be wonderful.
God bless you all,
Alainya Slakes
In all the running I have failed to keep you updated. I am trying, but wifi is scarce at best. In only 10 minutes I will have to run again, so this is my hurried attempt at relating what I am able in a short time.
Last you knew of my adventures was Billabong. I'll start there. We will see how far I get.
We moved from Townsville to Hidden Valley for one week before jumping aboard the medical ship. Hidden Valley was a time where we studied the Lordship of Christ intensely with minimal distraction. Amazing things happened. I was spoken to in astounding ways. My life will be changed and is being changed through this time. I have hope for my future and am excited for the promises of welfare and of persecution that I found while seeking God.
After camping, literally a mountaintop experience, we moved to the ship. Our first sail was to Cairns. Like Mark Parker said, it was one of the hardest weeks of my life. Questioning decisions made, and basically just hating the fact I had made them at all... Questioning my sanity. Missing home more than ever before. Wondering what is next and where to go in the future. There is a lot on my mind!
Cairns was crazy, but good. We had so much to do with ship tours, but we also had free time. When you have free time, Cairns is the place to be. Whether it was visiting the Great Barrier Reef (I got to scuba dive for the very first time!), or shopping the night markets, watching fire dancers or listening to friends play piano downtown, there was more than enough to do. It was a welcome break to the constant thinking and working.
We all hopped back on board to sail to Mackay from Cairns. Each time we sail the view is amazing. We often see whales, or at least I do. There are some people who chance to miss them every time. This past sighting, between Mackay and Gladstone, was quite spectacular--the whales really put on a show! Often God paints the sky in gorgeous hues varying from gold to crimson, and mountainous islands often silhouette the sunset sky. It is beautiful out here on the water.
I wish I could remember all there is to say. I feel like what I am writing is only a jumbled mess of unrelated thoughts--a collage of sorts.
Since I am writing all this, I need to say something honestly to you. This tour is hard. More than the fact that I have been terribly sick with an awful cold the past week. More than that I have trouble sleeping at night. More than the fact that it is run run run all the time. It's hard being here in Australia running a public relations tour from a cruise ship as we travel down the coast, basically sightseeing. It feels like a party ship on a humanitarian mission. Don't get me wrong, there are stories of people whose lives have been touched--this including our own. Yes, we are doing it for the people of PNG. Yes, God is using us. But it's rough. Many times I feel useless here. Like I could be doing something more beneficial elsewhere. . . . .something that feels more like Kingdom work. It's hard, too, because our team, Pacific DTS, is split into three different PR teams and we don't even work together at our stops. Even when we sail, most of the girls get seasick and stay in bed the whole time. So the family I have at home is distant, and the family I have here is missing. Time is scarce and rushed, so though the purpose of this whole thing is to save people for Jesus, Jesus is forgotten, it seems, in the chaos. It is hard to find time or a place to listen to and spend time with him.
Mackay was difficult because we had to all stay on the ship the whole time. Gladstone is in town again, or just outside, so we are able to get off and walk around. In Mackay, we were at an industrial wharf and needed to shuttle people between the gate and the ship--and it was 20 minutes from the gate into town.
Today is Friday, tomorrow I have tours all day. Sunday I have the day off and will hopefully get to some free wifi zone for internet access and post some pictures from there. This post has been pieced together in four sections as I find time to add, usually when walking through free wifi zones while I was out on promo. I'm finishing it from the ship's computer...though I have only 10 minutes left. Time time time. Run run run.
Monday morning, 0900, we ship out. Arrive in Brisbane 29 hours later. We stay there [about] a week, sail to Gold Coast, spend a few days on PR and tours, etc. Then we drive back to Brisbane, do a few church services while we are there for a week, and fly back to Townsville. Lectures for a few weeks after that and we fly off to Sydney for our second outreach.
Thanks for watching my updates and for praying. Hopefully, this will have supplied enough information to keep your prayers up to date for a while. Still trusting God will continue to provide finances, so if you would pray for that as well it would be wonderful.
God bless you all,
Alainya Slakes
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