The Final Chapter

Hello Friends and Family,

The past few weeks have definitely been some of the most eventful of our entire lives... no question about it. It has been a good while since we posted, but I will attempt to update you on things the best as possible. We will be heading home to the good ole U.S. of A after just one more day. We miss you all and our city, and are anxious to be home helping with the recovery there. Our prayers and heart have been with you all I can assure!

the main tent broke due to water pressure

The last time we blogged we were in the heat of Easterfest. As many of you know, we experienced a freak "flash flood" at the Easterfest site in Queen's Park on Saturday night. It was extremely scary in the wake of the January 10 floods here, and mass panic went throughout much of the crowd. The staff worked hard and efficiently at getting people to safety and giving organized instruction. The main tent actually busted, and much of the structures, merchandise, exhibitors, etc lost their items in the water. Jonathan and I were actually separated. When we knew things looked bad, God directed me to grab our valuables and a radio. I ran with a friend about 1/2 mile in the rushing water to our church, telling a couple people beforehand to tell Jonathan where I would be if they found him. Jonathan was busy getting all the headline artists to safety. As we were running, the girl with us actually fell into the rushing water in a ditch and started to wash down the street. She grabbed a tree root and held on until we could get her out. The first round of tornadoes had just hit Tuscaloosa previously in the week (damaging our home), and I was tired of natural disasters to say the least! In the end Jonathan found me and we got to safety. God was definitely looking out for us. of 20,000 people, there were no deaths and only a few minor injuries. Praise God!

the park - post flood

Unfortunately, all in the park was canceled for Sunday, but Jonathan, I, and the event managagement team worked very hard to move as many music and worship venues that were supposed to be in the park out into the city (about 15 in all). Jonathan especially did an amazing job coordinating a huge concert in the heart of the city with Naturally 7, Paul Coleman Trio, and Newworldson. Over 4,000 came out and Jeff Crabtree shared the gospel message on Easter Sunday right there in the middle of the city! It was truly amazing. Jonathan also worked with the event managers and artist managers to put a show together for that night in a local hotel/club. We were able to get the club to agree to sell NO ALCOHOL for the entire day, and people flooded that hotel and bar to hear Christian music proclaim God's glory. It was amazing to see God infiltrate areas that are normally places of drunkenness and sin. We could barely stand up by the end of the day, but God's glory definitely shown through the city. We truly believe the floods allowed the TRUE SPIRIT of Easterfest, the spirit of Christ's love and resurrection to be proclaimed in the city in a way it would not have if everything had gone as planned. Churches and homes opened themselves up to festival campers who lost everything and people who were stranded with stalled cars, and we have already heard testimonies of people coming to Christ as a result. 

The clean-up was long and hard, as the park was pretty much destroyed and trash was everywhere. We lost many of our volunteers because all their clothes and other belongings were ruined. The event team did an amazing job working together and staying positive. I picked up bags and bags of trash for Jesus :) After working so hard, Easterfest was amazing to send us on a short "holiday" to the Gold Coast. You can see some pics here of the beauty there.

Jonathan speaking to "The Base"

Throughout these few weeks, we have continued to work in ministry as well. Jonathan led "The Base", which is an outreach to underprivileged youth and kids in the city, on one Friday night. These kids really have so little, and their families are either non-existent or very tough, so it was awesome to get to love on them for a night. Joanthan spoke to them on what "true love" really is...how Jesus died for us and sacrificed so much for us. He had all the kids come up with ways to show "true love" to a friend, family member, etc. They were so attentive to us "Americans" and one girl even wanted to pray for us before we left! It was so special. We also had dinner with one amazing couple from Zimbabwe, Africa. They were in Zimbabwe during much of the civil war there, but God brought them to Toowoomba. They blessed us so much and really affirmed many callings and giftings in our life. The relationships we've built here have impacted us so greatly.... OHH and they were heavily involved in the Gideons in Africa and even were close friends with one of the International Gideon Leaders that I have known much of my life. What a small world!

This week I spoke and shared my testimony with all the 8th grade girls at a local high school. Many were in tears and opened up about things during a small group time following my speaking. It was a blessing to have one last opportunity to share the healing work God has done in my life. I sent an email to many, but City Women received an amazing letter from the mother of one of the girls who was at the "Girl's Getaway" camp I spoke at. The mother goes on and on about how she had seen such a dramatic transformation in her daughter's life since accepting Christ there. This girl was on high suicide watch before, and now she is sharing God's transformation in her life to groups all over, including around 1000 City Women supporters in the near future. I've had the opportunity to love on this girl many times since being here, and she's shared with me how much my testimony changed her. It's a humbling thing. If she was the only reason God sent us here, it would be worth it.


We also were interviewed and had an article in the local paper here about Tuscaloosa and the devastation there! It was a great opportunity to bring attention to our city in Alabama as well as bless the Toowoomba city. Check it out here: Toowoomba Chronicle

So now we have reached the end of our time here, and it's an odd feeling. We feel like we've been teleported around and lived a different life in a different world and are now coming home to reality. However, with the devastation that has occurred at home, we know that Tuscaloosa may not even feel like reality. Our hearts have been so heavy for our city, and how we've wished we could be there helping full force, but we know God's time-table has purpose. We've sought God for vision on what he wants for us when we return, but one thing I know for sure is that we will live and place priority in every aspect of our lives on relationships with others. All things come from TRUE GENUINE relationship. As we operate in unity as the body of Christ, all God's gifts can be released. God definitely stretched us, revealed and grown our spiritual giftings, and lit an even brighter fire within us during our time here. We hear God saying, "I've stretched you and prepared you, now GO USE THEM!" One tangible thing we are already working on is helping to organize a large benefit concert/worship rally in the city. I had a powerful dream about this and Jonathan had a vision from God at the same time. Through the event organizing skills and the relationships we've gained, we feel God has prepared us for this. Jonathan's been communicating with the Praisefest event team on this, as well as some big name artists. We will see what God has!

One other thing we will throw out there is that we plan to put a "For SALE by Owner" sign in our yard when we return. We feel a peace about this. If we could sell our home, that would give us a much larger financial buffer to work with as far as ministry and even coming back to Australia next year to work with the Easterfest staff. It's in God's hands, but if you know anyone who needs a wonderful garden home in the Taylorville area, direct them to us!

Our good-bye party crowd!

I know I'm missing so much I could share, but this is VERY long already. Thank you all so much for your love and prayers. You have no idea how much this time has changed our life.... and it couldn't have happened without you.

Blessings,
Jonathan and Melissa

Easterfest!!!

Hello all!

Entry Gate of Easterfest

Mainstage performance last year

Man has it been a busy few weeks! Jonathan and I have both been working full-time with Easterfest for the past few weeks, and we are now working full time from this crazy awesome..HUGE.. tent set up in Queen's Park. Easterfest is the largest Christian music festival in Australia, bringing in tens of thousands of people from across the world for the Easter weekend. There are some of the world's top music artists... such as Switchfoot, Petra, Newsboys, Naturally 7, Darlene Zchech from Hillsong, and many many more. Easterfest City will send smaller known artists and bands to perform in cafes, pubs, shopping centers, and city squares as well. This will be a HUGE economic boost to the city after the devastating floods that occurred in January. Greater than that though, the Easter gospel message will be proclaimed throughout the city all weekend long. Easterfest is set up so to attract non-Christians while providing a drug and alcohol free environment. There is a special crew called "Easterfestivity" that will be solely sharing the gospel message of Jesus with people in the park, on the streets of the city, in the campgrounds, and everywhere else in the city. Churches will all join together for a joint worship service in the park led by Darlene Zchech on Easter Sunday, and we anticipate hundreds coming to know Jesus.

We have never seen anything that more fully brings a city (both Christians and non-Christians) together in unity than Easterfest. It is an incredible place for Christians to intermix with non and allow the Holy Spirit to flow in relationship. Many youth groups come and camp throughout the weekend, so there are many late-night fireside talks that turn into people being led to Christ. We can't wait to see all that happens!

Queen's Park getting ready for Easterfest 2011

It has been an honor to work with Easterfest, and we have learned sooooo much! Jonathan is main Artist Coordinator, working with the big-wig music artist and managers for months on itineraries, sets, tech specs, fleet, and more. I've been the VIP Guest Coordinator, working on providing guest passes and special priviledges to political leaders, pastors, city leaders, sponsors, media, etc. We've also gotten our hands in several other things such as crew management, other admin, working to development venues in Easterfest City, and more. We also can't wait to meet Switchfoot and the other artists in person :) :) It's definitely all about Jesus though!

So please be in prayer for us this weekend. We will be working 6am until 1 or 2 in the morning for the next three days. We need physical and mental strength, but we are definitely excited at the same time.

Blessings,
Melissa and Jonathan

Pruning Time

"That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor 12: 10

Let me tell you... I (Melissa) have definitely been feeling my weaknesses the past week or two! God is pruning me for sure, but Satan has also been shaking in is boots and on the attack-mode as well. I appreciate all your prayers more than you know, and I'll try to share a little of what's been going on.

After the girl's getaway camp I immediately got sick...an odd sick including head, stomach, but really just zapped of all energy! That next week was just one attack after another. I was homesick, physically sick, emotionally on a roller-coaster, easily frustrated, sensitive, and ummm probably a bit over-reacting to issues...just to name a few haha! BUT in the midst of it all God gave me a keen awareness of the spiritual battle going on. I was not "lost" in my difficulties, if that makes sense. I knew that I was being attacked, and so God enabled me to be on the offensive, declaring out God's victory and talking it out with my husband all along as well. For instance God gave me grace to say out loud, "ok Jonathan, right now I am feeling very VERY sensitive and my flesh is telling me you meant 'this' when my spirit knows you did not mean it that way.." that's just an example. I kept hurting myself physically all week too! Cuts, scraped, bruises... my joints hurt like crazy and to end it all I've had a stomach bug now for two days. It's been some of the best "pruning" of my life though!! God's grace is so good! It's been the neatest thing to be so keenly aware of the spiritual realm in the midst of physical attack, and I believe that God is strengthening my ability to discern the same for other people. I've had awesome conversations with people about the battle between spirit and flesh and learning to live with your spirit maintaining dominance. I've even had a powerful prayer time with one of the leaders here for her emotions, feelings, etc to be totally dominated by the spirit inside her. Very cool. SOO I will boast in my weakness today, thanking God for the opportunity to suffer so that he can teach me, grow me, and stretch my spiritual discernment. Plus, if I can continue to pray for healing for others when I'm feeling so physically sucked of life myself, I know God's grace is flowing....

The Outback feast!

Drive on the way to Oakey

We traveled to Oakey (the Moundville of Toowoomba) for a real Outback cookout with a lovely pastor and his family!! Lamb, pumpkin, corn, carrot, and DAMPER (a huge biscuit cooked on the fire served with honey..yum!) It was awesome! Some of the most special fellowship time since we've arrived as well. Enjoy the pics :)

We are working majorly hard now on Easterfest!!! Jonathan is back at work again now after dinner on Artist itineraries and such. We will be moving our offices to the park this weekend..so I'll be working rain or shine from the park in downtown Toowoomba from now on. Pretty cool, but slightly daunting. We are doing the best we can for having never worked with anything remotely similar to a music festival for 50,000 people before lol.  I'll be writing a blog that follows the construction process, as well as tying up loose ends on VIP guests and such. It seems Jonathan's work with artists is never ending, but I'm sure he will be doing some construction work next week. With the CEO Isaac Moody's official announcement of his run in politics, things has changed a little around the office, but we are excited for Isaac and seeking to support him in any way! Jonathan may do so by running with him at 6:00am every morning...we'll see haha.

My motel in Lismore. A true aussie Inn

I traveled to Lismore, New South Wales with the leader of City Women this past weekend for a speaking engagement. The passion in that group of women (and 3 men!) to see change in their city was just awesome. God did a work in me too. As I talked with Tish more about how God led her to where she is, God solidified that ministry is NOT intimidating. Maybe its just my tendency to make things "hard"(as a analyzer), but God really just freed me up to realize that I don't have to have a specific passion for a specific group of people, or issue, or whatever... I don't need to have some "TA DA" moment or major revelation even to spark a fire for moving in ministry. I just do it. My passion comes from my passion to see the gap between what Jesus desires and reality to be filled up. Anywhere that is lacking in seeing God's Kingdom on earth is an area to move on with the love of Jesus. If God gives someone an idea for something that is in line with his desire for his kingdom to be on earth as it is in heaven, just go for it! Tish never had a huge heart for girls (in fact she had a totally different plan!) but she saw God's heart for these hurting girls and moved to fill the gap. That's my prayer...that we would be gap fillers. Nothing is to daunting our outside of my "passion" or "experience", if God shows me a gap, I move to do what I can to fill it without trying to make it work. Ministry is nothing of my doing anyway, so why should I try to make it hard? I just feel really free to love people and walk in an environment of ministering unlike ever before. Ohhh my spirit is so relaxed!

Tomorrow I will be going to "Bella Sistahs", which is a sort of small group/mentorship time for the girls who go to Bella Chicks (the youth group for non-churched girls). I have been asked to share my testimony again with these girls tomorrow, so I am anticipating big things! My prayer is that there will be more girls who need to know the love and acceptance of our Jesus who will be there and become free the the enslavement of body issues. Praying for salvations as well! I will also be sharing me testimony at Bella Chicks this Friday night...in a toned-down version... but praying the same as well. This Saturday we are going with the church youth to the beach! Looking forward to some van-ride convos...those are the best for digging into kids' lives.

Jonathan finally shaved the head and beard! It was long awaiting...enjoy the pics :)

Please pray for us as we enter this incredibly busy time over the next three weeks! We are believing for God to move BIG at Easterfest this year. There are some major new outreaches to reach people with the gospel message this year. One of called "Easterfestivity" which is a group of young adults from our church here who will be doing street evangelism throughout the city. Every year hundreds have come to salvation, and we are praying even more this year. We are also praying for opportunities to be a light to the 1000 crew, hundreds of music artists and more who do not know Christ. This festival is meant to be different because it stands on the gospel message...you never know how it could impact someone and what seed it will sow.

Thank you all for your prayers! Keep um coming :)

Blessings,
Mel and Jono

Transforming Love

^{Psalm 91:9-13}

⁹ If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
   and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
   no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
   to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
   you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 

This passage has been especially powerful to me lately. This was one of the most important passages to me when I was going through all I did as a teenager and it played a HUGE role in my ability to hope and trust in God to save me. It was sooo awesome to share it with so many hurting girls this past weekend at Bella Girls' Getaway camp and see them experience the freedom that comes from resting in God's hands!

It has been a busy couple of weeks! But I'll try to fill you in on as much as I can.

Me and some of the girls at camp

The spiritual climate is intense, but God is prevailing. I went to Girls' Getaway this past weekend. This camp is designed to bring the girls who participate in Shine in the school system away to an environment where relationship can be developed and the love and freedom found in Jesus can be proclaimed. We had about 30 girls, most all of whom are unsaved and come from lives of abuse, oppression, self-harm, suicide attempts, and more. On Saturday morning God gave me the privilege to share my testimony of  anorexia, depression, and suicide attempt and how God radically and fully healed me body, soul, and spirit. The response was huge!! Nothing to my credit at all, but I have never felt the Holy Spirit speaking so clearly and confidently out of me before. Many say it was the turning point in camp... One of the most powerful times is when they get Christian men from the city to come and speak a "fathers blessing" over each individual girl . The men get the names of 2 or 3 girls the week before to pray over and seek God over, and then on the final day they just love them and bless them. Many of the girls have never heard anything positive, let alone a blessing full of love, from a man. Its just huge! In the end about 10-12 girls accepted Jesus. There is one girl in particular who was on high suicide watch and was struggling with anorexia who found hope and healing in the love of Jesus through my testimony. She was radically radically transformed!! Praise God for his overwhelming love, grace, and mercy!!! Thank you all for your prayers for me and the girls. After the weekend I became pretty sick...along with about 3 or 4 of the other leaders! Satan did NOT like all that went on, but it was so worth it :) 

After receiving her "father" blessing

Jonathan went to help lead a group called "The Base" this past weekend while I was at camp. "The Base" is a youth group type setting for children and teens that are primarily on the streets and not plugged into a church. It's a totally different environment from the  normal "youth group," but one we are pretty comfortable with :) It was fun for him to go and be a "father" to the kids who have no earthly fathers. Just teaching a little boy a card game and holding him and spinning him around can do so much more for that child to show him the love of our daddy God than we could ever imagine. We are going to help "The Base" set up a website in the next couple weeks. God has really allowed us to use different giftings here and there to help people. I know that our administrative gifts have DEFINITELY been stretched. 

We are going "full on" with Easterfest. Stress is rising in that office as things get closer and closer. Easterfest City has DOUBLED its venues, artists, and church participants (check out more about EF City at www.easterfestcity.com). This means there will be artists all over the city, in bars and pubs too, worshiping on Easter Sunday morning. How cool!! Jonathan has done such an excellent job working to make this year's EF the biggest and best yet, and I'm so proud of him. More than that though, he is really being a light of God's peace, joy, and faith there... kind of like the eye in the middle of the storm.

Jonathan had his 22nd b'day this week. (I'll put up a pic tonight!) The EF office blessed him with the dessert of choice here, apple crumble cheesecake from "The Cheesecake Lady"...yummmm.... It was fun for him to celebrate his b'day BEFORE his twin brother for the first time in his life, thanks to the time difference. We hope to sneak away for a picnic or something together soon...that is if our schedule calms any :-). We get to go to dinner out in Oakey (the Moundville of the area) with a sweet sweet pastor we met through the Christian Leaders Network. This is the second pastor outside of Toowoomba City Church we have been able to fellowship with. It is such a blessing to fellowship and encourage each other in the faith.

I got to go to a group last night called "Ladies in Waiting." This is a group for women who are experiencing infertility to pray together, support one another, and rally each others' faith. It was so amazing to lay my hands on wombs and pray LIFE into them! When Pam was here last year, one of the ladies conceived the week that she prayed for her! I'm believing that for the women I prayed for as well. Our God is a God of healing. 

As we are now in the second half of our stay, we are really seeking God about any changes he wants us to make once we return home. We want make sure we are placing all of our time and energy into propelling God's kingdom, whatever that means for us. Please be in prayer as we seek God for vision and clarity to this regard. We trust His leading and will continue to be servants until he raises us up to whatever He has for us next.

Sorry so long, but I had a lot to catch you up on. We love you all and miss you all greatly. This has been a slightly "home-sick" week for me personally, but its exciting to see the harvest here. Can't wait to dive back into the harvest at home too. 

Many blessings,

Jono and Mel 

Fruit is Good!!

OUR GOD IS A GOD OF VICTORY!!! Oh praise God that there is nothing within us that can do any good outside of the grace of God. How freeing is it to know that nothing rests on our ability or our leadership, our words, or our desires even...its all God's grace, which is more that enough for ALL people and for ALL sin. Our God won the victory and continues to fight for us (exodus 14:14). We don't have to be discouraged anymore. We don't have to be stressed anymore. Our God has performed a beautiful exchange of our depravity for His victory. 

LifeGen Youth Group we help lead

We saw God's grace in action this past week when one of the youth here accepted Christ!! Jonathan had the opportunity to lead a small group, and this youth was in His group. Little did Jonathan know that his powerful expression of the love of Jesus to this kid planted such a seed that would bear fruit so quick! How exciting :) We had a powerful night of prayer and worship last Sunday night as well. We definitely saw fruit as we laid hands and prayed over/with our bros and sis's in Christ. Many were released from bondage as they moved more fully into the powerful grace of God. We've actually had many awesome times of prayer this week...with groups our age, youth, and individuals, where we have felt the power of God so strongly.

The night J shared with the kid who accepted Jesus :)

One of the most powerful times of this past week was when a prophet from South Africa came and gave the Word of the Lord to the TCC staff (us included). He shared that God is moving us into a new season where we must progressively be taking territory for Jesus. The world is definitely a battle field right now. God gave Him the story of Abraham, how Abraham received fresh visitation from God and moved to new places on his journey with God. Each time he moved, he set up an alter of worship and declaration that that place was now God's. Abraham was actively taking territory for God to be able to access His people. Each of those alters continued on to be powerful places of God's access to His people (like Bethel - where Jacob received his dream and Elisha later called fire from heaven). We must be seeking God for fresh visitation and instruction, moving, and claiming territory for God! The battle lines in the spiritual realm are being drawn..... He also spoke a very affirming and specific word of Jonathan and I that assured us we are RIGHT where God wants us. Just like Elisha before the mantle was passed, we are in a time of servanthood, impartation, and acting in obedience until God releases us and raises us up into the specific purpose He has for us.

I also had an opportunity to share with a group of beautiful young women about how powerfully we can and should encounter God in scripture. I shared three things that God has revealed to me about His word throughout my journey, specifically when I was in the pit of depression and other issues as a teen. First, God's Word is not just a tool, IT IS THE LIVING BREATHING WORD. "In the beginning was the word, and the word became flesh (Jesus)." The Word is another expression of God to us. When you open it, it is like God breathing on you. How is your relationship with scripture?? Second, the Bible is our ultimate weapon against the enemy. Revelation tells us that Satan is defeated by the word of our testimony, and the Bible is one huge testimony of God's victory. Finally, the Bible is our ultimate place of Refuge. I shared several scriptures that sustained my life during my pain as a teen (Psalm 91, Rom. 8:26-27, Psalm 119:47-50). Man did God show up! God was giving such fresh revelation of His word and new hungers to know Him intimately through it! It has nothing in the world to do with me, but seeing God's fruit come when his name is proclaimed just makes me excited :) 

Standing over Brisbane

Sorry this is so long, but it has been a full full full week! This week will be the same. This coming weekend I will be going to "Girl's Getaway Camp", which is a camp for girls that City Women reach out to. I will get to share my testimony with about 25 8th grade girls as well as be a leader...I'm expecting great things. Please pray for me to have divine appointments with hurting and desperate girls who need to feel the touch of life from their true Father. Most of these girls have experiences abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, and more. God just wants them to know they are beautiful, values, and loved. I get to be a vessel for that.

Blessings on you all! 

Jono and Mel (our Aussie names)

The Grace of God

Galatians 2:19-21


 ¹⁹ “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”


We have been getting involved in Life Gen leadership on Friday nights and having a blast. It is kinda bringing back old memories from leading TLC Uth Groop back home. No matter what I do It is nothing but the grace of God that can save people. Thank you Jesus for removing that burden of my back. Now that I understand that lets go have some fun, climb table top mountain, mens camp, crows nest falls? maybe. 


I am having a blast and here is what got from mens camp. Have you ever slept in a swag? No Leemar, not the way that I walk I'm talking about a on person tent with a small amount of padding on the bottom. I now know how to use a GPS to navigate the bush of QLD Australia, and I have driven a small boat around Pindari Dam. While on the boats we got to go cliff diving, bouldering, and ply tag with the boats. 


Adam Grant gave two man talks, one on Saturday morn and the other on Sunday morn. The first talk was about the divine order of men taking responsibility. Ever since the garden men have been shifting blame onto someone else. He said we need to take responsibility for our physical health, our past, spirit man, and our purity. Concerning all of those the quote, "I did not feel like doing it but I knew it was good for me" I don't feel like taking a walk, reading my bible, forgiving others, or denying my flesh but I knew God would bless me for it. Second talk was about marriage and how men need to be able to cry and say I love you.........uh well something like that :) What he really said is that we need to love our families not just by providing but by being there physically and emotionally. Be the leader, Be the MAN of the house. Adam talked about what that looks like in a world where the father is either absent or portrayed as week. I love my wife as Christ loves his church giving himself unto her so that she can be made whole. Thank you Jesus for doing that for me.


To wrap things up we just had God bless Easterfest with ticket sales beyond any of our bets....I mean imaginations ;) Thank you lord for caring for us in ways we can't even imagine. Men, go be men and love like Christ and with the fathers heart. Woman, love us through our mistakes and maybe we can make it through till tomorrow. 


Peace out, Jonathan 

Digging In...

Hello Again!

 Wanted to give you all an update. Life is just lovely here...been perfect weather and more than that, we've been building our relationships with others more and more. We are trying REALLY hard not to fall too much in love, as we do have to go home to AL. But if God opened up a door for us here, I can't say we would jump on it (if God told us to that is!) If God told us to go anywhere in the world we would. That's definitely been solidified in me since being here... wherever in the world God sends us, we will be surrounded by family (bros and sis in Christ) and he WILL provide for us. We've said before, God has eliminated that "gap" of fear for us when it comes to new places and insecure circumstances. This time has only solidified that even more.

Jonathan is at "Man's Camp" right now about 4 hours away at Pandori Dam...having the time of his life rolling in mud, grilling on cinder blocks, and not bathing. I'll take my cup of coffee, homemade honey oat bars and time to do my nails any time! BUT there are several teen and young adult guys there that Jonathan has been building relatioship with. I'm excited to see how God opens up deeper conversation and opportunity to speak life and truth into them while he is gone. No better time for digging in to someone's life than around a campfire!

This coming week is going to be packed full. We have a presentation with City Women called "What's Happening to Our Girls" on Thursday. This will present the horrible and sickening effect that our culture has had on girls in Toowoomba and the world at large. Addiction, depression, abortion, drop-out, STD's, plastic body parts...its what our world teaches women to be. City Women (particularly Bella programs) seek to be a counter-cultural force, restoring value, worth, and the understanding of TRUE BEAUTY to these hurting girls. It's such a privilege to be working with Bella Chicks (a youth group for these girls meeting at the local movie theater), Bella Magazine (a magazine seeking to counter the horrible stuff found in things like Cosmo), and others to bring Jesus love, acceptance, and truth to these girls. In March I will be going to Bella Camp as a leader. There will be 25 girls who deal and face such issues as mentioned above. I have been asked to give me testimony of depression and anorexia at Bella Camp, and I can't wait to see how God uses it! Please pray for me and for the girls..that I could dig in to lives that they would be changed eternally. This Friday I will be going to a local school to be on a Q&A panel for teen pregnancy and STDs. High School girls will be asking questions all about these issues, and I will get the chance to make a lasting impression on girls that could be at a pivotal point of decision about the direction of their life.

Jonathan is still doing an amazing job with Easterfest...learning ALL ABOUT what it takes to put on such an event. So far we've sold around 120,000 tickets and expecting thousands more. It will be an awesome awesome event celebrating the Easter message...incense rising all over the city! Jonathan has mentioned half joking half not joking about applying to be CEO of Easterfest (the current CEO is leaving after this year). At first I was like "what in the world?? NO WAY are we qualified for that!!" But who am I to say what God has and hasn't qualified us for. I support my husband in whatever God tells him to do. It's so refreshing to follow....

I've mentioned before that we are helping with the church's youth group. Last night was an "all girls" night, and it was just awesome. At one point the leaders presented each girl with a special card telling them a character quality that is admirable in them. You could see the power of "words of life" spoken over those girls. It's so important to speak life over people...especially teens...for some of those girls it could have been the first time in a LONG time someone encouraged them personally. All the youth have attached to us...I think its the accent personally haha! However, at least one girls last night wasn't so attached...she pulled the chair out from under me only to discover four bleeding scrapes down my spine. Bless her heart, so was so embarrassed and upset later. What a great time to tell her she is loved :)  It does hurt a little though....

Finally, I did want to mention quickly about the flood situation here. While it has lost news coverage now, the impact from the floods here in Toowoomba were DEVASTATING! Hundreds are living in tents on their once thriving farm land...owning nothing but their pride. The city and church (as in body of Christ) has rallied so much to help, but there is such anger, bitterness, despair, and deprivation that has engulfed so many of the flood victims. Please continue your prayers for the recovery here. While some have been open to help from the church, others are just angry at God and man.

If I'm failing to write about some major point of interest for you, please shoot us an email or comment! We'd love love LOVE to hear from you there....

Family Shout Out: I miss my momma :) I love you mom!!

Blessings

Living in God's Paradox

"The same power that raises the dead lives in me!" 

Wow what a powerful statement. I really don't think we could ever FULLY grasp the power of the Father that lives, works, moves, and rises within us. It has been a cry of my heart for God to reveal that more fully to me while we are here in Australia. So many need God's power in their life....His freedom, a fresh movement, and fresh word, and moment of tangibly feeling His love. How I so desire to bring that fullness of life that is in Christ into the world. Oh God would your power rise more and more and more within me!

The view from our home!

This is Melissa here :) While we have only been here for about two weeks, this has certainly already been a journey for me. It seems as though Jonathan doesn't always need a "journey." When God wants Him to have something, he just gets it! I have to work at suppressing my jealousy of that gift from God, but maybe its good that one of us takes a little more time to "chew" on things.

I know that God has revealed many things to me about myself...how I truly am when I'm stripped away from all that is normal, all that is comfortable, all that is easy. Not that life at home is easy, and not that anything here is anywhere close to difficult, but change is always something..umm....new. Our God is such a God of paradox. Our God is constantly making all things new, yet he never changes. He is our solid rock, yet he stirs movement throughout His people. I desire to be ever moving with God's "pillar of fire," yet I also desire to never be tossed to and fro by the winds, but to stand firm on God's rock without flinching. How do you get to that ultimate place with Jesus. How do we reach that place like Enoch who was walking with God yet so utterly, steadily one with God that He was taken to the reality of how he was living on earth...living in God's Kingdom. I'm just sitting here so empty before God and so hungry to be completely consumed with Him, while still being consumed with living out His love through relationship with others.

The "flat top" mountain Jonathan is climbing!

I'm sure you would like to know more the specifics of what we've been up to... LOTS haha! Jonathan is currently out with some guys climbing a mountain for one thing. Haha, he woke up singing Miley Cyrus "It's the Climb" this morning as he assured me that he would return in one piece. This week has been a full week of working with Easterfest and City Women. It's awesome how God had the perfect spots of need for us that match our giftings. I have been working hard on the City Women website. I even learned a new website creation program! Get ready TLC for a new website when we return :). I am also going to be working with the Bella Magazine, specifically marketing and promotion in schools across the nation. If you have never heard of Bella Magazine, please look it up!! It a magazine meant to counter the horrible, disgusting material that our young girls and women are reading everyday. It is all about true beauty, worth, value, and purpose as a women created by God. If anyone has a connection with Lifeway, please let me know! I am also the volunteer coordinator for all the Bella activities at Easterfest. Thanks my wonderful mother-in-love for your training in volunteer management.

Jonathan has been doing an AMAZING job in his role at Guest Itinerary Coordinator for Easterfest. Working with headline artists to secure flight info, hotels, schedules, meals, etc is no small feat, especially when you don't know the area. He has also designed the entire 3-day schedule for the event...organizing every minute of 3 days with artist concerts, speakers, etc. He has grown so much in his administrative gifting, and I'm super proud of him :) Oh how I LOVE LOVE LOVE my husband!! He delights in me as I know God does..what a blessing.

Us with little Alyce and Ben - Isaac's (CEO Easterfest) beautiful children

I will get to help lead worship tomorrow. Super excited about that :) We have a pool party tonight with the young adults, and our host family leaves for a 3-week "holiday" to New Zealand on Tuesday...so we will be on our own! We love you all so much and are praying specifically for many of you. We trust God in your life just as we trust him in ours.

I'll leave you with this quote I heard today at a ladies meeting:
"If you don't have change you don't have butterflies"
I thought that was fairly fitting for all God has been stirring within me :)

Blessings!

Everything Is Meaningless

Remember Your Creator While Young

 ⁷ Light is sweet,
   and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
⁸ However many years anyone may live,
   let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember the days of darkness,
   for there will be many.
   Everything to come is meaningless.  ⁹ You who are young, be happy while you are young,
   and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
   and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
   God will bring you into judgment.
¹⁰ So then, banish anxiety from your heart
   and cast off the troubles of your body,
   for youth and vigor are meaningless.

 There are two things that last, the word of God and the souls of men. These things are not meaningless. I have been very busy working at the Easterfest office, and even when I am not here I catch myself thinking about it or something else. Right now I am asking God to maintain the divine order in my life that I would not conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Inside of this order I can have PEACE. I don't have to worry or fret about anything. I'm happy staying busy and love to work but I cannot let myself get caught up in all this work if things are not in order in my spirit. I have been blessed with a peace beyond all understanding and thank Jesus for that. Inside of Gods divine order I find purpose in doing everything not just as if I am doing it for him but I am doing all for him. 

I don't want to let anyone think that I feel the work I'm doing is meaningless but if it remains just work it is. I have the Joy of working with amazing people and doing work that will change peoples lives. Data entry, Email, mail-out, pick up the mail, take out the trash, meetings, ect.......

ALL MEANINGFUL :) 

Love the friends and fam back home. Talk to y'all soon.

Work :) and the "Red Hornet"

"Then the Lord reached out His hand to me and touched my mouth and said to me, 'Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:9-10

We feel God beginning to touch our lips and guide into building and planting more of His kingdom here in Toowoomba. While we have just begun to build relationship and gain our bearings, we feel God's presence over us. As we begin the "real ministry" next week, we anticipate the words of God being placed into our lips flowing out more and more. More than anything we are seeking to be an "anchor of peace" in the midst of Easterfest, City Woman, and the other ministries of Toowoomba City Church as many are rattled and nerved by the recent flooding and the overwhelming spirit that many times attacks ministry.

So I (Melissa) finally get to write one!!

On a fun note, today was "just lovely" (what everyone says here instead of awesome haha). We went to the park  with Issac, his beautiful wife Mel, and their oh so funny children. Man is the weather and landscape here beautiful!!!! I just can't get enough of it. We got the "Red Hornet" today, our lovely Ford Festiva. The one hicupp....stick shift...on the left side hahaha. Jonathan had fun learning to drive a stick while driving on the wrong side of the road in the wrong side of the car using the wrong hand to shift gears. Me...lets just say I was slightly nerved. Got groceries though! Enough PB and J to last a couple months I'm sure. Everything cost way more here... but we have been so blessed with meals and coffee courtesy of our hosts, Issac, Adam, and      others. Our God has provided so well.

Beginning Monday Jonathan will be working 8-5 on the Easterfest staff. Isaac (CEO of Easterfest) said today, "Big J, I believe you will be a bit of a help more than I anticipated". Big compliment to my amazing husband. Jonathan has caught on quite fully to the Aussie sarcasm, but I'm still getting there. Maybe I have a little more southern hospitality in me! I will be working 8-5 with City Women, beginning on the magazine editorial team for Bella magazine, which is an awesome magazine geared towards the inner beauty of women. I will also eventually work in the schools with a program called "Shine", which seeks to restore worth, strength, and purpose to abused, hurting, depressed, etc. girls. Closer to Easterfest, we both will work with the Guest Coordinator to provide guest services to the artists (like Switchfoot, Shawn McDonald, Petra, Darlene Zcheck). We also are joining in on a weekly gathering for Christian Leaders here in Toowoomba as well as church staff meetings to soak up any God-given principals for ministry and experience some awesome Holy Spirit inspired city unity in the body of Christ. Finally, we are joining in on the youth group and young adult group to disciple youth and young adults a little. We will be busy!! We are so excited though. There are many other things we will join into. Here are the links to Easterfest and City Women to find out more about what we are involved in:
http://www.easterfest.com.au/
http://www.toowoombacitywomen.com/

So I'm going to leave you and enjoy this 120km view of the sunset. Don't know how I'm ever going to leave this!! Here are a few pics from the past day or two to enjoy. Please comment! We'd love to hear from you :)

Blessings
Melissa

What did you say mate?

Help!! Need some tough skin and a translator to make it out here. Well maybe its not that bad but it could not be CRIKEY(just and exclamation used to express surprise) I'm in Aussie land :) We are now at Adrian and Joan Mestins  and had an amazing sleep last night. Had dinner with them before bed time where jet lag beat the stew out of us, but before it won we ate and talked and toured their house and they have an amazing view. While talking with Joan about my work CFA I talked about biscuits and they thought I meant cookies. In trying to explain what a biscuit is we could not find anything that she knew of similar enough to compute. Needless to say we are going to cook some American food for them and friends while here.

Today we are meeting Adam Grant to see the church and downtown area as well as to discuss what we will be doing here. We have a small car to pick up on Sat. it is a two door Ford Focus? We are excited and look forward to what God has for us. And till next time Cheerio(goodbye)

P.S. We will make a dictionary while we are here of words and bring them back to the states.

Where did Tuesday go?

Left Tuscaloosa, AL @ 10am Feb. 7th, arrived in Brisbane Australia Feb. 9th. Hahahaha. We left LAX at 11:30pm and 14 hours later (flying against the curvature of the earth) arrived in Aussie land :) Since arriving we have gotten a phone, drank coffee 3 times, been swimming in the Pacific, tasted Vegemite, and started speaking Australian. Our goal is to not sleep till we have to trying to beat the jet lag.  Going to barbie later and we will see how we feel after that.

UPDATE: The "barbie" (aka grill out...not a southern BBQ) was so amazing! Their parks are right next to the beach...you feel like you are in a tropical jungle and on the beach at the same time. Just lovely.

God is such a good God and is moving in us. We are open to what God wants to teach us and are praying he continues his work in us. Thank you so much for all who have been praying for us and the support you have given. Lots of love. Here are a few pics from whats gone on so far.........

Jesus Commands Us To Go

We are one day away and feel so many mixed emotions about being gone for three months but God reminded me this morning of the JOY of doing what he has called us to do. Jesus Commands Us To Go. I was listening to some Keith Green music this morning soaking in the words of somebody who sings because they truly love Jesus and wondering why we join the world in living life sub par from what God has for us when we know His awesome plans. I'm posting a video of Keith Green's performance and you can watch it if you would like and if you don't it is here in cyberspace and is not going any where. If you choose to listen, listen all the way to the end to here the challenge he issues to people. I want to be Bananas for Jesus.

Baggage

When travelling internationally you must conform to the rules and regulations of the airlines or.... you can't fly. The speed bump we just ran into was that we have too much stuff and our bags would be too heavy to fly V Australia. Fortunately V Australia is just flying on behalf of Delta our main airline carrier. All that means is we now have the ability to pack everything we need. 


Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Since we have been made free in Christ we are free indeed. Just as Delta over rules V Australia even more so our Gods authority supersedes any authority Satan or this world thinks they can have over us. As Hebrews 12 says we must throw of everything that can hamper us and run with perseverance the race that is set before us.
On a lighter note the trick to weighing your baggage at home is to first weigh yourself without the suitcase then again with the added weight. 58lbs? What, I'm 8 pounds over...... back to work on packing.

P.S. Don't worry or be burdened about our packing God will make it work. We don't want to weigh anyone down. :)

Preparation

Nehemiah 9:19-21


"Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. ²⁰ You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. ²¹ For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen."


As we pack our clothes and prepare to leave, our God has already gone before us. We truly believe He is at our front, our back, and all around us preparing the way for his loving children. Jehovah Jireh has already provided everything we need for life and godliness and we lack nothing for this trip. This is the theme for our trip, to follow God where ever he goes and not to tarry where He is not.
Our prayer "Oh God let us follow you. Open our eyes to see your pillar of fire to lead us through this dark world. Ready our feet and our hearts so we may be ready and able to go where you are going. Steady our souls and don't let us be anxious but in everything trust in you. Bring peace to our lives, peace not that the world knows but a peace beyond all understanding. And finally let us be mistaken for Christ, not so we can boast in our own ability but that Christ may be glorified."

Hebrews 12:1-3

 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

Here is the Down Under

The fall of 2010 Greg and Pam Rogers (Jonathan's Parents) met with us over dinner at Panera and God planted a thought of us quiting everything and living in Australia for three months. Short story, we have an awesome God and Monday February 7th, 2011 Melissa and I following Gods call on our life and heading Down Under. Long story........I'll let Melissa relate that one a bit later (she can type really fast and has good grammar and everything) All you really need to know for now is Melissa and I are interning in Toowoomba  AU for TCC (Toowoomba City Church) and Easterfest. TCC does a lot of city ministry and lives out John 17:22-23. Easterfest is a music festival of over 50,000 people and 200+ artist coming together over Easter weekend to celebrate Christ resurrection. Melissa and I will be involved in both ministries and closer towards the festival will be heavily involved in the administration side of Easterfest.

We are truly blessed and desire the grace and peace of God as we begin our travels. Stay tuned to the same blog time, same blog channel. (Maybe my Dad will read this and smile)