Hi. Someone might read this, I guess. And it's nice to give some closure.
I got home yesterday and slept in this morning, and now I'm right as rain and ready to get back into the Australian ways again.
The last month has been life-changing, if you haven't got that impression from my blogs. I have photos and strories to tell, so if you'd like to hear give me a call some time.
L.A. and Fiji rocked! Who would've thought a 48 hour delay would've been so good! I made new friends and hung out in L.A. and swam in the hotel pool at 2am in fiji and got a taxi to give me and Evan from Utah a tour of the island before our flight took off. Fiji - vacation destination number one. Man that's a beautiful place. And my new best friend from north carolina has moved into her apartment at mac, so you mac folks have got to meet her when uni starts - she's swell!
I'll see you all soon I reckon, if I didn't see you last night at maccy's!
Love youse all, and thanks for your support and prayers.
Johnny in Australia.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Stuck in L.A.
Yes, you read it right. The flight from los angeles to nadi was cancelled because the engine was fried by a suicidal bird or two on its approach into LA. So I'm in the hotel Hacienda near LAX tonight and tomorrow, leaving on thursday to Nadi, then that night (Friday, I know, the dateline is confusing) I'm in a hotel in Nadi, then I'm in Sydney by around midday Saturday they think. Yeah. So If you don't here from me again then just hang out at the airport saturday about midday. Sorry its not more definate, but I don't know much.
But I made some friends at the airport, so we're spending tomorrow together. One is an aussie who went to shore who's name is Tim and he studies at Mac Uni! and the other is hannah and she is from north carolina studying, you guessed it, at macquarie this semester on exchange! Crazy stuff, huh! Funny how nothing goes quite to plan... But I'm fine, and the hotel is nice, except the internet is 25c/min!
Anyway, I've been awake for 22 hours now, so I'm going to go to bed now before my fun day in LA tomorrow. Sorry for the sad news that I don't get to see you for two more days.
See you soon, but not as soon as I thought!
Johnny.
But I made some friends at the airport, so we're spending tomorrow together. One is an aussie who went to shore who's name is Tim and he studies at Mac Uni! and the other is hannah and she is from north carolina studying, you guessed it, at macquarie this semester on exchange! Crazy stuff, huh! Funny how nothing goes quite to plan... But I'm fine, and the hotel is nice, except the internet is 25c/min!
Anyway, I've been awake for 22 hours now, so I'm going to go to bed now before my fun day in LA tomorrow. Sorry for the sad news that I don't get to see you for two more days.
See you soon, but not as soon as I thought!
Johnny.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Last Day
Hello to everyone who's still keeping up with the news from Ecuador. I imagine some have forgotten to check and are reading this in a weeks time. If that's you, I'M ALREADY HOME! If not, then I'll be home thursday.
I have had a wonderful time here in Ecuador, and I don't really know how to sum it all up. If we have coffee and I ramble and show you a couple of photos (I've only taken about 100, so don't freak out that you'll have to sit through thousands!) you'll get a better idea of my overall impressions.
The last couple of days have been great. I went to a little town about 2 hours north of Quito (in the northern hemisphere...) called Mindo, where we went and saw a waterfall and also went to a butterfly farm for lunch. It was so beautiful, in the highland rainforest. It rained a bit, and we got muddy, but it was great and I got good pictures.
Saturday night we celebrated Williams birthday, and Sunday lunch we celebrated Miguels. Williams was a few weeks ago while he was living in the bus shelter, and Miguel's is on wednesday. They were both great celebrations.
God has been teaching me to trust in Him and rest in Him this trip. I have been reminded of His strength in me, His goodness to me, and His sovereignty in all things. "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.
I will miss this house and this city. I've only been here a month, but it feels longer. I've learnt a lot and been through a lot, and I hope that I will not forget to quickly these things.
I'll see you all very soon now,
Love Johnny
I have had a wonderful time here in Ecuador, and I don't really know how to sum it all up. If we have coffee and I ramble and show you a couple of photos (I've only taken about 100, so don't freak out that you'll have to sit through thousands!) you'll get a better idea of my overall impressions.
The last couple of days have been great. I went to a little town about 2 hours north of Quito (in the northern hemisphere...) called Mindo, where we went and saw a waterfall and also went to a butterfly farm for lunch. It was so beautiful, in the highland rainforest. It rained a bit, and we got muddy, but it was great and I got good pictures.
Saturday night we celebrated Williams birthday, and Sunday lunch we celebrated Miguels. Williams was a few weeks ago while he was living in the bus shelter, and Miguel's is on wednesday. They were both great celebrations.
God has been teaching me to trust in Him and rest in Him this trip. I have been reminded of His strength in me, His goodness to me, and His sovereignty in all things. "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.
I will miss this house and this city. I've only been here a month, but it feels longer. I've learnt a lot and been through a lot, and I hope that I will not forget to quickly these things.
I'll see you all very soon now,
Love Johnny
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Sorry!
AH! It's been like a week since I blogged. Sorry to everyone who's been wondering what's happening to me.
The truth is there's not heaps to report on from the last week. It's been fairly uneventful in the sense that I've been doing the same things you already know I'm doing. But it's been anything but boring!
There are a couple of things to report on, now that a think about it. Yesterday, for instance, I lead the devotional in the evening by translator (Michael). It was on a passage that challenged me a week or so earlier, from Luke 6:46-49. The two builders, one who bases his life on the foundation of Jesus' words, and the other who doesn't, and has his house completely destroyed by the torrent. I challenged the boys to consider why they make the desisions they make in life - to listen to Jesus words in devotionals is one thing, but to build our life around them, living because of them, is quite different.
Today I went site-seeing during my freetime. The old part of town is very hilly. I'm not quite tired!
Sunday I went to a new church here called Montezion. It was great! I loved it there. It wasn't a very big church, but people were very welcoming and it felt like everyone was filled with love for each other as a family and love for God as their father. It was great. If only I could've understood the sermon. Oh, and they sang a hillsong song in spanish - it reminded me of Australia, and that even in such different culture on the other side of the world, people in the church here feel the same way about the same God, and sing the same praise to Him.
Daniel 7:13-14 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
I'm continually encouraged that God in Him wisdom has my path planned out before me. I want to faithfully follow Him wherever he leads me, until he leads me home to His new creation, where all people, nations and men of every language will worship him.
My God bless you all.
In Him,
Johnny
The truth is there's not heaps to report on from the last week. It's been fairly uneventful in the sense that I've been doing the same things you already know I'm doing. But it's been anything but boring!
There are a couple of things to report on, now that a think about it. Yesterday, for instance, I lead the devotional in the evening by translator (Michael). It was on a passage that challenged me a week or so earlier, from Luke 6:46-49. The two builders, one who bases his life on the foundation of Jesus' words, and the other who doesn't, and has his house completely destroyed by the torrent. I challenged the boys to consider why they make the desisions they make in life - to listen to Jesus words in devotionals is one thing, but to build our life around them, living because of them, is quite different.
Today I went site-seeing during my freetime. The old part of town is very hilly. I'm not quite tired!
Sunday I went to a new church here called Montezion. It was great! I loved it there. It wasn't a very big church, but people were very welcoming and it felt like everyone was filled with love for each other as a family and love for God as their father. It was great. If only I could've understood the sermon. Oh, and they sang a hillsong song in spanish - it reminded me of Australia, and that even in such different culture on the other side of the world, people in the church here feel the same way about the same God, and sing the same praise to Him.
Daniel 7:13-14 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
I'm continually encouraged that God in Him wisdom has my path planned out before me. I want to faithfully follow Him wherever he leads me, until he leads me home to His new creation, where all people, nations and men of every language will worship him.
My God bless you all.
In Him,
Johnny
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