My Trip to Sydney : Post-Conference

It was after conference. Boy, it was good to not have to wake up early and rush to the train station for conference let alone indulge on sandwiches for lunch. I finally got the much needed rest though I wanted to not waste it only sleeping but to venture out and explore Sydney as much as I can. I went with Mike and Jenny to Blacktown for some shopping while Su Ann decided to call it a day and stay at home. It was surprising that Blacktown had so many shops that we didn't notice it when we took our daily trains to the conference. I had a very good lunch at Blacktown. It was surprisingly very reasonable for a huge plate of Kebab for only AUS$5.90. Though, convertion may make you think twice but I felt it was worth it. Food is not cheap in Australia and this is considered one of the cheapest besides pizza which cuz almost the same. It was nice to walk around Blacktown for some souvenirs before we split up out separate. Mike and Jenny had to meet a friend and I would go on my solo travel around Sydney.



I made my travel to Parramatta by the train. This was to see this town and at the same time take the ferry up the river to Sydney Harbour. I had notice that there was such a route from one of the maps I got and decided to try it out since I had already paid the one week fare for transport which covered train, bus and ferry. There didn't seem to be much in Parramatta except for some old buildings. I prefered the goods sold in Blacktown and kind of regretted for not buying more there.



I took a trip down the river with the ferry. It was a pleasant ride especially sitting infront and enjoying the crisp wind bitting through your skin. The ferry that I was sitting happened to be more of a private boat ride as there was a ferry in front of mine who made stops. So, I was fortunate to have a private ferry ride down the river. As I went through the river, I manage to catch a glimpse of many who were staying by the river. Many of them own yatchs and boats which thei achored by the side of their river side homes. It seems like I was passing by a colony of rich people.



I made my way through Sydney Harbour. It was already dark by then but I didnt hesitate to go and visit the Sydney Opera house to take some pics before I left. I couldn't help enjoying the beauty and architecture of it. The building which was build during the 70s or 80s, still look so modern. I was in awe and can't help but go around it and snap a few pics.





I headed down the road to pay a visit to George street. It was a long street that begins at the Sydney Harbour to the Central Station where I would take my train home. The walk was long but I enjoyed it as the weather was great for walking. One can't see Sydney as a whole if one don't walk. I was able to capture some old buildings along the way. Its funny that most of the shops were already close by then and I was able to visit a discount shop which was the only one open at that time. I grabbed some last minute souvenir and headed home with a Hungry Jacks dinner for the trip home. It was an interesting day especially moving around Sydney on my own. All one need is just a map where you can get when you step off from the plane at the airport. It is really and convenient. How I wish Malaysia could be as convenient as this.



Here is the picture of my host family. I totally adored Vincent's daughter. Really had that Oriental look which made her look good in picture. Manage to get a snap of her and I would say one of my favourite picture from my trip.



It has all come to an end now. My trip to Sydney. I consider it to be a blessing to be here and to enjoyed myself here before I actually start work. The conference was really the climax of the trip and I hope I would not loose the fire that I have received from here but to be a blessing and passed on that flame. God has been good and had sent many people along our way that we could show compasion towards. Each day, we met different people along our journey that we could help like helping an old man with his food as he was dozing off while speaking to us or even help find the bag of a Down Syndrome girl who had lost it. I had an encounter with an Iraqi man carrying aload of stuff and a birdcage which had lost his way. I was able to help him out and show him the right platform to stand to take the train back. God is great!

Trip To Sydney : Hillsongs Conference

Conference date. We made our way to Sydney Olympic Grounds where the conference would be held. Our initial trip there got us started with a long walk there as we got lost between train stations and ended up walking almost to an hour after being told it was a good 20 minutes walk there. I can't imagine how a good walk is when we were already walking as fast as we can. Fortunately, the climate was not humid but cooling that actually got me going. I can't imagine myself back in Malaysia walking. I'll be soaked with sweat and the BO, lets not even go there.

We arrived safely at the ground and headed to a shed where we would collect our conference pack. Inside, there were many leaflet and most importantly, our programme book which we would be depending for our sessions and venues. It would be a hectic time during the next few days. Starting off from home at 730am and reaching back around 1030pm or sometimes 12am. It would be a very long day. I could have join the rest back early but I decided to stay on until the end as my intention to come here was mainly to go for the conference and try to learn as much as I can from it.



With that I found the theme for this year's conference very appropriate. Strength. It seems I needed that more considering the long day that I would have to go through. I asked about those who went to previous conference before about the theme. There seem to be a continuous theme going on as to how Hillsongs would like to see the conference going on. Last years conference was about Passion. The previous years was about the Word. It seems like the church was trying to equipped the church in the Word and building on the passion that would sustained them through and giving strength so that can reach to the people. It was amazing to see how all of this tied together and it was obvious through the sessions and sermons.





I enjoyed myself throughout the conference. The preaching of the Word and the sermons that came across was inspiring, encouraging and challenging. There were many speakers whom I was really blessed namely John Maxwell, Joyce Meyer, Reinhard Bonke and Darlene Zschech. I couldn't help not taking notes because it was so refreshing to hear the Word being spoken. Besides that, I was really blessed by the worship. As many would know, Hillsongs is known for the praise and worship, having come out with an album every year and that was not an exception this year. The title of the new CD is "God He Reign". We sang many of the songs throughout the conference and boy, does it sticks to your head especially when you sing it everyday. The songs were fantastic maybe because I was there to experience it live. I am not sure whether it be the same for those who listen to the album later on. There was a couple of songs I totally enjoyed namely "Salvation Is Here", "Saviour" and another song which was not in the album but do not know the name of it. If any of you know about it, let me know. It goes like,

"How great is our God, Sing With Me How Great is God, All the World Will Sing, How Great is Our God."



Besides having the Hillsongs team, I was priviledge to have caugt Michael. W. Smith and Cece Winans. I was totally in awe when I heard Cece. Being a R&B and soul lover, I could really sense they were singing from their hearts out. Though I didn't know the songs that were being sung, but you could feel God's presence in that place. I was in no hesistasion responding to the God with my own song of praise and it was an awesome experience. The band was great as well and was totally in awe with the drummer especially being a drummer myself. My thoughts on Michael W. Smith was a bit different as he started out looking more like a performance to me. I sat standing not knowing whether to worship or see the display in front of me. However, it soon change midway as he became to sing some familiar tunes and instantly the song spoke to my heart and I could feel God's presence within me. With that, I began to response to Him and the experience was intense. It was such a blessing to be worshipping alongside such pretigious worship leaders which we hear of in CDs but to experience God with them in person is priceless. It was such a joy to be able to worship God with tens and thousands of people in one place with people of different denomination, ethnic groups and countries. God was in the house and He had once again proven that He reigns. My fear left me at that instance and I had a different perception of the conference.





The workshop was equally as good. I decided against attending things related to worship only soley because I wanted to learn of many different which I had an interest of knowing and learning to see if I could move in that area. The pastors and leaders session was very good. Besides that, I had a chance to get to know some aspects on recording an album, get to know what the creative arts group at Hillsongs do and go through, listen to the ever accomplished song writer Reuben Morgan who have wrote countless songs on song writing and participated in an advance drama session just to have a practical approach about it and to compare with what I had learn in theatre back in uni.



I can recall vividly one of the session in which Darlene and a number of elders from Hillsong gave a talk on Sexuality. It was one of the first session of the conference and it really blew me away especially with the topic of such sensitivity. They were speaking on sexuality and how the effects of sexuality affects our worship and our personality as God's children. It makes sense to see how the church have began to take sexuality likely that it wouldn't strike the church but it has began to show its presense by the way youth wear their clothes, the lifetsyle youth go through in terms of relationship and the reaction of the church as to the over increasing lifestyle that tarnish the purity of the youth. It was a very strong message that was put across and was very pleased with what I had heard from Darlene and more see her setting a good example. Throughout the entire time, I realise she is very modestly dressed in which she covers herself from the top to the tip of her toes whether during session or up stage worship leading. I could see that God had anointed her with a leadership in worship. There was a vast difference compared to other worship leader during the conference. I could see that she exert authority and power in leading the congregration to meet with God in worship. It was such a blessing to have met her and more so experience her gift first hand.

During the conference, I managed to meet up with Huei Weun and Pei Li who became my conference kakis throughout the 5 days. I didn't manage to sit with Mike, Jenny or Su Ann as they had to leave early. Fortunately, I had some company for the conference and enjoyed the fellowship with them especially trying to hide in the toilet to go with the next batch of crowd in order to get good seats. It was really funny. Besides that, it was a good sharing time with one another about how the conference is and how it taught us some valuable lessons. It was really cool to just hang out with them. Thanks gals!



It was a really good conference overall and really enjoyed myself. This would be my first birthday celebrated outside the country and also one of the most enjoyable though I would be away from family and friends on this day. Its hard not to say that I do not miss the time I spend there because I do but I hope that whatever I had gathered from this conference I would be able to contribute back to church or even share with my friends of the experience there. There are thoughts in my head of going back there for next years conference as it would be the their 20th anniversary, it would all depend on finances and also number of leave I can take since work will start already.

Trip to Sydney : Pre-Conference

Seven hours. Thats how long it took for me to travel from Malaysia to Sydney. The time difference is two hours. By the time we had reached Sydney, we had lost another two hours. It was around 9 something at night. The air was cool, just like Cameron. It was as cool as I expected. I had expected a freezing sensation with me having layers of clothers, a skull cap and gloves to keep me warm. Instead, I was out in normal T shirt and jeans. However, it was hard to predict how cold it will get since I had just touched down. Vincent, the man whom we were supposed to stay with came to pick us up. I havent seen him before although I was told that he was from my church before he migrated to Australia. However, it wasn't the same for his wife in which my mom recall as the lady with the small bag.

We reached the place and settled down in Vincent's 3 bedroom single story house in Glenwood. It was a small house situated in front of a public secondary school, about 10 minutes walk from the nearest Woolsworth, one of the chain of supermarket. We would call it a day after the tiring journey in the air. Fortunately, I managed to make full used of my time watching movies namely Hitch and the uncensored Sepet.

My visit to Australia this time around wasn't more of a holiday but to attend the Hillsongs Conference and at the same time explored some of the places here. I initially had no intention to attend Hillsongs. Maybe it was due to my perception towards those who went and the fear of whether I would go all the way for a quick reboost only to find myself back in the same place later on. There were many oppurtunities given to me in the past which I had turned down. However, I decided to take a chance and trust God that He will see through my fears as I go on this trip. And here I am

The conference was due to start on Monday. We arrived on Friday night and had two free days before the hectic week of conference, so I heard. Here are some pictorials of my visit. We visited Paddy's Market, had a great meal at Fish Market and made our way to Darling Harbour where we would be entertain by a live orchestra on a floating stage. Our initial plan was to cover Sydney Harbour as well. However, we weren't able to make it there and decided on the next day to go considering the time factor and also the shorter day. The sun begins to set around 5pm and would be completely dark half an hour later.


Paddy's Market


Fish Market


Darling Harbour

It was a Sunday. We had a priviledge to visit Hillsongs Church at Homebush which was about 10 minutes drive from Glenwood. I was in awe at such a big facility they have here. The inside of the church look like our Putra Stadium, but in a much smaller scale. I was impressed especially by the media. The projection of the people on the stage was so clear that it felt like I was watching a recording on DVD. I was fortunate to catch Joyce Meyer who came to speak on Sunday. It was such joy to see her deliver the message with so much enthusiasm and her message did give me a lot of encouragement and at the same time wanting to hear from her more during the conference. As we were leaving the place, we were fortunatel to meet a couple from Malaysia who had been residing in Sydney for quite a number of years. After some chats, they decided to fetch us back to Vincent's place. As Vincent drive a sedan, he would have to make two trips to fetch us and his family. Thank God for providing his angels in times like this when He would make things easier for us. I couldn't imagine how Vincent was able to reached the grounds on the second round considering the jam which was beginning to form in Hillsongs grounds. Jam in church? That shows how many people actually attend Hillsongs.



We reached home and made our way thereafter to Parsley Market which was situated closeby. Then off we headed to the trainstation at Blacktown to make a trip to downtown to visit Sydney Harbour. We met up with one of Mike's friend there as well and went to visit the Rocks which was about to close soon. I was in awe to see what I would normally see in Discovery Channel or magazine the view of Sydney Opera house and the harbour. It was interesting to see them all in person. I was especially delighted to see street performers there. Its hard to find such performers back in Malaysia except around Central Market. However, I totally enjoyed their performance though I managed to catch a glimpse and snap a few pictures of them. I was surprised at the professionalism in performing in front of passing people. Hard to keep one's concentration especially with the people moving around and most importantly, enjoyed the way they engage the crowd.











After having spend two days enjoying the scenes of Sydney, its time for conference. Can't wait