[nards]

Hey coldtoedpunker
Thanks for that, there's heaps of fires that I've heard of. Suppose you'd be used to hearing about them though, they seem to happen most (if not all) summers. At least the big one hasn't affected any of you (hopefully)
Have a good one

[beanie]

Hi everyone.

I'm back in Bagabag for this evening having taken the bus from Mayoyao this morning. I had a wicked good time but I don't have time to write about it right now.

I found out about the fires 2 nights ago in a brief text message from a friend on my team leaders phone. It was sooo close to our farm. My brother was fighting a fire at his mates house and didn't get back to his own house to save it in time, so they're one of many who are homeless and have got nothing. Thankfully, they are all safe. That's the main thing. I remember how I was praying for my brother and his family late last year. He has trouble trusting God and I remember praying, "God, whatever it takes for him to learn, do it. Whatever it takes." This wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I did say "whatever"!

I'm looking forward to getting home and seeing it all. I've learned a lot this last week about Mayoyao culture and how they are always friendly and helping each other out - every single day. Sadly, where I come from, it takes a tragedy to bring people together. Too bad it cost 9 people their lives and many others their houses, jobs and livlihoods. Kids were incinerated in cars and everything.

The wind was going at 70kms per hour and it was 40 degrees! It just sped through. Farmers are killing their sheep who are partially burned, they have no food to give them anyways. One lady loaded her kids into the car and sped away, only to loose control of her vehicle and smash into a tree where they were unable to escape. As it was, their house and township wasn't affected. People were hopping into the sea to escape the flames. Whole townships - gone. It came within 3kms of our house. Our farm is right next to a whole bunch of forestry and heritage land. It's all just gone.

It's so hard for me to grapple. I'm just going to have to see it. Kez - I'll get you some Cons and I'm so awesomely excited about Third Day and a farewell party. See you soon! Pray for home with me.

[guitarfan01]

goodness... /

[FTS]

Hey Bon,
Me here =]
Man I haven't been in here in yonks, I'm sorry for that =/
I'm posting around most of the blogs before they get shipped off to Nostalgia.
That's terrible about the bushfires. I caught some stuff about it on the Today show. Man.
I hope everything is good with you. Are you in the philippenes right now? Hope you're having a good time wherever you are.
You're a great person!
Have a good one!
Peace!

[LoOpY_cHoOk]

Hey all - how ya doin? I'm doin ok. I've been away for a week on Beach Mission at Port Vincent. That's on the peninsula that's between Adelaide and Lincoln where the fires were. On Tuesday (the media are calling it 'Black Tuesday'), it was soooo hot, and there were hideous winds, and at about lunch time or just after, I was in the town hall and the beach is just across the road. I looked across the road and couldn't see the beach for the smoke. When I heard about where they were, I was heaps worried. ONe of the people on mission, their sister lost everything and she lived in Tumby or Lincoln or something, so he and his wife had to leave early to go help her and her family. I told mum and she and I tried for like two days to contact your family, bon, and they weren't answering the phone or anything, so we were totally stressing. I got a message from another friend of ours, and he told me a bit of what was going on. I eventually remembered that I had Ruben's number in my phone, so i called it and left a message. Man, I totally couldn't comprehend it. The Beach Mission at Tumby had to finish early, and turn into a counselling and grief support centre for the people who had lost everything and holiday makers who had lost all of their stuff too... But wanna hear a really kewl story? There was a couple of people who were apparently asked to come on our beach mission, but they felt they were called to be in Tumby bay. They were two doctors - How kewl is it that God used them in such a kewl way?! He had it all planned. Just MORE proof that God is so real, and he cares so much for his kids.

Thanks for your concern guys. You rock. THREE more sleeps til Bon gets back!!! yay!

Luv KEz :0)

[beanie]

YO!

I'm so excited today. Well, it's a bit of a mixed bag really. I'm sad to be leaving the Philippines and all the cool things I've seen and the people I've met and the things I've done. I'm glad to be heading home. Sad to say goodbye to the team. Looking forward to the hot towels on the plane and chilling at the cool cactus garden in the Singapore Airport.

I was such a dork yesterday. I spent all my money cos I didn't want to take any of it home to be exchanged again and then, once my shopping spree was over, someone asks me, "Bon, do you have your P550.00 to get out of the country?"

DEEEEEEEERRRRRR! Oh I was so mad at myself. Like, idiot. You need to pay to get out of the country and then I need to pay more to get into my country. It's going to be fine, but I am just too forgetful sometimes. It annoys the crap out of me.

Kez - I got you some Con's. I hope they're the right size and you like them. I almost forgot to them. If you don't like them, that's okay. Opshop em. I got myself some fluro pink ones. They're awesome. Oh, and also, if you're still planning on getting me from the airport, come at around 9. I get in at 8 but it takes an hour to get through customs. Cheers buddy! Can't wait to see you! I got you some awesome things! I'm so excited about them!

Yesterday we went and visited TAP (Translation Association of the Philippines) and Faith Academy - which is a school for missionary kids. Mum has been praying for me and this trip: specifically for me to find out what I should so with my life etc. Before yesterday I thought I'd missed the whole thing. I still had no idea about anything and I was annoyed that I didn't know and that I wasn't real stoked about anything I'd seen specifically.

Well, I gotta go. I'll finish this story later. Prolly when I get back to Australia. Home shweet home.

Peace out ma hippies!

[coldtoedpunker]

Welcome home Bonnie

[Brian-Alexander]

i'm the one who made your blog have 1,000 posts, you will love me forever. lol

[LoOpY_cHoOk]

Originally Posted by Brian-Alexander

i'm the one who made your blog have 1,000 posts, you will love me forever. lol

No such luck, my friend... that accolade appears to belong to our cold toed buddy, Matt... maybe next time eh? I'm sure we'll still love you but...

KEz :0)

[beanie]

Originally Posted by LoOpY_cHoOk

No such luck, my friend... that accolade appears to belong to our cold toed buddy, Matt... maybe next time eh? I'm sure we'll still love you but...

KEz :0)

Hey there!

I'm in Singapore Airport. Me and Anna and Darren are here, wasting time before boarding the plane to Adelaide. 7 something hours or whatever. We're not sitting down, just running around till then.

We just saw our friend Narelle off to Perth a few hours ago and then had a long goodbye to the Melbourne bound team members. It was sad. I cried then. Before they left, we had a bit of a party and ate Australian chocolate and some nice drinks, sitting in some corridor thing. Then, they were in the waiting room and we were on the outside, not allowed to come in, so we were writing messages on paper and holding it up to the window and doing the whole communication thing like that. It was pretty insane and lots of fun.

I think it'll hit me in a few days when I don't see any of them like I have been for the last 3 weeks. Waaaah!

Yeah, sorry Brian. No such luck with the 1000th post. Good on ya Matticus! Are you coming to my farewell party at Hove on Saturday!? Oh and Third Day, Audio Adrenaline and Rookie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! Either way, I hope to see you.

And Kez - man, I'm suuuuuuuuuuuuupppppppppppppeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrr excited about seeing you. You wouldn't believe.

I heard today that Latham got booted out of politics. I never really liked that guy! Praise the Lord he's out. I don't know who I'd pick out of Beazley and that other dude, the name escapes me for the present moment. Frankly, I don't care!

Singapore is awesome but I'm getting tired. 4 more minutes left on this thing. It's free, but you only get 15minutes a shot. It's fun. We were waiting in immigration cues FOREVER today. I was wondering why the heck we had to get there at 10 when we weren't leaving till 2! Good thing we did get there then. The first cue was a million years and the next one was almost as long. We only had enough time to wolf down a awesome club sandwich (for 105pesos... 3 aussie dollars almost) and then on the plane we went.

Gotta go. There's dudes lining up behind me. I'll be nice.... it happens you know! Love ya's all!...

See you Adelaide chums in a few hours! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!1

[guitarfan01]

mmm.... sandwiches.

[beanie]

I got in at 7am or something. It was awesome. We were last in line from the plane to go through customs which takes forever when this guy came up and checked our passports. He asked us if we would help him with this drug trail - dog training thing and we were like, "YES!!!!!!!!" So, they tied drugs around Anna's waist and shot us straight to the front of the line. We collected our bags and then out came the dogs. You'll be glad to know that they caught Anna, bailed her up and she's currently awaiting trial. The dog got a bone and I walked out the airport.

Kez, Ben and Ben were waiting for me! It was amazing. They had a sign and everything; Ben was holding it upside down. They'd been waiting for half an hour already and if we hadn't gone through with security, we've been at least another 2! We hung out, drove around, talked. We went shopping. Oh, I hoed into some hot cross buns (why the heck are they out so early, I ask you!?) and a nice big bowl of Kellog's Just Right with full cream milk and yogurt and it was THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD.

After munging out, Kez and I went to the Christian bookshop where I effectively spent a lot of money in not much time. I got a few cd's and 2 of each to give to friends, a few books and stuff. Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Eliot. So good. And a funny little book about Christian Survival in Christian culture and the crazyness of it. It's funny!

THIRD DAY TOMORROW. I'm unbelievably excited.

I've had 3 hours sleep in the past 2 days. I'm so whacked. I'm bound and determined to stay awake till 9:30 so my sleeping patterns are regulated and I will be able to stay awake from 1-7pm tomorrow: I'm camping out at the concert venue all that time! WOO!



And to finish the story from the other day......
I've decided to become a teacher so that I can get long term visas, work in missionary kids schools and disciple young people. So, I'm moving to New Zealand next month. If I like it I'll stay; live, study, marry. Hahah.

[nards]

Hey Bon,
I was thinking of becoming a teacher to teacher missionary kids and stuff, just want to get rid of my huge student loan, maybe sometime. It's an awesome opportunity though.
Anyway, have and awesome sleep

[dogfood]

yes a teacher would be interesting, think how much money you could make selling kids on ebay

[nards]

Originally Posted by dogfood

yes a teacher would be interesting, think how much money you could make selling kids on ebay