It's been a while....

Hello!
It's been quite some time since I've blogged, which is partly my fault and partly not! I did write up quite a lengthy summary but then it disappeared before I could post it and I wanted to go to bed and figured I would have a few days here in LA to blog without too much happening... woops! And then of course the computers in the hostel weren't working, and a lot happened, so now I have to try and get it all in before the money runs out!
Camp was overall a really positive experience, and it was really hard to leave! They had a great sense of community there, and even though all the staff had different backgrounds and were there for different reasons, they were all working to create an amazing week for the campers, and they did! The last week, with middle schoolers was challenging because the majority were boys and it bucketed rain nearly the whole week, but it meant that we had a chance to be creative in coming up with activities that they could do indoors which would keep them entertained. The week did make me miss my small group though- they are a lot less girly and a lot more grounded (and funny!) than the girls that I had in my cabin! They did call me during their small group though, which was very exciting! Overall, really positive, and I'd love to go back to the center some time, and will definately try to keep in touch with many of the staff!
The bus ride back to Boston was quite eventful- I met Santa! The man in front of me started talking to me- he was a proffesional Santa, and he had the beard to go with it. His only complaint was that he had brown eyes not blue- I think he really felt that that had held him back in his career! He was a funny man, and made up poetry for me all the way to Boston, and then showed me where to go when got into the city to find the Subway! Very entertaining man! Told me about how you can 'call santa' and he gets calls all year round- including ones like 'can you stop my dad hitting my mum?' I never really thought about any of that stuff, but it sounded kinda cool!
Boston was once again great, and this time I got to catch up with my friend Eva from when I lived in Boston. I had stayed with her parents last time, but she had been away. We still got on really well and went into Harvard Square for a day and found lots to talk about, which was really good. It's funny- some of my best conversations about God and what I'm doing have happened during times I thought would be a bit of a break for me!
It was also interesting at both the Horton Center and in Boston to notice that a lot of people really shy away from public displays of religion, through things like grace. It's almost like there are 2 kinds of christians that I've come accross- those who are really out there and sharing their faith every chance they get (and what can sometimes be the 'scary christians') and those who have been scared off by those people to the point that they don't want to display things like public graces, even though they work in a church soup kitchen weekly. And then there's a few standing in the middle looking at both sides like their crazy and have really changed what christianity was originally intended to be! (maybe Shane Clairborne?)
It's really interesting the amount of cultural differences that I really have started to notice here, and that have surprised me, given that I'm currently in the worlds superpower. Things like the number of homeless on the street, the condition of the roads, which are far below ours, the amount of panic and discussion that there is about petrol prices, and global warming. It's like they've suddenly hit the point when they've all realised that something needs to change, and it's all they can talk about. Particularly in coming here to LA, I've just notice that it's not that nice. In terms of a lot of the streets and buildings, I feel like I'm in an old country town. It doesn't really seem like I'm in one of the most culturally influential cities in the world!
I am really feeling a lot more confident with my travelling though- coming here I was quite relaxed and felt fine about taking a bus to the Hostel- which is good! Hopefully that will continue to build. The flight here was great- beautiful views the whole way and so I took lots of photos! Really pretty colours in a lot of the land.
Have had some more adventures since getting to LA, but will make you wait in suspense for them- I need some time to get my brain straight! It has been really fun and interesting though, so no need to worry!
Keep the calls and update emails coming, I appreciate them sooo much!
Laura

Life in the White Mountains Part 2

Ok, so I realised after I posted the last message that I was really tired and actually put up very little detail or exciting information, so I'm adding a little now. Highlights for the last week and a half-
*Seeing all kinds of crazy animals including moose, chipmunks, and a baby brown bear!
*The evening chapel services that take place on a rock at the top of the mountain, and that are always so peaceful. On the way up, the leaders 'line the trail' which means that we spread out along the walk and hug all of the campers on the way up to the top. It just builds such an amazing sense of community and brings a real sense of peace into the services.
*Singing during the services- just really peaceful, accompanied by just a guitar, andsining out of the camp songbook.
*Shalom circle- right before bed, everyone in the camp makes a circle and we sing Shalom to each other in a variety of languages before bed.
*Getting to know the campers in my cabin
*Spending a night out on a rock shelf- it was a clear, bright night, and it was amazing just lieing looking at the stars all night!
*Wide Games (what more do I need to say?)
*Swimming in a water hole beneath the waterfall, even if the water was freezing cold- I was hot after our hike anyway!

Life in the White Mountains

Hello again!
It's been a little while since I have updated here, but I certainly have a lot less say in what I do when while I am here! I am really enjoying it however, and have a little more time this week as we have no campers at the camp, and so are spending most of the time doing training or group building activities. These don't just include initiative activities, but also going to the movies, which is fun! It's been great getting to know the group, and just relaxing with people my age. Last week was the real highlight for me though, with about 50 campers from years 9-12, basically participating in youth group activities, which has given me lots of ideas for youth groups when I get back! I took a more laid back approach, and tended to not lead many activities, because I was really interested in what kinds of activities and discussions the leaders here took. I'm looking forward to doing a little more leading next week however, and putting an Aussie spin on it all! I think the camp's also going through an interesting time in terms of leadership- the coordinator here only began last year, and has changed several things about the camp and the program. Because many of the staff or campers have been coming here for up to 11 years, this has caused a bit of upset, but it's been really interesting for me to play spectator to how that plays out, but also how the problems are worked through and dealt with. Not really what I was expecting when I came here, but still a great learning curve for me.
Again, I'd love to chat to some of you and I do have more time this week, so please let me know if you want to call! Call cards are cheap! 14 hours behind you though, so either morning or late evening please!
Hope everyone's doing well, I'll talk to you all soon!
Laura

Horton Center

Hey Everyone!
I'm now finally settled in at the Horton Center, it's absolutely beautiful up here, and the kids are really great. It's really cool- there's all these little cabins around the place, and I really like the approach everyone here is taking. Still kind of working out what I'm meant to be doing, and not getting to do as much canoeing/ rockclimbing as I would have liked, but lots of activities and running around playing fun games, so all is good. I'm now known as 'The Australian' and I keep getting blank looks when I say some things, but I'm slowly learning. The other real negative is that it seems that the LGBT family camp that was going to be happening probably won't, because there hasn't been much response. So not sure what will be happening around here next week, but hopefully we'll do something good!
Calls are really welcome, just text me before hand to tell me when you are going to call so I can keep my phone with me. I'm 14 hours behind here, so the best times to call are probably your 10:30/11 at night or 12/2 lunchtimeish. Some normal voices would be good!
Don't forget to email me and update me on what's happening in your lives! I love that you're commenting on mine, but I want to keep updated on yours too!
Laura

Leaving Boston

Hi everyone,
A much smaller note than the last one, just spent today wandering around Boston, seeing all the places I used to go when I was 7. It's been really cool, and I've taken lots of photos but haven't worked out how to post them yet so that might not happen for a while. Off to the camp tomorrow and have not idea what reception and email access will be like from up there but I will let you know when I know!
Hope everyone at home is doing well! Missing you all!
Laura

Back in the Hostel!

Thank you so much to all the people who emailed me and posted comments! It's very exciting for me when I log and find out that I haven't been forgotten yet! The last couple of days have been very interesting, and i'm not quite sure what I think yet, so if I contradict myself or ramble you'll have to forgive me! Firstly though, I now have a mobile so I am contactable! The number to use is +14155686478, and for all those on 3, it should be in your cap! Although it does cost me 35 cents to recieve it, and we could talk for 3 minutes for that if you go and buy one of those fabulous call cards! Soo... go buy one!
Anyway, San Francisco Rescue mission is located in the Tenderloin district, which has about 25000 people living within the one square mile, and has the highest crime rate in SF. There's a lot of black americans, and it's the kind of thing you see in a movie. Basically, you hold you're bag really tight and stare at the ground when you walk through, and I heard something about a shooting happening there today...
So the rescue mission has a couple of focuses. They have started a school, which was the first one in the district. I think this was my favourite, or least controvertial, mission, the school just seemed to have a really nice vibe. The teachers all lived in community in the main building, and they just really seemed to care about their students. It's a very small school (less than 40 kids) but they hope to grow to over 100 when they finish renovating the building. Pretty sure the teachers don't get paid or anything, and they gave the kids goodbye hugs and things like that. It just had the feel of being a really nice community,a nd the older kids helped out the little ones a lot and stuff. Just a really awesome thing.
The other mission where I spent a lot of my time was the rescue mission.I wasn't really sure what that was before I went, but basically it's a combination between a soup kitchen and a church. They have trolleys full of stuff donated to them everyday, and a lot of this seemed to be delivered to houses, and handed out and stuff, but they also served a lunch and hot dinner everyday. The only catch is that if you wanted food, you had to sit through a half hour service first, and they actually locked the door to stop people sneaking in and getting food without going to the service. Not really sure what I think about this, but it was very clear from the start that they were there to 'save' people and bring them to christ. So I guess bribing them to listen to you talk about god could work, but I didn't really like that they turned away one guy because he was 10 minutes late, and I don't really get why only christians should be given food. The centre wasn't open at any times other than the morning and afternoon services and the bible study, which I thought was a bit sad, because there didn't seem to be many conversations happening. They all sat in rows in the pews and ate their food silently, and the volunteers just kind of gave the food to them and they passed it down the line and noone really talked to anyone. If you look at the sf911 website, I think you can find a picture of it somewhere. I think I just missed the community feel that they had at Credo Cafe at Urban Seed in Melbourne, where everyone, even the volunteers eat together around the table. They also have prayers before these meals but you don't have to come to them. At the same time, what they were doing was really great, I just would have like to see a bit more community built, both between the helpers and the visitors.
I think the most entertaining part was talking to the people who worked there, both about the bible and politics/ american views. One of the Pastors in particular, talked a lot about the war, and his view (i thought) was kind of odd. He took the view that after 9/11, america's lifestyle was under threat, and so they had right to defend that. I asked about Iraq's culture, and he thought it hadn't really changed and if it meant that in 3 generations Iraqis were being brought up with christian values, it would make all of the suffering worth it. After all, people suffered when we went to war with Germany, but it was for the greater good eventually. Post any thoughts that you have on this, see if we can get a discussion happening! At what point is it ok to kill a person or culture? Is it ever! I'd love to hear some non-american thoughts on it!
There was also a 'gentlemans club' next door to the mission, and so I asked if they were doing any mission regarding that. The first response was that they prayed (which was always the typical american rant styly prayer, with every third work lord or god), and that they had been desperately praying for the owner, and that something would happen to make him stop, and a week later he had a heart attack and died. And apparently that was a good thing, even though another owner just took over. But the guy seemed to think this was quite an achievement!
So it was a very interesting 2 days, but among all of those bizarre things, there were a lot of cool things. It was a really relaxed, open, close community, not particularly focused on living simply, but about helping each other to live christianly. They had so much faith that god would provide for them, and they certainly had lots of food! Really different to anything I've seen in Australia, but they were doing cool stuff.
Let me know any thoughts you have on all of that, if you agree of disagree with any of my opinions, or want to know more. Sorry this has been so long!
Just went for another walk this arvo, and I mentally bought presents for all of you! Unfortunately, they won't fit in my bags so they had to stay in the shops but I kept finding things that made me think of different people. Heading off to Boston first thing tomorrow morning- it's going to be awesome going back!
Hope everyone's well and keep up the emailing/repling/texting!
Laura

San Fran, Day 1

Well, all of you romantic obsessed people will be glad to know I picked up on my first half day here! That's right, his name is Gary, he thinks I'm very pretty, and he's sure his mother will like me. Unfortunately, he's also over 50, homeless, wanted in 8 states, not allowed into canada, missing his exgirlfriend, and an alcoholic, so I'm not sure how long it will last...
Any way, I left melbourne this morning (kind of) and had a terrible flight to sydney. Turbulance and an insanely annoying beeping sound that went for half the trip that they wouldn't work out made it not so fun, and I also discovered that I get travel sick in planes as well as cars! I thought maybe it was just the turbulance, but when we were coming in to land in San Francisco I discovered it was just me, because the second flight was very smooth, although very long. Since then though, my diet has improved when I walked into a convenience store and found hershey's and reese's and all sorts of other fabulous things! I totally forgot about them until I walked into the store, so it was a very nice surprise!
Anyway, I'm jumping all over the place! I finally got to San Fran, having had several nice people next to me on the long flight who were keen to talk, and having got a little sleep, and found the train that took me to where I needed to go without any hastle. I showed up at the hostel about 130, but they told me I couldn't check in until 2, so I lugged all my stuff off again and went and found a park to sit in, which is where Gary came over and introduced himself to me. It was quite an entertaining conversation, although I think he felt a little threatened by all the gays here- I gather they had a big event last weekend, and he was feeling pressured by them to become gay. There does seem to be a large gay scene here though; there are lots of ads around, and I picked up a newspaper in the hostel and then discovered that it was all about the gay community. They have also recently allowed gay marriages, so that could be part of it.
Once I got checked in, I went for a wander, off to find the shoe shop that Al loves. Took me about an hour to get there, and when I got there found it was under a different name, although still has very cool shoes, and when I asked if the owner brock was still there I got brushed off and ignored after that, so it seems it is no longer what you had dreamed al- sorry! It was in a great street though, with lots of little creative and unique shops, so I really enjoyed the walk! I then went back through the center of the town to the Bay Bridge and some of the wharves, so all in all about 5 hours of walking, and now my legs hurt!
It seems like a great city though, with so much culture and diversity, and LOTS of homeless people around who love to just come up and chat to you. Really enjoying it. I think the strangest thing has been the pedestrian crossings- they change without making a ticking noise, so I keep standing on the corner and missing half the crossing time! It's so cool though, because when they do go to the red flashing man, they have a countdown, so you know how many seconds you have to get across! I thought that was funny. The next few days should be interesting with the rescue mission- I saw a few people holding "Jesus Loves you" and "Stop unlawful sex" signs that I'm a little scared will be them, but I know that I'm starting off tomorrow in their soup kitchen which should be fun!
Hope everyone's doing well, and anyone else who's been to San Fran should post a comment about what they thought!
Laura
PS I had the most beautiful nectarine today- I love summer!