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Gladstone:
We were in Gladstone for a total of 10 days and they flew by incredibly fast. As soon as we got there, we put on an Auslife training for the local volunteers on Sunday evening (April 20th). We did a total of 5 Auslifes at the different schools on two different topics: Goals/Values and Relationships. As a small group leader, I met some really cool kids and was able to encourage them and challenge them to think for themselves by asking questions about things that really matter. I was amazed at how many kids don’t know anything about God and haven’t even given it a second thought. It’s a blessing to see kids leave the Auslife day with questions of their own and the motivation to seek answers. At the end of the day, we have them fill out a “React” card which gives them an opportunity to write down their comments and check some boxes. At the end of the day, we usually have about 5-10 people check the box that says, “I would like to know more about having a personal relationship with Jesus.” (The chaplains at the school follow up with the students and since we’ve left Gladstone there has been a few that have become Christians.)

I stayed with an incredible couple, Graeme and Lynda Stephens. They have been hosting YWAMers for 12 years in their house. They were such an encouragement to me and I learned a lot by staying with them. For our day off, they took us knee boarding in the river. After knee boarding a couple of us used the surfboard behind the boat. We have some awesome videos of that.

Blackwater: (very small town)

In Blackwater, we stayed with a family who was re-pioneering a church. On Friday we did an Auslife at the highschool in town. It was the smallest Auslife we’d ever done, with about 30 kids in total. With the small group, it ran a lot smoother and we as a team felt like the kids grasped more than some of the other ones. We were supposed to leave on Saturday but instead we decided to stay another night to help them with some yard work. With 14 of us helping, we got a lot done. We probably saved them a couple months of Saturdays in just a short afternoon. (working in the garden made me want to have one of my own)

Because their church is just starting, they only had two people who attended. Those two people weren’t Christians but were going to give the whole “church thing” a try. After church was done, Kathy (the wife) said that she thought one of them became a Christian on that day. God is already starting to grow this church and develop it into a bright light in the community.

Emerald: (Emerald city in the land of Aus : )

In Emerald, we did lots of Religious Education classes in the primary schools. One day we did some yard work at a family’s home because it was damaged by a huge flood that came a few months back. We visited an elderly home and gave some testimonies and sang some old hymns. The SOMM (school of music and missions) stayed with us at the PCYC (basically like the YMCA back home) and it was really nice to touch base with them again. On Saturday the girls went to a garden party at the church to celebrate mother’s day. That was interesting to say the least…women in big hats, weird skits, and a plumb pudding auction.

Now we’re in Longreach. BEAUTIFUL outback town. We’re staying in a sheep sheering quarter with cows, sheep, and kangaroo everywhere! It’s fantastic. On Tuesday and Thursday we did two Auslifes in the school and last night we had a bbq with small group from the church.

Sunsets and Sunrises are out of this world.
More to come<3

LoveLoveLove, Kaitlyn