Having returned from a short weekend stint as a volunteer at Schoolies, there are a few stand-out moments for me from the last 48 hours (I did a day and a night shift one after the other).
* Helping with checkins at one of the hotels and being absolutely confronted with seeing parents dropping off their 16 and 17 year old children, and carrying in cartons and cartons of alcohol for them. That was very hard to watch. Do parents not realise what message they are sending their children, and the possibly unintentional pressure they place on them to live 'down to' the schoolies image.
* The incredible favour we have with schoolies, with most hotel managers and with the police - they value what we do
* Visiting one room of schoolies of 5 girls, who had all had a few drinks and hearing one girl say to her friend that she felt all this pressure to be listening to loud music and dancing.... and me realising that these girls didn't really want to get wasted and "party hard" - all they really wanted to do was celebrate the end of school with their friends and have fun.
* Being reminded that they are really nice, often very polite young people, who are just very lost.
* Realising again that the heart of Christ is to rescue, that there is a answer and that we have to do all in our power to communicate that with our words, deeds and example.
I didn't feel very emotional while I was down there, but as I drove home tonight, as I lead woship, as I listened to a great message about what Christ's sacrifice means for us, my heart was breaking for the young people who are looking for something but can't articulate what it is.
May the love they long for be revealed to them and may they recognise it. His name is Jesus Christ.
2 comments:
yes, all those!
and after visiting with the schoolies for a while, overhearing them say that we were so cool as they were closing their doors - that was cool!
on a side note just have to say heres an additional *
*Lack of sleep & eating red frogs the whole day doesn't mesh so well...
i was so disorientated last night that my "credit card" was declined ... dude, i dont even HAVE a credit card - but i handed over my bank card and said i was paying by credit card.
I also thought it was just amazing how appreciative the schoolies were.
Although we do these things to serve others, it is always nice to be appreciated.
Just knowing that because of several wonderful red frog volunteers there will be so many more safe schoolies is reward enough for our tiresome weekend!
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