The Big Year Out

The 2009 brochure and updated Application and Referees forms are now available online (sorry about the delay). Just click on the links to the left to download!

For my second weekly mission placement of the year, myself and fellow BYOuter Pete were placed at the beachside Brighton base of Minda Incorporated, an organisation committed to helping intellectually disabled people live with their disability and achieve their aspirations.

We were under the supervision of Rev. Trevor Whitney, a long-time chaplain at Minda, whose role of pastoral carer includes building personal relationships with people, helping residents deal with grief and loss, and providing an (often lively) church service once a fortnight.

Pete and I, during our short weekly visits, had a chance to learn about the many different areas and facilities of Minda, which include lifestyle services such as an Aquatics Centre, Tutti Arts group and Cottage craft area, plus residential services includes community housing and aged care, and business services such as a resident-employed laundry and furniture production workshop. Trevor’s direction also had us spending more one-on-one time with groups of residents, so we could get a more personal perspective on what it means to relate to, be present with and have meaningful interactions with people different from us.

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Recently the group of us on this journey we call the Big Year Out travelled to the Philippines for a mission exposure trip. One of the steps in preparing was to obtain an Australian passport, which led me to the question of what it means to be an Australian citizen. As an Australian citizen there are certain rights the government guarantees for me including voting for whichever candidate I like in fairly run elections, a fair trial if I’m accused of a crime, worshipping whichever God I choose and openly speaking out against government policies. I’ve never really had to think about this too often - at the last election the biggest danger in my way was the crowd of party workers armed with how to vote cards. 

In the Philippines things are very different. I try to keep up with events in the world and so over time I have seen so many stories of famine, war, government abuse and corruption. When you see these stories you realise that outside your living room is a messed up world, but in this fast-paced world of images and multimedia it’s all gone by the time the sports bulletin comes on. Going to the Philippines was eye-opening because when you look out the car window and see children doing what would be called slave work in Australia, there is no sports bulletin coming up to hide it out of view again. On just about every street even in the richer areas, you see people living in dodgy little ‘houses’ with less structural integrity than a shed here. On the side of the streets you can but for them it is just about trying to survive. It’s something you experience rather than just see because a report on TV or in a newspaper cannot fully capture the smells, the sounds or any more than a small rectangular view of the sights. But the most amazing aspect of what at times felt like a Foreign Correspondent report come to life was to meet the people who are the story.

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We’re already gearing up for the 2009 Big Year Out Program and would love to chat with you about being part of it in 2009. The Application Form and Referees Form can be downloaded here. Interviews with applicants will take place from early December 2008. Applications close no later than 31st December, 2008.

BYO 2009 Application Form

BYO 2009 Referees Form

After returning from a mission trip it is often difficult returning to ‘normal’ life. Occasionally we experience things that change our mindset or thinking for good. This can make us see things differently and want to change our lifestyle. Some of the participants are now working through how they can make a difference in the world from here in Adelaide Australia and how their time away can be used to help this. One challenge for them over the next few months is not to get to comfortable with life in Australia, and our life is very comfortable compared with a lot of the world. It is easy to take for granted the wonderful lifestyle we have and opportunities present to us in Australia and forget what others have to live through each day. Over the next few weeks we will continue to explore and process the trip in light of Jesus ministry in the gospel of Luke.

Sounds like the group are getting to experience Typhoon season! It has been very wet and windy but all are safe. They are moving on again today and their trip has 9 days to go. I think they have experienced more church services in the last week than they have ever in their life. It will be interesting to hear what they have learnt and what church is like over there when they all get back.

The group has been in the Philippines for 6 days so far and it doesn’t sound like they have had much time to rest! The first day they arrived, after locating lost baggage, they went to Smokey Mountains to visit a village which has been built on a rubbish dump. Most said it was very eye opening and challenging.

They have then visited over 17 churches since listening to the political situations they face over there. Many church services go for a few hours. The group have been going from about 7 am in the morning till about 10.30 pm in the evening.

Last night the group got to stay in a hotel for the night to recover. I think the shower and toilet were the highlight! They are on the road again today and I will try to keep you updated where they are heading.

Please continue to pray for the trip.

The Big Year Out gorup left Adelaide early on Saturday morning 6 July for a three week visit to the Philippines. The group, led by Lyn Leane and Andrew Robertson, is visiting the North Luzon district of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. During their visit, they will attend worship in Manila, visit the ‘Smokey Mountain’ refuse tip, spend time in rural communities throughout the north of the island, and spend a few days at the theological college in Baguio City before returning to Manila.

Pictured are Rachel U’Ren (from Melbourne) and Big Year Out participants Peter Grant (Ascot Park UC), Sharnie Pattinson (Nairne UC), David Maschmedt (Aberfoyle UC), Ellen Mitchell and Grace Mitchell (Rosefield UC).

In 2008, BYO participants have been in several local mission placements including…..

- an inner city church is starting a playgroup for Sudanese mothers and their kids, including home visits and day outings. Participants were able to get to know what refugee life in Australia is like.

- learning from a UC deacon, Adam, about how to support young adults and adults with mental health issues living in the Port Adelaide area. Participants have been to hostels, met the residents there, and been to training sessions with local community groups working in the area.

- on the road once a week with Dean, the minister to the Aboriginal Congress congregation at Salisbury. This has included going to KCO with a bunch of young kids, visiting court, and seeung the Congress leaders meet to plan their vital ministry.

- sharing in the valuable and varied work with a school chaplain, and being with students in a busy metropolitan high school