Dream - Re-Imaging Church

As the annual Greenbelt festival rolls around (It's a bit like a massive, diverse Blackstump), it's always a chance to dig up what's happening across Europe in new and emerging church communities. I don't know if Dream is new or not, but I certainly didn't run into them in Oct-Nov 2003 when I was over there.

From their website - "Dream is a network of groups forming a community that values creativity, openness, freedom and flexibility. We welcome all who want to journey with us as we worship and explore a spirituality centred on Jesus and his involvement in our lives."

As seems to often be the case with the UK emerging church groups, there is an incredible grappling with the context around them - the art, music and social issues; and a desire to push worship towards new and creative ideas. However the politics and theology seems to remain somewhat unaffected at times (by comparison say to the Australian or US scenes). At the same time, the Make Poverty History campaign seems to have a much bigger profile in the UK. I often wonder why that is?

Anyway, check out the Dream site and what they're doing. It gives me hope.

Elevator Mood Inspection Commission

One of the weirder sites I've come across - The Elevator Mood Inspection Commission is a series of movie snippets from Security Cameras in, you guessed it, elevators. Check out the Manifesto to see what the rules of the competition are. Scenes include "Take the stares", "Pressing Problems" and "Caught". A little out there - just goes to remind us how strange the web can be, which is only as odd as the people who are out there.

Captain Smollet for role in new Joyce Blockbuster!

Inside sources close to Rod Joyce, director of the much anticipated blockbuster - "Xena the Sepik Princess", have announced the Captain Smollett (pictured right) is being screen tested for a role! Rumours have suggested various posssible characters from Fashion guru to tea cosy tester - but the smart money is on Smollett to play himself in a cameo appearance driving the Marianville school bus that picks up Xena from her crash landing in Moresby in the final moments of the film.

Director Joyce commented to Urban Stone that this role "would be awesome mate. I love his works". Smollet would only offer the cryptic comment "wobble"? We anxiously await further news.

In Brisbane

I flew out of PNG on Friday, and made it back to Brisbane in one piece to spend some time with Dave, Tiff and my niece, the gorgeous Bethany! A wonderful couple of days - if you don't count the debacle of Collingwood v Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night. The game was a lost cause, but it was great to go to the cheersquad function before hand at the Hotel Broadway. We got to meet the infamous Ronnie Wearmouth, and listen to one of Joffa's better speeches. Pity about the rest of the night. Made up for it on Sunday with a leisurely stroll around Southbank and the QLD Art Gallery. Fortunately for us ice-cream was on hand, otherwise Tiff may have gone on a rampage...

Last Sightings of Indiana Conolly

After the tropical paradise of Tufi, we had another few days in Moresby. Time spent at some markets, meeting the Marianville staff, and most bizarrely - surviving the State of Origin madness that sweeps PNG!? I kid you not, State of Origin becomes a matter of life and death - almost matching Grand Final week in Melbourne! (well, only if the Pies aren't playing).

The funniest part was watching Riss, the anti-outdoor type, transform herself into Indiana Conolly as she prepared for her Sepik adventure with Jospeha. Backpacks, hiking boots, headlamps - the full gear. Here is the last known photo of Indiana Conolly as she tries to put on a brave face (while I got to play with the kittens and pretend not to laugh at her stories of impending adventure!). A very funny ending to a brilliant 8 days. Good luck Adventure Riss! PS: Rod would like the film rights...

The traditional welcome dance at Kufore

Traditional Dance
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Tufi

After some time in Port Moresby, Larissa and I flew out to Tufi. An incredible place that had wonderful diving, snorkelling, seafood and every other sort of relaxing tropical pastime. (Beware of the ping pong though, it seems to send some people into a crazy road rage).

The highlights of our time there was visiting some nearby villages. Kofure was our first visit. A journey by truck and then outrigger canoe was spectacular as we crossed fiords and reefs. Once we got there we were greeted by Davison the local elder, and then treated to a traditional welcome of song and dance. After a short tour of the area, the villagers all turned out with their goods to sell.

It was an odd experience. The market is a cash lifeline for this traditional community that cuts out the middle man. And yet there was something slightly unsettling about trawling up and down the rows of bilums, necklaces and tapa cloths under the eye of everyone from the village. It was a bit like a set show, they knew what we were after, we knew what they were hoping for. Each of us in an unusual position, trying to be something other than our normal roles. Maybe as Larissa commented, it was simply that we wished we could buy something from all of them. But I couldn't help feel like a colonial master surveying the village and bestowing my reward on whoever pleased me most.

Riss and some of her girls

Riss and her girls2
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

At the Botanical Gardens with Larissa and some of her girls from Marianville

PNG Trip

Marianville
Originally uploaded by urbanstone.

Just back from an incredible 8 days in PNG visiting Larissa (check out her Bomana Nights website for some very cool photos). I got to spend some time in Port Moresby - checking out Marianville Secondary School where she works, meeting her colleagues and friends, and discovering the bizarre world of Moresby.

It may not have been as hot as I imagined, but Moresby was fascinating - from the hair raising car trips to the luxury of Kulau on a hot afternoon. As always, it's the people that make it so memorable - Pia's love of Powderfinger, Neil's commitment to the place, manic Mark (who at least follows the pies), Rick, Ivan, Jeremy and Lea and of course, Larissa's girls from Marianville.