We live in Sydney, Australia. There are 4.5 million people in our city. 25% of these speak a language other than English at home. More than 100 languages are spoken. How do we reach all these people groups with the Gospel?
The Sunday School children at a nearby church held a concert to raise money for overseas missions. They raised over $8,000. The adults in the audience (about 80 of them) can be seen putting money under the children's clothing. What a great way to affirm these children and their desire to help people overseas.
We were invited by one of the children in Chris's Scripture class.
This weekend we went up to Leura in the Blue Mountains to observe the spring flowers.
Twelve people opened their gardens to the public. I almost felt like I was back in Portland, Oregon USA.
Sunday 14 August the Indian community in Australia gathered to celebrate Indian Independence Day. Thousands of people came to the Olympic Sports Centre. Watch and listen to the school children, the dancers and the parades.
Look for the blue skinned god in the photo. It is our desire to start Discovery Bible studies among the Indians in Australia so that they can read God's Word and discover for themselves what He is like and how He wants them to live. Please join us in praying for this.
(for some reason this 7 minute video does not start playing until the entire file is downloaded. It will start automatically. The first 15 seconds does not have sound).
Saturday we stumbled upon a Sudanese celebration in the park. For over 40 years many Southern Sudanese have wanted to have their own country where they would not be second-class citizens under Sharia Law. After more than 90% of the people in the south voted for independence they had this celebration.
Here are some of the sights and sounds.
A shirt showing the geography
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The audience listening to speeches and watching traditional dances.
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Notice the traditional dancers on the left and the new national flag on the right
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Chris helped to plan and organize the community garden. Here is a short film clip by the local news station
One of our friends showed us how to make and stretch Chinese noodles today.
We also learnt that the further you hold the chopsticks from the eating end the further away you will move after getting married.
Simon could hardly belive his ears.
"Easter is a Christian holiday?", he gasped.
Today we joined the students of the local public school as they walked to visit the buildings of worship in our community. We heard first hand from the people who lead worship in these buildings. Here is what they had to say:
Buddhist Temple:
I went to Omad's (not his real name) house today to see if I could borrow a copy of the Koran.
I've read the Koran once, but wanted to read it again so I can see what it says about Jesus.
When arrived at Omad's house he was on the sidewalk talking with his friend Mohammed (not his real name). When I asked about the Koran, Omad gladly offered to lend me his. Then he added, "but you will have to wash your hands first".
Several new Federal Members of Parliament have used their maiden speeches to tell how their Christian faith will influence their role as politicians.
Scott Morrison, the new Liberal member for Cook in Sydney opened his political career with an impassioned defence of a role for the Christian faith in public life. He argued that role models such as William Wilberforce and Desmond Tutu had shown the value of injecting Christianity into public policy. "Australia is not a secular country - it is a free country,"
