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 be for a bit and just enjoying life. 

I'm so so so glad to be home with my family for this Christmas. So glad that it is actually cold and I can have the hope of snow. There is also something about stopping around this time of year, reflecting on the past year and looking and hoping in what's to come next year. (that one has got me stumped...)

I'm thinking as of late a bit about how sometimes life can be so much about doing, working, accomplishing and yet, God is, I think, more concerned with the conditions of our hearts. What are we learning? What are our motives, hopes, desires, passions? Maybe the two go hand in hand. Maybe when we actually listen and reflect and decide to actually be in tune with where we are at with things, maybe that is when we actually learn more of who we are and out of that place, God has things for us to do, accomplish, complete and journey through. 

These are the things that excite me, bring hope and an expectancy for what is to come. Father, I trust you...

                                                               

 
 

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.

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 friendships and the people that I've been spending time
 with lately. Lots of recent laughs, which is great.

I can tell summer is just around the corner, there's definently a need to sleep with
the fan on these days. Honestly, little bummed- the chillyness is my favourite. Little
jealous of you guys in North America... fall is the best! ;-o

Goal: Finish newsletter in the next week and a half. Let me know if you would want to
 receive one via email!    

                                                                                        xx

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 quite transitioned lately....and peaceful, which I quite like.
Thank you guys for your prayers. I feel like the next few weeks are a chance to catch
my breath before a crazy quarter takes off around here, for me personally, and for us
as a centre. God's up to things, guys! And once again, I'm learning to trust Him.

I've been working in the Registrar office again which has been a transition but I'm quite
enjoying it as well. More details on that to come....

Until next time xx

 

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 visited the Gulf, Central, and Western Provinces in Papua New Guinea. 

Although I had already been to this nation, I was again blown away by the generosity of the people. With little to give, many would still give what they had. From fruit and fish to billums & meri blouses to even money!

Each outreach with the ship was full of volunteers, health professionals, and crew who came from different nations to serve the people of Papua New Guinea. Pretty cool how that actually works, if you ask me…. A bunch of people coming together for that purpose.  At each location, we would run a primary health care, dental, and optometry clinic and on one outreach that we partook in, an ophthalmology clinic.

I could go for the big overview of our time here but I think sometimes simple stories are more preferred. For now, here's one for now:

After seeing the optometrist, the prescription was determined of what would help her see.  After looking for it in our database and finding the pair of glasses, it quickly was obvious that this pair of glasses was not that trendy of a pair. Quickly handing her the pair to try on, apologizing that they may not be her favorite and wishing we had more options for her, she proceeded to try them on and was excited that they did in fact make her vision clearer! She went on to say that it didn’t matter what they looked like, as long as they helped her see and was so thankful.

                                         

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 from a few different staff from around our centre. 

Personally, I thouroughly enjoyed hearing from Adriel on God's heart for the poor and needy the past two days, and know the students did as well. We looked at some statistics and issues in the world today, ie: poverty, injustice, children at risk, etc. and were encouraged to not grow overwhelmed with it all but instead grow frustrated and be diligent in asking... what is my role to play in making a difference?

I'm excited to discover. This world is a beautiful place that sometimes just gets covered by all the need and hurt.                                                     

                                         
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 well. "We all have relationships but that doesn't mean that we are good at them."

Wisdom is the key.

Today the Ship DTS, as well as the Not For Sale DTS ventured out to the Billabong Sanctuary to play "tourist" and see all the Australian animals. :-) We had a yummy barbeque lunch out there as well. 

                                            
Now, I'm pooped somehow! Glad to have an afternoon to just chill. This week lectures are on Lordship. I'm very much looking forward to this week.

"Put me together, one heart and mind, then, undivided I will worship You in joyful fear." Psalms 86 (MSG)

....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 Philemon. Now to turn to next week, the topic is: Relationships!

It's Friday night, and my roomies and I are having a night in. Funny cause we are calling tonight a sleep-over. I'm not sure if it qualifies as a 'sleep-over', but we are moving our mattresses out into the living room... so it is a bit out of the norm. We're thinking: comfiness, popcorn, chats. Liking this end of the week. :) 

Enjoy your weekend!

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 shared. We learned more of the importance of spending time in the Bible, and of wondering, pondering on scripture-- "chewing on" [so to say]. 

Group of us at the ANZAC day parade.

 "... and lean not on your own understanding."

:of others, of situations or circumstances. Challenging, yes but this has come up a few different times for me this week. And it is good, Cause when we learn to not lean or go off of our understanding, it causes us to trust God for His wisdom, leading, input, perspective. It's like rising above our view on thing and asking for His eyes. And He wants to meet us there! I think that is the part I struggle with at times: Proverbs 3:5-6 "Lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." It's like He's saying: "Trust Me and I will do this. Watch!" Exciting!

 
  

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 through some Jewish Passover traditions. We sat on the floor at low tables, ate lamb, dressed up as though we jumped out of Bible times (more or less, was we just wrapped ourselves in sheets:)) It was a night of celebrating Jesus, who He is, and what He has done for us. 
                                         
Enjoy your Easter weekend!