Community, School & Church Displays | Toronto NSW
Tuesday: 14 October
Toronto Town Square Display
We arrived at Toronto Town Square buzzing with anticipation and positioned Bubsie, front and center in front of an empty shop—a perfect spot for maximum visibility. The moment we began setting up the gazebo, people started gathering for a closer look. We knew immediately it was going to be a fantastic day!
An Amazing Community Partnership
The energy was incredible! We were absolutely swamped with interest from the very start. We’re deeply grateful to the wonderful team from the Toronto Seventh-day Adventist Church, who showed up with incredible enthusiasm and made a huge difference. They helped hand out books and engage in meaningful conversations with visitors, which allowed us to keep up with the amazing flow of people.
Non-Stop Connection and Engagement
Over the entire four and a half hours, we experienced something truly special—there wasn’t a single moment when we weren’t talking to someone. We had some wonderfully deep conversations where people really engaged with our message, and we also connected with people who stopped by in a hurry to grab a book and learn more. Every interaction mattered, and every person who stopped was a blessing.
The momentum never let up. To keep the energy going and stay focused on connecting with visitors, our team took lunch in shifts—no one wanted to miss the opportunity to share with all these interested people.
Incredible Impact
By the time we finished, we had given out over 150 books! It was a phenomenal response that far exceeded our hopes and showed just how hungry people are for this message.
On to the Next Adventure
At 1:30, energized and encouraged by the success, we packed up and drove to the Toronto Adventist Church property. We had a second event lined up for the day—and this time, our audience would be the enthusiastic children from Toronto Adventist School. What a day we had ahead of us!
Toronto Adventist School & Church Display
The Perfect Venue
We set up at the church under the covered area—the perfect shelter for what promised to be an exciting encounter with the students. The energy was immediately palpable as the upper primary school students came down to see Bubsie, up close for the first time.
Kevin’s Captivating Story
Kevin launched into the story of Bubsie with wonderful enthusiasm, capturing the students’ attention right from the start. The upper primary students listened intently, completely engaged. Soon after, the lower primary students arrived with something special—they’d created pictures of Bubsie and had prepared questions they were eager to ask. Their creativity and curiosity were absolutely delightful!
A Moment of Wonder
All the students sat in rapt attention through Kevin’s story, completely mesmerized by the tale of adventure and exploration. When the story finished, Kevin extended a special invitation to the principal to sit in Bubsie and manually work the windscreen wipers—a hands-on moment that brought the vintage car to life in a way no amount of talking could achieve. The children’s faces lit up watching this interactive experience!
Kevin was genuinely impressed by the quality of the students’ Bubsie pictures, which showed just how much they’d been paying attention and how much the car had captured their imagination.
Sharing the Treasure
Everyone left with something meaningful to take home. The staff received copies of The Overlander, while the students were given QR codes linking to Kevin’s story and other wonderful nature programs from The Incredible Journey series. The older students who wanted their own copies of The Overlander were thrilled to receive one!
Questions, Wonder, and Connection
The 35 students were buzzing with enthusiasm, eagerly asking thoughtful questions and hearing the fascinating story of two young men who travelled around Australia 100 years ago. Their curiosity was infectious, and watching them connect with a story from a century past—brought to life through Bubsie—was truly inspiring. It was the perfect way to spark imagination and a sense of adventure in young hearts.
A Special Gathering
After the excited students returned to their classrooms, something wonderful happened—many of the church members stayed behind for a special presentation of the Bubsie story. About 20 people gathered, including visitors from the nearby Lifestyle Living Village and members of the broader community who had been warmly invited to join us. The anticipation was palpable!
Afternoon Tea and Connection
A lovely afternoon tea was provided as people explored Bubsie up close, enjoying refreshments and fellowship. It was the perfect atmosphere for building connection and community before Kevin’s presentation. The informal setting allowed people to ask questions, share stories, and get to know one another while admiring the vintage Overlander.
Kevin’s Inspiring Presentation
Kevin then delivered his engaging presentation of the Bubsie story, captivating the audience with the remarkable journey of two young men who travelled across Australia a century ago. The listeners were genuinely interested, and many had thoughtful questions about the adventure and its spiritual significance.
The response was beautiful—many people accepted God’s Rescue Plan, and QR Cards were shared with those who wanted to explore more. It was a meaningful afternoon of spiritual connection and genuine interest.
A Heartfelt Farewell
The moment carried extra significance as the church members gathered to farewell Kevin and Glenda. As this is their home church, this goodbye was particularly poignant—they won’t see these beloved community members again for another 4 months. The warmth and affection in those final moments reflected years of shared ministry and genuine relationships.
Preparing for the Next Leg
Before we departed, one of our new drivers for the Albury to Ballarat segment arrived to ensure everything was perfectly set for the next phase of the journey. He thoroughly checked his vehicle’s towing capacity and tested all the connections, ensuring Bubsie would travel safely. We’ll see him again in November when this next exciting leg of the journey begins!
Heading Home
With everything checked and ready, Bubsie smoothly drove into the trailer. As we made our way back to Cooranbong, our hearts were full of gratitude for the incredible day—a perfect blend of connection, spiritual impact, and community blessing.
