Next came the meeting where we shared the Lord's table, sang some wonderful hymns, and enjoyed the Lord together. Then, during the second half, all of us from America shared our testimonies with the saints here (I found out tonight that some were moved to tears by our coming and sharing). It is truly something spectacular to experience Christ in another country. Once the meeting concluded, lunch was prepared by the saints and oh my goodness was there a lot of delectable dishes. During this time I met some people and talked with them about the differences in Australia and the USA. I also met Vasya's mom and was also the first time I saw Vasya since arriving here in the South Pacific (she was one of the one's who came to the US back in December of 2015).
Around 2pm, Raymond, us Americans, and 12 or so other young people left the meeting hall and made our way to Manly Beach. It was over an hour travel, but I didn't mind as we took a ferry across the ocean. Arriving at Manly was a sight. There were throngs of people, stores as far as the eye could see, and a long walkway between it all. Our main destination was the beach, but we had to make an ice cream detour first.
The beach, when we finally made it, didn't disappoint. The sand was soft and cool, the Pacific waves kissed the shore, and the setting sun made for a picturesque view. There was a nice section of beach that was clear of people, so naturally us Americans busted out the Frisbee and began throwing. We attracted a small crowd of onlookers from the wall. Eventually we started an actual game and as we were flying high and diving low, all the locals sitting on the beach wall were engrossed in our fun. We could hear them ooh and ahh at incredible plays and the sound of disappointment at failed ones. Doing something I love (Frisbee) on an Australian beach as the sun set made it a whole lot sweeter.
Unfortunately, time was not on our side and we had to leave. I wish I could've stayed and explored more, but that's for another time. We rushed our way back to the ferry, which ended up arriving 15 minutes late, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. When we boarded, I managed to get on the upper deck by the bow. I could smell the sea and feel the night breeze blowing through my hair. But what was truly magical was the ride back. Seeing the city of Sydney lit up at night filled me with mirth. The closer we got, the more alive I felt. This place is really beautiful.
When we had landed, it seemed like the night might be drawing to a close, but I was in for one last surprise. Dinner was to be handled by each person's hospitality as a way to spend quality time with them. Nelson's parents took us to a Brazilian BBQ. Now I've had Mongolian BBQ and Korean BBQ, but never Brazilian BBQ. Let's just say I had been missing out for too long. It was an all you can eat style meal where the servers came back and forth to your table with a different stack of meat each time on a large spear, fresh off the grill. And it wasn't the low quality kind either. That night I consumed Beef: Flank, Ribs, Rump, Tri Tip; Pork: Belly, Sausage, Chorizo, Scotch Pork; Chicken: Thigh and Wings; Lamb: Rump and Ribs, and more I quite can't recall. But it was cooked, braised, smoked, and seasoned to perfection. Remember a few posts ago where I mentioned Nelson "forgot" he was feeding Americans? Well he out-ate me that night in an impressive feat. My mouth is watering recalling that delicious excursion. I'm very afraid to see what the scale will say when I get home.
Goodnight from the South Pacific.
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