How do bush dancing, magic tricks, snorkelling and God bringing down city walls by trumpet blasts and people’s shouts go together? These are just a few of the things this year’s team got to do on our recent ministry trip to 1770.
Last week, 11 of our Senior students Pastor Syd, his wife Terry, Pastor Donna and her husband Ross travelled five hours north to 1770 for GCC’s annual ministry trip.
The ministry trip provided our students with opportunities to step outside their daily routine and participate in activities they may not ordinarily get to be a part of.
After travelling most of Monday we reached our accommodation for the week. Tuesday the students got up early to cook a BBQ breakfast for the many customers that came to the local op-shop. In addition to this, they also helped out with lots of jobs that the ladies who run the store were unable to get to. Their efforts were greatly appreciated with one of the ladies telling me before our team came to help she had laid awake at night wondering how they were going to get through all the work.
On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday our team presented bible stories, songs, games, magic tricks and crafts in the local school. They taught how God had protected Daniel from being eaten by lions, allowing all to see that Daniel’s God was the one true God. This was the same God that brought down the walls of Jericho with the sound of trumpets blowing and the shouts of his people. They shared stories of what God had done in their lives and as a result of his death and resurrection, Jesus is the only one worthy of being the King of our hearts. In the older grades, they ran games that taught resilience and shared that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35-38).
On Friday night we joined the church youth group where we put on a BBQ dinner, entertained them with live music and taught some bush dancing. One of our students stepped out of his comfort zone and shared how placing his trust in Jesus had made a difference in his life.
On Saturday, the team enjoyed God’s creation as they Snorkelled at Lady Musgrave Island and on Sunday they attended the local church service with some of the team helping out with their Kids church program.
Highlights for me were seeing the joy on students’ faces after they stepped out of their comfort zone. Hearing comments like I can’t believe I just did that, that was awesome and I had expectations but they have well and truly been exceeded. Over the course of the week the team made new friendships, they encouraged and supported one another, faced their fears and were challenged through devotions and the conversations that followed them. It was such a privilege to be a part of this year’s team and I look forward to being a part of next year’s team.
Colossians 3:23-24 tells us to “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” and that is what our students did.
Donna Newell, College Pastor
