The Bentleys (and the Zoo)

now that we are all caught up...
here is what happened over the last few days.
12 years had elapsed since the last time i saw the Bentleys (well, minus Lauren, who came up to Vancouver a number of years ago). it was at a farewell party for them, as they were leaving Melbourne to head to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. For those of you who don't know, they are a part of a prayergroup that involved five families based out of Melbourne, and around a church called TLC (Truth and Liberation Concern). in a few days we will see the other three families. the Bentleys - Geoff, Mac (Marion), Lauren, Warwick, Esther, and Grace are some of the most wonderful people you are likely to meet. over the last couple of days Liss and I have been able to catch up with them, seeing how some of them have grown significantly since i last saw them and seeing how their lives have changed and the extent of their ministry both at home and abroad. it has been a great experience. they have such joy, song, and laughter in their household. and of course, they have been so generous to us. yesterday we took a 4X4 on the beach, saw Sea Turtles making their way accross the breakers from our lookout on Noosa Heads, and bodysurfed waves down at the water below. we got to meet Warwick's lovely wife Ammi, got to hear about Grace's (perhaps unhealthy ;) infatuation with Patti Griffin (who played in Brisbane lastnight) and also Esther's burgeoning bridesmaid career (nine times). And of course, Geoff and Mac. Good friends of my parents from before i was born. in fact, Mac was the first person my mother met as she opened the door to TLC. They got married only a little ways apart. And, funnily enough, both engaged on their first dates.
anyways, the time has come for us to make the trek down the coast. tonight: Coffs Harbour (for all of you following our route on a map at home)

steve.

The Sunshine Coast has been marvellous: the best people, the best produce (the pineapple!!!), and the best zoo! Our day at the Australia Zoo was well spent. We even had a celebrity run-in: we met Terri Irwin! (I had no idea that Steve Irwin, her husband and the late famous Crocodile Hunter, was responsible for the zoo's existence, but nevermind.) We ended up asking a zoo employee for some direction, only to hear her respond with an American accent. It wasn't until we saw her face on the megatron at the "Crocosseum" that we realized who we had been speaking to. All in all, a fun day filled with koalas and kangaroos and wallabees - oh my!

(Steve interrupting)

ok ok ok... so there were these 7-feet long tigers that scaled up 25-foot trees in a heartbeat. they had a bird enclosure with parakeets and cockatoos and other crazy birds that kept swooping in over our heads. we saw a crocodile get fed (but, in all fairness, it was a bit of a lazy crocodile). they gave their dingoes walks through the zoo. Liss patted a koala. we saw not just one of the worlds most poisonous snakes - but the number one AND number two most poisonous snakes- both which call Australia home. the most poisonous has enough venom in its bite to take down one hundred healthy fellows (though I'm not sure if their is scientific evidence to support such a fact), we saw some cassowaries and their 'interesting' methods of ingestion and digestion, and so much more. although i haven't been to many zoos this was by far the coolest. so many staff - some just hanging out with wombats on the grass. also - we found all the Steve Irwin tributes really moving. there was an area where they had collected all kinds of messages, many on his style of khaki shirt, from all around the world. people really loved him over here and he leaves a tremendous legacy.

(ok. back to Liss)

I am now collecting recipes from all the lovely people we'll be seeing along our journey. Mac Bentley gifted me with a beautiful book to collect them in - and I've snagged the best recipe for real Aussie Sticky Date Pudding. Delicious!

Elissa Joy.