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My adventures in Australia (this time around) have come to an end. To describe what I'm feeling in one word would be: devastated.

I love Australia so much and am counting the minutes until I'll be able to return. Being on the plane for 13 hours and then another 3 hours to Dallas was miserable because I already missed it. To be honest I missed it the second I walked through security.

Saying goodbye to my boyfriend (that I've been dating for 3 months today!) and his family was probably the hardest thing I've ever done. Physically walking away felt impossible, but we'll be together before I know it and the Lord is good.

Since being back I've become very frustrated with life here. I've been in Australia for the past 6 months and forgotten about a lot of things that come with the American culture. Just to name a few that bother me:
-obsession with money
-too many tv channels
-American accents
-American accents on every since commercial
-no diversity
-trash everywhere
-TRAFFIC
-hierarchy

Not that I'm not happy to see my friends and family, but this place doesn't feel like home. Australia feels like home.

Who knew?

Five months ago I was packing my bags on my way to Fiji. I was looking for a home-stay gift and freaking out about what to get them. I was nervously packing my bags, worried I wouldn't have enough summer-time clothes. And I was praying God would be glorified. I thought 5 months sounded like eternity.

Five months later, I can't even remember what I got my home-stay family, it turns out it actually gets cold in Australia and tank tops aren't acceptable articles of clothing for 50 degree weather, and I'm extending my stay to remain in Australia longer. Who knew?

You know when something in your life happens, and it's so big that you begin describing things as 'before this happened' and 'after this happened'? Other then Jesus and the work He has done in my life, Australia might just be that thing for me.

I've fallen in love with the country. With the people. With the location. With the history. Everything. But I've already been through that a few times in older posts.

These past five months have changed me. I see the world in a new light and see the Lord in a whole new light. I've been able to experience what a relationship with Christ looks and feels like when the only support system you have is the Father. Since I've become a Christian I've always tried to constantly be in the scripture but during the past five months I've seen what that actually looks like.

I've also begun dating a boy here. His name is Rhys and he is really great. He loves Jesus, has a great family and makes me laugh more then anyone I know. Things will be hard when I move back to the United States, but both of us know the Lord is good and He will use this to teach us patience. We'll both hopefully grow closer to Christ while we are apart and offering it up to Him daily will be the only way we can survive. How lovely. (P.S. he is the good looking one on the right in the photo)

Since I've been in Australia I've constantly been on the move. With school, or AIFS stuff we are always busy. To be completely honest for the past few months I've been praying for a way to stay here, to finally do my own things.  I originally looked into changing my flight and it was going to be around $2,000 so that was out of the question. I then thought up a million different ways I could stay....the airport closing down, a freak snowstorm keeping all the planes on the runway, you name it, I'd thought of it. But I knew I couldn't put limits on God and so I continued to give my desires to stay in Australia to Him daily. This went on for months and nothing changed but in my heart I knew I wouldn't be leaving Australia on the 29th of June, I just didn't know how I was going to stay.

About 2 weeks ago I was in the laundry room and ran into another AIFS student, we got to chatting and she randomly told me that changing our flights was only $80 if we go through Qantas. I was shocked. How had I overlooked this? Regardless, the Lord was giving me the exact thing I'd been praying about for months. Just on a silver platter. I called up Qantas the next day to verify before I got my hopes up and they confirmed it was only $80. After long talks with my mom and even more prayer we decided to change my flight allowing me to stay a few extra weeks. I called Qantas to officially move my departure date and while most flights were full, I got a spot on a flight on July 20th at 1pm (arriving in Dallas at 5:40pm on the 20th). Whilst I definitely miss everyone back home, this seems to be a once in a lifetime opportunity and I hope I have the support from the friends and family.

So there you have it. New boyfriend. Extended stay in Australia. The Lord's faithfulness. All wrapped up in a little blog. Hope you enjoy. Can't wait to see everyone in a month from today!

Wait, you're meant to find joy in sufferings?!

Lately times have been hard. There's no getting around admitting that.

I do miss my family and friends back home, but no part of me really desires to leave Australia. I love it so much here. It brings me to tears. More often I've been mourning how much I'm going to miss it here. I know when I get back to the states I will be completely heartbroken. In no way am I saying that I don't love or want to see everyone back in the States, this has nothing to do with them and I love them more then ever! It's more about my passion for this country and the people I've met.

I've been recently forced to deal with the fact that I can't keep up some relationships in the same way when I get back home. Seeing people every day, hugging them, etc. is something that is not possible and sometimes Skype just isn't enough.

The thought of these relationships being cut off has filled my heart with sorrow. Don't get me wrong I am fully aware that moving back to the states isn't the end of these friendships or relationships but putting a one year pause on everything isn't my idea of fun. Romans 5:3-5 has been incredibly comforting "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.". But to be honest it's the second part that I've really taken to heart. The part about suffering producing endurance, and endurance producing character and so on, but the part about rejoicing in our sufferings hadn't really hit me.

On top of all this, the anniversary of Joey's death was Monday and I think it was the hardest one thus far. I struggled a lot and spent a lot of time weeping. Knowing that Jesus wept (John 11:35) when Lazarus died has lightened the burden, but that doesn't mean it isn't still really hard.

During the past few weeks it's been a struggle to get out of bed. Not in a 'depressed' way, but more of a 'I don't want another day to pass by bringing my closer to my departure' way. I also have issues with going to sleep because I hate working all day and spending so much time building up all these good emotions and finally being ok with the outcome of leaving, just to go to sleep and start from scratch the next morning.

While contemplating everything, I've come to the most incredible realization. God's faithfulness.

Something I've been praying about for 3 years has come to finally be.

You see, I've had a desire to 'rely on God so much that if He were to not come through I'd fall flat on my face -- every day'. And this is finally coming true.

I've found that the last fews weeks have been the hardest weeks of my entire life...drawing me closer and closer to the Lord. I've spent more time in prayer then I ever have in my life. I've learned how to completely rely on the Lord so much that if He didn't come through I'd be crushed. I can't get through the day without scripture and constant prayer. There isn't anything that keeps me going every day besides the Lord. I've been forced to rely on Him more then ever before.

What an answered prayer! It feels so good to know that what is getting me through each day is the same Thing that created the Heavens and the Earth.

I find new meaning to verses like 2 Corinthians 12:10 where Paul states, "For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." and finding joy in sufferings is easier then I ever imagined.

Praise the Lord.

Worst Blogger of the Year

This picture was taken right after we got off the plane!

I'm not going to spend much time discussing how horrible I am at keeping up with blogs because I feel like it's obvious. That being said let's not dwell and move right along with a much needed update!!

Things in Sydney have been great. Never a dull moment.

I pretty much planned out my life about 9 months ago. I decided I'd finish school with a bachelors of social work in December of 2012. Study abroad Spring 2011 in Australia (just for fun!), then study abroad again during the Summer of 2012 in Mexico to finish up my Spanish minor. After my undergrad, I'd go to grad school for the one extra year and get my masters (because let's face it, it's impossible to do anything with social work with just a BSW). After finishing school for good I'd move to Austin, Texas where I'd start my job with Hospice (you can find out more about what Hospice is here), while also working with an adoption agency on the side. (I've always had a huge heart for adoptions and I'm so passionate about it!). At some point I'd get married and do that whole thing but I'd let that just fall into place when it felt like it. So that was the plan.

Then I went to Australia.

Ever since I stepped off the plane I've felt an immense feeling of belonging. I haven't been shy about how much I love Australia, but how could I be? When you know, you know. And I know that I love Australia. I wasn't sure what I was going to do about this feeling or how this would fit into my life but I started to pray daily about the Lord revealing His Will to me, and what He wanted me to do about the great country of Australia.

About a few weeks ago I found out just what that might be. While talking to a friend that lives in Sydney I found out about how hard the adoption process is in Australia. My heart was initially broken for these kids and for this country. Since then I've read a few articles about it (http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/36942.html is a good one) and done some independent research (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoption_in_Australia is good for a general overview) and I honestly believe this is why I came to Australia. This is the reason God called me here in the first place. I want to change this.

That sounds impossible, doesn't it? Regardless, this is something I've felt the Lord put on my heart and it's something I want to see through. Between 2008-2009 in Australia 68 children were locally adopted. I couldn't find a recent statistic for the United States but I did find that in 2001 alone approximately 127,000 children were adopted. The adoption process here in Australia is around $40,000 and can take about 8 years. Most couples have resorted to adopting from other countries.

Call me naive for believing that I can make a difference but when you are given such a clear image of the Lord's Will can you honestly turn away and say no? Especially with verses like Romans 8:23, "And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." and Ephesians 1:5 "He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will," resonating within my heart. We are adopted children(!), and that realization sparks something deep inside me.

So that's where my heart is. If yall could be praying with me that would be incredible. (For my future in Australia, the adoption process, the right people to reveal themselves that can help make a difference/connections, for the Lord's Will to be done in Australia, for the children in the system, for the families applying and the government's role/soft hearts)

Thankful for the few who still read this! Love!

April flowers bring May showers....of blessings

On the way to the Sydney Opera House!

My time in Australia is nearing an end. I have a little less then 2 months left and the days seem to be flying by faster and faster. It seems like it was just yesterday I was in Fiji daydreaming about finally getting to Oz. With that being said I intend to make the most of my next 2 months here!

So many fun things have happened so this post will be a jam-packed, random one but still good. For starters,  I thought it might be nice to update everyone on the prayer request I mentioned at the beginning of this journey and while I'm at it, add a little more! I'll strike out the ones done or achieved so we can Praise God for answered prayers!

-God to be glorified during this 5 month trip ongoing
-Comfort for my family (especially my mom!!) ongoing
My flight to LA and then Fiji
The family I am staying with in Fiji for 10 days during my Environmental Studies class
The other study abroad student I am staying with in Fiji with the host family
My classes in Fiji
My flight from Fiji to Sydney
-My roommates in Sydney ongoing
That I will find/have a support system in Australia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My flight to Cairns & The Great Barrier Reef/My flight from Cairns back to Sydney
Safety in the Great Barrier Reef (this actually ended up being during all the disasters in Japan)
-My classes in Sydney ongoing
-Friends I meet in Sydney and in Fiji to see the love of Christ poured out through my actions ongoing
-General safety ongoing
Hopefully being able to go to New Zealand during one of the school breaks (not gonna happen...but no worries! I'm having the time of my life!)
-Remaining in constant prayer during the entire trip ongoing!
-Encouragement to continue reading daily ongoing!
-Not getting sick or needing to go to the hospital in a foreign country ongoing
-Flight back to US
-Great memories and friends ongoing
-God's Kingdom to grow ongoing

added prayer requests as of 5/5/11

-God's will to be done above every and any prayer request we may think up
-Cornerstone Church to reach Pyrmont and make a notable difference in Christ's name
-Cornerstone Church to be attractive to residents of Sydney not because of cool stuff or even the nice people, but because of the Truth being preached from 10:15-11:15 am
-A revival for Pyrmont/Sydney/Australia
-Lifelong bonds & encouragement to keep in touch
-My mom's flight to and from Australia in June
-YoungLife Australia
-Fire to continue building in my heart for Christ & knowing Him deeply
-Camp Kedron campers

I'm so thankful for what Christ has been doing in Australia and in my heart. We're going through Acts at Cornerstone and while I'm reading it during my personal time I've been so encouraged. I've read Acts a few times but openly said it wasn't really anything cool to me. After reading it this time I think it's one of the coolest and most encouraging books in the entire bible! How could I be so blind! Praise God!

On to other things way less important:
I went to the Sydney Opera House! It was pretty neat because, frankly, how many people can say they've seen a show at the Sydney Opera House!
I found a flesh eating spider in my bed. Well that's debated but I'm convinced. And yes it was terrifying.

I guess that's pretty much it. I thought there were heaps more things to say but they seem to be slipping my mind since I'm running on 0 hours of sleep (that's what happens when you wake up with flesh eating spiders in your bed...you're scared to ever go back to sleep)

The Lord is Faithful.

Photo by: Kieren Ash

First of all, I want to apologize for not writing in, what feels like, years! I have heaps of things to catch up on so stick with me, reading this post will be well worth it.

About a month ago (March 19th!), I went to a bar with a couple of my friends and after hanging out for about 10 minutes one of the girls (who had been drinking prior) felt too drunk too handle and asked me if I would leave with her and make sure she got home safe. I wasn't really excited about the bar and I wanted to help her out so I told her that we could leave that way the others could stay out until whenever. We left the bar and ended up at McDonalds to get food and wait for one of her friends to come and pick us up. After about 2 hours a guy and a girl sat next to us and sparked up a conversation. They were both Australia (as was my friend) and we all got along really well. Our conversation was very lighthearted, we didn't talk about religion at all, but got to know each other and spoke about our family background and whatnot. We exchanged information and they had to go catch a bus so we walked them to the bus stop and said our goodbyes. I honestly thought that was the last time I'd see or talk to them which made me pretty sad because they were really nice people.

We all added each other on facebook and soon after, the guy sent me a message asking if I could meet him at Wynyard (a train station in Sydney) on Sunday. I asked my roommate if she'd go with me and she said she would so I agreed! The morning of, Kelly accidentally slept in, but I thought I'd go ahead and meet my new friend at the train station. After all, it was Sunday morning around 9 am and I felt pretty safe. Above that I really felt the Lord pushing me to go. I was picked up by him and his sister outside of the train station and they told me all about the place we were going.

Church. I'd been praying for months about a church and the ones I tried out, I wasn't too fond of so I was excited that the Lord literally just laid this one in my lap. My friend told me it was in a pub because it was a really new church plant and they were just getting off the ground. I was keen so we made our way to Pyrmont (the city the church.

We got to the church/pub and when I walked in I started meeting heaps of people around my age who legitimately loved the Lord. The conversations weren't forced like the other conversations I'd had at other churches, and above that they reminded me of my friends back home. I ended up getting into a conversation about my church background and I told them I attend a church called "The Village" back home to which they responded with "Matt Chandler!?!?". My heart started racing. No way did I just find a church through a guy I met at 2 am in a McDonalds....that just so happened to know the pastor of my church. It gets better.

I find out not only do they know Matt, but they are apart of the same church network as The Village. Acts 29. There are 2 Acts29 churches in the country of Australia. Two. This one, Cornerstone, doesn't even have a website or any type of advertisement.

I listened to the sermon and I was sold. Adam, the pastor, spoke about the Truth of the Gospel instead of just lovey-dovey general messages. After the sermon I met a guy named Dan who, after a nice conversation, asked me if I would be a leader at a week-long Youth Camp. After I had a chance to pray about it and sleep on it I accepted! For the past few months I've been really upset about missing YoungLife camp this year, and this was so similar it was almost unreal.The next Saturday (just 6 days later) I hitched a ride with another leader and was on my way to Camp Kedron.

Camp was incredible. The food was wonderful. The people were amazing. And most importantly the Lord was the focus. The other leaders I met at camp were life changing. They were encouraging and welcoming the entire week. On Friday (the last day of camp) the camp "dad" & "mom" (which happened to be Adam, Cornerstone's pastor, and his wife Amy) brought me a birthday cake and the whole camp sung to me! A great end to a great week.

The next day, my birthday, I went bowling with a bunch of the leaders from the camp (Amy, Adam, Vanessa, Dan, Kieren & his girlfriend Maddi) and then out to dinner with two other leaders (Rhys & his sister Allie) along with an American from the AIFS group. It was a great birthday.

Yesterday I went to church again at Cornerstone and I've got to admit I'm going to be devastated when I have to leave the community I've formed here. After church I went to Amy & Adam's apartment for tea and ended up staying the whole day! We had great conversation, made dinner together and then ended the night with champagne on the roof of their apartment...which happens to be a garden overlooking Sydney.

During the past 2 months I've made heaps of friends in Sydney but none like the people I met during this last week. I've felt drawn to Australia this whole trip, but I was disappointed that I didn't have a good community with uplifting friends. Now that I've met friends with eternity at mind, I feel even more called to live in Australia.

I don't know about you but there are heaps too many things making up this story to boil it down to a just plain coincidence. I started praying for a church about 2 months before I left, one random night I was out at a bar and my friend wanted to leave, I ended up meeting a guy who goes to this church every once in a while and he just so happened to invite me to church. A church that not only knows my pastor back home but is part of the same church plant network. A church that isn't online and doesn't use advertising. I met a guy who invited me to work at a camp, after I'd been pretty upset about missing YoungLife camp this year. I also was running out of money and this camp was free for leaders and I had a place to sleep with 3 meals a day. How can someone turn a blind eye to that? How can someone just say that is a coincidence. No. That's the Lord, being faithful.