Down Under!

Hello!
   First of all, I need to apologize for not posting in a while. I've been incredibly busy since I left.

   The flight(s) all went well and travel was good. Of course I wasn't able to sleep at all on the flights but surprisingly wasn't that jet-lagged or tired the next day. I got right into the swing of things here.

   We are actually staying on the medical ship that YWAM Townsville is using because they are not able to house us on  campus yet. I don't mind the ship though, it feels like home! I guess I just can't get away from boats no matter how hard I try, haha.

   This first week was lots of orientation, getting used to the city, and getting to know everyone here including staff. The last two days, once we finished orientation we had some lectures on 'Hearing God's Voice'. I really don't like calling them 'lectures' haha.. that makes them sound so boring and strict. They are really awesome times to learn about what God has in store for me and to learn a little more about myself as well.

   Yesterday we had an exercise on hearing God's voice where we were all handed a scenic picture and asked to spend some time with God and listen to His voice and hear what He speaks to us about the image. I received a picture of a desert in Australia with hills. I thought of the following passages in scripture; Matthew 5:14-16 and Psalm 121. You can go read them yourselves, but the one is about looking to the hills and asking where your help comes from, it comes from God. The other is about being a city on a hill, not hiding your light under a basket.

   Ok, wow, I'm at base right now in the cafe and IT IS SO HOT! Ah! I need to go outside in the breeze for a while after this.

   So yeah! Saturday and Sunday are 'free days'. Today they had three buses. One going to the beach, one to the mall, and one here. I'm not a beach person and don't want to spend 5 hours there, I didn't want to go the mall because I'm trying not to spend money and again.. 5 hours!? So I decided to come here and blog, work on my journal & workbook, and I was also able to Skype my family which was unbelievably wonderful since I can never seem to find time to talk to them during the week.

   Next week we should be finding out what our 'Outreach location' choices are. I will try to share those with you as soon as possible so you can join me in prayer about where I should go.

   One of the things I love about things here is the worship. During worship we often feel the need to pray for each other. I've felt the need to pray for a few people, and a few have prayed for me as well. It's amazing because what they have prayed over me and into my life has been so relevant and encouraging.

   So my days during the week pretty much look the same day-to-day. A few days we have morning worship added on, or we have a focus group. Wednesday nights we have 'Family dinner & Family night' where everyone on campus, staff, DTS students, and other students all have dinner together, and a time of worship.Then Saturday & Sunday, like previously mentioned, are free. So normally, we are up for breakfast at 6:15 AM on the ship. We leave the ship at 7 AM for the campus. We then have until 8 AM to have quiet time, work on homework, use internet, etc. before lectures start. At 10:30 AM we break for 'morning tea' which is one of the worlds greatest things and I'm bringing that tradition home with me. We have coffee, tea, fruit, sausages, and other snacks and food and talk and have a break. It's awesome. Then we go back to lectures until 12:30 for lunch. After lunch I have 'ministry placement' from 1:30-3:30 PM. I clean all three levels of 'B Block' on campus with two other girls. We sweep, mop, vacuum, clean washrooms, wipe windows, etc. I then have two hours free until dinner at 5:30 PM. Then I usually take the first shuttle at 6:30 PM back to the ship if nothing else is planned.

   There is still so much more to say about everything here, but it would take forever and no one wants to waste their time reading all of that, haha. I am already feeling closer to God, I'm maturing spiritually, and I'm getting to know some great people who are really on fire for God.

   I will try to continue to post once a week like this, usually on Saturday or Sunday.

   Thanks for reading! Please continue to keep me in your prayers, and also my family.