-266 Rain rain go away? Or God's up to something good :)

Remember this post  in January ? So that creek was just behind a showground called Queens Park in Toowoomba, Queensland that flooded quite badly. Every Easter there is a Christian music festival held there called Easterfest and the clip above was actually taken from their offices ( I'm pretty sure - don't quote me on this! ) 

Anyway, many people wondered if Easterfest would go on this year since Toowoomba is a fairly largely populated inland town it was all but certain that the town would be up on it's feet enough to support the extra 30 000 or so extra bodies/smelly campers that descend on the town for the long weekend. The festival is held over three days and all on site camping passes sold out before the festival started and the only way you could see the bands etc was to get day passes which requires wristbands - as you do. But since the town is still getting back on it's feet I heard that the organisiers were encouraging everyone to get offsite in between bands during the day and "give back to the town". Which going by past events I'm sure they would in droves. Toowoomba was about to receive a fast food/supermarket/coffee/slurpee boost ;)

Unfortunately I was unable to get up there this year, I always think about it but since my friend's camping/music festival days are put on hold for the time being I chose to follow via Facebook & Twitter. Leading up to bands like Switchfoot and Paul Colman Trio ( they reunited!!!!) playing Easterfest were announcing how the weather reports were saying that it was going to be mostly fine, maybe some showers etc. 

This is what happened last night ( Saturday ) 

 

Oh no! You might say. And well, yes there were probably a lot  of "Oh no!'s" by campers as everyone was evaculated and a lot of tents, sleeping gear and other stuff was flooded and saturated. No one slept on site last night and local Churches and halls houses everyone who camped. A massive task I might add!

So is Easterfest cancelled ?

No no no ! :) Well sort of.....Switchfoot didn't get to play and they are now on their way to Perth and a few other bands didn't make their way up....but.....

It's now in the streets of Toowoomba :) How cool is that?! God obviously thought that the people of Toowoomba needed some good old Aussie - and non Aussie - Christian music and there are coffee shops and stages being set up all over town! Talk about street evangelising on Resurrection Sunday :)

And apparently it's a beautiful sunny day in Toowoomba today. Go figure !

I'll leave you with a song created by the Mainstage Collective that was written & produced by the Aussie mainstage acts to raise money to support Toowoomba. I love this song. Mostly because I'm pretty sure it started with Compliments of Gus - love - but it's also got PC3, Scat & more. And it's created via about 3 or 4 different states in Australia and countries.  But it also reminds me of my time in Queensland earlier this year as I think I listened to it on repeat all the way home on the plane.  Enjoy :)

xMiss365

-295 All these natural disasters so close to home ( Tuesday 22nd February 2011 )

Those poor people in Christchurch,New Zealand. Another Earthquake and even though this time it was 6.3 which was less than the 7.1 that hit last September it had such a massive impact today on that city. Not only because this time it struck in the middle of the day instead of the night but apparently because it was shallow and the aftershocks were stronger as well. 

There have been so many natural disasters so close to home in the past six months in a country that has only recently been declared free of a decade long drought.  The floods in Queensland, Victoria and parts of New South Wales, cyclone Yasi in Queensland and more cyclones and flooding in the Northern Territory, the bush fires in Western Australia and in New Zealand - only a short plane ride away these horrifying earthquakes.

The interesting part is that I am starting to hear about people talking more about feeling like that life is short and can't be taken for granted as easily as it seemed to be taken in the past. 

Will this mean that people's hearts will be softened where they once were somewhat hard or indifferent towards God and start to seek Him ? Or will people start seeking other things to believe in and blame God for what is happening ?

All I know is that "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". John 3:16  

It's my prayer tonight that for those 65+ who have perished today in Christchurch that they already knew this or had a chance to know this. And for those who are seeking answers that they are lead to the one who created them and choose to know Him rather than try to blame Him.

xMiss365

-316 Photo updates - Wednesday 12th January 2011

I will get back to regular blogging soon. But it just seems irrelevant to muse about my lack of love life or various theories when there are much bigger things going on in my country. Thought I'd just share some photos tonight. The Brisbane river is predicted to peak tomorrow morning with up to 22 000 homes to be effected. Up to. Brisbane has an approximate population of about 2 million. If you feel led to here is the official flood relief appeal website. http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html.


Here's a link to the current flood map. http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/queensland_floods.html#map

xMiss365

A view of Brisbane CBD. Not usually under water. 

12th January 2011

Suncorp Stadium at about 3pm this afternoon. 

In a Brisbane suburb.

Sandbagging in the middle of the night

Gotta love the Aussie spirit of mateship even with the wildlife - a frog catches a ride with a snake. :)

-317 Please Pray - An emergency side post ( Tuesday 11th January, 2011 )

Dear Readers,

For those of you who experienced or knew of those who got hit with the Nashville, TN floods in May 2010 you may feel some compassion for what is happening in South East Queensland, Australia at the moment. 

Twelve days ago Rockhampton was hit with flood waters and the people of this country are rallying to pick up the pieces. Thank you President Obama for your support but even you may have spoken too soon....

Yesterday almost without warning what is being described as an inland Tsunami wave of flood water barrelled down the streets of Toowoomba. Current death toll is 9 but there are over 60 people current missing. I've linked a complilation video below but be aware Aussies tend to deal with disaster and shock by either making light of the situation or seeing the humour in in first.

More rain today and more rain to come and nowhere for the water to go means that the suburbs of Brisbane ( the capital city of Queensland and is a CBD) is now under threat and the water level is rising rapidly. The city is being evacuated and there has never been anything like this in history. There are even country towns that are now literally islands with no way in or out. There has been little else on TV and other towns in Queensland such as Dalby are bracing for a second wave of flooding only after being hit with the first in two weeks. 

One of the saddest things I've heard today was the family which included small children were spotted by helicopter taking refuge on their car and by the time the SES ( rescue service ) were able to get to them they had be swept away. :(

Keep in mind that so many of these towns are farming towns and have been in drought for most of the past decade. To have this happen is just devastating. And while the people of SE Queensland are battling the rain over the otherside of the country in Perth, Western Australia are fighting off out of control temperatures and bushfires. 

Interesting start to 2011. Dead seagulls & birds here too. God trying to get our attention ? He has mine. I can't stop crying and praying today.

If you feel led to, please pray for the people of Queensland that God's grace and mercy will be shown in new and obvious ways to those that do know and love Him and those that don't know Him yet. And for the rain to ease and the flood waters to ease and for the loss of life to be minimised. 

A sad Miss 365