On Thursday, November 2, our friends and hosts joined us for an unforgettable trip out to Phillip Island. Phillip Island is an amazing place and we thoroughly enjoyed this day!

Our primary target in going was to see what they call the Penguin Parade. The Little Penguins (yes, we are far enough down to the bottom of the earth to see live penguins in the wild!) are the only blue and white penguins in the world. They are adorable little guys!

But before we tell you about the penguins, which was the spectacular conclusion to a very special day, let us tell you about the rest of the day...

Our group, going to Phillip Island, included Mark and Shauna, Belinda and Jackie, Valerie and Peter (our friends and hosts in Australia) and Maria and Adi. It was delightful to spend quality time with these dear folks who have been joining us online for years. We had been scheduled to come here and meet these dear folks in person back in 2019, but our trip was cancelled due to COVID...

But we have truly seen the Father's Hand and Wisdom in bringing about the timing of the trip now. It has been a delightful and Spirit-filled time. Anyways, it was lovely to get quality time with these dear folks.

Jackie, Belinda's mom, suggested we should go out to see Phillip Island, as it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience... And, indeed, it was everything she said!

We loaded up two cars and headed out for Phillip Island from Labertouche, where Valerie and Peter live (we are staying with them). It took two cars to get us all in. But we caravanned together on the 1 hour and about 30 minute journey down to the island.

On the island, our first stop was the Maru Koala and Animal Park. There we wandered through paths and platforms in the Eucalyptus forest, sighting koalas. The highlight of that visit was seeing a mother koala cuddling her adorable joey (baby koalas are called joeys, just like kangaroo babies).

Next, having worked up an appetite, we went out for dinner at a lovely pizza restaurant overlooking the sea. The pizza was gourmet and quite delicious! We didn't have to eat in a rush because we knew that the Penguin Parade started at about sunset. So, we visited and relaxed and enjoyed good food, fellowship and the lovely seaside.

At about 7 pm, we went to the Penguin Parade. You enter the visitor's center and then exit the building and make your way out to bleacher seating areas on the beach. The penguins here are Little Penguins. They are the only blue and white penguins in the world. And this special evening was the only time we've ever had the privilege of seeing penguins in the wild.

Because they are so tiny, Little Penguins have daytime predators. So, they remain in the sea until the sun sets. Then, after dark, they begin joining together into groups called "rafts" and muster up the courage to rush out of the waves and up onto the beach.

At first, groupings of penguins would appear coming out of the sea, only to turn back to the waves in retreat. This happened several times before they finally thought it was time to make the run.

They had been fishing and filling their tiny bellies with food to bring their babies. The young penguin chicks were up in the grassy knolls beyond the sand. The parents build their nests in burrows, which we had passed as we walked the pathway out to the viewing area on the beach.

The penguins rushed the beach and waddled past us as we watched in joyful amazement. They were so cute and tiny! After watching raft after raft of penguins come in from the sea, we got up and made our way back up the pathway towards the visitor's center to see the next part of the wild "show"... The penguins were going to find their babies and feeding them in their burrows! It was a wonderful and amazing experience that we will never forget! Doesn't the Heavenly Father do all things wonderfully!? We are in awe!

Now, today is Friday here and we are preparing to go to the rented hall to set up for the meetings scheduled for Sabbath. Valerie, our hostess, says we should expect a full house. Please keep this final meeting day (in this ministry trip) in your prayers.