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Published: August 8th 2007
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So we arrived in LA - unaware of the whirlwind tour we were about to receive over the next 24 hours. Jade Leong (friend from Sydney, Perth native) picked us up and showed us a real LA traffic experience (bad), made more scary by her driving. But we were very grateful to be with people we knew in this crazy place. Our first stop was the Dream Center, our accommodation for the night, and the only thing we really wanted to see in LA besides our friends, Jade and Justin (Mayo).
The Dream Center is a renovated old hospital, now used as the ministry hub of a church pastored by Matthew Barnett. It has made a huge impact on the local area by it's ministry to prostitutes, homeless, gangs, drug addicts... basically restoring peopleĀ“s lives and bringing a lot of love and hope to the community. An incredible place. Justin and Jade work and volunteer there, so we had a guided tour of the DC (as they call it) and got to meet some of the people in the programs, which was inspiring.
We were then taken around the tourist spots, Sunset Boulevarde, Hollywood, before stopping for dinner at
Jade with the Flying Circus
About to do damage to our arteries! 'the Grove', a fashionable shopping and dining area. Not only is everything big in the US - meals, cars, shops, signs, people... but it's also a bit ridiculous at times. At the Grove there was valet parking with red carpet leading into the shops. There was a shop called 'American Girl' - selling the complete doll experience. OK, so this place is nuts... the bottom floor is filled floor to ceiling with around 40 varieties of dolls, each with their own look and matching clothing. On the upper floor, girls can take their dolls to real (human) hairdressers to have their hair done, sit down at a cafe and have a meal with their doll (complete with doll-sized seats and food) ... there's also a doll doctor, who has a selection of limbs on display ready to replace any limbs that may have been damaged by a nasty dog, evil little girl, or naughty brother...
Following a good dose of greasy street-style Californian Mexican food, we dropped by a few spectacular Bel-Air houses (Justin works with kids in the area in a ministry called Red Eye) before heading back to Justin's room (which he kindly lent to us) at
Classic Californian cuisine
At In-N-Out - these burgers are good! the DC for much needed sleep. The next morning Elle answered a knock on our door revealing a gruff fellow from security requesting the keys for the vehicle Justin had borrowed the night before. On discovering that Justin wasn't in his room he shrewdly asked Elle if she was Justin's brother. "No, I'm a girl!" Elle replied moritified. "You're McGill?" he retorted. He went on to ask if Elle was in a relationship with Justin, which she keenly responded to by letting him know her husband was sleeping in the room, so saving Justin's reputation and affirming her gender. Despite this, Elle felt the call to join the DC's 'adopt-a-block' program, where teams go out to the surrounding neighbourhood and deliver food packages and develop relationships with the people. It was a stark contrast from the excessive glamour of the previous evening.
Speaking of excessive, we were taken for lunch to 'Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles' in downtown LA for some 'soul food', which Jade describes as the reason God saved her and called her to LA. Exaggerated girl talk perhaps? Still, we weren't complaining as we tucked into fried chicken and waffles with maple syrup. Ah... only
Getting down at Newport Church
Graham and Jess lead the way... a few hours later, we were off with our good friend Rachel Wilson, heading down the highway towards Newport. We were glad to have experienced LA, a place seemingly immersed in image and superficiality, with some good down-to-earth friends and seeing the inspiring work they're involved in. Well done guys!
Well, to be in Newport felt like coming home, and only a few days into our trip! There wasn't much we wanted to do there as tourists (except have a meal at In-N-Out Burger and eat some authentic Californian Mexican food... both accomplished!) We were there to visit a bunch of friends from Sydney who had started a church there 8 months previously, in particular the Jonathan and Di Wilson, who are the pastors there. We were generously looked after by Mavis and Bob Green, who opened their home to us (and everyone else who comes through!)
We were so glad to be able to be there for (three of their six!) Sunday services, and see how much it is thriving. The services are packed with people, energetic, and full of life. They are being held in an old club which Dennis Rodman (basketball bad boy of sorts)
used to own, complete with massive gold-framed mirrors and velvet curtains (it looks fantastic!) It was as if church at home had been picked up and moved from Sydney to California, with the familiar sound of Jonathan's voice as he preached, and hanging out with lots of not-so-old faces, who are much missed in Sydney. Friends in Sydney - you need to visit this place!
That besides, we were taken around by Ra to the local sights - beautiful beaches (scroll down to see the photo!), chilled out atmosphere, enough reasons to warrant moving to the other side of the world. Next stop, coast to coast, the Big Apple, New York City!
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Jad & Bec
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woo hoo...
love you guys, have fun...