Goodbye Australia

Been putting this blog post off for a while now, but its finally time.  Yes, the final blog post about our time in Australia.  The last two weeks we were there were filled with goodbyes and celebrations.  Here is a look at our last few days in the Land Down Under.

Those last photos are Dane's graduation ceremony.  I am so so proud of my husband.  He has grown so  so much in all aspects of life.  Cannot wait to see how God is going to use him and the calling He has placed on his life.

If you want to see more pictures of our last few days in Australia check out our Adventure Album.

Many of you have asked what's going to happen to the Kids Down Under blog?  Well its going to stick around!  We have lots of fun stuff coming up before Christmas including what we've been up to since we've been home, some of our favourite Christmas traditions, and glimpses into our lives.

Much Love,
Dane and Christy

Weekends Are For...Catching Up

This past weekend we spent a lot of time catching up with people in our lives.  Catching up, that's the term Aussie's use for hanging out, and it used to sound so weird to me, but now, getting together for a catch up sounds so normal.

Friday night we enjoyed a night out with some of our GWS family, the Temus.  It was a dinner eating, game show playing, face painting, disco dancing kind of night.  We are so thankful for the Temu family sharing life with us.  Amongst many other lessons, your family has taught us so much about the importance of doing life with people inside and outside the church walls.  Thank you!

The first half of Saturday was devoted to Dane and I catching up.  Life gets so crazy here and so time together is always a blessing.  We enjoyed brunch at one of our new favourite cafes, Youeni.  I highly recommend their fresh squeezed orange juice (they are the inspiration for us buying a juicer when we get back home) and the lamb sambo (oh Australia you have made me fall in love with lamb).

After brunch we did a bit of shopping (yay for sales racks), and then went to see the movie "About Time."  Seriously loved this one.   It is the type of movie that makes me want to embrace life and live it to the fullest, you know, its the same way you feel after watching a movie like Yes Man.

Saturday evening was spent catching up with our hoursemates Kyle and Hannah.  True, we live together, but its just different when you go out and do something together.  We hit up one of our favourite little spots in the city, The Pie Tin and then had quite the adventure playing the game "what are the odds."  The only way I can explain this is by saying it's a spin of truth or dare, only not so much truth and not quite as risky, but still so many memories made!

Sunday afternoon was a catch up with our beautiful friend Lyndsey from Scotland.  We have served with Lyndsey at GWS for our two years here, and it was so encouraging to hear how her Hillsong experience has helped her grow.  Our afternoon included free Slurpees thanks to Slurpee day at 7-11 and us introducing her to BLT's and cucumber salad.  I wish I could box this amazing woman up and bring her home with me.

As our time closes here in the land down under, I have a feeling we have a lot more catching up to do.  Hope you all had a fantastic weekend.  Much Love, The Kids Down Under

Weekends Are For....Celebrating 30 Years

This weekend Hillsong celebrated 30 years as a church.  It was such a good party, full of reminiscing, happy tears, laugher, balloons, fireworks, ice cream, friends, and so much more.


One of my favourite moments of the night was when 30 different people came on stage representing the year they accepted Christ at Hillsong.  It is amazing to think of all the lives this church has changed.  I am so thankful I have had the opportunity to be a part of this church family and am so excited to see where God takes the church in the next 30 years.  To God be the Glory!

Weekends Are For....Serving

I recently realized that I haven't explained one of the coolest parts about our experience here in Australia, serving at Hillsong GWS.  Serving in the church has been the most impacting experience I have had here and I thought it would be cool to share with you all.

One of the reasons Dane chose to study at Hillsong was it offered a hands on continuing education opportunity.  Along with classroom study students also receive credit by serving in various capacities throughout Hillsong church life.

Hillsong has two main campus's in Sydney, the Hills and the City.  It also has 12 extension services spread throughout the community.  We were allocated to serve at the Greater Western Sydney campus, also lovingly known as GWS.

Here is what is unique about GWS compared to most churches.  It doesn't have its own building.  Every week we rent out a college lecture hall/building and transform it into our church which includes kids rooms, mother's room, youth areas, young adults space, a welcome lounge, new people's lounge, city care stations, BBQ/food, bookstore, next steps lounge and of course the worship space.  Yes, each week we bump in church, hold two church services and then bump out church.  What amazes me even more is the entire stash of supplies needed to pull this off is stored in the back of a truck the size of a regular U-Haul trailer.  With that said, we are the biggest extension service by about 200 people and we are praying and believing for our own building. Dane and I believe we will have one before we leave and we will continue to pray relentlessly for it!

One of the ways Dane and I serve is through production bump in, meaning we set up the sound equipment.  There are other teams that set up lights, media, kids rooms, the list goes on and on really.  I am new to the bump in team, but I had a really good teacher in Dane and now know how to run cords, set up monitors and mains.  It makes me feel pretty cool in a nerdy sort of way.  I have been blown away at the knowledge Dane has about it all.  Seriously, I wish you could all see him serve and help direct teams.  You would be so proud.

We also serve in other areas a well.  Dane has had the joy of  serving as Musical Director, Monitor Engineer, Guitarist, Technical Director, and Front of House Sound.  I have served in the areas of Background Vocals, Worship Leader, Hillsong Kids, and Creative Set Design.  It has been so cool to see how we can use the gifts God has put on our lives to help serve in the church in ways we never really imagined.

What I love most about Hillsong GWS is the people.  They have become a part of our Aussie family.  As I am sure you can imagine, it takes a team to pull of church each week, and I love how people are always stepping up and ready to serve.  We are so blessed to have Pastor Jay Jury leading the way along with another amazing team of key leaders.

The biggest lesson I have learned is that serving in a church isn't about personal glory.  It is all about Jesus and people.  Trust me, there is nothing glorious about giving up your Saturday afternoon to bump in, or rucking up at 5:00am to make sure things are ready to go for church.  But when hands go up during alter call on Sunday morning, and I know that people are meeting Jesus for the first time, that people are finding healing, restoration, freedom, joy, true peace in their lives well that's what makes it worth it.

For We Are Young and Free

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The new sound of church music is here.  Today the first ever Hillsong Young and Free album is out, and the music is incredible.  Young and Free is the youth ministry of Hillsong Church and this album represents the sound and the heartbeat of the youth of our church and this generation.

I highly recommend you pick up a copy, especially if you have a teenager in your life.  Hook the kid up alright?  And if you are a youth pastor, this is a must have!  It has been such an incredible experience to watch this project come to be and I am so excited for the lives that will be impacted by this music and the glory it will bring to God.  You can get your copy via itunes or your local Christian bookstore.

Happy Dancing Everyone!

The Kids Down Under

One is the Loneliest Number

Isn't that one of the most depressing songs on the face of the earth?  Truth is, we aren't designed to be alone.  Wait, don't stop reading because your single and you think this is some post about how you need to find someone.  I know everything in the world is telling you that all of the time (trust me, I have been there).  This has nothing to do with lovely dovey relationships but everything to do about community.

I never realized the value of community until I moved to a part of the world where I didn't know a single person for thousands and thousands of miles.  (7,488 miles to be more accurate).  And so here are Dane and I, alone.  Just chilling in our little house, with absolutely nothing and nobody.  And then there was a knock on the door.  Our community had started.  Enter Greg.  The most gracious and generous man who provided us two strangers with a bed, couch, table, TV, bust most importantly, friendship.

As our time in Australia went on our community grew little by little but I would have to accredit most of that to our Connect Group.  Yes, this lovely picture you are looking at is our church connect group.  Nothing but love for all of em'.    A beautiful group of people representing so many different things:  Different Countries, Backgrounds, Facebook Relationships Status, Languages, Ages, Interests, Hobbies, Professions, and Dreams.  And I love doing this journey with them.

If there is one thing I have learned while in Australia it is the importance of not just doing church life on Sunday mornings, but actually doing life together outside of church walls.  You know, getting into one another's nitty gritty.  Eat together, pray together, laugh together, drink coffee together, shop together, go to movies together, cry together, be real together.  God designed us for this.  Community is part of God's plan for us, and I am hoping it is part of your life as well.

If you find yourself humming the tune "one is the loneliest number" a little too often, hit me up, because I know a place and a group of people who would love to get to know you and your nitty gritty.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up on meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another." Hebrews 10:24-25

A Little Bit of Gospel for Ya.

Last week Dane and his tutorial class had their first performance of the year.  They have spent the semester focused on the gospel genre.  The beats, rhythms, and styles are very different than the traditional church music and pop music that we often learn.  Its roots are in blues music and provide new challenges and opportunities for the class. 

The performance was so much fun and the tutorial did a wonderful job!  The set list included Cover the Earth by Lakewood Church, Moving Forward by Israel Houghton, Holy by Donnie McClurkin and Who Is Like the Lord by Israel Houghton.

Love, The Kids Down Under

The Life of a Colour Girl

I had the joy of attending Colour Conference 2013 and wanted to give you a glimpse of what my experience was like!

My beautiful friend Jess and I enjoying magnum bars.

Starting our days with coffee and toasted banana bread.

 
Boot up girls!

Max and Melody.  Secretly I aspire to be Melody!  Oh dreams my friend.  Our friend Alex (Jess's husband) doing his thing on the box drums.  Not sure if that is what those are really called, but it is my word for it.

I just love all the attention to detail.  Pretty streamers, polka dot walls, flowers in the trees!  Sigh...truly after the heart of this girly girl.

Snack packs!

Loving the gold, and the 3-D gems they used to decorate everywhere.  I gotta make me some of these!

One of the beautiful aspects of Colour is all of the initiatives they support around the world.  If you would like to check some of them out, just click here.

My beautiful friend Rachel singing on one of the special items, which included a giant pillow fight!

Our speakers, Bobbie Houston, Wendy Treat, and Dr. Caroline Leaf.

 They handed out over 800 goodie bags which were donated by local businesses.

The college prepared a Mumford and Sons song.  Loved this moment of the day, because we all know how I love me some Mumford!

A lot of wisdom sitting around this table!

One of the beautiful things they do for the ladies who attend is the pamper area.  You can get your nails done, a massage, or hair curled for free!  Of course, I got fingernails that looked like candy.  (Now you can have that song stuck in your head all day long!)

Hillsong United lead worship.  Such a treat.  I would normally pay high dollar for this concert back in the states, but am so blessed to get to experience it often here.  Never taking it for granted, I promise.

And of course, us college wives gotta stick together.  We had such a great time at Colour.  I felt so encouraged by the words, music, friends, & conversation.  Such a blessed weekend!  love,  Christy

You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16