It comes to the time to update this blog and again all I want to update talk about is being grateful, reflecting, trusting God - all common themes and all that have come to mind, again, as I sit here thinking what to type.  I guess that's a pretty good thing.

It's winter time here, which is trippy 'cause I still have shorts and a tank on today. It does get chilly though, at least in my books. However, the other day I was telling my mom how cold it is, googled to find out the temperature and it...
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I never, ever want to take life for granted. Like, for reals. It is such a gift and there is so much beauty and opportunity in it, my word. Plus, have I said before, that God is good? 'Cause, He like...really is.

Again, Britt for the fail at updating this blog. Funny too, cause I actually quite enjoy updating and writing.

One of the most encouraging things in the world to me is to see God's fingerprint in my life and in my day to day. I just got back from a wonderful place known as Palm Island....
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A new journey has begun for 70+ students that have arrived in Townsville over the weekend. I find it to be such a privilege that I get to be a part of their walk as they discover more of who God is and His love, as well as gain understanding and an opportunity to grow in who they are too. More specifically, I'm staffing our 'Not For Sale' Discipleship Training School (DTS) - focused on bringing justice and hope.

I know it's kind of long, but below is the vision of the Not For Sale DTS for the...
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I forget that life is short too often. 

Not to be a Debby downer - I think that if we understood and really realized that life on earth is not forever, we would be a whole lot less tempted to cling to what we think will bring security or happiness. 

Maybe instead we would be more willing to take risks, to make our life actually not about our own desires, and stop trying to cling to our own reputations or be so prone to worrying. Maybe then we would just choose to have joy and be happy. 

I'm spea...
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I was reminded this week of the journey - particularly in the area of the medical ship and Papua New Guinea this time but it then overflowed into just feelings of faith & hope, in general. 

I love moments like this. Cause it's easy to let frustration grow when you have vision, why aren't we already 'there'? Why hasn't this already happened? 

But we miss so much then when we stay in the state of frustration. 

Before our work day started on Thursday, we spent some time praying about/for some areas...
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K, I just love Christmas. It's something I forget how much I love it until it's almost here again. I've just watched a family Christmas movie and am now lying in bed with the air-con on (this is an Aussie Christmas necessity) with some Christmas music (country style) playing and looking at crafts online. My heart is full.

Why not celebrate all month? Why not take time for whats important - others? Why not have fun and reflect on the year gone?

I hope you all enjoy all that this holiday season b...
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Perspective. is. so. so. important. I've decided.

Perspectives have ability to change thoughts, attitudes, and then feelings. Optimistic perspectives can bring peace, vision beyond, and hope. It's really amazing how without circumstances even changing, your attitude and perspective really do affect your thoughts and feelings in the midst. I love that - it also challenges me to check my attitudes. 

Okay... so I can't change situations all the time but what do I have responsibility for? My attitu...
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I'm down under again. And it is most definitely summer time. 

 

 

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Here's a little bit of honestly for you: I've been challenged lately. Challenged in my own thoughts and views and questions and doubts. And I've been extremely quick to grow frustrated within the midst. I wonder if God gets as frustrated as I do. Or maybe He's more patient than me.

I've had thoughts lately, wondering if maybe I made a mistake. Maybe it's crazy what I'm doing. Why am I living in Australia again? Why didn't I go to college? Except at different moments the last number of weeks, i...

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When I was 14, I went on my first missions trip. We went on outreach to Mexico but before that, had a few days of input and preparation at the Youth With a Mission center. We did team building activities, had classes and heard from different speakers, had prayer and worship times, and had a whole lot of fun. I loved my new friends!

I think it was this trip that sparked my interest in missions. Before this, I'd loved the family vacations we had been on and I enjoyed traveling, but this time I w...
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I'm thankful for chilly FALL weather, it's my favourite.
I'm thankful for God's promises and even though it's annoying sometimes... His timing.
I'm thankful for my family - that I've got three stellar brothers and amazing parents.
I'm thankful for awesome friends, some who are (unfortunately) scattered around the world.
I'm thankful for music.
I'm thankful for 'aha' moments.
I'm thankful for coffee.
I'm thankful for my journal and Bible.
I'm thankful for grace and His faithfulness.
I'm thankful for th...
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....I've never met someone, who doesn't love a t-shirt!" (Nice rhyme, yeah?)
 
To anyone and everyone:  Selling some comfy t-shirts with an awesome message as a fundraiser this month to raise money as I'm volunteering with Youth With a Mission in Townsville, Australia.  Check more options out here (http://citygatelancaster.com/so-loved/) and spread the love! Just $15 USD and free shipping. Weeee.

Feel free to email me with questions here.


 





 



 

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Not sure where this post will go... that's promising, but I've got a few thoughts on my mind lately. 

Transition: is great, is fun but is hard and uncomfortable. Definition from thefreedictionary.com says:  2. the period of time during which something changes from one state or stage to another. You grow to know something (anything! a job, a friendship, a home) and after awhile it becomes known which means it probably becomes comfortable....normal....maybe easy. Now, I'm not saying that is righ...
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Love/hate relationship with blogging. But today, I've been inspired to post. May just be to say that I've since returned from the wonderful land of Papua New Guinea. I loved it, hey! So so much to reflect on, laugh about, cry about, be grateful for.  

Right now, I'm sitting on my bed in Townsville and the last two weeks have been almost like a little pit-stop, because I leave for the States on Tuesday. It's been an interesting transition and I think the fact that I'm leaving again so soon, pla...
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Life is rich. And it's not so much based on figures in a bank account. And it's not always easy and swell (no doubt) - I'm a huge fan of the 'little' moments and 'smaller' joys. For instance, we've got this stellar table and chair set on our back patio- give me a journal, sweatshirt, hot drink and Bible and I'm set. 

It's been a good last few weeks. With the DTS, we've had lectures each week - different topics covered and lots of input. I've been so enjoying being a part of this school. 20 stu...
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April this year means, another Discipleship Training School has begun. This particular school is our Ship DTS and a good chunk of the next 5 months will be spent up in Papua New Guinea- some time on board our medical ship and some in different villages.

This last weekend we had 20 students join us from all over the world! I love this aspect of DTS.... different people, different experiences, backgrounds, cultures. Last night, we were able to spend the evening on the M/V Pacific Link as it's cu...
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 Last year, I spent three months in Papua New Guinea. Stoked, I was stoked. I knew I'd have opportunities to do things I never thought I'd do. I also knew going into it, that by the time I returned to Australia there were a few things that I wanted to have considered, chatted to God about and got some clarity about. I loved being in PNG once again. When the time rolled around to leave, I was returning feeling like I had heard from God and was excited to see what would happen.

But returning to ...
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I had another one of those moments of contentment where you again realize just how beautiful life is. 

I remembered again today, how short life is....not in a depressing manner but in a way that makes me want to make the most of my time. 

I love that life is a journey, constantly evolving and changing, moving forward in time. I love that each day brings opportunities to learn. To learn: new things, to love, to relate, to communicate, to listen.

I love that life is so unknown. That even the plans...
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I woke up this morning, made some coffee and ventured to the front porch. Coffee in hand, comfy pants on and bible and journal on lap. For not being (too much) of a morning person, I quite enjoy beginning the day in a similar fashion as this morning. Something about it is so refreshing.


Time again seems to be picking up and flying by. I can't believe it's another Saturday afternoon. And we've already broke into the month of February this year. Overall, it's been a good week. Steps forward, pro...
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Oh, my good intentions sometimes fail me. I've been back in Australia about three weeks now (and totally meant to write before now). Hello, 2012. Hello, summertime and hello, 75+ new students! Our January quarter has begun and it's quite exciting to think of all the things God's got up His sleeve over the next few months. I'll continue to work in our Registrar office this next few months, which I quite enjoy and love the team in the office at the moment.

I was just thinking this morning, one y...
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You know the feelings of amazement that sometimes come? Feelings of peace, of joy, of contentment with just BEING. That's what today is for me. 

Something about sitting on the couch, coffee in hand, music playing, a book on my lap, Christmas tree to my right, fireplace going and no where to be. If I let myself go there- I can think of things that I could be doing or that would be nice if I would get done so that I can cross it off my list, but there is such a peace in just letting those things...
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Psalm 3 (Message)
        But you, God, shield me on all sides; 
   You ground my feet, you lift my head high; 
   With all my might I shout up to God, 
   His answers thunder from the holy mountain. 

 ^5-6 I stretch myself out. I sleep. 
   Then I'm up again—rested, tall and steady, 
   Fearless before the enemy mobs 
   Coming at me from all sides.



...
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Story from our outreach in Hula Village about sweet girls, Ema & Katey "Signs of Life"....
Seriously, precious young girls! I went along with Jacob to teach them sign language
once and just loved it. They are sweet, smart, cheeky little girls who love to play! Enjoy!

                                

++Time seems to have picked up speed again, and I wish it didn't seem that way.
It's another Saturday. I don't understand how time works But I do love the weekends. 
I've really been enjoying the fr...

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One thing I miss about the Papua New Guinea:  the zodiac rides to get to the villages
and even though often with zodiac rides meant you were going to get wet and your hair
 was going to be a crazy sight afterwards... I just loved them.
                                  
I think over the next little bit, I'll update this place with what is going on currently but
also post little blurbs about the time in PNG, be it: pictures, stories, random things.
That's fun, right?

On another note, I'm feeling q...
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I’m sitting here trying to figure out how to share a glimpse of the last three months in Papua New Guinea with you. Difficult task, if you ask me. Three months ago, when the adventures were still ahead, we really didn’t have an idea of all the things God had in store for us. Well, we had an idea but definitely far from a full grasp.

Just to throw it out there, I didn’t spill my guts once while sailing on the ship! Sail time over the course of time would have come to about 9 days. We v...

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It's a beautiful day today in Townsville. Chilly, actually. I've only recently experienced this chilly winter weather and I wish it would last longer than I hear it does. 
                                                              
We've hit another Wednesday, another week half passed. This time next week we'll just about be on our way to the airport. I am stoked and yet I'm not sure if I have fully grasped that I'll be away for three months. :-) This week in the classroom, we get to hear f...

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This past week, Steve Aherne shared with us in the classroom... on Wisdom & Relationships. I had heard Steve speak on this topic when I was on my DTS late 2009. Really, really enjoyed that week and had a lot of "aha!" moments, not to mention found Steve to be very humerous. With all that said, it was great to be able to hear him share again this last week. I know the students really enjoyed him, were challenged in different aspects, and encouraged as ...
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....Three weeks until take off! We leave for Papua New Guinea soon :0 Here's a video that was put together to recap the first medical outreach with the ship! yay! Stoked to go. Can't believe.... we are in PNG for three stinking months! :)

Things have been busy and yet I'm not finding them to be too overly busy, good thing. Lectures this week were on Inductive Bible Study. Helen Middleton (school leader) shared this week; taught us different ways to study and we got to look into the book of Phi...
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Accomplished. Peaceful. Hopeful, are some of the words I'd use to describe this past week for me personally. Got to love those weeks! I am loving the learning curve that God has got me on.

We had a shorter week of lectures this week as Monday was ANZAC day-- we went down the the Strand (beach front) for a parade to honor war veterans. This week in lectures we heard from Brett Curtis, lots of stories from his experiences with mercy ships thus far and were able to glean wisdom from the things he...
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Week Three of DTS has since come and gone. This week, our base director shared with us about the importance of having a clear conscience before God during morning lectures. I love that man's simple, strong faith. His commitment and willingness to follow God is inspiring and his stories are faith-building.

This weekend is... Easter; already! [huh!?] Last night, we celebrated Passover, t'was very cool. The Bible Core Course (BCC) that is running here at the moment, set-up the night and walked us...
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The April DTS students have been here.... just a week now. You know how time can throw you for a spin? It feels like they have been here longer than just a few days.:) The 11 students who I've been contacting through our registrar office for the past months have arrived! They are no longer just emails or voices on the other side of the world.
 
I have been looking back a lot recently to when I came to Australia for my DTS. It's a lot to transition into: meeting bunches of new people, new envior...
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Take my heart, I Lay it down
At the feet of you whose crowned
Take my life, I’m letting go
I lift it upto You who’s throned

And I will worship You, Lord
Only You, Lord
And I will bow down before You
Only You Lord

Take my fret, take my fear
All I have, I’m leaving here
Be all my hopes, be all my dreams
Be all my delights, be my everything

And It’s just you and me here now
Only you and me here now

You should see the view
When it’s only You

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Been a bit of a busy last few weeks. I had good intentions of blogging before now. Believe me?!

My beautiful mother came out to visit me in Australia! We had a grand time doing a lot of touristy things in Sydney, and then ventured up the coast (yes, driving!) where we stayed in the Gold Coast for a few days. (This was probably a 10-11 hr. drive) We had relaxing beach days and visited the beautiful Byron Bay, that I think was a favorite of both of ours. Then we made the trek (okay, 18 hours!) u...
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Hiiii one and all!

Camping last weekend was great! The weather mostly held out for us, besides a little bit of rain. We all arrived and set up our tents around the place, quickly creating "Tent City" :-) May have previously mentioned it, but there was over 200 of us for the weekend! Wow-za! Talk about crazy meal planning and transportation shenanagins. It was a weekend of fun and a weekend of Jesus. We got to hear from Mark Parker-- who speaks on a lot of our discipleship training schools, an...
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I am excited. Dear friends are returning to Townsville this week! Next weekend, will be spent in the bush, in tents, in open air. Yes! Camping. Not to mention, in a few weeks time I will be going to Sydney with one of my favorite people! Looking forward to quality time there. 

Why is it that when you are looking forward to something it is so much easier to cruise through the days leading up to it? Time is flying, especially recently. It's another Sunday already, with another week on the horizo...
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I want to yearn for You.
I want to burn with passion
Over you, and only You


I think this is what it is about, guys. Passionately loving the Lord....with our lives. In the tasks and the menial things in the day to day.

Let's keep our eyes on Him and remember why we are here on earth.

Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All t...

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What an abnormal week it has been. I've survived my first ever Cyclone! After a Cyclone warning on Sunday (little baby cyclone, that we only got a little bit of rain from), we were keeping our eyes peeled on Yasi, due to hit Wednesday night. Cyclone Yasi grew from a Category 4 to a Category 5 cyclone, that I've heard was bigger than the size of Texas.

Wednesday morning and into early afternoon we prepped our houses and the YWAM centre, bringing in loose things from outside and securing potenti...

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I wanted to update once or twice each week. I have been major slacking on this front. Sorry to you guys reading! I've had several thoughts recently that go something like, "Oh wow, It's January!" (Which now, as it is the first day in February is no longer a true statement) But the summer-hot-humid weather is so not what I'm used to January being like.

I've been feeling like I am getting more and more settled here recently. Many told me before I joined staff, that it usually takes up to 6 month...
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Not sure if you guys have been hearing about the flooding or not. I've had some people ask me about it and know it has been on the news a lot recently around the world. Townsville is fine, I am fine. It has been rainy recently but there are no floods nearby.

A lot of the flooding is happening more in the south if I'm correct. Not cool.... If you guys could be praying for the people and communities who have been affected that would be awesome!

Bless you guys.

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This should have been my first blog post in 2011. Woopsie. What a year 2010 was.Last year's New Year's eve consisted of swimming, icecream, and falling asleep to Lord of the Rings and this year's New Year's eve consisted of painting our flat and eating pizza with 5 other girls and a few extra hands. It's weird to think of all that happened in between.

For me, 2010 started and ended in Australia. Last year, I traveled the east coast of Australia with 40+ people (4 vans, 4 days), welcomed the me...
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I've been kind of failing at my goal of blogging once a week at least. Hmmph. My apologies, friends. Here's to the New Year! 2011! I'm interested to see what this year holds. What's God want to do this year? hmm, there's something to ponder.

The base is pretty quiet at the moment. For those of you who haven't read my newsletter.... myself with 5 other girls have taken on a project that has turned out to be a bit bigger than we were initially expecting. We're moving to live in another flat on o...
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So who is looking forward to Christmas? Can you believe it is next Saturday already? I hardly can. I'm excited though! We have a Christmas Eve party next Friday night and then will be eating a yummy, big meal together in the air-conditioned auditorium on Christmas Day:-) The girls I live with and I will probably eat breakfast together and do our Secret Santa exchange together Christmas morning, too. OOhhh, fun:)

It's really crazy how often things change around here. At the moment, the current ...
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Ted is a teenage boy who comes to the youth program we run at YWAM Townsville each Saturday. A few months back there was a youth camp down south a ways that was a get away and a chance for the crew who are involved with Youth Street to learn more about God and have some fun with friends while doing so.

Over the few days, Ted's one mate wanted to buy a hat but didn't have enough money on him, so Ted lent him some money, with the understanding that he would be reembersed.

Fast forward to last wee...
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• We have a christmas tree now, and I am a big fan of it
• 50c cones at mcdonald's rock
• It's not as hot and it's way more rainy
• skype is a genius invention
• I actually enjoy settlers more than I realized
• god's grace is sufficient, this is true even when I don't feel like it is
• I'm grateful for new friends and getting to know new people
• the past week has been quiet b/c the different schools were all camping
• I went to Magnetic Island for the first time yesterday, very beautiful
• i miss chi...

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Hey friends. Hope things are just peachy with you all ! :-) I've been enjoying this work week thus far. This afteranoon we had a registrar prayer time, which was cool. It's a unifying thing to come together to pray and I think it is exciting to know and realize more and more that God does hear and answer prayers.

One thing you guys could be joining with us and praying for, is simply that enquirers who God wants to come join us here, will really realize it is right for them to come. Myself alon...
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Several different things have been going through my mind a lot lately and honestly, I've been feeling like I'm a bit on a roller coaster, up and down, and a tad "bleh". 

But Jesus knows what I need. It is amazing how much God uses good friendships and His timing is just so great. I walked to the park today with my friend, Katy and had a little one-on-one, which was very much needed. Man, I love that girl.

Thank you Jesus for amazing friends, meanwhile conversations, and laughter.

Matthew 6: 11 "...
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This week really has flown by. Weird how that seems to happen sometimes. This week in the office has been a good one over all.Registrar has potential to be an extremely busy area to work in but I haven't been feeling overwhelmed with my work load at all yet, probably b/c I am still in a transition stage.

I'm loving it for many different reasons. I know God is wanting to grow me in this time, and give me more of a heart for others. I'm loving that I'm in a postion where I can help, encourage, ...
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I climbed the hill tonight! Castle Hill is about a 5 minute walk from base, now, when I say hill, I basically mean mountain. :) But I really just needed to get away and be alone with God. So good. I was panting a little bit and at times, didn't feel like walking all the way to the top but pushed through anyways and made it. SO nice and so peaceful, breezy and all.

I think a lot of times with the journey of life, I try to go go go and get to the end point or whatever, and then feel disappointed...
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Here's a little update on the youth aspect of ministry here in Townsville. Youth Street is a program run every Saturday afternoon- into evening, for the local teens in the area. I love it and last weekend, reminded me of this!

I'm on the Sports team. Which means that every Saturday afternoon, myself, along with a few other staff members get to spend time with a bunch of teens, playing... what do you know... SPORTS!:) It's so much more than that as well though, it's about encouraging them, and ...

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Registrar! We found out our work areas yesterday. For at least the next few months I will be working In the Registrar Office. This will be meaning I will be working with prospective students, and inquiries... Making a lot of phone calls, emails, answering questions, encouraging future students, and being excited with them!

I'm excited and can see God's hand in this placement! I think it will be stretching in some ways for me, but I am looking forward to it! And excited for my fellow-workers in...
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Oh man, the past two weeks have been amazing to be a part of Mission Adventures here. The group arrived last Monday (all 16 year nine students + 2 adults). The schedule for the first four days, especially, was pretty full on here in Townsville. From team building and fun activities (food fight, anyone?:)) to input sessions from the speaker of the week, to practical prep sessions for outreach, there was definently a lot going on.

The group was from an Anglican school down south in a beach town ...
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I made it!! It is exciting to be back in Townsville. Things have definitely changed and yet are familiar. From all the new faces to the new construction changes that have been made on the base (lookin' snazzzyy) things are different.

Things for me don't start really until Monday and from what I've gathered it sounds like my next two weeks will be pretty full on. The Mission Adventure group gets here Monday morning and then we will be jumping into a fairly busy schedule. Friday we leave for a ...
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I made it! It is really exciting to be back in Townsville. It somewhat feels like I have never left (or at least wasn't gone for 6 months!) but on the other hand, so many things have changed here, from new faces to new changes at base (construction wise). I frequently have the "WOW, am I really in Australia?!!" moments. Crazy life!

Things for me don't start until Monday which then from what I have gathered sounds like my next two weeks will be pretty full on. The mission adventure group gets h...
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A week from today I will be on my way to the airport, all packed and ready. The past few weeks have very confirming for me, exciting, and yet the reality of it all has begun to set in. Though, more and more I am getting excited and ready to go.

Thank you all who have been standing by me in this, excited with me, encouraging, and supportive. You have been a huge blessing. I have loved to watch God form the support group around me and am excited to see Him expand it in upcoming months.

I plan on ...
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So, I was told that I should plan on my visa (once the Aussie gov receives it) taking about a month to get confirmed... and it was this whole dilemma because I thought I was going to need to book a flight in faith (w/o my visa). 

All my visa forms were sent in on August 27th and confirmed by September 1st! I HAVE MY AUSSIE VISA!!!!!!!! Flights have since been booked! I'm flying out on September 21st.

Sooooo stoked and yet soooo not looking forward to saying "bye" to people here.
 


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....days- left.at.home. WHAT???!! I have no idea where time goes anymore! I am still waiting on my visa to book flights and such but as long as that goes *quickly then I'll be air-bound in about a month's time. Would love your prayer backing in this transition season of my life.

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I think this is an upgrade from the blog I previously had:) I'm having fun designing this site and playing around with it...

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