Goodbye Australia...

... Well, I am back in America now!

Summary of what happened since I last wrote.

On Thursday morning we woke up late (well, I woke up at four a.m. but everyone else woke up late) and headed to Gateway Cafe. There we had brunch! It was made by Teanelle, Richard, DJ, and I. YUMMY sandwiches :) Following lunch, we all went to the mall. Taylor & I needed an extra suitcase and so we were on a mission to find one! She eventually found a HOTTT PINKKK one at Target [just so you know, their Target is nothing like ours.. it is more like a parisian or something] Anyways, the day continued with mcdonald's (oh & Australian McDonald's have yummier desserts! woohoo!) and a little walking around. Before I knew it, it was time for AWANA CLUB at the local school. We headed there to help Josh & Richard. Richard was heading back to get his car from the coffee shop... so Taylor & I walked with him... on the way there, Taylor told me that she would ride back with Richard so that I could have some time alone... That was nice!

You're not going to believe who was pulling up to Gateway as we walked up!! NATHANIEL! Yay. It was a real joy to see him. I went into Gateway to relax, then he came in... We were able to talk for a bit about diets & healthy eating, plus Australian colleges... (supposedly, the government pays for their college... if you get a job, they take money from you.. kinda like a tax... but if you do not get a job, you are not required to pay it back!!! cool) Talking with him really did bless me.

Richard came to get me because Dr. Taylor was looking for me. No surprise.

At Awana, I almost fell asleep.. but I held myself together knowing that we were about to be at the Salvadors for dinner :)
Dinner was awesome. I almost did not eat, but was glad that I did :) Immediately following dinner, the "young ones" went downtown! Let me try & remember who all went... It was Precious, Josh, Danwin, Ken, Kirsten, Miikhail, Richard, DJ, Kim, Nathaniel, Taylor & I... (I feel like I am missing someone... but, not sure)... We went to this chocolate place... :) Forreal. I'm pretty sure it was Nathaniel's idea... The place was so cool, if only I could remember the name. If you are from America, you would have went in thinking it was just a coffee shop. There were tables and neat booths everywhere... there was also seating outside. Everyone ordered delicious drinks... I had a white chocolate chai.. DELIC!!! It was my first chai tea in Australia (on my last night, surprised? def a shocker)... Nathaniel also ordered Kim & I these chocolate covered waffles... HA sooo good :) What? We need this place in America! Fair dinkum.

When the night came to an end, I was not ready to say goodbye. I still remember standing in Annie's driveway thinking... do we have to go? As everyone who rode with Nathaniel stood their grateful for the memories we created.

I thought that meeting Miikhail & Nathaniel for breakfast at Gateway would be great, so I said I would meet them there... The next morning, I did not wake up until an hour or so after I was supposed to meet them... & the only reason I woke up was because Richard came into our room informing us that it was too late to be sleeping and that we needed to wake up and seize the day (adding my own words) HAHA! Anywho, the guys were most likely disappointed & I was definitely sad to not have seen them one last time...

Once we got ready, we headed to the airport... & said our goodbyes to Richard (he's still with us in spirit)

The twenty hours in air only seemed like two (because I literally only awake for two)... so, that was nice :)

We encountered many things on our way home... things like....
1) I stepped in pee, barefoot
2) Taylor got really sick and threw up
3) Our six hour lay over turned into an eight hour lay over
4) After everyone boarded our second plane, we had to get off & switch planes
5) sleeping on the ground in the Dallas airport

... a lot happened, but we finally made it home! To Alabama, that is...

I am half & half right now... Half glad to be back! But half missing Australia & all of my new friends!

I am really considering another trip... next summer :) Maybe three months this time! God willing.

May His will be done above my own!

Either way, this ten day adventure was the greatest blessing! I am so grateful to have experienced everything I did & to have met such wonderful friends.

... so blessed & thankful!!

May 26, 2011

Last night was awesome. We left the coffee shop around three o’clock to head downtown for dinner. On the way to downtown Sydney, it started raining; that was beautiful. Once we got down there, we all walked as quickly as possible to the building that the restaurant was in. It was a huge tower; literally, the tallest building in Sydney. The place was so fancy. It spins around while you eat, so you get a view of all of Sydney before your meal is over. Eating a buffet was ideal, because we were all missing American food just a tad bit. I ate things like potatoes, bread with hummus, green beans, pineapple, watermelon, and all kinds of delicious desserts. My favorite thing to eat was the bread and hummus. Or was it the ice cream? Not sure! All I know is that going to this restaurant was a big deal, and an expensive deal. It was such a blessing to get to go there and spend time with the team just relaxing.

Richard came with us, so you can imagine how hilarious the entire night was. At dinner, he was quiet and kept to himself. But, the rest of the time was a blast. He made jokes the entire way to the restaurant and talked to everyone about who they were dating on the way back. Although he is really funny, he has a lot of wisdom. Like most of the friends that I have made here, he is studying in a Bible college. Richard either already is a pastor or is going to be. It interests me how he can be so humorous yet love God so much; it really amazes me.

People like Richard, and friends like Tyler and Fenton back home, remind me that being yourself while pleasing God is possible. All I really want is to please God. So, learning about others and their relationship with God interests me. It helps to have people around that are just themselves twenty four seven. I would like to say that I am myself, always. I am. Lately, it has been easier to be free around folks. This probably has everything to do with the fact that I am with a whole new set of friends and that I know they are being transparent too.

Loving God is easy. Balancing life is hard. My only goal is to live a life that is pleasing to God. He has my heart; no one else could ever fulfill all of my longings. Only God is capable. Being in Australia is teaching me more and more about being a servant who is completely reliant on God’s faithfulness and love. Oh, yes! That is it. Being totally dependent on God IS life. I must be.

Fair dinkum, I have been in a dry place lately. God was still speaking, but I was dry. It was as if I had nothing to give. The truth is, selfishness had taken over without me knowing it. Instead of loving with all that I was, I was seeking love with all that I was.

This morning as I was writing on my arm (Something I do every morning. Usually just a proverb, but this morning, there was more to say), I began to write “Love unconditionally”. Then instead it made more sense to write “love God”. Here I was trying to remind myself to love those around me, so that I could show God’s love. Then, I realized that the only way to show God’s love was to love God. The only way to love God is to recognize that He first loved me (Hallelujah). So, today (and everyday) must be lived from a position of love for God. I LOVE GOD! HE LOVED ME FIRST! Woohoo. Where there is the love of God, dryness has to flee. HEHEHE! Fair Dinkum…

Yeah, so everything is wonderful today! It is our last day in Sydney. We are shopping a bit, while ministering to folks at the shops… then, we will be helping with “Awana Club” (if you haven’t ever heard of it, look it up. It is such a neat program for kids. They come together one night a week and memorize scripture, play games and just learn about the LORD. Great thing!). After Awana, we are going to the Salvadors (Danwins) for dinner. Nathaniel mentioned maybe the young one’s going out together while the older one’s ate at the Salvadors. Either way, I am excited. Seeing Danwin, Nathaniel and Richard will be a blast.

Believe it or not, I am going to miss this place. All of the people are so close to my heart now. They have become my closest friends. It is neat when you go all the way across the world to spend time with family you never met before. You just want to stay with them. But, I am also remembering all of my American friends & family. I am very appreciate of the love and support of those God has placed in my life as relatives. It is a joy to know everyone that I do.

Once I get home, everyone is getting a big hug & an I LOVE YOU! My love for people has increased… and hopefully will continue to.

LOVE GOD. LOVE PEOPLE.

*Fair dinkum = honest, true, forreal


*G'day Mate

PICTURES thus far!!

A few pictures of what has been happening (or at least what I have captured... some funny, some more serious) ... Everyone here is awesome! We have enjoyed every second. God is doing so much within my heart & He has used every single one of these people to change my life! Bless the LORD

Proverbs 24:26

"An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips"
Proverbs 24:26

BE HONEST!!! :)

TUESDAY!!!

God is awesome! His love is fresh, always...

We are in the coffee house this morning... I think Scripture reading in the public schools will follow.. then house to house visitation and maybe some basketball outreach... and eating in between...

Pray for us.

I miss the states... but now I have gotten to the point where if you told me I had to stay here for the rest of my life... I would not fight it.

The friends I have made here are wonderful... (pictures to come)

Yesterday we shopped in Sydney & did a little "tourist" stuff.. It was fun. Richard, Danwin, Roice, and Andy came with us :) So that was fun!!

Love you all. Thank you for everything.

Blessings, grace and peace