Highlights of this Week

Since I haven't posted in some time, and many things have been happening, I will just give you a few highlights of my week:

1. We found an amazing public bathroom (Australian: toilet) last Sunday. Seriously, it was almost like a Disneyland ride. Everything was automated (even the toilet paper dispenser) and there was a ten minute usage limit (after which time an alarm would go off and the door would open). It even spoke to you and played elevator music while you used it.

2. We went to the mouth of the river last Saturday, which was quite delightful. Lots of big waves, and we got to swim across the river and go sandboarding! I was rather concerned about crocs on the way across.

3. Australia Day is next week so Miki, Kirsten, and I went into the city this Saturday and bought shirts. We also went to a really cool restaurant called Jus Burgers.

4. We had street evangelism on Friday night. I've never done that before- it was so scary just introducing myself to someone and asking them if I could pray for them! But I did do it, in the end, with a little pushing from Clarissa and Tirza (my one-on-one)

5. Tyler, Jake, Aiden and I all went for bubble tea last night. I had a mango smoothie with mango jelly in the bottom.

6. Danielle, Clarissa, Whitney, Faith, and I walked to Coles today and bought ice cream, TimTams, and gummy snakes and had a junk food splurge. It was wonderful and delicious.


The topic this week was the Nature and Character of God. We talked about the Truth Box (you put things you consider truth in it. Example of a truth in the truth box: the Earth is round.) and how we often put truths about God in the Truth Box that aren't actually true. It sounds confusing, but it makes sense.

It's hard to process everything we've been learning, but I hope a lot of it is taking root. Something that I think God spoke to me this week was how humble he is. I guess I've never considered God humble before, but he really is! The way he loves us and pursues relationship with us... he talks to us personally. The Bible says that he always tells at least one person what he is planning. Sometimes he even does things our way (Abraham and Sodom and Gomorrah).

Something else really amazing: we talked about the ultimate consequence of sin. The classic answers: separation from God, the Curse, etc... but our speaker said that the worst consequence is how much it hurts God. Just think: every time somebody chooses against God, he loses one of his children to Hell. Imagine one of your children turning against you, and there's nothing you can do to get them back. He will grieve over them forever, and nothing can fix the problem.

Important to note: we can affect God (he made himself vulnerable to us when he chose to love us and give us a free will) but we can't change him.

Classes Have Started!

So the Young People's DTS has officially begun! We had orientation day on Monday morning, which went pretty well. It was cool to hear about how YWAM Perth started, and to hear Shirley Brownhill, the leader of our base speak. We also got to learn some new Aussie slang terms:
- Jumper: sweater
- Cuppa: hot drink
- Mozzie: mosquito
- Bogan: redneck
Tuesday was Registration Day. It was somewhat stressful, but everyone was really nice so I got through without any problems.
On Wednesday, classes actually started. Quenton, our DTS leader, is the first speaker. He has been really good so far! There's a lot to ponder over and think about.
On Thursday evening, several of us went to Hyde Park and had a TimTam Slam (our Aussie friends, Faith and her brother Joel, are quite expert at this) and went tree climbing. I got a gazillion mozzie bites (seriously, it's like having Swimmers' Itch. I counted at least fifty.) and we saw a gigantic spider. This has made me somewhat wary of tree climbing: I hate spiders!!
The internet has been kind of sketchy, which is a good excuse for not writing much. Also I have been very busy. Still, I will do my best to write more often!

First Day in Perth!

Clarissa and I flew into Perth last night around 10:30 PM and got through customs without any problems. Two of our DTS leaders picked us up from the airport and brought us to our house.
It's nice, and there's more space than I thought there would be. Our sleeping area is one big room filled with bunk beds. It kind of reminds me of living in the bunkhouse at Camp Homewood last summer. Hopefully this will be as awesome as that was!
We got to look around in Perth a little bit today. It's a really pretty city, though some of their decorations are a little odd. It was also kind of weird seeing a Christmas tree up in the summertime.
Classes start on Monday,so we pretty much just get to hang out and explore for the next couple of days. We are going to the beach tomorrow!
I really enjoy all the people on our DTS- everyone I have met has been really friendly. Everyone seems really at ease and down to earth (pardon the cliche).
In fact, one girl I met today shares my love for tree climbing! However, she is much better at it. We actually climbed a tree in the park today. I got up okay, but then I sat in an ants' nest (yes, a typical Hayley thing to do). They crawled all over my shorts, and I didn't notice till halfway out of the tree when I was notified by one of the people I was climbing with. It was a rather shaky descent also- I'm kind of like a cat that way, I suppose- I like climbing up a tree, but I hate getting down! And my natural clumsiness does not help me at all.
Anyways, it's 11:20 PM, so I'm going to sleep. Goodnight!

Hong Kong

I arrived safe and sound in the Hong Kong airport around 7:00 AM (Hong Kong time- sixteen hours ahead) this morning. Needless to say, the flight was somewhat lonely and boring, so I was extremely glad to meet my new traveling buddy.
We've had a pretty uneventful day- mostly just resting and stretching our legs in preparation for our eight hour flight to Perth. We leave at 2:55 PM!
I wish we could see more of Hong Kong! It's super foggy right now so all we can see are the silhouettes of the mountains surrounding us.

My Adventure Begins

Well, here I am in the Vancouver airport, waiting for my 2:00 AM flight to Hong Kong. It's been pretty uneventful so far- my dad and I started out in the Campbell River airport at around five (the family shed a few tears at my departure. Mom started it!) and we landed in YVR airport at around 6:30 PM. The flight here was a little bumpy, and I felt a little ill. However, that may be because the man in front of me smelled like either B.O. or salami, and spent most of the trip picking his nose.
All the same. I am really excited to get to Perth! But I still have a long time to go. It's going to be a little lonely on the way to Hong Kong- my dad and I have to split up around one. But I am meeting a fellow YWAMer when I get there, so that should be okay.
Anyways, I will probably write (type? blog?) again once I get to Hong Kong. Goodbye until then!