Guess Who's Back

The Ghost of Basketball teams past

Hello my dear mates, 
It sure has been a while since we last chatted
this is mainly due to my laziness and extreme busyness. 


Since we last spoke I've been to the southern heights of Tasmania, seen black swans and Finished my first year of classes (I know extremely exciting)


Though more recently Tashi, (my boss) Sam, (my Other boss) Steve, a mate called pete and I went to the northern extremes of Armadale and the areas around. We journeyed to these unknown areas to do some Youth-Surges (Large scale youth group nights) With the aid of some Band Boys (here after referred to as "the boys") from St Pauls Castle Hill. 

Pretty cool shot, I know. On location:
a random truck stop near Gunnedah

Me and BF (my bass) were even allowed to sit in with them; Quite a lot of fun to be had.


On top of that we had around 200+ kids for our first night and 100+ for our second. Thats over 300 people hearing about Jesus and how fantastic he is. Quite the amazing time. 




Last night I gave my second talk for the year as well.  And I really enjoyed speaking this time, though its not as though I avoided it previously, but rather that I had a great deal of fun instead.My talk is also online if you want to listen to it. For your listening Pleasure

Who knew that Cacti could be so appealing.
Maybe a metaphor to be had here somewhere

Well the sun has come out (so have the thunderstorms) I have two exams left before I have finished my first year.  Its my day off so I am going to go outside and read in the shade. And Admire God's greatness.




I look forward to talking to you guys again. 
PLease feel free to comment back and tell me how you are travelling as well


J-Sho

Whats up my peeps,

Hey all you, 

I have the place where balloons
go to die...

Been a little bit since we last talked eh. How are you all doing? If you're Canadian how was the sweltering summer?

Ricky!

    As for me, well i'm doing pretty good. The winters here are pretty nice, and I finally have my new baby Rickenbacker in the country->




Youth group or Friday Night Live (FNL) is going pretty awesome, hard to think thats its been about 8 months already.  Time has a habit of not allowing me the gift of appreciation in the moment, oh well.  Last night we had "Focus night" which essentially was a night were we as a group looked at how we were doing with the goals we wanted to fulfill at the beginning of the year and how our walks with Jesus were coming along.  If you ask me highlight of the month but I am a nerd for these kind of things...

The one advantage of walking home after College
on a tuesday. The sky is on fire. 

This week I dont have college, so I will taking things a little easier than usual; maybe I shall get back to learning my irish gaelic which has taken a massive back seat to all my other work. 


Isn't it strange that even when you're doing what you want there still isn't enough time to do all the little things that would make it just a little better. 




Either way, I miss all you Vancouverites very much.  I wish I could be back for your wedding Rob and Kerensa, and i'm heaps jealous of all you peoples adventures throughout the world. Especially you Karol Boschung, Ireland indeed, one day we shall go there together and roam like men should!




If there is anything you guys would like prayer for don't ever hesitate to ask me.


- J Sho - 

Hi, how are you? I'm Fine

Hey everyone,
it is my first chilly winter in the middle of the year, a cool experience if you've never had one before.  First time round it feels a little out of place oh well.

I'm doing pretty great, After having an awesome time "on tour" in Hervey (pronounced Harvey, dont ask me why.) A reasonably small town (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hervey_Bay) but inside which grand things happen. Once a year for the last 7 or so the first years from youth-works college go to this coastal town to grow and learn more about themselves, others around them and futures in full time ministry. A daring prospect I know, but after a few years the teachers are obviously good at guiding us through these subjects.

Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island, I've
never seen sand this white!

I myself had an awesome time with my first year comrades, many hi-jinks and good times to be had.  I had a small taste of what it would be like if lived near each other I feel; one of the downsides of sydney being such a large area I only see the Youth-Workies (or Wookies maybe from now on) twice a week. And as for the learning, I am still processing a good deal of it, so ask me after I've had a lifetime of ministry.




As you may guess ---- >

Icosahedron For the Win!

My nerd status has increased by a large margin, maybe an irreparable one. A new hobby is now being attempted using only the power of imagination and a simple set of arbitrary rules now firmly established by generations of nerds.  Maybe one day if your nice you can play with me; no costumes please...





I look forward to getting back into the rhythm of school again, and learning heaps of new things! and of course warmer weather.

J-Sho out.

Green hills of freedom

Freeeedddooommmmm!!

Hey everyone no blogs since April means either that I am lazy or nothing has recently happened that has required me writing about...  And since the latter is definitely not true yours truly is to blame.

First a quick congratulations to Chris and Mel on their wonderful marriage, awesome good on you both. 

I experienced an odd phenomenon last week.  Since I only had one exam left last tuesday on sunday my body started a mild health mutiny, essentially shutting down all virus protection because it thought the long haul of exams was over.  And even though my studying somehow convinced it to hold on another day and a bit; system shutdown still occurred on tuesday.  It was really strange, as soon as I finished my last paragraph I immediately got a headache and my cold came back; Bizarre. 

This photo is mostly for Ben, and yes I am aware
that it looks like Balin from the Hobbit; but I prefer
ball-in!

I am reasonably excited because in a week or so youthwork peeps are doing a many number of things.  Us first years get to do a course on personal spirituality up in Queensland, and the second/third years get to do mission work around NSW and Tasmania.  Pretty awesome.  

So in essence, I am doing well, the sun is shining, birds singing, everyone is cold for some reason. I'm just a little jealous of all the fun you measly Vancouverites are having in the Canadian sun. 

J-Sho.

p.s. Riots not cool; though I can say stealing a mannequin is mildly tempting

Its okay I'm still here

Indie Photo Ftw!

I felt like it'd be good to write to ya'll again. The last few weeks have been pretty amazing, (aside from crippling headaches) I have two and a bit weeks of school so life is moving a little slower and a lot more reading is happening; especially of rather large theology texts.  Autumn in Aus is ridiculous, nothing dies so you cant call it fall.  And its not cold at all, it was like 24 last week, unbelievable this place has like 2 seasons max. 

Kiama in the Fall?

Kyck was pretty awesome, thousands of kids. Over the space of three weekends around 6000 youth heard about Jesus, so thats pretty good eh?

I may have caught a snap of the ever elusive Bush TURkey!

After what seemed like a fruitless 45 minute hunt through the area I found one literally a house away from where I live, I may have wanted to strangle a certain Local fowl...

A Bush Turkey; I have named him Goeff.

Anyway I am well I have been listening to an awful lot of the Frames/ the swell season recently. Not sure why but they seem to have made a foray into my most played.  A small part of me wishes to see you all again, especially around play-off and All-in times. 

Much Love to you all

- J - Sho - 

Who wouldn't want to be the King of Spain?

The land down under is as fun as ever.  
  
   After having two months worth of rain in that many days the weather has evened out to a balmy 24 (not bad for friggin autumn)
In a few days st Paul's youth group (and many many others) are going up to the first week of KYCK, which will be awesome in every-way. Can you imagine 2000 christians in one place, some people, myself included would give a limb for that to happen in Canada. So needless to say I am excited!


  Life continues, I have my first holiday soon, i'm not sure what to do with it, maybe I shall go exploring to great backyard of this country. If only I had a car..


Also recently I have been finally getting back to my writing of strangely fictional short stories, might have a good one done in a week or two, I may even be nice and show it to you people.


I hope all you people out there are doing as well as I am, to my Band friends if you guys read this I miss you all tons and wish I was there to cheer you guys up.  
Congratulations to Kerensa and Robbie on their fabulous engagement, pretty stoked if you can manage it try and have your wedding on a week where I can come home for it...... (here's hoping)


I'm out, Gonna have passover dinner with the college peeps and Jews for Jesus, gonna be fun; I wonder if there's gonna be some hebrew singing?

Guess What?

Hey everyone,
This is unmerited because it comes fresh off the heels from a recent post but I feel this one is warranted.

Two major things have happend since we last chatted.
First I found out that there are BUSH TURKEYS here, I thought I was hallucinating the other day; I was calmly strolling down the street I hear a gobble gobble and a freaking turkey walks out from behind a car!

(Artists Rendition)

So that startled me a fair bit, I had no idea there was local fowl in my area let alone turkeys...

Then today after getting my guitar fixed (weeks of Aus weather had wreaked havoc with it) matt found the sweetest thing in the guit shop.
A Bass ukelele; and though a uke by name it is basically a miniature bass with latex strings and an awesome sound.  When you plug it in it sounds like an electric double bass, so cool if only it weren't 600 dollars, though that goes for most things in that store.

Bass Uke!

A couple of awesome days!

Talk soon
J-Sho

Whoop Whoop

Hey Everyone,
 
      After being mildly chastised by some Australian friends that I haven't posted anything in a while (strange since I write this for Canadians) I decided that as I sit here and listen to Hamish and Andy on the radio I should write something to my good friends in the Great White North.

Basically I am doing Really well;  the last week has rocketed past, Monday, Tuesday I spent at youth-works learning many things (we had intro classes...) I am really excited, for the First Time I am excited to learn something.
Things are also  kicking into gear at church and youth group; we have a "ministry launch weekend" happening, which is essentially a church camp except we don't go away but instead have like 3 days of awesome church and fellowship.

Also we're going to KYCK convention which is like the Grandaddy of all conventions last year they had like 5000 people at this thing, its insane the amount of youths that is, I'm really stoked to go and see the whole thing.  Gonna be awesome!!

And Check it out Reformed arm bands
( I know the writings mirrored cant fix..)



So, Aus is awesome, a few pangs of wanting to see people from the
Van, but Life is good, I'm paid to go to church and to do Youth Ministry; awesome.

J-Sho

Hey Folks, Long time.

Hey everybody,

   I would have posted sooner, but through probably mostly my actions the internet has been maxed at     my house for the last 10 or so days.  Many many many things have happened in that space and time.

        First my cousin Grace got married, in probably the happiest 4 hours I have ever observed, still a bit                    
        astonished at the whole thing,

        Second I started work, and by work I mean going to the beautiful Gerringong for a 4 day summer    
        camp with my new church, St Paul's Chatswood.  It was an awesome time about 23 kids and 10
        leaders, but a real thirst for the Bible and for worshiping jesus.  There is nothing quite like going to
        a hot beach and seeing like 15 foot waves and then going back to an old abandoned chapel and
        singing praises to the one who created the whole thing.

        Then I had an interview and was subsequently accepted into youth works college, and I am writing  
        this after my first day of intensive lectures, a serious amount of information in like 7 hours, as my
        boss sam low would say, "Shivers."


I've started missing you guys in Canada a fair amount, every once and a while when I have some time off the magnitude of this decision starts to sneak up on me.  I hope you are all doing great, and that your staying strong in the love of God.
Josh.

Hey Canadians!

Hey everybody, guess what I had a blog thats right, but I Never used it!
So I'm gonna, but only periodically and only to talk to you Canadians back at home,
unfortunately I dont have a  camera so no photos...

In short, I'm doing great, I got to see my mums side of the family 2 weeks ago and meet my soon to be new step grandma I guess, and see my baby cousins who are a hoot. I'm getting my bearings in regard to the city, it's very large and mostly unorganized.  I've had my first work meetings and have met the youth leaders at st Paul's Chatswood church, where i'll be helping, so far they seem pretty awesome. My first official day starts on their summer camp next week so Into the deep end I go.

If you read this please feel free to say something,
Look forward to writing and chatting more
J-Sho