After our tour on the Reef, we headed back to the Novotel Oasis Hotel to get cleaned up. Throughout the day, we kept hearing about a backpackers’ paradise, a pub by the name of Gilligan’s. Spending the evening hours (and late evening hours!) there was the best choice we could make! I can’t count on both hands all of the diverse people I met or all the various accents I heard during my time there. The first individual I connected with was an Irishman named Bobby, who currently works in the mines in Perth, Australia. He was quite charming, and after a bit of persuasion, I convinced him to let me teach him some dance moves. (What most people do in pubs, both in Australia and America, does not even come close to defining “dancing”). He was a little unsure of himself at first, but I realized that Bobby has great rhythm and before I knew it, he was twirling and dipping me without a second thought! He seemed delighted that he could actually dance, and several times exclaimed, “This is brilliant!” John didn’t believe me when I told him the guy had never danced before in his life! Bobby introduced me to his Irish friend, Tony, and I enjoyed their company at various times during the evening. The second young man I met was Erick, a German musician who spoke little English. He was very sweet and told me his story about how the love of his life left him when he was drafted into the Army. Some guys might use a story like that as a ploy to get the sympathy of young women, but the tears in Erick’s eyes suggested otherwise. During the evening, I also dodged the amorous intentions of a young Aussie boy (the poor thing wanted nothing more than a kiss from the American girl, but unfortunately, he picked the wrong one and was sent away with very red cheeks) and discussed faith and science with an Australian atheist in medical school. I didn’t think the night could get any more interesting until I spotted a well-dressed, handsome man standing alone. He turned out to be an American from North Carolina, as well as a fantastic dancer. I enjoyed his company and the fact that he respected the boundaries I had set for all the men I danced with. He offered some great conversation and challenged me to not always view the world from closed perspective. We didn’t agree on everything, but it allowed me a chance to share my opinion and my faith. Going back briefly to my purpose for this trip, I am amazed at how God has opened so many doors for sharing what I believe. Not once did I ever initiate a conversation about Jesus Christ, but in every conversation, I was asked about my faith. My actions (such as staying sober and laying down boundaries for dancing) intrigued many people, sparking interesting conversations and unique opportunities to discuss how my relationship with Jesus influences my lifestyle. It was a great evening, with a lot of fun, laughter, and deep conversations.