Australia Summer Project 2009

40 seconds to write this

2009-08-18T15:33:00.001-07:00

So I have 40 seconds of internet left. I'm at Sydney airport and on my way home!

40 seconds to write this

2009-08-18T15:33:00.000-07:00

So I have 40 seconds of internet left. I'm at Sydney airport and on my way home!

Joel's Blog

2009-08-12T18:56:00.000-07:00

Joel is a good friend that I've made this trip. He is far more prolific in his blogging and has a good string of posts if you would like a more detailed look into what we've been up to. You can read him at http://newcastletrip.wordpress.com/.

Tim Tam Slam

2009-08-09T01:45:00.001-07:00

So this is one of the golden nuggets of Australian culture that I've run into durring this trip. A Tim Tam is basically the equivelant of our Oreo in the grand heirarchy of scrumptious cookies. With a Tim Tam, however, you can bite off the corners and suck coffee through it for a few seconds. The coffee melts the inside of the cookie making it one of the most scrumptious temptations I've ever tasted!

Quick note

2009-08-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

Don't have much time right now. Just wanted to talk about someone I met yesterday.

I was going through the courtyard at one of the Uni's student unions and ended up in conversation with a young Chinese man, Jerry, who I ended up finding out was a Christian from the growing church in his home region. We talked for a while and it was great to make a new friend. I hope we can get him connected with Student Life.

So on to week 2 and some soularium, too.

2009-08-03T02:22:00.000-07:00

Its Monday evening and I'm a little scatter brained. Hope I make sense of last week :).

So week 2 we continued to go out on campus and engage students in conversations about life and God. One of the big differences than the first week was that it was the first week of classes and everyone was back on campus for a new term. (The week prior we were mostly interacting with international and new students coming into the Uni mid-year).

Week two I got to talk to many students who just don't have much of a frame of reference for topics about God, our purpose in life, and spiritual fulfillment. Most students who do have a little religious background have attended private catholic schools and even fewer seemed to have connected with it. Many move the conversation to other topics but some are very eager to get into a topic they haven't ever talked about before.

Our team as a whole has been pretty successful at making some new friends. I've met a few Aussie's who I plan to grab lunch with this next week. The other night a few of our team went to an art opening with some friends they had made a few days prior. Another pair on our team have made some middle eastern friends and have plans to compare the bible and Qur'an.

Also, we started a "Soularium" table which we manned Tuesday and Wednesday. Soularium is basically a photo survey that students can use pictures to answer its questions. For example a student is given a survey card, reads its Q's and answers like such:

"What is a picture that best represents your life currently and why?"

#6, I'm really busy and juggling a lot of responsibility right now.

"What is a picture you WISH your life was like?"

#5, The picture shows a place I think would be really peaceful.

"What is a picture that represents God to you?"

#47, I dont' know if I believe in God but this picture makes me smile.

"Would you be interested in talking to someone more about this?"

Yes_X_ No ___

And thats pretty much how the survey goes (the persons contact info included, too). We have so far gotten many affirmations that people would like to talk more and are in the process of trying to follow them all up.

So thats all I'm going to write for now. I need to go grab a train back to the hostel we're staying in. I hope to write more about some fun stuff I did this last weekend and talk about some stuff that happened this current week. Thanks for all your prayers and support! Cheers!

My Time on Campus...first week

2009-08-02T02:43:00.000-07:00

So I just wanted to spend a little time talking about the time that I have been spending on the University of Newcastle. So far its been two weeks for me on it and have many great encounters with students.

The group I am here with (Campus Crusade) has us doing a lot of "relational ministry" while we're here. What that basically means is that we go out on campus and try to engage students in spiritual conversations and and forge friendships with them. Our goal is not to harass students but to try and enter into earnest dialog about what they believe and in turn explain our beliefs as well. Most the time we spend a lot more time listening than talking.

My first week on campus was a little slower than this last week as the new term had still yet to start. However there were still many international students as well as new incoming students around to interact with. The Uni (what Aussie students call their university) is pretty diverse and gets students from all over the world in addition to the many Aussies that go there.

One of the main students that I was able to make a friend with that week is a guy named Jared. He just transferred from Tasmania to study mechanical engineering. He and I had a great 3 hour chat that ranged from comparing our lives to belief in God. I hope to be meeting up with him this next week and to continue talking with him.

Jared is a typical example of an Aussie student as he comes from a family with little to no religious background. He like many other students don't have much context to draw on when conversation turns to spiritual matters about God or the meaning of life. Many answer the latter by saying that they try to live for the moment and get as much fun as they can from life. On the outside many Aussies say they live ideal lives and are worry free but I often doubt the truth of it. I've been able to get to know a few more Aussies since Jared who are much more candid and have admitted life isn't as ideal as many put forward as they try to live only for themselves.

By the end of the first week I was able to get a lot more comfortable with initiating conversations with students the more we did it. I had many good conversations. Sometimes I got to share my beliefs but mostly listened trying to get to know people.

I was going to get into my next week but I'll get to that next time...Cheers!

Quick Video

2009-08-02T02:31:00.000-07:00

I was able to make a quick video off my friend Joel's laptop at an Aussie McDonald's. It doesn't say to much but I hope to make a few more.

Discovering Newcastle

2009-07-22T00:08:00.000-07:00

So the Internet has been a little bit of a challenge to come by in Australia. I'm finally getting a chance to check my email and do a few other things on a friends computer at a coffee shop in downtown Newcastle. I only have a small chunk of time before I need to pass the laptop back over to the owner but I'll try to give a quick update on everything that has happened over the last week.

We made it to Sydney in about 15 hours from LA. We spent that day and the next seeing Sydney and doing team training. I'm in a team of 14 people that includes our two leaders, Nathon and Julie Cooley. Of the remaining 12 people their are 4 who go to Oregon State Uni (including myself) and the rest are from all around the nation.

After being in Sydney for those few days we took the train up to Newcastle where we are now. We got to meet the 2 full-time staff--who have only been in place 6 months--and a few students doing stint which is a year long mission over here. While this is a Campus Crusade ministry it is actually called Student Life in Australia.

Newcastle is a big small city. Let me explain. There are about a quarter million people in the city but it is very spread out to maintain a small town feel. Luckily we have train passes that don't expire until the end of our stay here. People are also pretty friendly here and that also helps keep a smaller town feel.

For the rest of our time in Newcastle we are staying in a backpackers hostel which is about 15 minutes away from the University where we will be doing most our ministry. The hostel is made up of three different houses from which our team of 14 is renting one completely to ourselves.

Thats all I have time for now but hope to get into all the good details of the trip next time.

Cheers!

In Australia

2009-07-17T17:08:00.000-07:00

Just have a moment to post this but I've made it to Australia safely with the rest of the team. I'll update more soon!

Support Update

2009-06-22T20:07:00.001-07:00

First, I would like to say that I am continually grateful for everyone supporting me as your letters keep coming in. Thank you to all who are partnering with me in this mission trip!

I tallied all the support I have received up to today--$2,345. This puts me over the halfway mark. Also, good news! The total amount that I need to raise has gone down by three hundred dollars. The cost of the mission trip, lowered due to good prices on airline tickets, is now $4,200.

Summertime...

2009-06-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

Its almost been a month since my last post and much has happened. I hope to recount most of what I have been up to recently.

From the end of May through the beginning of June I worked hard to finish up Spring term at OSU. I am happy to say I made it through dead week and finals alive and even got some good grades! I'm happy to say good riddance to homework and to get started with summer.

Before school ended for the year I was pretty lost as to what I would be doing to fill the time between the project in Australia and the rest of the summer. I was anxious about finding a job since I would need to be able to leave for a significant length of time. Fortunately, after applying with maintenance at OSU, I was able to get an interview despite the fact that they had already completed their hiring for the summer. After a fairly good interview I got offered--in the middle of finals week--a full time job while I'm stateside. I started the Monday after and am now working on renovating on of the residence halls on campus.

Lastly, I'm in the middle of moving from one apartment to another. My new place is in another part of town and will house myself and three new roommates. (Odd enough, all four of us are eagle scouts.) Yay for packing.

John 1:16 (NIV)
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

1/3 raised so far...

2009-05-20T15:44:00.000-07:00

I'm just over a third of the way funded for going to Australia. I figured it was a good milestone to write a quick blog about. Thanks to everyone for your generosity. I am extremely grateful!

More letters sent out...working on calls

2009-05-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

I was able to get about 40 more letters in the mail this last weekend. Already I'm starting to get some positive feedback from the first big batch that I sent out. I'm also starting to call recipients of the first batch as well.

I added a fund raising thermometer on the side of the blog as well. I hope it helps show my remaining need as July 3rd gets closer. Currently I've raised $703. A big thank you to those who have been able to support me financially already and also to those who are praying for me as well.

That is all for now as I have to run off to band rehearsal. (I'm playing the euphonium.)

Spring Term Flying By

2009-05-03T22:09:00.000-07:00

It's hard for me to believe that I'm already starting week 6 of spring term at OSU. OSU is on the quarter system with the fall, winter, and spring terms being 10 weeks long plus a finals week. I have a few midterms coming up soon but am ready to tackle them.(I hope!)

Getting letters out to friends and family has been a primary focus the last few weeks. Mass mailing takes a lot of work and I have been focused on doing much it before I get too swamped with school. I've been able to send out a bunch already but have been needing to continue to send more as I gather more addresses and contacts.

If I haven't sent you a letter and would like one please send me an email with your address to ianhunn @ gmail . com. (The address is spaced out so I don't get spam.)

By the way, stamps are going up again on may 11th from 42 to 44 cents.

One of the other things keeping me busy for the next two weeks is Relay For Life. I'm on the committee for Relay and am responsible for its website and some of the event logistics. If you didn't know, Relay For Life is an annual event held to raise money for cancer research and to support those fighting cancer as well as honoring those that have lost that fight. Last year we grossed about $80,000 which makes it the largest student run fundraiser on campus. This week we have bank night which I have been partly in charge of organizing. Its a date for Relay teams to turn in everything that they have raised to that point and pick up important info for the Relay. Life will be a little less hectic in a couple weeks when I'm not trying to raise money for more than one thing.

I continue to ask for peoples prayers as I try to balance my life of school and work with trying to raise support for going to Australia.

What is the Australia Summer Project?

2009-04-20T20:38:00.000-07:00

For anyone who has received a support letter from myself, it similarly describes the purpose of the trip to Australia. I hope shed a little more light on some of its details.

This mission trip that I am preparing to go on is sponsored by the the organization Campus Crusade for Christ. On the OSU campus, students usually just shorten it to Cru or Crusade. (This would sometimes confuse people when I was also doing rowing crew.) Campus Crusade is a college christian ministry that can be found in over 1,064 campuses in the US and beyond. One of their biggest ministries during the summer is helping students go on mission trips which they like to call Summer Project. These projects take place in the US and all over the world. One of Crusade's best attributes is in how well it helps students become strong in sharing their faith with others.

At the beginning of April I was selected to be part of a group of about 10-15 people who will be going on what is officially named the Sydney Summer Project. This is actually a misnomer as the actual location for project will be 2 hours north in the city of Newcastle. (I figure this is because far more people are acquainted with Sydney.) The staff in Australia have identified Newcastle as the next strategic campus to launch a movement. So in a spirit of serving the Australian ministry, our objective this summer is to share the gospel with students at Newcastle University and look for people of peace to help us launch new movements of evangelism and discipleship. (I borrowed those last two sentences of Cru's website. Just in case my HS English teacher is reading this and is worried about me citing my sources.)

Here is a geography refresher--

View Larger Map

The trip is going to run for five weeks this summer. We will fly out July 14th and return on August 19th. I believe we will be flying out of L.A. or San Fran to Sydney. Travel one way will probably be in the 24+ hour ballpark. I will have plenty of time for reading and getting to know the person(s) next to me.

I still don't know everything that we will be trying to do in Newcastle but most of our time is going to be focused on campus evangelism. We hope to create relationships and engage in spiritual discussions with everyone we meet. I find the thought of being committed to full time evangelism extremely exciting but also daunting at the same time. My prayer is that God would use me and put me into situations that will bring him glory.

Getting Organized

2009-04-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

I have been working diligently all week to get all my support letters out. Writing my support letter took longer than it probably should have. I'm a slow writer--especially when I'm trying to put in a lot of thought and clarity into my words. It is also taking me a while to amass all the names, addresses, and phone numbers of everyone I know. (Thank goodness for church directories and my parents).

I'm happy I came up with the idea of this blog now. I'm hoping it will end up being a great way for people to keep tabs on me and also something special to look back on when this trip has run its course.

As far as other preparation, things are going well. My passport is valid and I won't have to worry about getting one or updating it. Also I have applied for the Australian visa that is needed for the trip.

Our first big financial deadline is coming up on the 24th. Everyone that is going needs to have a $400 deposit in. This is the big "I'm all in" commitment for the trip. It is also needed in order for us to buy the airline tickets as soon as possible.