NUMB3RS

This past week has been crazy! The only way I know to tell you about it is in numbers:
1 Trekkers Basketball game, where they dominated the other team by 20 points and clenched 3rd place in the under-14s division.

2 Performances. One was an elementary school Christmas program, and the other was dance (hip-hop, jazz, tap, modern, and ballet) concert featuring the extremely talented Sara and Sophie.

4 Acts at the November Open Mic Night, including Sunset Riot, the Profit, and Sonic Solo. This time we rented out a local youth center with proper lights and a stage. We had over 45 people there from our youth group and the community!

10 women who came to watch "Secret Life of Bees" on the big screen at the ministry center for Ladies Movie Night.

12 kids who came to "Cupcakes and Kindness" (copyright Brendi Gordon). After decorating cupcakes, we piled all of the kids into the church bus and went to visit some older members of the congregation. We sang at each house and gave them enough cupcakes to put them in a sugar coma!

30 members of Trek youth and their parents who came our summer kick-off BBQ at Terrigal Beach. It was so hot outside most of us swam and played in the ocean. Some of the guys played footy, too.

59 cupcakes decorated and consumed by members of the Gosford congregation this weekend!

70 meals served this past Friday night at Donnison Street Soup kitchen.

Visiting one of the elementary schools to see the Christmas Program. (Amber on the left was in the play. Lauren and Grace go to school there, too) Amber being a duck with her kindergarten class.
Trek Junior Boys playing footy.
Chillin at the beach and the bbq with some gorgeous girls! Trekkers with their 3rd place medals!!! They're kind of a big deal.

The girls table decorating cupcakes at Cupcakes and Kindness.

Singing while visiting and dropping off the cupcakes.
The Trek girls loving Sunset Riot at Open Mic Night.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame...

Last Saturday, I got to do one of my favorite things: go to a baseball game!!! Baseball is not popular in Australia at all. There used to be a professional teams, but the Australia Baseball League ended about 10 years ago. Now, the only "professional" baseball you can watch is every year at the Claxton Shield. The Claxton Shield is a tournament of the state teams that lasts from November to January, and is played at various locations around Australia. The winning state receives the honor of having the best baseball team and the Claxton Shield, of course. Dan Mowday, a fellow baseball enthuasist, told me about it, and he didn't have to do too much convincing to get me there. We also invited Jamie and Sammie from Warringah to join us. We went and watched the New South Wales Patriots play at their home field (Sydney Olympic Park) against the Queensland Rams (New South Wales' bitter enemy in all sporting events.) Even though the game was played at where Olympic baseball was played, it was a pretty small park. It was liking going to an NCAA college baseball game or a double-A game. The NSW Patriots smashed the Rams in both games of the double header, winning by over 5 runs each time. It was perfect Spring baseball weather--warm in the afternoon, but cooler as the sun began to set. I completely forgot I was in Australia during the game! They started off the game with the national anthem, and played "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch. But, the annoucer's accent and the presence of meat pies at the concession stand brought me back to reality. Even though Dan and I didn't make it back to Gosford until almost midnight, it was a great way to spend a Saturday night. I definitley plan to go again next year!

Jamie, Sammie, and I loving baseball at the Claxton Shield.

The Grove

I've finally moved into my own place: The Grove. It is located in Woy Woy (which means big lagoon), which is just 15 minutes south of Gosford. It is on a penninsula, surrounded by Brisbane Water, which leads out to the ocean. The apartment is attached to a main house that is owned by one of the members of the Gosford congregation. I have 2 bedrooms, kitchen, dining area, living room, and a bathroom, where the washer and dryer are located. It is very roomy and comfortable! Just the right size for me. The great part is there is a dock in the backyard of the main house that I can use at any time. It has a gorgeous view of the bay. I'm still working on settling in and making it home, but I am so thankful that God blessed me with this place!

Dock

Kitchen

Living Room

Dining Room and Kitchen.

My Room

Happy Halloween

I have experienced my first Halloween in Australia! Halloween is not a widely celebrated holiday in Australia. Not nearly as many kids dress up and go trick-or-treating, and finding a carving pumpkin is almost impossible. I went over to Amanda and Dean Edginton’s house for dinner and to hang out. (Dean is the coordinator for the Short Term Australian Missions Program (STAMP) that is run out of the Gosford Church of Christ.) He and Amanda moved here in June. Since I’ve been here, they have become great friends.
I somehow managed to find a big orange pumpkin to carve. Neither Dean or Amanda had ever carved one before! I, as the expert, showed them the proper techniques. We first each submitted possible designs. We voted on the best one, and then got to work. An hour later, we had created a very spooky jack-o-lantern. Dean and Amanda loved the pumpkin so much that I left our finished product with them. I think I have won 2 Aussies over to my pumpkin-carving ways!