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sometime i just really don't feel like writing. that's how i've been the last few days. and it's crazy because i've had so much on my mind...
on tuesday in my view from australia class we had a speaker come in and talk about christianity in australia. then we broke into our processing groups and talked about what he had to say and also our church visits. one of the topics of discussion was finding a church that keeps you awake and entertained but doesn't just focus on that. hillsong was mentioned a lot and how they have such great worship and all this great media, which is great. but they focus a lot on the "health and wealth" or "prosperity doctrine," which says that if you trust in God He will bless you financially and physically. everyone in the group agreed that is really not okay. one of the girls asked: "how do i find a church that i don't fall asleep at, but that still agrees with my doctrine?" everyone in the group seemed to think that it's almost impossible to find a church that uses expensive media to help their message, but doesn't try to tell people that they will automatically be rich if they have enough faith in God. i guess i've just been so spoiled with flatirons, because i think they do an awesome job of finding that balance. that conversation made me really miss flatirons. even though hillsong is great, it definitely does have that "health and wealth" air about it. i'm trying to keep a good attitude about church here, though, because really i'm only gonna be here 3 more months.
one of the things that has been the hardest for me here is just staying in the moment. it's so hard not to focus on what's going on at home and what i miss. it's not even so much that i'm homesick (even though i miss everyone heaps). i just can't wait to share the things i've experienced. i'm so excited to get home and see everyone again and tell stories and make food and just be together. but i don't want to spend my time here just looking forward to that. i want to be here, in the moment, soaking up everything that's going on. it's so easy for me to just put things off, thinking i have plenty of time to do them. but i don't! i've already been here over a month, and i've hardly done anything on my list.
i did finally go to the beach though! i went to bondi on tuesday after class with brittany and cameron. before that we went to pancakes on the rocks. let me just tell you about pancakes: i have heard about this place from day 1 and how i have to go there. i love breakfast and especially pancakes, so i was pretty excited. o. my. gosh. it was so wonderful. and i would not consider it a breakfast place. almost all of their pancakes have ice cream on them, and they have all different kinds. i got some with grilled bananas, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and a scoop of chocolate ice cream. it was freakin good, but i think next time i won't get ones with chocolate. they were so rich! but seriously... so delicious. the beach was amazing too! bondi is world famous and i've seen tons of pictures and stuff, but i was actually really surprised at how small it is. it's probably the length of 3 football fields and crescent shaped, with cliffs on either end. but it was gorgeous and there were tons of surfers even though it was freezing and the sand was so soft! i will be at the beach a lot from now on.