NATION TRANSFORMATION: SOWING SEEDS

Yesterday was the 2nd night of meeting on Nation Transformation held at Genesis Church. (Yes, it always has to start at Genesis...) Two nights in a row, Monday & Tuesday. Even though not many people turned up, there was an air of readiness & fresh excitement in the atmosphere among those who came. Quite a number came from the Fiji church. Worship was hard-going at first without the drums but thank goodness, Caroline was around to help with keyboards. Really appreciate her genuine heart of worship and passion for music. Pastor Dexter preached on nation transformation for the land & Gold Coast. Pastor Bruce Lindley of Set Free Christian Church was also there to share & he showed a few video clippings of prophecies for the Gold Coast from Cindy Jacobs & another leader, that revival will hit GC, Queensland from October to December.

If I went strictly by numbers that night, I would have been disappointed by the turnout, but when I see beyond the numbers and know that God has planted a seed of desire for change among those present that night, then I believe that God can and will move when his timing is at hand.

The wave is coming..(I named my blog "wavecoming" for that reason) .. not the 3rd wave, not the tsunami, but a wave of God to change and turn this nation around. Only those who see it coming will ride on it, the rest will be swept off,.. probably won't even know what hit them.

HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH

Literally that was what we did, after Sunday worship at Beryl's, some of us went to Peter Young's house to pick mulberries which were in harvest. Everyone had potluck lunch and then adjourned to the mulberry bush, The mulberry fruit isn't exactly sweet but can get sticky and leaves dark purple stains on your hands.

Jordan plucked a bundle and he went right into the entangled bush. He emerged pretty scruffy and his hands had mulberry stains all over, yikes!

There was also a lemon tree and mandarin orange tree. Peter's house was like a harvest garden with lots of fruits and plants around. One of the peacocks decided to flaunt its tail at the right time and I captured the shot with Jordie.

SUNDAY WORSHIP AT BERYL'S

Pastor Dexter & Lily are in town this week. On Sunday, (21 Sept) Beryl organised a worship gathering& fellowship at her place. Great time of fellowship, sharing and worshipping together. Present were 15 adults and 1 kid (Jordie) including : Mum Beryl, Neil Falcke, Sue McBeath, her friend, Stella, Caroline & David Rowland, myself & Samuel, the pastors, as well as Karen & Peter Young. Bill,(the one who prayed for us and welcomed us to this land in January when we 1st met him, very special to us) an ex-missionary to Ethiopia who is now helping with a church in Gold Coast was also there as well as Trudy, Beryl's neighbour. Not forgetting Kerrie, who has apostolic calling to Fiji and mentors the Fiji church.

Come to think of it, we had a mixed representation in that gathering: pastors, worship leaders, intercessors, prophets, apostles, marketplace apostles, government ... hmm interesting....how God gathers His people together.

The message: Pastor Dex shared on how he felt there needs to be a repairing of the walls, the altar and the vessel in Australia. We need to know that the church are the walls of this city, the altar is our commitment and worship before Him and the vessel, ourselves and our lifestyles before God. Repairing and rebuilding is crucial before anything major can take place.

They also welcomed Dexter & Lily to the land, and prayed for them to minister here. That is awesome, to see them being received, loved and respected by people in Gold Coast.

EPISODE 9: SAMUEL'S PASSED HIS DRIVING TEST!

Okay , this calls for a celebration. Samuel passed his driving test finally after the 3RD ATTEMPT, YAY!!! He gets his official driving licence today. Now, if you are thinking what's the big deal, when you know the stress and nervousness we went thru, you will understand the relief that finally comes with it. ... Ebbie & Joey can attest to that...am sure...

PTL! & phew, and borderline case too- let's call it unmerited favour and grace. He almost did not make it, he built up to 8 errors and was about to get a 9th error which would fail him, but the examiner was kind enuff to close one eye to that minor mistake.

Pastor Lily and Dexter prayed for him before the test right before he dropped them off at the Queensland Road Transport office to meet Peter Young and colleagues this morning. Lily especially prayed that even if he did not make the mark, that God's favour would still be upon him. The blessings & covering of father and mother availeth much! and to all those who prayed (really did), thanks for upholding. He's the main driver, he needs to be legal. I flunked my 1st try 2 days ago - reason, I was too CAREFUL, too slow and obstructing traffic, can you beat that! This Monday is again my test, 2nd try, pray that I will also get thru. I really dont want to be driving around without licences by Sept 21 deadline.....yikes!

EPISODE 8: HOUSE DEDICATION

Had a small lunch party cum house dedication yesterday after church. Cooked some chicken kurma curry, fried rice, chicken wings and served some lemonade and crackers and cheese for starters. Carrot cake with cream cheese topping (failed, because too holey, but they liked it anyway prob because of cream cheese!) We invited Neil, Beryl, Sue and Ken McBeath. They loved the kurma (not too spicy for the oz tastebuds, I guess but tasty enuff)+ chinese style chicken wings.

Neil was so sweet, he prayed for every single part of the house including the stairs which is all the way straight down and rather steep. He prayed for safety in the house and inspiration and encouragement for everyone including any future visitors. So, whoever gets to stay here in future, you know you will enjoy some of that blessing that went forth! We watched a short recording of the 'Shout to the Lord' recording which was sung by the american idols last year. They had never seen it before and it was, I think, a moment of pride for the Aussie spirit because this song came out from down under and was broadcasted live worldwide on that day.

We also prayed for Ken, Sue's husband, who would be going for a minor operation this week. It was a strange kind of dejavu because about 7 years ago, we also had a gathering with the same people in Beryl's house when we first visited Gold Coast in year 2001, when I was 3 months' pregnant. It was as if we had come one full cycle. I brought a picture taken of it and they were so surprised to see themselves in the picture. Neil now minus his moustache and most of his curly hair...

We felt that even though we were going to be in this house for a year or less, it is still going to be our home base for now, anyway in everything give thanks! and so we are thankful we have a place to call home until the next address pops up.

Oh ya, I just realised we just Malaysianised our aussie friends that day. They took off their shoes, all of them when they came in, and then they 'ta pau' food back, haha!

This week, Pastor Lily and Dexter will be visiting. They will be our official first guests in Australia and we are honored to host them.

EPISODE 7: DRIVING TEST PHOBIA

Samuel took his 1st driving test in Australia today to get his official Queensland driving license. We had both passed in the written test a couple of days back with 100% score and gave each other a thrilled high 5.!!. We studied hard leh... we were good. Then .... today he took his practical (I made him do the 1st round and be guinea pig so I'd find out more from his experience, hihi!)..and he flunked...man, this utter insult to his 25 years of driving experience in Malaysia, and here I am trembling in my knees too. I mean what am I to expect? If my husband can't even get thru this round, do I have much hope?? oh boy.. please pray hard for me anyone reading this for next Wednesday. Don't play play ok, when it comes to aussie driving. Any small mistake and they flunk you u on the spot, 6km over 60km speed limit, FAIL, don't look over your shoulder when reversing, also FAIL... don't go far out in front enough when turning right at traffic lights, also FAIL... sheesh!! if turning steering wheel with hands inside it (fingers facing outwards) , also FAIL... In short, if you are Malaysian, go take some driving classes maybe. We have collected a pile of bad driving habits over the years of surviving KL traffic madness. Let's all hang our heads in shame and repent......

WHERE TO SHOP FOR CHEAP MEATS

Yes, we are carnivores, lip-smacking every chicken wing tip and beef steak on the plate, so there!

Meat, however, is not cheap here at your regular Coles or Woolworths supermarkets. Fresh yes, cheap not so. But we sniffed out this bargain wholesale place called PATTONS BIG GUN MEAT, about 20 mins' drive away. And boy, was the crowd there today on Saturday!

Here are some shots of the place. I like the way they arranged those fish, like trying to display them still swimming and alive! Look at the huge garoupa!

Just to give u some idea what meats cost around here on a bargain basis:

1. Chicken wings 5kg for A$10 (works out to $2/kg)

2. Chicken drumsticks = same (works out to $2/kg)

3. Premium (lean) ground beef = A$8.99

4. Chicken breast = A$6.99/kg

5. sotong tubes (big) =A$5.99/kg

6. banana prawns (something like tiger prawns) = A$19.99/kg Since the drive is so far, we stocked up enuff meats to last us for the next 2 weeks at $81, not bad, even if you do convert...

EPISODE 6: PARADISE POINT

Yesterday was Samuel's 1st preaching assignment in GC- to a church called Healing Life Ministries. It was headed by Pastor Mark Trent, whom we met at Karen's party and is actually her dad. He invited us to minister at his church. Unfortunately, it was in the afternoon and on a school day - Friday.. I could not make it as Jordan had school on that day and one of us needed to be around to pick him up.

At first, Samuel planned to take the bus there. Hmm..one-car family lifestyle is not easy in a big place like GC. How -lah, I'm thinking? I needed the car to pick up Jordan and it looked likely to rain. I knew he didn't dare ask me to drive him there and drive all the way back myself. Why not? Because I am just a hopeless dude at road maps and sense of direction. And Paradise Point was way up north, unventured territory for both of us. Oh well, anyway, he was late so , I still ended up having to drive him there, drop him off and drive back again.

Samuel told me the meeting was very good. He preached about CHANGE and on renewing the old wineskins to hold the new wine. Not a new message but somehow it touched them. He told me almost everybody responded at altar call, around 25-30 people. Hungry for God or just fresh revelation? God's timing and ready hearts, I guess.

After the meeting, Samuel waited at the bus-stop to catch the next bus home. He told no one he needed a ride. A guy who was one of the congregation was surprised to see him there.

He asked "What's an important guy like you doing catching a bus?" Yes, Lord, we need to be humble or we will never see your face. Not an easy arrangement going up to a place so far, but we believe God sowed something there that day.