Are We Having a Great Time? Yes... But It Gets Better!

"G'day, mates!"

Joe Hill SJ, Steve Hill, Ethan, Diana, Jason and I just returned from our Experiment in the Glasshouse Mountains. It was an incredible time, to say the least. We climbed two of the mountains (don't worry, it was more of a hike than a climb), visited a waterfall, saw a Kangaroo, we had a barbecue on the beach. The food was excellent (we've been really well-fed in general, so you need not worry about that), and the companionship was marvelous.

And companionship, dear family and friends, is what our experiment was all about. It's about getting to know each other, ourselves, and developing our relationships with each other and with God.

While I did not get to perform the community service that I thought I would (I originally signed up for service, but the Holy Spirit decided that I should go on this pilgrimage; boy was He right), I have learned much about what companionship with Jesus and with each other is all about. Our experiment group included people from Taiwan, India, and France, and we all grew together as a group. We shared stories, laughs, great food, walks and talks. I've certainly gotten much closer to my fellow Fordham folk. I've also been able to spend more quality time reflecting on how God has been present in my every-day life. I've really enjoyed the Mass readings lately: the First Reading has come from Hosea. Check em out at http://www.usccb.org/nab/.

Together, we learned how to play rugby, frisbee, football. Together, we explored our relationship and understanding of God with the gorgeous backdrop of the Glasshouse Mountains or the shore near Brisbane. We learned about Steve, the owner of our camping ground. Steve held the world record for driving the largest horse-drawn carriage in 1990 (it has since been broken, but he is working to challenge the new record). His life is pretty fascinating in general (if I blogged about him, this entry will be 10x longer than it already is). We learned about the Lifesavers, a club of volunteers who patrol the beaches and educate the public on beach safety. They serve the public for free. We were guided in our reflections by our very own Joe, Clive (Australia), David SJ (Australia), JJ SJ (Taiwan), and Fr. Selven SJ (India). Despite speaking different languages and having different customs, we all found a strong common bond in our faith. We've had some pretty awesome Masses and prayer services. JJ wasn't feeling well earlier, and we all prayed over him. It was pretty powerful.

Simply being in Australia is pretty cool, but this experiment was great.

The incredible thing is, it will get better. When I get the opportunity to, I will share with you the schedule that we have for the next week and a half. To simplify it, let's just say it will be AWESOME.

We'll have photos up, hopefully by tomorrow afternoon when we return to St. Ignatius, Riverside. Australia is a beautiful land, indeed. I've never seen such a clear sky at night.

In any case, it's dinner time. "First in, best dressed," is what they say here.

Peace and love.
-Dave