Ride for Compassion 2016

redgiant

I woke up this morning a little sore but mostly feeling extremely satisfied as I reflect on the week that has just passed.

Every year since 2009 I’ve cycled between Albany and Perth, a distance of over 500 kilometres. Last week I was out there again with around 20 other cyclists, supported by a wonderful support crew, riding 526.5 kilometres from Albany to Perth over six days. We arrived home, after a fantastic trip, yesterday afternoon.

As well as having an amazing time with an incredible group of people, we were raising funds for some children who are living in extreme poverty.

Ride for Compassion

Funds raised from this year’s ride will increase access to toilet facilities and services for 530 children and 300 adult beneficiaries through construction of 10 toilets at two Compassion centres in Tanzania. The project will raise awareness, skills and knowledge of registered children and parents/caregivers on good sanitation and hygiene practices.

The facilities will reduce the risks of disease outbreaks to 530 registered children, youth and other users in the centres.

In 2015, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF found that 663 million people worldwide still lack improved drinking water sources, while 2.4 billion people lack improved sanitation facilities.

Inadequate access to safe water and proper sanitation has a devastating effect on people’s health, especially children’s. Around 760,000 children under five die of diarrhoea each year, mostly in developing countries—that’s more than 2000 children every day.

A 2005 UN study showed that, by providing improved sanitation and teaching simple behaviours like washing hands, we can reduce cases of diarrhoea by 35 per cent—and deaths caused by diarrhoea by 37 per cent.

That means that while we were out enjoying the richness of Australia, we were providing for other people who we’re unlikely to ever meet. What an absolute honour to serve others in that way.

Why Compassion?

If you’ve been reading my blog for any time you’ll know that I work for Compassion, but I’m not supporting Compassion simply because it’s my job to do so.

I work for Compassion because I am convinced that there is no more effective organisation serving the world’s poor. I have seen no other method of working with those in poverty that even comes close to the way that Compassion is working.

I’ve seen Compassion’s work first hand in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Thailand and the Philippines. Every time I visit another church that is partnering with Compassion I am amazed at the change it is making in the lives of the most vulnerable members of our world, children.

If you’d like to make a difference in the lives of children who desperately need your support, it’s not too late to visit my fundraising page.

I can assure you that your money will be well spent in releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.



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Keys for Ministry Longevity

Ministry Longevity

For some it may just be a season, but for others it becomes a long term issue that can even end their ministries. We might not like to admit it, but most ministry leaders go through times where they lose their passion and energy for the things they used to love.

Over time, many pastors and others working in full time ministry suffer from burnout, mental breakdown or serious illness. Other causes, such as moral failings or loss of faith, see leaders leaving the ministry or even walking away from God.

How can you ensure that you remain passionate and effective over a life time of Christian ministry? What are you doing to give your ministry team the best opportunity to go the distance and finish well?

Compassion Australia is partnering with 98five to present a one day seminar for a range of Christian ministry leaders. If you know any ministry leaders or pastors in the Perth area, please feel free to pass on the details. You could even just use the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post to share the details through Facebook, email or whatever.

Keys for Ministry Longevity is a one day seminar with Keith Farmer, Peter Brain and Rob Furlong. It’s an opportunity for you and your team to benefit from many decades of ministry experience and learn practical ways to continue serving God and others over the long term.

Date: Thursday 16th June 2016
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Venue: The Rocks, 26 Cecil Avenue, Cannington
Cost: $60 including morning tea and light lunch. Group bookings of 10+ $50pp.

Click this link to register.

You can click on the photo below to see a larger version and to read more about the three speakers.

MinistryLongevityDetails

This seminar is a valuable opportunity to support you and your team as you seek to engage your community. We hope that you’ll join us.



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Tourists at Home

Wildlife

For the last several weeks we’ve had an extra person in our home. Malo is a French exchange student who lives on Reunion Island. Last Saturday we did the tourist thing and headed a little north of Perth to Lancelin for some and boarding then on to the Pinnacles.

It’s funny how we often forget so many of the attractions in our own areas until we need to show tourists around. Over the past five weeks we’ve seen a fair bit of our own city and surrounds.

What are some of the ‘local attractions’ around you that you only enjoy when visitors drop in?

Below is a handful of the photos I took last Saturday while on our adventure. Click on the images for a closer look.



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National Camera Day

SnapKnot
Courtesy of: SnapKnot

I’ve just found out that it’s National Camera Day. It’s not a day that’s celebrated in Australia but I reckon any day is a good day to ‘focus’ on taking photos.

Even without knowing that the 29th of June is a day to celebrate cameras, I did manage to grab a snap or two while I was out and about this afternoon.

Here’s a photo I took of a magnificent old tree in Kings Park, overlooking Perth, Western Australia.

KingsParkOldTree

You can click on the photo to see a slightly larger version.



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Cavalia Shines in the West

Cavalia

There’s something inspiring about watching people who are passionate about what they’re doing. Watching Cavalia is all kinds of inspiring. The two and four legged performers fill the stage with joyous celebration and they are masters of drawing the audience into their magical world.

The show has visited 60 cities in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Europe and Australia. Around 4 million people have been thrilled by the performance around the world. It’s an innovative multi-media production created by Normand Latourelle, one of the co-founders of Circe du Soleil.
VIT

If you want to see Cavalia in Perth there are shows until the 26th of January under the big white top at Belmont Racecourse.

I had the honour of being invited to a VIP Social Media Night last night. I took my son James and together we got the full VIP treatment with a delicious meal and drinks before the show and a guided stable tour after the show.

While the pre-show and post-show were wonderful, it was the performance itself we were there to see and it didn’t disappoint.

Before the curtain went up we had a quick chat to Ms Mystery Case and her husband who were seated next to us. If you want to see some better photos of the night than I was able to capture on my iPhone 4 you can read her review of the night.

James and I settled in among the other social media invitees, ready to take some snaps to post to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. From start to finish there was plenty to photograph. Whether it was the mind bending acrobatics performed by some of the 36 human performers or the graceful beauty of the 43 magnificent horses, there was always something mesmerising happening on stage.

The connection between human and horse was a highlight. From incredibly subtle and gentle moves to thundering past us at speed, the horses were captivating.

The live music added another thrilling dimension to the show. Sometimes quietly setting the scene with an understated soundtrack to the visual feast, sometimes driving the show forward with boldness and force, the music guided us throughout the performance.

There’s so much more I could say about the show but words will never fully describe the experience or prepare you for the masterpiece that is Cavalia. If you get the opportunity, get yourself to one of their shows and experience it for yourself.



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