To the Down Under!

Hey everyone,

I sit here writing this blog highly anticipating the next few weeks in front of me. I'll be leaving tomorrow to embark on my 2nd summer project with Campus Crusade for Christ. Last summer I went to San Diego, California for 10 weeks and it was truly an amazing experience. I learned alot about myself and even more about life. My horizons were broadened and I really began to see that living as a Christian in this world is a lifestyle, not a 1-and-done decision. I learned that there are thousands of people, many of them in our neighborhoods, places of work, and friend groups who do not recognize God's love for them and the satisfaction and happiness that comes through a relationship with Him.

Coming back home last summer I felt refreshed and ready to take on the school year. Throughout that year, I began to realize that although my horizons had expanded, my heart for the world had not. Serving on the "Prayer and World Vision" team in San Diego may have played a part in that, but really I just realized how narrow my scope of the world was and still is. This summer I will be traveling to Melbourne, Australia with Campus Crusade for Christ on an international summer project. Unlike last summer, this trip will only last 6 weeks, and I won't be getting a job. The focus of this project is campus life, and reaching out to the students in the Melbourne university system. Our goal is to make contacts with people and plug them into the very new movement in Australia(which by the way was started in a large part due to Tech grads seeing a need in Australia). We will also be talking with people and seeing where they stand on issues of spirituality and religion. I'm very excited to see what this summer has to offer, although I could do without the 15+ hour plane ride from LA to Melbourne.

I will be trying to update the blog at least once a week, but with limited internet access and a busy schedule I'm not going to make any promises.

Please pray for me and the group(there are around 15 of us). We will need prayers for adjusting to the time changes and culture, as well as for the work we'll be doing on campuses and around the city of Melbourne. Thanks so much for all of your support and I can't wait to talk to you all in August.

Allen