Connections Archive

Kirsten Bolinger
Public relations editorial assistant

Five teams of students from Avondale College face painted and ballooned their way into the hearts of locals during short-term mission trips this past month (July).

The teams served in Goodooga, Goulburn, Gwabegar, Moree and Yarrawonga Park in New South Wales during semester recess.

Fifteen students served in Goulburn. The first Storm Co team to visit the city, the students established good relationships with members of the local Seventh-day Adventist Church and with the community. They cleaned buildings and parks and, thanks to the six male members of the group, concreted the benches at a local public high school. The students also presented a children's club in the afternoons. Yasmine Brown served as team leader. "Storm Co trips show how amazing God is when you see His hand over all the week's events," she says.

Wendy Goss reports her team, which served in Goodooga, mentored teenagers, but it had not been intending to do this. "This was a great need within the community," says Wendy. "As a result of the time we spent with the teens, we were able to share contact details to keep in touch." A local man called Bob shared some Aboriginal culture with the students, taking them out to look for an emu's nest, and sharing some Aboriginal astronomy. Wendy says, "Aboriginal culture is precious, so having Bob share it with us was a way of saying thank you for being part of the community."

In Moree, 14 students completed service projects and presented a children's club. One of the projects saw the students helping a woman move house. "She was so surprised we wanted to help without being paid," says team leader Amy Thompson. "It brought her to tears. We were so touched we returned the next day to clean the house." The children's club attracted some of the children who had attended this past year. "Hearing them sing 'Superhero' brought a smile to everyone's face," says Amy. She reports the trip helped the students make new friendships in the community and strengthen existing ones at the church. "We can't wait to go back."

Rather than cleaning or painting, members of the community in Gwabegar ask the Storm Co team to simply spend time with children. So, the team presents a children's club in the mornings and plays games in the local park in the afternoons. "We aim to pour out as much fun and joy as possible into the lives of the kids and to just listen to their needs and let them know we care," says leader Justin Fraser. He tells of approaching two children at the club. "I asked them their names, but they were very quiet. So, I moved on. Later, when we were singing, I noticed the boy sitting by himself. I asked whether he would like to sing with the others. He didn't want to, but then I went back during the next song and offered him a piggyback. He said yes and in the next song, I heard his voice singing out from beside my head. It was an awesome moment."

Caption: Friends: Students presented a children's club in Gwabegar at the request of the local community.