Brisbane, finally!

Hello, all!

Well, I arrived into Sydney on Wednesday morning (6 a.m.) and had probably the longest day of my life...
We arrived at the airport and went immediately to Kiah Ridge campground, where we had our orientation sessions. The group of people we were with were so great! We all clicked really fast - it was a little sad to all separate! But I will see them again at the very end. Now, it's just Cameron and me in Brisbane. There are other groups of two in Deception Bay (another area of Brisbane), Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Launceston (in Tasmania). Anyway, during orientation we learned a lot about Australia, the history, culture, people, slang, etc. That way, we will be able to know more about the people we will be ministering to.

The first day, we got to see some kangaroos! One of the guys in our group is also interested in photography, so he and I got out our cameras and stalked them down. I'll upload some pictures whenever I get a chance. We also got to go to a beach one day called Wollongong, which was a lot of fun. We didn't get to see much of Sydney at all, but we will when we return at the end of July.

Cameron and I are now in Brisbane, finally! We are staying with a family named the Heinrichs in an area called Thornlands. The church we are working at is Cleveland Baptist in Cleveland. Both areas are just suburbs of Brisbane, basically. Like Hoover or Moutain Brook to Birmingham!

We got to meet the head pastor, youth pastor, and others at the church yesterday. Everyone is so nice and friendly (not to mention their awesome accents!)

I can't wait to update you with more about what we will be doing and who I am meeting. I know now that we will be doing Religious Education classes in the schools, VBS, and other camps with the youth. I'll keep you more updated later, and perhaps be able to add a schedule.

Have to go now - more later! Much love.

T-11 hours, 25 min

I am actually leaving to go halfway around the world in less than a day.
It's always weird when the day of a big trip like this comes. I always feel like I'm supposed to feel more; that I'm supposed to be doing more, thinking more, saying more goodbyes. Then again, I'll only be gone for two months.

So what did I do the day before leaving for the whole summer, you ask? Nothing too special, actually. Church, ate, napped, packed. Talked to Will via skype (feel free to add me - claire.gewin). Talked to Elizabeth and Katuschka (two of my very best friends). I'm going to miss talking to all of the above more regularly.

I'm very much looking forward to meeting Cameron, my partner for this trip. I have talked to her a few times and she seems to be pretty cool! And I know that God has set us together for a reason, so I'm excited for that. Also, to meet everyone else who will be journeying to Sydney with me. We are all meeting at the airport in L.A. before flying to Sydney, where we will stay for 3 days before we separate and go to our destinations. In Sydney, we will have a leadership training/orientation session. I have no idea what to expect for this.

Honestly, I have no idea what to expect of most of this trip.

Isn't that the way I wanted it? No expectations? It might be nice to at least know a little more about what I will be doing, the particulars...but I will learn soon enough. I suppose the basics are sufficient now.

Well, I am going to head to sleep. I'm not really looking forward to the 17-hour flight between LAX and Sydney, based on my itinerary...but I'll make it. I have to. So, good night, and next time I write I will be 15 hours ahead of you!!

P.S. I am thinking that this post is making me sound a lot less excited than I really am. I always tend to get in this funk before leaving for a trip...much of it has to do with the packing. I loathe packing. Also, the transitions between airports is not terribly fun. So I'm just not looking forward to tomorrow. But the next day...yes. I am very much looking forward to the next day.

T-10 days...anticipation.

Time is getting short for me in America.

I still have so much to do.

I sent Will off to Thailand yesterday. That was a lot harder for both of us than either of us thought it would be. Emotional, but I think we realized how much we care about one another. But I have already gotten to talk to him, and he is not even to Chiang Mai yet. Right now, he is sitting in the Bangkok airport. Keep him in your prayers too...

So now, I am praying, reading, thinking about packing, and doing last minute things here in Mobile. Oh, and spending time with my family, of course!

I have gotten the blessing of financial support from many friends and family, which I am incredibly grateful for. The Lord has really blesses my family with kind friends.

I can't wait to be there...to tell you all what it's really like! It's so strange, this waiting period. I'm ready to go, but not ready at all. Dreading the travel, but anxious for the arrival. So now, I wait with anticipation for the days to go by...but I'm trying to make the most of my few days left here.

T-20 Days.

I should be studying for my final that I have to take 1 1/2 hours from now.

Instead, I thought I would share some thoughts I have had lately.

The closer the day of my departure comes, the more real this trip becomes. I have been continuously praising the Lord for His graciousness to let me participate in this. These two months present an incredibly unique experience that will undoubtedly prepare me better for my future roles in serving the Lord. It's really neat to see how He placed on my heart the desire to work with a youth ministry as an intern this summer...but then, He provided the opportunity to fulfill this desire overseas. This is combining two desires of my heart - the desire to minister and form relationships with people younger than myself, and my desire and heart for the nations.

Not to mention that it's Australia. If you have known me my whole life, you know that I have always wanted to go to Australia. You also may know that there was no solid reasoning behind it - I was always intrigued by the continent; I liked the idea of traveling there, but for no reason that I could really put my finger on. Ask my brother - he knows just how long I have been wanted to go. Now I can see how it has been the Lord's hand drawing my heart to these people, stirring up the desire in me to minister to them. What an incredible opportunity!

I'm also so glad to see how His timing is so perfect. I could have traveled there just for a vacation trip if I had wanted. Instead, He has given me this higher calling; an opportunity to serve Him. That makes the "trip" so much more meaningful and special and memorable!

I know that it is only for two months, but that is two months of the Lord's time. It says in 2 Peter 3 that "with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." Who are we to know what the Lord can accomplish in a day? Or what works He can begin in two months, and see to fruition in years? All I know to do is to go, to serve Him, to follow His leading, and to trust Him for the rest. And that is what Jesus meant by saying "My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:30) - we can lay it all at His feet, following Him and trusting Him. He takes the weight of responsibility and leaves us with the freedom and joy of doing His work.

So, thinking about that gives me peace about my trip. I know that He will accomplish what He sets out to accomplish. I am just a tool of His to be used. And that gives me peace and excitement.

I was reading through Acts last night, reading about Paul's missionary journeys. They inspired me and gave me courage. How incredible, to think back to 2,000 years ago when the early church was just forming; look where we are now! And to think that I have to honor and privilege to be a part of the movement.

I hope this explains why I am going for some of you. Sometimes when I am explaining my trip, it doesn't feel quite like a "mission" trip as most people think about them. And it's not, really. It's more like an internship in another country. I won't be building a well, or an orphanage, or teaching English, but I will have the unique opportunity to really minister and go deep with people from another culture. I couldn't ask for a more perfect opportunity for me.

Blessings to you all! Continue to pray for my preparations and the hearts of the people I will encounter; and thank you, thank you thank you.