Sydney

Hello! Thank you for reading this and I hope that you are blessed from some part of it.

First of all, I have to thank my parents for raising me and providing for me for the first 18 years of my life. I have come to a quick realization of their provision for me in all ways and I love them for it. Thanks mom and pop for being God's provision in my life for so long and for pushing me along into God's plan and blessing me with your support and encouragement. Also, I am incredibly grateful for my church and the influence it has had on me. Thank you all for creating an environment that encourages young men and women to lay down their life, take up their cross, and run the race marked out before.

This Saturday, I finally became a tourist and traveled to downtown Sydney and Manly Beach. The group consisted of Me, Matt, Anthony, a bass player named Will, vocalist Tess, and dancer/keyboard player Jimena. I learned that Will had received an e-mail earlier that day informing him that he would be playing in the extension service at the Northern Beaches. I'm slightly confused by God's planning here, but I'm glad for him and for the Northern Beaches as well. I had the opportunity to hear him audition and he is incredibly talented. Also, to get a ride for the Northern Beaches, you get picked up at 5 AM. Ouch. 

We took the train into Sydney and arrived at Town Hall. The city itself is incredible. I was very overwhelmed by the art and just started taking random pictures of architecture. I highly suggest a trip to Sydney if you enjoy beautiful places. We then took a ferry to Manly Beach and just walked around for awhile. Neither my words or pictures can really do the place justice though. It is really the most beautiful city that I have ever seen with a wide variety of art and culture. I also now have the desire to buy a longboard to cruise around school with. However, my logical Dutch side went through a quick cost/benefit analysis and I'm thinking that I'll stick with walking.

We ended up going around the opera house, eating at Darling Harbor, getting lost downtown 3 or 4 times, and having a ton of fun. On the train ride into Sydney, I was also able to meet a couple from Jenison who were in town because of the wife's job. She just helped to open up the Costco in the area and her husband came on vacation. Small world.

At Sunday Night Live tonight, we sang a brand new song. I have no idea what it is called or when it'll come out, but it was really fun to do.

This Saturday, Junior's dad went to heaven. If you pray at all, please pray for Junior and his family as they go through this really difficult time. Junior has been an incredible blessing to Me, Anthony, and Matt as new students here and we have been praying all the time for him and his family. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers so far. I hope that we can get in contact soon.