Last days in Oz. .

It is hard to believe that in less than a week we will be heading back to Kansas City. It has been an incredible privilege to partner in ministry with the folks here in Maryborough and be invited into their homes and lives- what a gift!

Since I haven't updated the blog in a few days, here's a heads up on what we've been up to this last week in Maryborough:

• Visiting with the residents of the Groundwater Center, a nursing home/elderly care facility
• Assisting with set up, tear down and meals for the memorial service of Peter Wilson, a man well-loved by many in this Maryborough community
• Painting the exterior of the Richmond St. Community Church of the Nazarene
• Hosting another girls' night with the teen gals, focusing on modesty and purity
• Teaching/hosting three chapel classes for high-schoolers at Riverside Christian College
• Participating in Sunday morning worship- preaching, skits and children's church at Richmond Street and an intergenerational fun night with the Neptune St. Church

This weekend we also had the incredible opportunity to spend a day on Fraser Island, THE largest sand island in the world! This completely sand island is just off the coast of Australia, beyond Hervey Bay and is 123 KM long. It is on the World Heritage List and it is clear why: beautiful coastline (though heavily shark infested), amazing flora and fauna growing completely from the sand, dingoes (though we actually didn't see any this time), crystal clear lakes, a shipwreck and so much more! It was a real treat to take a day tour and see the island. Some even saw the island from a bird's eye view- up in a tiny 7 seat bush plane!

We are so grateful that everyone on the team has remained healthy on this trip so far. Swine flu has hit full force here in Australia and we've met a few folks who have just recovered, so keep praying for the health and safety of the team.

Tomorrow we will finish the paint job on the side of the Richmond St. church and get ready to head back to Logan for our final days in Australia. Friday is the big day that we head back to the good ole' USA. It will be very hard to say good-bye to those who have become dear friends here in Queensland.

Stay tuned for a couple more updates before we leave. .and feel free to leave a comment!!!