The Lord replied, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
-Exodus 33:14
In 24 hours I will be on a plane to Sydney, Australia, let the adventure begin! I am ready to experience a new culture, to meet more of my brothers and sisters in Christ, to be uncomfortable and out of my element, for God to stretch me, push me, water me for growth. God will be my tour guide for the next four months, showing me this beautiful continent He created, and having me fall even more in love with Him. And so it begins...
Upon arriving to Australia, all of the ASC (Australian Studies Centre) students and I were picked up at the airport and taken to the Wesley Institute campus…our new university, or “uni” as they would called it here, for the next 4 months. The first three days here were all orientation for the ASC students. This consisted of a lot of information being thrown at us about group dynamics, the school, rules, more about the city, and what our life here will look like. We’d have tea and biscuit breaks, where they supplied us with delicious tea and cookies in both the morning and “arvo” (or afternoon). Part of our orientation, and much of what we did this weekend, consisted of exploring the lovely city of Sydney! We all rode the bus downtown where we saw the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House, and after rode the ferry to Manly beach where there were some fun shops and beautiful views.
Each night, my four roommates and I, come back to our homestay for a dinner prepared by our mother. She is such a hospitable woman, and has three older sons who we have gotten to know. My roommates and I get along so well! I am so thankful to have these women in my life and am excited to watch our relationships grow. The food here is healthier than in the states, for they use a lot less sugar and no corn syrup, and their portions are smaller and not as greasy. But veggies and fruits are more rare and expensive, especially during their winter. I have enjoyed everything I have eaten, though I haven’t tried anything to out of the ordinary yet!
I have been placed in a service placement I am VERY excited about starting next Saturday! I will be working with Hillsong church’s street teams where a group of us will go about the suburbs of Sydney doing random acts of kindness for anyone in need. Hillsong’s street team director said they believe that building personal relationships with people in the community is the most affective way to eventually invite them to church and begin to evangelize there. I cannot wait to be at service to the people here and show them God’s everlasting love! The ASC students and I also visited Hillsongs Sunday night service, what a Holy Spirit party that was! I loved seeing people from a different country worshipping the same loving God!
The people here in Sydney have been extremely kind thus far. Everyone has been helpful with my roommates and I trying to get down the bus system (which has been quite the adventure!). Aussies also dress much nicer most of the time, and have extremely sarcastic senses of humor. Water is scarce here in Australia so we are limited to five-minute showers, and it reminds me of how privileged we are as Americans to have all the resources we do.
Australia has many similarities to the states but also so many differences, and I am really enjoying all of the differences! It is a euphoric feeling being in a different country with people who want to know all about your life back home and you want to know about theirs. One of my favorite moments was following worship the third day we were here, and the Wesley students who led worship explained to us how refreshing it was to hear our beautiful voices lifting up The Lord, and it reminded them that we live in such an enormous world, but as followers of Christ we have this one AMAZING thing in common. It’s in HIS presence that we can all come together and love on one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Though I miss home very much, I am so excited to see all that God continues to do here in Australia. He has continued to instill in me that I am supposed to be here to grow and find so much more of my identity in Him!
I begin school on Monday and a regular schedule will start to come into play, so it will begin to feel like I really live in Australia. Prayers would be much appreciated for my first week of school and that it would not be too stressful or overwhelming! Missing all of you back home and cannot wait to share more!
Each night, my four roommates and I, come back to our homestay for a dinner prepared by our mother. She is such a hospitable woman, and has three older sons who we have gotten to know. My roommates and I get along so well! I am so thankful to have these women in my life and am excited to watch our relationships grow. The food here is healthier than in the states, for they use a lot less sugar and no corn syrup, and their portions are smaller and not as greasy. But veggies and fruits are more rare and expensive, especially during their winter. I have enjoyed everything I have eaten, though I haven’t tried anything to out of the ordinary yet!
I have been placed in a service placement I am VERY excited about starting next Saturday! I will be working with Hillsong church’s street teams where a group of us will go about the suburbs of Sydney doing random acts of kindness for anyone in need. Hillsong’s street team director said they believe that building personal relationships with people in the community is the most affective way to eventually invite them to church and begin to evangelize there. I cannot wait to be at service to the people here and show them God’s everlasting love! The ASC students and I also visited Hillsongs Sunday night service, what a Holy Spirit party that was! I loved seeing people from a different country worshipping the same loving God!
The people here in Sydney have been extremely kind thus far. Everyone has been helpful with my roommates and I trying to get down the bus system (which has been quite the adventure!). Aussies also dress much nicer most of the time, and have extremely sarcastic senses of humor. Water is scarce here in Australia so we are limited to five-minute showers, and it reminds me of how privileged we are as Americans to have all the resources we do.
Australia has many similarities to the states but also so many differences, and I am really enjoying all of the differences! It is a euphoric feeling being in a different country with people who want to know all about your life back home and you want to know about theirs. One of my favorite moments was following worship the third day we were here, and the Wesley students who led worship explained to us how refreshing it was to hear our beautiful voices lifting up The Lord, and it reminded them that we live in such an enormous world, but as followers of Christ we have this one AMAZING thing in common. It’s in HIS presence that we can all come together and love on one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Though I miss home very much, I am so excited to see all that God continues to do here in Australia. He has continued to instill in me that I am supposed to be here to grow and find so much more of my identity in Him!
I begin school on Monday and a regular schedule will start to come into play, so it will begin to feel like I really live in Australia. Prayers would be much appreciated for my first week of school and that it would not be too stressful or overwhelming! Missing all of you back home and cannot wait to share more!
KENOSIS: The self-emptying of one’s own will and becoming entirely receptive to God’s divine will [Philippians 2:7]
First week of classes, done! Successful, but a bit stressful. I won’t be doing as much dancing here as I had hoped, but the classes I have will be stretching and challenging in many ways. Homework is already piling up, as things are usually overwhelming in the beginning, but I have faith that I will be able to do well in my classes as long as the beautiful city of Sydney doesn’t distract me too much!
This Saturday morning was my first street teams experience with Hillsong church! Each student in my program must complete 35 hours of service in a service placement we are put in. Couldn’t be happier about working with Hillsong! We saw parts of Sydney that tourists don’t see. My housemate Sarah, a man from Cambodia named Lee-Fong, and I went to government owned apartment buildings, which reeked of toilet and cigarette smoke with graffiti covering the walls. The three of us vacuumed one man’s apartment…he was an outspoken but lonely man with a little something against Americans. The next apartment we visited was this sweet 90-year-old Russian man. We washed his windows and mirrors, and as is Russian tradition, he had us stay and eat biscuits (cookies) and drink some tea. Though the cups were dirty and the biscuits out of date, we were happy to bring this elderly man some company. He told us about how he used to be a boxer, and showed us this BEAUTIFUL picture of him and his wife at age 21. It was the sweetest thing I had ever seen. His wife died 16 years ago and he says he is very sad and alone. My heart breaks for him, but I’m excited to return in a fortnight to talk with him some more. We also spoke with this younger Columbian man who had just moved in, he was very kind. The people we encounter there simply want someone to share tea and talk with. Many people did refuse our service if they knew we were from Hillsong, but we were just there to spread God’s love through service. Hillsong has been working with these people for years and they’ve seen a lot of breakthrough, I feel very blessed to be a part of it!
It is easy to reflect on how much we take for granted after experiences like this. All the “stuff” we feel like we need, which are really all unnecessary. God has called us to be His hands and feet on this Earth, and that does not involve us being distracted by worldly things, but involves helping those in need, and seeing God’s fruit develop from that. It is HIS kingdom we are preparing for, not our own. I know I will be able to learn so much from the people I encounter through street teams, and pray that I can be used in some way for God’s glory!
This Saturday morning was my first street teams experience with Hillsong church! Each student in my program must complete 35 hours of service in a service placement we are put in. Couldn’t be happier about working with Hillsong! We saw parts of Sydney that tourists don’t see. My housemate Sarah, a man from Cambodia named Lee-Fong, and I went to government owned apartment buildings, which reeked of toilet and cigarette smoke with graffiti covering the walls. The three of us vacuumed one man’s apartment…he was an outspoken but lonely man with a little something against Americans. The next apartment we visited was this sweet 90-year-old Russian man. We washed his windows and mirrors, and as is Russian tradition, he had us stay and eat biscuits (cookies) and drink some tea. Though the cups were dirty and the biscuits out of date, we were happy to bring this elderly man some company. He told us about how he used to be a boxer, and showed us this BEAUTIFUL picture of him and his wife at age 21. It was the sweetest thing I had ever seen. His wife died 16 years ago and he says he is very sad and alone. My heart breaks for him, but I’m excited to return in a fortnight to talk with him some more. We also spoke with this younger Columbian man who had just moved in, he was very kind. The people we encounter there simply want someone to share tea and talk with. Many people did refuse our service if they knew we were from Hillsong, but we were just there to spread God’s love through service. Hillsong has been working with these people for years and they’ve seen a lot of breakthrough, I feel very blessed to be a part of it!
It is easy to reflect on how much we take for granted after experiences like this. All the “stuff” we feel like we need, which are really all unnecessary. God has called us to be His hands and feet on this Earth, and that does not involve us being distracted by worldly things, but involves helping those in need, and seeing God’s fruit develop from that. It is HIS kingdom we are preparing for, not our own. I know I will be able to learn so much from the people I encounter through street teams, and pray that I can be used in some way for God’s glory!
I have been in Australia over one month now! How time has flown! At the same time, I feel as if I have been living here for the past six months. I know where most things are and what buses or trains I must take to get there, the city feels familiar, and I am beginning to feel like a local. I have gone about my daily life with going to school, doing too much homework, hanging out with friends, visiting the city and seeing beautiful sights, while attending Hillsong church and working with their street teams. Life is feeling fairly normal and stable in the things I see and do.
As for what God is doing inside my heart, it is far from stable in the most awesome way. The growth is constant, flowing, and just what I had prayed for. Stronger relationships are forming with the group of Americans students I arrived with. The reason being we have all been covering this semester in prayer. We all have this similar view of how we want this to be HIS semester, not our own, and how we want our times here to be marked by our prayers. When gathering in groups we try to open our hearts and pray over one another. God has definitely been equipping me to pray over other’s situations, and has blessed me with people to pray over my own. It has been so amazing to see the growth this has sparked, the bonding it’s created, and how so many of us are going through the same exact things, which creates a strong support system for each other. I am so incredibly thankful to be here in Australia with these people that God has brought here for such specific reasons. Through all of this prayer, God has taken hold of my heart. As distant as He feels sometimes, He has been revealing His presence in my thoughts and feelings. He is giving me new desires to pursue, He is refining me to be a better Christ follower, He is calling me to things I never thought I’d have the confidence to do. All this to say, I have SO much more growing to do! I am excited for this life long journey with The Lord by letting His spirit guide me. He has become the lover that I crave, how lucky am I to be able to build an intimate relationship with the Creator of our world! His love truly never fails!
He also answered my prayers this week with getting my friends and I involved with a women’s connect group at Hillsong! We are having our first meeting this week, and from meeting the girls leading the group, I can tell this is going to transform into an amazing, God filled, sisterhood! Not to mention, one of the Hillsong girls plays the guitar and leads worship, and has offered to teach me all she knows for no cost! I am so excited to pursue this, and with God’s direction I hope to use these skills in the future! I am so grateful to have met these girls!
I also had one of the most wonderful days yet this past Friday with all of the ASC students! As part of our Indigenous history class we took a trip to the Blue Mountains about an hour outside of Sydney. There we had an Aboriginal tour guide who led us on a hike from 9am-4pm. On this hike we stopped every so often and he would explain to us what certain plants were used for with the Aborigines, certain traditions and ceremonies they performed, where the caves they stayed in are, and what exactly their life was like back in the day. We got to eat leaves, shove Eucalyptus leaves in our nostrils, dance as crazy and fast as possible, listen to birds that made the most interesting noises, and paint our face with Aboriginal paints. It was SO wonderful spending time in nature after being stuck in the city for the past month. Going on the hike reminded me so much of home, and our Sunday hike days my friends and I would go on before heading to college group. Spending time in the Blue Mountains put me at peace. I had time to clear my head, talk with God, bond with my brothers and sisters, and thank Him for gifting us with such a beautiful planet!
I still have about two months left here in Aus, and an insane amount of adventure and growth to come! Though school can be a buzz kill, I am learning so much there, as well as learning from Hillsong and my friends. I am stoked beyond belief to see this semester heading the way that it is. Abba is at work!
As for what God is doing inside my heart, it is far from stable in the most awesome way. The growth is constant, flowing, and just what I had prayed for. Stronger relationships are forming with the group of Americans students I arrived with. The reason being we have all been covering this semester in prayer. We all have this similar view of how we want this to be HIS semester, not our own, and how we want our times here to be marked by our prayers. When gathering in groups we try to open our hearts and pray over one another. God has definitely been equipping me to pray over other’s situations, and has blessed me with people to pray over my own. It has been so amazing to see the growth this has sparked, the bonding it’s created, and how so many of us are going through the same exact things, which creates a strong support system for each other. I am so incredibly thankful to be here in Australia with these people that God has brought here for such specific reasons. Through all of this prayer, God has taken hold of my heart. As distant as He feels sometimes, He has been revealing His presence in my thoughts and feelings. He is giving me new desires to pursue, He is refining me to be a better Christ follower, He is calling me to things I never thought I’d have the confidence to do. All this to say, I have SO much more growing to do! I am excited for this life long journey with The Lord by letting His spirit guide me. He has become the lover that I crave, how lucky am I to be able to build an intimate relationship with the Creator of our world! His love truly never fails!
He also answered my prayers this week with getting my friends and I involved with a women’s connect group at Hillsong! We are having our first meeting this week, and from meeting the girls leading the group, I can tell this is going to transform into an amazing, God filled, sisterhood! Not to mention, one of the Hillsong girls plays the guitar and leads worship, and has offered to teach me all she knows for no cost! I am so excited to pursue this, and with God’s direction I hope to use these skills in the future! I am so grateful to have met these girls!
I also had one of the most wonderful days yet this past Friday with all of the ASC students! As part of our Indigenous history class we took a trip to the Blue Mountains about an hour outside of Sydney. There we had an Aboriginal tour guide who led us on a hike from 9am-4pm. On this hike we stopped every so often and he would explain to us what certain plants were used for with the Aborigines, certain traditions and ceremonies they performed, where the caves they stayed in are, and what exactly their life was like back in the day. We got to eat leaves, shove Eucalyptus leaves in our nostrils, dance as crazy and fast as possible, listen to birds that made the most interesting noises, and paint our face with Aboriginal paints. It was SO wonderful spending time in nature after being stuck in the city for the past month. Going on the hike reminded me so much of home, and our Sunday hike days my friends and I would go on before heading to college group. Spending time in the Blue Mountains put me at peace. I had time to clear my head, talk with God, bond with my brothers and sisters, and thank Him for gifting us with such a beautiful planet!
I still have about two months left here in Aus, and an insane amount of adventure and growth to come! Though school can be a buzz kill, I am learning so much there, as well as learning from Hillsong and my friends. I am stoked beyond belief to see this semester heading the way that it is. Abba is at work!
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” –Isaiah 43:18-19
September 1, 2013
I have come to truly love living in Sydney! Although I am not a city girl, I have enjoyed this beautiful place and was fortunate enough to find a bunch of bush trails near my house that are just perfect for running and escaping the rush of the city! God’s creation, His nature, is so glorious. My breath is taken away at some of the sights I have seen. The past couple of weeks of living here has been so normal, out of the honeymoon stage, and I sometimes fall into the motion of just going through my days. It is in these times God has been able to show me more of what I am here for, and bring a renewed spirit to take full advantage of my time here. A few ASC friends and I went to see a play called Freud’s Last Session. It was a conversation between C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud. The points brought up were so interesting I didn’t want it to end! Some of us also walked across the Harbour Bridge, it was absolutely beautiful. We also went to an AFL game to cheer for the Sydney Swans! Footy has become my new favorite sport! I am really wishing we had it in America. It involves football, soccer, volleyball, and wrestling mostly. These men were SO intense, especially to do what they do without any padding. The ASC also had a day where we were able to throw Aboriginal spears, boomerangs, and play the didgeridoo down at a park near our school! I’m afraid to say I nearly failed at all of these things. They’re more difficult than one might think! I have a new found respect for didgeridoo players, they sound so awesome and Australian too! This week also consisted of my first guitar lessons with Hannah. My desire to be able to lead worship is growing every day, I am stoked to get better at guitar and let God use me in this way! We are officially half way done with our school semester and in one week we begin our two-week break! I am looking forward to going to the outback over the break, and being able to explore Sydney more every day. I am incredibly grateful to be here in Australia for the season of my life, it was of course, in God’s perfect timing. I am learning to put my entire trust and faith into my Heavenly Father through different trials I am facing while being here. Also to open up my heart to Him through daily conversations, He is my ultimate best friend. He has also grown an excitement in me for the time when I return home. I look forward to applying all I have learned here. My desires to work with youth, especially teenage girls, lead worship, lead a small group, grow in my friendships, serve in my community, pursue kinesiology and naturopathy full time, have all grown tremendously and I am thrilled to have the resources to accomplish these things. My time here is a constant spiritual journey, and through the up and down times, I know for a fact The Lord is equipping me for bigger and better things than I can possibly imagine. Boy I am thankful He has blessed me with this spiritual journey while being on a physical one in the lovely land of Aus!
Here is a video of the highlights of our AFL game. We were about 7 rows back from the front, and right behind the goal posts. Amazing seats! Not to mention our group made it on the dance cam ;)
I have come to truly love living in Sydney! Although I am not a city girl, I have enjoyed this beautiful place and was fortunate enough to find a bunch of bush trails near my house that are just perfect for running and escaping the rush of the city! God’s creation, His nature, is so glorious. My breath is taken away at some of the sights I have seen. The past couple of weeks of living here has been so normal, out of the honeymoon stage, and I sometimes fall into the motion of just going through my days. It is in these times God has been able to show me more of what I am here for, and bring a renewed spirit to take full advantage of my time here. A few ASC friends and I went to see a play called Freud’s Last Session. It was a conversation between C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud. The points brought up were so interesting I didn’t want it to end! Some of us also walked across the Harbour Bridge, it was absolutely beautiful. We also went to an AFL game to cheer for the Sydney Swans! Footy has become my new favorite sport! I am really wishing we had it in America. It involves football, soccer, volleyball, and wrestling mostly. These men were SO intense, especially to do what they do without any padding. The ASC also had a day where we were able to throw Aboriginal spears, boomerangs, and play the didgeridoo down at a park near our school! I’m afraid to say I nearly failed at all of these things. They’re more difficult than one might think! I have a new found respect for didgeridoo players, they sound so awesome and Australian too! This week also consisted of my first guitar lessons with Hannah. My desire to be able to lead worship is growing every day, I am stoked to get better at guitar and let God use me in this way! We are officially half way done with our school semester and in one week we begin our two-week break! I am looking forward to going to the outback over the break, and being able to explore Sydney more every day. I am incredibly grateful to be here in Australia for the season of my life, it was of course, in God’s perfect timing. I am learning to put my entire trust and faith into my Heavenly Father through different trials I am facing while being here. Also to open up my heart to Him through daily conversations, He is my ultimate best friend. He has also grown an excitement in me for the time when I return home. I look forward to applying all I have learned here. My desires to work with youth, especially teenage girls, lead worship, lead a small group, grow in my friendships, serve in my community, pursue kinesiology and naturopathy full time, have all grown tremendously and I am thrilled to have the resources to accomplish these things. My time here is a constant spiritual journey, and through the up and down times, I know for a fact The Lord is equipping me for bigger and better things than I can possibly imagine. Boy I am thankful He has blessed me with this spiritual journey while being on a physical one in the lovely land of Aus!
Here is a video of the highlights of our AFL game. We were about 7 rows back from the front, and right behind the goal posts. Amazing seats! Not to mention our group made it on the dance cam ;)
September 25, 2013
For the past two weeks, us Americans have had the experience of an Australian Spring break. They were amazing! The first week consisted of going with a group of 9 of us to a camp in the Blue Mountains where we were able to hike down into them and see Australia’s natural beauty. Some of us also rode the steepest railway in the world according to the Guinness book of world records. It was 52 degrees steep! After that all of the Americans took a trip to the outback! This was by far my most cherished experience yet. In a comfortable bus we took a ten hour drive to the town on Condoblin where we stayed on a sheep shearing farm. While there we ate SO much delicious food and experienced things that to me seemed typically Australian. The cabins we had were filled with spiders, so sleeping in there wasn’t much of an option for me. Though it got chilly at night, some of us slept in sleeping bags under the stars. Seeing all those beautiful stars reminded me of being at home. Some exciting things we did were watch a sheep get sheared, hold a very large shingle-back lizard, drive on the back of a ute (truck) with a large spotlight to find Kangaroos, chased Emus in the ute in which we almost ran them over, and chased a tiny wild pig. The memories I hold dearest to my heart from this trip were the nights spent around the campfire. I had the opportunity to lead some worship, making me excited to do more of that in the future, and each American had the chance to share some of their story. Many of us stayed up late, if not all night, and were able to laugh with one another, pray over each other, and connect with people on a deeper level. I feel so blessed by these people I came here with, and it has been amazing to see God working in each of their lives. It brings me to tears at the thought of leaving these people in six short weeks, but the bonds we created are so worth the pain we’ll endure when we’re separated. One major thing this semester has taught me is the importance of community. God gives us people to share our experiences with and to help one another walk through both the dark and light together. Living life in community creates a whole other level in which it can push your faith to grow. I had a strong realization when I saw how much diving into community could have helped me in the past, and I hoped to apply this lesson upon my arrival home. After the outback a friend from America and an Australian friends invited me on a road trip through New South Whales. God really provided us with places to go during this trip and we were able to see so much more of the state. The towns were quaint and the beaches absolutely breathtaking. And now, we all return to school, to take on a challenging load of work. I pray that this will not hinder my enjoyment of Sydney the last few weeks I am here. Through this Spring break, I have seen how God is always present. He is in everything I see. In all of the gorgeous places He has created, and has brought amazing people into my life for me to love on them as Christ would. I look forward to the last adventures to come before starting a new chapter in my life back home!
For the past two weeks, us Americans have had the experience of an Australian Spring break. They were amazing! The first week consisted of going with a group of 9 of us to a camp in the Blue Mountains where we were able to hike down into them and see Australia’s natural beauty. Some of us also rode the steepest railway in the world according to the Guinness book of world records. It was 52 degrees steep! After that all of the Americans took a trip to the outback! This was by far my most cherished experience yet. In a comfortable bus we took a ten hour drive to the town on Condoblin where we stayed on a sheep shearing farm. While there we ate SO much delicious food and experienced things that to me seemed typically Australian. The cabins we had were filled with spiders, so sleeping in there wasn’t much of an option for me. Though it got chilly at night, some of us slept in sleeping bags under the stars. Seeing all those beautiful stars reminded me of being at home. Some exciting things we did were watch a sheep get sheared, hold a very large shingle-back lizard, drive on the back of a ute (truck) with a large spotlight to find Kangaroos, chased Emus in the ute in which we almost ran them over, and chased a tiny wild pig. The memories I hold dearest to my heart from this trip were the nights spent around the campfire. I had the opportunity to lead some worship, making me excited to do more of that in the future, and each American had the chance to share some of their story. Many of us stayed up late, if not all night, and were able to laugh with one another, pray over each other, and connect with people on a deeper level. I feel so blessed by these people I came here with, and it has been amazing to see God working in each of their lives. It brings me to tears at the thought of leaving these people in six short weeks, but the bonds we created are so worth the pain we’ll endure when we’re separated. One major thing this semester has taught me is the importance of community. God gives us people to share our experiences with and to help one another walk through both the dark and light together. Living life in community creates a whole other level in which it can push your faith to grow. I had a strong realization when I saw how much diving into community could have helped me in the past, and I hoped to apply this lesson upon my arrival home. After the outback a friend from America and an Australian friends invited me on a road trip through New South Whales. God really provided us with places to go during this trip and we were able to see so much more of the state. The towns were quaint and the beaches absolutely breathtaking. And now, we all return to school, to take on a challenging load of work. I pray that this will not hinder my enjoyment of Sydney the last few weeks I am here. Through this Spring break, I have seen how God is always present. He is in everything I see. In all of the gorgeous places He has created, and has brought amazing people into my life for me to love on them as Christ would. I look forward to the last adventures to come before starting a new chapter in my life back home!
14 October, 2013
Time is ticking and it is less than three weeks until I will be home in California. Since coming back to school after break I have been loaded with assessments, but through all of that I have been able to soak up every last minute I have here with these lovely people. I turned 20 last Tuesday! 20 whole years of life, it is amazing to see how my story has developed! I share a birthday with another girl in ASC and all of our wonderful friends gave us a surprise birthday party! I loved just being able to be in the same room, watching people laugh and joke around. On Wednesday night some of us girls went to see Romeo & Juliet at the Sydney Opera House! Such a dream come true! The actors blew me away with their talent and this rendition was so incredibly clever and captivating. Being able to see that in the Opera House is something I will never forget. The month of October also marks the one year anniversary of when I decided to completely live my life for Christ. Thinking back on what my life was like only a year and a half ago was 100% different. I was living for myself and struggling with reality, thinking life was never going to get better. Then I met Jesus, who redeemed me from my past sins and set me free from this fallen world. Living for Him has been the best decision I have ever made, and I could not have done it without my friends and family back home! Never would I have imagined myself studying abroad in Australia either! Although it is difficult to remember, God truly has the most amazing plans for us, so much better than our own. After being with these people here almost four months, we have grown such deep bonds. We say that talking about leaving here and our last days together is the “forbidden subject.” Man is it hard to visualize my life without these beloved people! This past weekend some friends and I were able to go to Bondi Beach, one of the most famous beaches in Sydney, which even has it’s own reality television show. It was absolutely gorgeous and it felt so nice to be able to relax and enjoy time with one another. There is no doubt, I am excited to come home and see the people I’ve missed so much, and let God direct my life in this new chapter. But I already miss Sydney heaps. I love the atmosphere, the culture, Hillsong, and the people. I have learned an insane amount about Australia, but also about the United States, about myself, and about Our Heavenly Father. It will be so strange to not live in Aus any more, it breaks my heart a little. God has blessed me more than I deserve with the experiences and opportunities I have had here!
Time is ticking and it is less than three weeks until I will be home in California. Since coming back to school after break I have been loaded with assessments, but through all of that I have been able to soak up every last minute I have here with these lovely people. I turned 20 last Tuesday! 20 whole years of life, it is amazing to see how my story has developed! I share a birthday with another girl in ASC and all of our wonderful friends gave us a surprise birthday party! I loved just being able to be in the same room, watching people laugh and joke around. On Wednesday night some of us girls went to see Romeo & Juliet at the Sydney Opera House! Such a dream come true! The actors blew me away with their talent and this rendition was so incredibly clever and captivating. Being able to see that in the Opera House is something I will never forget. The month of October also marks the one year anniversary of when I decided to completely live my life for Christ. Thinking back on what my life was like only a year and a half ago was 100% different. I was living for myself and struggling with reality, thinking life was never going to get better. Then I met Jesus, who redeemed me from my past sins and set me free from this fallen world. Living for Him has been the best decision I have ever made, and I could not have done it without my friends and family back home! Never would I have imagined myself studying abroad in Australia either! Although it is difficult to remember, God truly has the most amazing plans for us, so much better than our own. After being with these people here almost four months, we have grown such deep bonds. We say that talking about leaving here and our last days together is the “forbidden subject.” Man is it hard to visualize my life without these beloved people! This past weekend some friends and I were able to go to Bondi Beach, one of the most famous beaches in Sydney, which even has it’s own reality television show. It was absolutely gorgeous and it felt so nice to be able to relax and enjoy time with one another. There is no doubt, I am excited to come home and see the people I’ve missed so much, and let God direct my life in this new chapter. But I already miss Sydney heaps. I love the atmosphere, the culture, Hillsong, and the people. I have learned an insane amount about Australia, but also about the United States, about myself, and about Our Heavenly Father. It will be so strange to not live in Aus any more, it breaks my heart a little. God has blessed me more than I deserve with the experiences and opportunities I have had here!