So do you think God works in mysterious ways??

Thursday afternoon I went to hand out my resume to a few stores/restaurants. I arrived home at around 3:30. Approximately 25 minutes later I received a call from Max Brennan - The Chocolate Bar, of whom told me that no positions were available. So they called me to set up an interview from Friday afternoon at 4pm. I was thrilled to say the least!!. So after classes on friday I zipped down to the interview and it went splendidly well. Then after helping with the big youth conference at church, I arrived home at 9:50. Then at 10pm, as you do..., I get a phone call and I am asked to come to work on saturday at 5pm....at OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE. I had not even interviewed at this place at all. So saturday afternoon at 5pm I go into work where I observed and assisted a waiter all night. Next week I am on the roster to work Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights. 

 So when you think God isn't answering your prayers, just keep the faith and keep believing that God will work it out for HIS GOOD PLEASURE... not to fit into our plans. Thank you guys for continually praying for us. It is evident that prayer works!!

Trick or Treating for the Salvos

Kind of....So today we had a kind of cool opportunity working with the Salvos (thats Australian for the Salvation Army).  We really discovered the generous heart of Australians.  Instead of going to our usual streets for Street Teams.  Hillsong joined the Salvos for their Red Shield Appeal.  Basically, collecting $$ donations.  Now, you may think how uncomfortable knocking on peoples doors asking for money, but that was the cool part.  Aussies are so into doing for others.  We would get to the doors and as soon as the people saw our Salvation Army bags, they would say "ok be back in a sec", or "oh we have been expecting you", or "sure, mate"--and come back with cash.  Anyhow, it was just kind of neat to see all different types of people coming together for a common cause, especially when it is to help other people.  

Chinese Lyrics

So since I'm in the chinese service, I have decided to learn to sing in chinese so I will look like I know what I'm doing while I'm on stage (key word is LOOK!!). My wonderful housemate has so graciously decided to help me out since she does speak the language. So this video is a little sample of our practice...

Tim Tam Slam

The Chinese Extension Service???

So you may be reading along and find out that Matt is serving on sunday mornings in the Chinese Extension Service. You might then ask yourself...What the hek is that?? Well first let me explain what an extension service is. It is really sort of self explanatory. Hillsong has 14 different extension services throughout the greater sydney area outside of the 4 main campuses (Hills, City, Macarthur, and the new Brisbane campus). I have been assigned (as part of my education) the privilege of serving in the Chinese Extension Service. One great thing about it is that it takes place right on the same campus as the Hills... it is in the Chapel. This is great because it is merely a 5 minute drive on sunday mornings!!! 

 The next question is...Do you sing in Chinese or in English? And the answer is a simple one... yes. We do 2 songs in english and 2 songs in chinese. Each translation of the songs are displayed on the screen, so that depending on the leader, the congregation can sing along. The message is also translated so that each culture will understand. 

 I have been playing guitar and doing background vocals for the last few weeks so I have been slowly learning how to sing in chinese. Luckily we have a housemate from Malaysia so she is trying to help me out but she always seems to end up laughing at me :)! I will be leading the worship next month so I'm excited about that!!

 Thanks again for everyone's prayers, God is awesome and we are having a blast learning just how great and awesome He is!!

Be anxious for nothing...

Wow, our journey has been so amazing coming to and living in Australia.  When I look back and see what we have overcome it is so obvious that God has prepared the entire path.  So I ask myself why do I choose to walk amongst underbrush when I can just keep on the clear path?  When we first got here I was amazed by God's blessings--we had furniture in our house to start with, plus we had amazing housemates, and we only had to walk 30 minutes to church.  I am amazed at how quickly our circumstances changed to being overwhelmed by the rent, annoyed by housemates differences, and it takes almost 30 minutes to school and church several times a day, and we have to take a bus to the grocery.  

So God blessed us with a car so we could get out more and help give others a ride...(it feels good being able to serve others:).  In all this I continued to let myself get anxious about no work for Matt, our car at home not selling, and our rent/other bills coming around faster and faster each week.  Above all, I can only work 20 hours a week.  How boring, I have that Windall blood and we all know how much a Windall likes to sit around...:).  So I just had more time to worry.  Finally, I realized that worrying was not helping, I was just losing sleep and becoming obnoxious to those around me (I am sure Matt will agree.)  

Anyhow, to make a very long story short I had some moments that gave me direction.  I realized I too am here for a purpose and was introduced to many courses that Hillsong offers that I could take and possibly facilitate one day (here or there).  I also found out about some places that I could take violin lessons to continue improving my skills and possibly add students.  

Great, I have some goals, but that money thing always comes back to my mind.  So I work when I can and we have been trying to limit our food spending to $10 a day (total not each).  It all helps.  I don't know what flipped the switch in my head, but I suddenly remembered where this all began and that God would provide.  I entered the "Trust God Zone".  

So the next day, dad phones and tells us that our car has sold.  Not only that, but I realized my hours were becoming increasingly steady as the weeks continued.

 I have to stop...look back at those restless nights and financial discussions and only imagine how foolish I must have looked.  All the while I was worrying, planning, and calculating, GOD was taking care of us.  And why am I surpised, why don't we grab hold of God's promises.  He tells us all through the Bible that he will supply our needs....and He is faithful.  It is I who needs the reminders.  

Well, in God's ever so clever irony, he prepared a very special message just for me at sisterhood this week.  The lesson was on change (which I have experienced a bit in the past few months).  The speaker talked how often we are going one direction and God calls us in a completely opposite direction (I chuckle...yep, that's me).  What really confirmed my experiences was the zone she described in the middle.  That "Trust God Zone".  It is when we are not sure why we have changed directions, and we do not know where we are headed.  What we do know is that God brought us from our past and is preparing our perfect future.  What right do we have to ruin our gift of today by stressing over the things of tomorrow.  Those things we cannot see.  As I learned God sees the whole picture and those insignificant things are stepping stones to perfection.  We are so unaware of His every movements...so just trust (it is easier that way) plus His plan is always better than anything we could figure out.  

I will leave you with this cool thought...It is almost as if God started at the end of the story and has written the story of our lives in reverse.  Every moment is created to produce a masterpiece.  My Life and Yours.