I'd nearly forgotten...

...What a day without anything planned felt like.

last saturday I spent the day watching movies and sleeping (with a game of Phase 10 to finish out the evening). It was one of the best days that I can remember.

Sunday I had the opportunity to lead worship at Wesley Mission - a 600 seat auditorium in the heart of Sydney. The best part; it felt the same as leading worship for 5 people... God is the same no matter how many people are present!

Monday I had another cool opportunity - I got to accompany the Sydney Staff Songsters at performance that they had. I never thought that I would have a chance to accompany the SSS, especially since I'm only here for 4 months! but it was great, and in the middle Graeme Press asked me if I could do a little piano solo based off of a certain tune. Fortunately, the tune was one of my favorites (and one I've written a piano solo on) - Covenant.

Well, my blog about the Sound Relief concert has been chosen as one of the blogs to be posted on the student blog site! I couldn't believe it.

And now i'm off - got some homework to do, and a movie night tonight. (we're watching Ned Kelley)

-jason

Sound Relief (blog for class, but it's interesting... you should read it)

written to fulfill a requirement for my View from Australia course

In a country where many people look to the startling defeat on the shores of Gallipoli as the start of their nation, it is not surprising that a concert to raise money for the victims of the most recent tragedy - the Victoria bushfires - would unite Australians in a way that is seldom seen.

For nearly two months fires raged across southern Australia. homes and businesses were destroyed, and thousands of people lost everything that they had. The death toll reached well over 200 and thousands upon thousands of hectares of land burned. Animals that were typically reclusive were coming to humans for help. The animals were burned, dehydrated, and lost their habitats.

March 14th saw celebrities of several nationalities come together in support of the victims. the Melbourne Cricket Grounds was the gathering place for Kings of Leon, Jack Johnson (both American), Coldplay (British), Paul Kelly, Crowded House, Split Enz, Midnight Oil, Hunters & Collectors, Kylie Minogue (all Australian) and others. Four of these bands reformed just for this concert (the lead singer of Midnight Oil, Peter Garrett, is currently the Australian Minister of the Environment). There was also an appearance via video by Princes William and Harry. People everywhere were on board.

Interestingly, there were no political speeches or sermons. Even Peter Garrett, who used to regale his fans with political speeches at every concert, let the music do the talking. Minogue led the crowd in singing "I still call Australia Home" as a way for the people to unite with a common message: "All the sons and daughters spinning 'round the world, away from their family and friends, but as the world gets older and colder, it's good to know where your journey ends. Someday we'll all be together once more, when all of the ships come back to the shore, Ill realise something I've always known, I still call Australia home." - what a fitting set of words at a concert performed by several expatriates.

The people really pulled together for this one too. the Melbourne event sold more than 78,000 tickets at $75AUD a piece, thus making it the largest paid concert in Australian history. All the proceeds from the concert went to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal (which has so far raised $245,000,000AUD). There was a simultaneous concert in Sydney which sold thousands of tickets as well. The people were 100% behind this.

The problems from the bushfires are far from over. It will be a long time of rebuilding, and people will never regain the loved ones that they lost. But the country has been united, other countries are backing it (such as Indonesia which donated $1million USD), and the people are resilient and ready to rebuild.

Advance Australia Fair.

-jason

it has been entirely too long

It's been a while since i last posted.

basically the noteworthy things that have happened include, most importantly, my trip to Canberra!

Canberra's the Australian national capital. It really was a great time, even though my second day was overshadowed by a migraine...

we visited:
Parliament House (amazing building... and we got human pyramid pictures on the roof)
British High Commission (great guy, some good discussion, and free tea and biscuits)
Indonesian Embassy (I think a few of us offended the guy with some very pointed questions... but hey, we were told to do our research)
Canberra City YHA (youth hostel... where we stayed... great times - playing games in the pool... rounds of poker... and a little apples to apples)
Old Parliament House (exactly what it sounds like... with the Aborigional Tent Embassy right across the street... that was an amazing experience)
National Portrait Gallery (new gallery, with portraits of australians, by australians, for australians (or at least one of the above))
National Museum (one of the best museums i've been to in a while... and there was a wedding outside while we were there)
National Gallery of Australia ($20Million Jackson Pollock - one foot away from me)
Australian War Memorial (one of the most beautiful, heartwrenching, and haunting experiences of my life)

yup... good weekend.

and i got to lead the contemporary worship songs and accompany the songsters on sunday.

yesterday i lead the Wesley Choir again and i definetly had a case of (hilarious) foot-in-mouth... you should ask me about it.

alright, i'm off!

-jason

just a note

to let you know i am still alive.

i survived my first rehearsal on double bass...

i survived a day at Manly beach

i survived the st. patties day parade

i survived slumdog millionaire

and i survived my first sighting of a huntsman spider

i'll fill you guys in more later.

as i sit here in an internet cafe

i think about the last few days.

Friday night found me being the bodyguard of a few of the ASC girls when we went out dancing...

Saturday found me handing out brochures and talking to people about StreetWork - the organization with which i am doing my service project, swimming and sunbathing at Bondi Beach, standing amid thousands of people at the annual "Mardi Gras" parade, and finally sitting in a cinema watching the Watchmen (somebody has to ;-))

Sunday found me at the corps... and the evening service found me playing the offertory as well as playing piano and singing with Ash and Brooke for the contemporary worship time. that evening found me at home having a nice little birthday celebration for my host sister, Ashleigh.

Yesterday found me watching Gallipoli, leading the Wesley Institute Choir, securing my spot in the ensemble performing at the Opera House, learning Double Bass (including 20 minutes on just bowing), and learning about the components of a mixer board...

Yesterday evening found me filling in as guest accompanist for Sydney Staff Songsters rehearsal, going out to dinner at Lazikos with Ash, and watching 300 with a bunch of ASCers... culminating in an unexpected overnight stay at the other guys' place.

Today has found me in class, and learning the stories of kids here in Chattswood - while sharing mine with them... tonight it will find me at a cheap cinema in Sydney... spending time with (at least) Matt and Chantel...

As for what tomorrow will find me doing? we'll just have to wait and see.

-jason

ok so...

i've had an interesting week...

wednesday night we went out to the three wise monkeys again and i had a bit of an unexpected/unexplained encounter...

some guy came up to me after i sang "living on a prayer" in the mic (totally different story) and wanted to have his picture taken with me...

i didn't get it until someone offered this idea:

<- Me

<- Guy Sebastian - the first Australian Idol

interesting.

so also, i may end up getting into an altercation with my orchestra director.

the first rehearsal after the whole alto clef situation that i'm pretty sure i talked about... i practiced up my alto clef... getting ready for the next week.

thursday he asked me to play french horn parts... but were they normal french horn parts? no. they were all written in C with the actual key just mentioned above each movement.

then! he passed me in the hall today... and said he wants me to learn something else

string bass

i tried to weasel my way out of it, but he said he wants me to experience playing strings in an orchestra, even if it ends up being just pizzicato one note a bar... he wants me to have that experience...

i just want a bass clef trombone part

in other news i'm getting really involved in the music department here. i performed on bass guitar and voice (as part of someone elses's bands) for "concert practice" which is kinda like the departmental recitals back home. i'll also be leading worship for music chapel thursday... and i'll be teaching a piece to the choir on monday! (which is awesome... i've never led an 80 voice choir before)

yup... now off to be a socialite!

-jason

He looked beyond...

So i had a great day at church. I cannot say that there was anything particularly spectacular that stuck out to me, but it was a great day nonetheless.

also great was the study party at student housing after the not-so-great service at wesley mission.

anyway, these words have been on my mind lately... check 'em out.

Amazing Grace, shall always be my song of praise.
For it was grace that brought me liberty,
I do not know, just why He came to love me so.
He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary,
To view the cross, where Jesus died for me.
How marvelous, His grace that caught my falling soul.
He Looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

that He did

-jason