World Youth Day-Wollongong

World Youth Day officially starts July 15th in Sydney. Pilgrims are arriving from all over the world. Many are staying in Wollongong. On Saturday, there was a "Welcome to Australia" festival for those staying in the area. It was quite an experience! Seeing so many people of all ages come together to praise God. The crowd got quite packed. In the photo above you can see some of the pilgrims were in native dress.
This is a group waiting in line to register for the week's festivities. The raised flag is from The United Emirates. There is a USA flag around a guy and another with a Scottish flag. We met many people from the USA. It was so nice to talk to people from home! There were large groups from Saginaw, Michigan and Modesto, California. There were stage events to poke fun and learn about Australian Culture. Sheep sheering, whip cracking, lots of G'day's and Goodonya's. There was sing and dancing from Australian groups.
There was a Christian band that got the crowd line dancing. This group is from Croatia. The priest really got in to it and led most of the dances.

This group is from Nigeria. They sang in their native tongue and danced traditionally. It was an amazingly large group that could not all fit on the stage.

This is only a tiny part of the big event. They are projecting more people will be in Sydney than was in the Olympics. I read in the paper there are 1 million communion hosts and 350 liters of wine prepared for the Mass with the Pope on Sunday the 2oth.

We are heading to Sydney on Thursday night. We pick up Barb, Don and Carolyn from the airport and stay in Sydney until Saturday. So we hope to see some of the entertainment. John wants to hear Father Fortuna a rapping priest????? from NYC. On Sunday, we leave for the Great Barrier Reef!!! I can't wait!!!!!!

School Holidays-Sydney

On Monday, we took the train to Sydney with Jenny. We visited Chinatown and the Haymarket. We also went to the Powerhouse Science Museum.

Kait's birthday week

Kait's birthday week started on July 1st. On Monday at school she was presented with the ACE award for Attitude, Committment and Effort for Term 2. Two children from each class are chosen for the award each term. Bronte is in the photo with Kait.

On Wednesday, July 2nd her birthday. She got to celebrate at school. This was a big deal having a July birthdayas it is always summer break at home.
On Friday, she had a party with her friends. Most of the girls were from school and Emma, our neighbor. There were 12 girls in all. They arrived after school excited for the party and because the 2 week school holidays started. They danced to their music, wore neon hair, ate pizza, cake and icecream.
Helen helped me and set up a nail salon in the corner. All of the girls got custom nail painting. Most requested polka dots.
Using newsprint paper, toilet paper and streamers, the girls played fashion runway. They first designed a formal (above), then a bathing suit and last, a new school uniform. They performed on the runway in high style. "Work it!" They had fun "hamming it up" in front of the camera.

Happy 4th of July!!

Happy Fourth of July!

Here it is just Friday. It is an exciting day, though, as it is the last day before school holidays and Kait's birthday party is tonight. We had a great family celebration on her actual birthday--Wednesday. Tonight there will be 13 girls in our apartment for a girly party.
It should be fun.

We are extremely excited for the Moon's visit. Barb, Don and Carolyn will arrive on July 18th. We cannot wait!!! Then we are headed to an island near the Great Barrier Reef.