Hi everyone, this isn't Akita it's Graeme! For those who don't know, Akita is currently in Tanzania for two weeks, and she's asked me to write something in Thrive for this week and next. What to expect? My brain works very differently to Akita's, so it's sure to be a very different style. Here goes:

I Make Elephants

As I was thinking about the Tanzania team this morning, the country they’re in, and the culture shock they are experiencing, I was reminded of a story Akita’s brother told me a few months ago.

Her brother recently did a "world tour" kind of trip from England to Australia, travelling through 20-30 countries along the way. While he was in India he was approached by a man trying to sell him a small statue of an elephant. "You buy elephant? You buy elephant?" the man kept asking. This continued for a while and Akita's brother, though he wasn't interested in buying an elephant statue, started a conversation with this man.

After a while the man asked Akita's brother about what he did. Akita's brother described how he was currently on this world trip, and talked about the countries he'd been too, where he was heading, and so on. Then Akita's brother asked the man, "So what about you, what do you do?". The man smiled and just said:

"I make elephants"

When I heard that story I had the same reaction Akita's brother did. That sometimes it's easy to forget how different our lifestyle is to the majority of the world.

I read somewhere that if you live in Australia, then you're automatically in the top 9% of the richest people in the world. No matter what kind of income you're on, just because we live in Australia and our standard of living is so high, it means that 91% of the world's population is poorer (materially) than us.

Now I'm not saying it's wrong to have money, or to live in a society like ours. Far from it. What a blessing we have to live in Australia! And not all of us are called to help others offshore. There are many very important and urgent needs to be met in the people around you - that's why God put you where you are! But I also like to try and remember as often as I can that the lifestyle we have in Australia actually isn't "the norm" across the world. Looking at it from just a numbers perspective, our lifestyle is actually unusual. And when you're living in it every day it can be easy to forget that most people are living a very different life - perhaps their life is all about making elephants, so they can earn enough food to eat.

"Always be generous, open purse and hands, and give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors." Deut 15:11 (Message)

Wherever God has put in you in the world, reach out. As far as you can. In today's "globalised" society you can have an impact where-ever you choose to.

Looking forward to having Akita back!
Graeme

01-03-07

To view past editions of Thrive, click: THRIVE editions

To visit the Oxygen Youth website:

If you have any praise points, encouragement, favourite verses, or short teachings you wish to share... please send me an email (I know there are some out there) and we will try to include.

Study/dinner night - The next study night will be on 11 March, venue still to be announced.

Vineyard Conference - Go online today and register for the "Naturally Supernatural Conference", being held on the 23rd + 24th of March (Fri + Sat). This conference will assist in understanding and using the gifts of the Spirit, through teaching + workshops, with guest speaker Gary Best. To be held at Bunbury Vineyard Church. Cost: Adults $30, Couple $50, Students $20. Register online at www.vineyard.org.au

Oxygen - This Saturday! It's Oxygen like you know best, with awesome worship, powerful speakers, and lots of fun. Catch up on all the latest with Oxygen News. Be at Grace Christian Church, Vittoria Rd, Glen Iris, from 7:30pm.

Power House - Next girl's event is this Sunday the 4th of March @ church, theme: BOOTS. Time: 5-7pm. It will be a blast.... get there! Power House planners are pinned on the youth board... they are pink in colour.

Prayer - every Sunday afternoon, 5-6pm @ church.

prayer: Oxygen mission team currently in Tanzania. Prayer for safety, opportunities, effectiveness...etc. Team members: Aarron, Akita, Andrew, Danny, Dave, Jason, Jesse, Mandy, Stephanie, + Stephanie.

prayer: for Elevator '07, the huge Student Battle of the Bands at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on 31 March. This is a fantastic opportunity to introduce to the community who we are and what we believe in. Prayer for the working team of this project. Prayer for acceptance into local high schools, tafes, and local uni.
Check out the Elevator website: www.oxygenyouth.com/elevator

.... if you have any requests you would like added here, please email me, contact details below.

Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Please feel free to forward this email-newsletter to friends + family.

Akita Olsen - Youth Pastor
Email: olsens@westnet.com.au

Bunbury Vineyard Church.
PO Box 1475, Bunbury,
WA 6231, Australia.
Office phone: (08) 9721 3379
www.bunburyvineyard.org.au

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