Australia day, repentence and forgiveness, beach adventures...

This was a erally great week. There is so much to write about. I think I will start with Australia Day.. January 26th. I don't know exactly what they celebrate.. I guess when all the convicts came...? But it was really fun. We all got decked out in Aussie colours - red, white and blue or green and yellow for their sports colours. I think we were actually more dressed up then the real Australians. We all walked down to the river where apparently hundreds of thousands of people gather to watch the fireworks. We just hung around for a couple hours, ate McDonald's waiting for the fireworks. The fireworks were amazing! Some of the best I think I've seen! And it was just really fun being in another country for their independence day or whatever. I think I had more fun then on any Canada days. Maybe not, but it was a good time!

In classes this week, we were learning all about repentence and forgiveness. It was quite intense because we were really forced to look at our lives and figure out areas where we have really fallen short. We had a whole day on Friday to basically confess and get things right with God. I didn't expect to feel that much of a change, but it was actually very freeing to say things out loud. It's like I could really feel God's forgiveness. It was pretty intense because people were sharing things that hurt, but in the end I think we all came away feeling the freedom we have in Christ. It's only been three weeks but I can already sense so much spiritual growth in my life. I am so excited for what is to come. This next week's topic is worship and intercession - should be good! We also get to find out the countries we can go to for outreach. I can't wait! We will have a couple days to pray and think about where we should go and then hopefully in a week or so we will know our teams and countries. So stoked!

I'm loving life right now. I am surrounded by such a great group of people and we just have a lot of fun. Yesterday a group of us went to the beach at around 9:30pm. We all jumped in the water to have a late night swim.. so good. There was supposed to be a cyclone (which I think is like a tornado or something in the water) so the waves were massive! It was really fun; something I definately want to do again. The weather the past couple days has been almost unbearable hot. Everyone pretty much just hangs out in there rooms or where there is air conditioning. But I guess the heat is better then rain and cold..

Anyways, thanks for reading! I hope everyone is just great!

Week 3!

I really can't believe how fast time is flying here! I have been here for three weeks already... Thank goodness I still have 9 more weeks to go...then outreach! I am so excited for what is to come.
This week in lectures, we are covering the topic of "repentence and forgiveness". It is definately really interesting and challenging! We also have a special guest speaker for this week n the evening. Last night he spoke on our call to go into the world and live out the Great Commission! I seriously cannot wait to go on outreach. I think we get to find out the possible countries next week.
Things are still going great around base. I am loving all the people I'm meeting and getting to know. Tomorrow is Australia day so we all bought Aussie clothing to wear and are going to get all dressed up and celebrate! It should be fun. Apparently hundreds of thousands of people come out to see all the fireworks. I am going to try and take some pictures and put them up on here. I just need to figure out how to get the pictures on the computer since I am using one at the public library...

I really forgot that this was school...

So classes are now in full swing. I honestly never really thought about the school aspect of this time and now that it's here, I don't know how much I'm loving it. That's not true actually. All the lecutres have been super interesting.. They are just long and I am not used to sitting in school. This weeks topic is all about the nature and character of God. Yesterday's lecture was kind of mind blowing. Since I have grown up in the church, I like to think that I know everything but I clearly do not. She was talking about concepts I have never heard before! It was so wierd! I am definately going to have to really think over all these thing study the Bible.. At first I really didn't like that they were unfamiliar concepts, but now I kind of think that's the whole point of me being here. I am supposed to learn and grow and find out what the truth is and what I really believe. So new is good! I am just trying to have an open mind and learn all I can.

So. Funny story. We all went to the beach (Australia has the most amazing beaches. White sand and then ocean... perfect) on Saturday for the entire day. All of our school leaders told us like a billion times to get Aussie sunscreen and wear it. But no one listened. I only put it on my face and shoulders then laid out in the sun for like 15 minutes... I came home so burnt! Like so red! And everyone (everyone!) else also got totally killed by the sun. We were all just sitting around all day like a bunch of lobsters. So I have learnt my lesson... I will wear sunscreen. The stories are true.. they don't have an ozone layer here and the sun is SO much more intense! I am super tanned though now...

I love mail.. hint hint. If anyone would like to drop me a quick note, it would be very much appreciated! My address is:
Alyssa Wiens
PO Box 8501 Perth Business Centre
Western Australia
6849
Australia.


Thanks friends and family! I miss you guys. I hope you are all doing well!

Heaps of fun!

I know that it is really lame to try and speak all Aussie, since I am clearly very not, but I just love how they always say heaps! The first week has been heaps of fun! Ok.. I'm done.

This was kind of like the first official week. We started having classes in the morning. So far, they seem really interesting - I think I will learn a lot in them. We also started morning worship. On mondays they have base worship, so it's all 300 or so people and it is really awesome! And then our school has worship a couple times a week.. definately something I am excited for! We also started chores today.. Just half an hour in the morning and then two hours in the afternoon. I have been assigned to lunch dishes, so it brings me right back to dishpit at Qwanoes! But it's really not bad at all. I finish at 3:30 and then I get the rest of the afternoon off.

It's been really cool getting to know everyone. I am trying to be as social and outgoing and talkative as possible. I really want to get the most out of this experience and I think a big part of that is getting to know a lot of sweet friends! I have been thinking a bit about why I am here and what I am supposed to get out of this. I think I know the answer.. I am here to renew my fire for God and for his mission! My Christian life has been pretty stale lately and I don't want it to be like that anymore. Everyone is so fired up about God and missions that I think it is rubbing off at me. I am so lucky that I get to spend three more months here and then get to go into the world! This is God's plan! For us to take the good news to the nations! I am excited for what is in store for myself, and the group.
Anyways, I hope you are all well!

The beginning!

So, yesterday was the beginning of it all. The official kick off... We didn't actually do much. Basically we just met together as a group for a bit of orientation and get to know you stuff. Today was the same.. just a lot of talking! But it's good! Each day I get to know more people and everyone is so awesome. I am excited to see what kind of relationships we will all form.

As I am sitting in the Perth public library, it is kind of hard to believe that I am in Australia. That's because it's not really that different.. I mean, when we go into the city, it could be Vancouver. I was a bit dissapointed at first, so I started to look for little differences. Like how all the guys wear really short shorts. And how they say queue (spelling?) instead of line. Or how all the employees in the shops are really casual and have bare feet and stuff. And obviously the accents are totally sweet. The atmosphere in the city is really casual and laid back... but I guess most people are on holidays. Or maybe it is just too hot to be in a hurry. Also, everyone is so stylish! I feel like a total slob because all the girls are dressed so nicely! I might need to do some shopping...

I am really enjoying myself.. I can't believe I have another three months here! And then it's off to who knows where! Well, I kind of know.. Europe for a month, Asia or Africa for a month and then back to Australia. It is so cool that people from all nations (we have at least 28 nations represented at the base) can come to YWAM Perth and then go to all the nations and spread the good news. This is a really cool thing to be a part of.. and it is only starting.

I really appreciate the love and support! I really feel like I will be stretched during these months.. so I will need lots of prayer! I hope everyone is doing well back home and that school and work and everything is going great.

First thoughts

Hey everyone!

I am going to try really hard to update this blog often.. but we'll see what happens. I am currently in the library in Perth because we won't get internet access for a few days. So far I am loving it here! It is hot, and I am already really sunburned, but it's all good! The city is really nice and the beach is awesome! Really beautiful. I think we might hit another beach later today..

I got here a couple days early so I have been meeting everyone as they come in. We have about half the students here so about 20 more will be coming. All together, there are 53 students, 10 staff in my school (the young people's dts) but there will be about 400 people at the base altogether doing different schools and programs. Everyone here is really awesome! It's cool to have so many people of different cultures and ages in one place. In my room, there are 5 Canadians (represent!), 2 Americans, one from Holland, one from Northern Ireland and one from England.. It's pretty sweet. I already feel like I've known them for a while.

Tomorrrow the school officially starts so I am excited to see how everything will work. Apparently we all have to excersise at 6 in the morning.. eww.

I've really go to go, but I will try and write more in the coming days! I hope you are all well!