Living Down Under!

Last Day Down Under

2011-08-02T05:22:00.000-07:00

Tonight is my last night in Australia. I am so glad for the time I have had here and I will always look back in Australia and remember what The Lord did in me and through me. It has been a great experience and I am so glad that I got to spend a whole 2 months in Australia.

It was so sad to leave everyone there that I had built relationships with, but I know they will continue to reach people around their community. I love Lakeside church so much and I cannot wait to see them in heaven one day.

Here are some people in my life here.

Me and my supervisors. Jeremy and Kelsey

People at the church that are awesome:
Emma, Jake, me, Ruth, Ben, Kelsey, Susan

Part of my bible study group

two awesome girls that I hung out with. Lilly and Grace


Bek! she helped lead a Bible study and was such and encouragment

When I came into Sydney yesterday and met up with the group, we went to the bay and saw the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. It was so cool to see these iconic structures.

Harbor Bridge!

The Opera House. In real life!

Sydney skyline!

cool fort thing


Me and the Opera House

Standing in front of the Opera House!

It was such an amazing experience. Next stop, LA. Final stop Charlotte, NC. Watch out America, I'm coming back!

Please pray for the rest of our team that we would take back what we gained from Australia and be missional with our lives.

Also, thank you to all of the people that supported me by praying for, encouraging and supporting me financially. God bless you! Thanks!

Wrapping up...

2011-07-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

A lot has happened in these last few weeks. To explain what I have been doing, I have to explain the Aussie school system. Their school year goes from February to December with 4 terms and there are 2 weeks of holiday between each term. 3 weeks ago began the break after term 2. When school holidays are in session, a lot pertaining with the youth is put on hold at the church, so there wasn’t much to do. Everyone goes on a holiday so, not that many kids were around. So, for the first week of this time, I came to Lakeside and got things done that I needed to take care of. I also spent some quality time with the Lord studying, praying, etc. I also read Crazy Love, a book by Francis Chan. I had not read this book all the way through before and it was great to read and be challenged. I felt like I grew a lot as a Christ Follower that week studying, reading, and praying. It was a real growth week and something I will continue to reflect on in what God taught me when I had this week to myself.

One day this week though, I did get to go to the city with a girl from the youth, Lilly! We did lots of shopping and saw the movie Cars 2! I even rode the public train system! So awesome!

Here it comes!

Eating Mackers (McDonalds) for lunch!

Add caption

Us riding on the train! We had a blast!

The next week, I did get to actually do more things outside of the office. Basketball camp was the next week of the holidays. There were actually two camps going on; 5 to 11 year-olds in the morning and then 11-16 in the afternoon. If you know me at all, you know I am not athletic, so I told the people running it to not put a basketball in my hand. I was the errands/odd jobs person. I would run the clock for the timer, get kids ice when they got hurt, sign kids in and out, fix lunch for the coaches, etc. I enjoyed it a lot and got to see more faces of the community.. For most of the day, the kids would go around to different stations and focus on a skill at a time. Some of the kids were so good; I knew if we played each other, they would win. Here are some snapshots from the camp.

Lakeside Lightning, the team that plays for the Rec. Center is number 1 in the league, and I went to their last home game and it was so close! I am convinced it was my cheering that won them the victory! Go Lakeside!

So close!

Also, the Wickhams, my host family took me to a local wildlife park on one of the Saturdays. I got to do fun things and see native animals. I even got to pet kangaroos and koalas! That was so awesome to get that close to these animals and spend the day with the Aussie family!

Awesome owl!

I got to pet a wombat!

Those little lambs were hungry!

Petting a kangaroo. No big deal.

Me and Rhiannon!

A koala!

Us at the park!

A dingo!

So Pretty!

Me in front of the Park!

I kept having fun the following days with another trip into the city. My friend, Erin, that goes to Lakeside offered to take me to lunch and show me some more of Perth! It was so fun to just get out and get some souvenirs! We had a great time!

I have gotten several going away presents already. Here is what I got from my host family. Since I have helped them cook a lot while I have been here, they gave me an apron, pot holder, and oven mitt all with Australia on them! I will show it off when I get home. Also, at the wildlife park, we got to see a farm show and they showed us how they shear a sheep. They also told us about Lanolin, the natural softener in the sheep's wool. So, the other thing in my hand is Lanolin cream to keep my hands moisturized. Can’t wait to use it!

The last week that I have been here, Jeremy, Kelsey and I have been working on painting the wall that was put up in our office a while back. I do not have a final picture of it yet, but it is to come soon! Here is us working hard!

Priming

First layer of blue

being silly

Here we go with the purple!

starting on the words

1 Timothy 4:12

Jeremy's Thai fishing pants and my rain jacket to protect her clothes.

There is one funny, random story that was not planned. So, since I live so close to the church, I walk there every morning. In the winter, Perth has the tendency to have random spurts of rain that come in an instant. Needless to say, on my last day walking to work, I got caught in the rain. I was DRENCHED TO THE BONE! Wind was going horizontal, so that made it worse, but all in all, just another funny story to laugh at.

Also, the kids were back at school this week to start term 3 and I was able to visit them for one of the last couple of times. The kids from the youth said they would all miss me and it makes me want to stay so bad. I need to check into Winthrop about a transfer program. That would be amazing! I love them so much!

I have one more day Down Under, and it’s getting really sad to have to leave everyone. I have been truly blessed with coming to Australia. I just said yes to the Lord, and He has still blessed me beyond belief. I notice how I have grown as a person by serving Him. I serve an AWESOME GOD! Thank you Lord, for Lakeside and the people here!

Please pray that I will not focus on leaving, what but an impact I have made for the Lord. Pray for all of the summer missionaries that are here in Australia that we would finish strong and have a great debriefing. Finally, please pray that as all of the students around the world that have served this summer, that we would take this passion that we have and continue to live it out in our lives, not just while we are away from home. Serving the Lord is the best decision of how to spend your summer, if you’re wondering. Thanks for praying, everyone!

Aussie Awesomeness!

2011-07-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

These past 2 weeks has been rather fun! It was the last week of the school’s second term, so there wasn’t that much different. Several things have happened.

I have worked with K at the local high school and went to another high school to work with some more kids.

There was a social with the year 9s. We had a scavenger hunt in the mall! We had to do several things at different stores. First, in our group, all the guys had to find out about their feet and balance. We also had to get a smoothie and determine its flavor. Playing a racing game was another part of the hunt. We had a blast, but when you are in a group of teenage boys, they are very competitive, and they like to run to finish the race. So, needless to say, we ran through the mall. Everyone was looking at us and I thought I was breaking law or something, but no one stopped us, so I guess we are ok. Our team didn’t end up winning, but it was all good fun!

Checking our foot pressure.

Playing the video game!

Racing through the mall!

Hurry!

During Saturday, we had the day off mostly, so Kelsey, Boomer, and I met up with the two girls from the IMB working in East Fremantle (Freo). We were able to pick them up and go to the Fremantle market, have lunch, etc! It was so good to see them for the first time this summer! They all got henna tattoos and we ate at Jus Burgers. Apparently it’s like the best burger place! I also was able to get an Australia cookie cutter! So excited to use it!

Katherine and Kelsey with their tattoos!

Pick out our Aussie friend, Emma!

Finished!

When in Australia....

So hungry waiting for food!

We also had Reverbr8, the youth program on the 2^nd of July. It was so cool! We had a trivia contest with American and Australian questions. Surprisingly, the Aussie teens knew a lot about our country, and I didn’t even know any of theirs! Then, we had an eating contest! This was the best part. In pairs, one from each team came up and had to eat whatever was under the towel. Sometimes it would be Australian like Tim-tams (a chocolate cookie), sausage roll, or wheat bix or it could be something American like a hot dog (slathered in American mustard) PB&J sandwich (which they don’t eat here), or sweet tea! Ha-ha! It was so funny to see their faces! Finally, I spoke on diversity and juding others and how God has placed us wherever we are to be a light where He has put us. The last part of the night, we had a kickball game and it was a tie! The final snack was puppy chow, the best treat ever! Here is just a few pics from that night!

Go USA!

Waiting to answer trivia questions.

Eating Tim-Tams. An Aussie biscuit (cookie)

Sweet Tea that yours truly made! Aussies don't agree with us southern Americans! haha

Prepping food for competition.

Here come the Americans!

Waiting for kickball!

In action!

The next Monday was the fourth of July and I got to share a dish with the Wickhams! It was not the traditional fourth of July dinner, but I made my family’s homemade vegetable soup! Since its winter here, it was so good to warm up with a big ole’ bowl of the soup! They seemed to enjoy it too! I can almost pull it off. It will always better when I don’t cook it, but it wasn’t that bad!

Yummy!

Enjoying soup on the 4th of July!

Leftovers for lunch!

During the week, Robyn, the lady that works with the seniors, asked us if we would come a share a little bit about ourselves. They get together once or twice a month for morning tea and have a theme every time. This time it was celebrating everyone’s birthday at once. We had tea and treats, Kelsey, Jeremy and I shared, we had an apron parade/show off time, pass the parcel and just great fellowship. I love that age group of people! It was so cool to get to know them and see another aspect of the church and community!

Smiling big with our aprons!

This is Pastor Anthony! He decided he would get in on the action!

Dance!

Pass the parcel!

Last week was the last time I will probably get to see the girls at the Christian chat room at one of the local high schools. Here is a pic of the group! They were so sweet and we had great discussions about our talents, why God does certain things, etc. I love youth girls! They are like my sisters!

Love them!

So, I have gotten 2 packages since I have been here. The first one had a gift for my host family, some odds and ends that I needed and nana’s brownies! They were so good and reminded me of home. The second one had a couple of tshirts for me and one of Ms. Evenlyn’s pound cakes. So good! I tried it before I left the house. Knowing the three of us, me and the Wickhams could not eat the whole thing before it went bad, I took it to Lakeside and the local school we mainly work with. Needless to say, this was the only pic I got of it after I brought it home. My family helped me to eat the rest! Everyone loved it! You can tell!

(What was left of) the cake. :)

Enjoying pound cake for the first time!

Another SBL (State Basketball League) game! Lakeside Lightning beat the Buccaneers 113 to 90! I love these games!

Go Lakeside!

We won!

Here’s a tour of Lakeside! I figured it was about time! haha

I am really torn right now. I am realizing that I only have a few more weeks here down under! I want to do as much as I can in the last few weeks, but I am ready to see my family at home! Pray that I can focus on what is needed right now and that I have the wisdom I need. Also, pray for the youth in general that they really do have a yearning to know more and want to grow. Finally, pray for the youth leaders, Jeremy and Kelsey that when I leave, they will continue to know how to lead this youth group! They are such great supervisors and they are true examples of the Lord to me!

Just realized...

2011-07-04T08:22:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have realized that this trip is more than halfway over. It seems like just yesterday that I have arrived! There was so much leading up to it, that it almost felt surreal at first. I love Perth and Lakeside. It is crazy to know that God laid on my heart almost a year ago to go and live out His Great Commission. Little did I know the plan that led me here. I still stop and think every once in a while about the journey to get here, and that I am actually here and it blows my mind. The Lord led me to Australia! How awesome is that?! I know its a little late for this type of post, but I am still blown away by the opportunity every time I stop and think about it. Please pray that I will live these next four weeks to the fullest and the Lord will continue to give me wisdom in ways I can't fathom. Also, as I specifically reach out to the young girls of the group. Thanks so much for your continuous prayers and love sent this way. The Lord is miraculous and amazing. I love telling about Him. I am truly understanding what it means that "He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30.

Good onya

2011-06-30T04:55:00.000-07:00

Wow, so much has happened. I am so busy nowadays here at Lakeside. The Lord is providing more opportunities left and right. Part of what I have been doing lately is going on social outings with some of the different years of the school. Two specific social events have been making cupcakes with some year 10s and bowling with some year 8s. The school sees it as a good thing to offer these social events at least once per term. The head teacher of each grade in school coordinates it. Baking with the year 10s was so much fun! They were doing a bake sale for the next day and needed about 100 cupcakes, so they asked me to come along and help out. Dividing up the ingredients was a task and we almost forgot to put the water in! The first few were a little drab looking, but after that, we got the ball rolling. The best part was the decorating. Here are a few pics of how fun it was!

Working Hard!

So pretty!

It takes concentration to make cupcakes look this good!

Our whole group.

Also, getting to bowl with the year 10s was a blast! The kids had so much fun! I was able to get to know a couple more of them in the process. There are so many kids’ names to learn. After we watched the kids play the majority of their games, me and one of my supervisors, Kelsey, were able to play for our self proclaimed team America. The kids loved it and they love when we refer anything to America. I definitely want to do that again! Here are some shots from the outing.

Getting ready to bowl.

There it goes!

Waiting for our turn!

You know, that great technique.

Go girl!

These are just some of the major highlights while I am here, but I do do more than this every day. For the last couple of weeks, I have been able to volunteer at another school, Leeming Senior High School. The chaplain that goes to the church found out that I am going to uni (college) to teach special education and she offered me an opportunity I couldn’t resist. We both talked to the principal of the Education Support Center, which is the special needs area of the school, and I asked if I could help volunteer. She gladly accepted and thought this idea was wonderful. So, basically every Monday I go to the high school and help with different classes, such as cooking (home economics), a science class, a business education class (computing) with various other things. I have been twice now and I love it! The kids have attached on to me quickly and I love working with them. I am also still working with another student at Somerville. There is not a day I am there where he doesn’t notice me! He loves new faces so much and it’s great to work with him.

On other days, I am helping around Lakeside by help plan the youth groups, the young girls’ Bible study, the youth Sunday school, and just hang out with kids that come through the recreation center. I also do all of the loose odds and ends jobs that need to get done.

Also, I am doing lots of cool things on my days off. This weekend, I went to Kings Park, right outside of Perth. It is a pretty botanical/recreation park overlooking the city. I went with Kelsey, and one of her host sisters, Katie. It was so pretty looking at the city right at the water. At one point, we went on a tree top bridge and I think that was the coolest thing. We had so much fun being silly. The last picture is of me planking. Planking is a crazy Australia thing where you find a place to lay down head first in a spot of your choosing. It’s not that thrilling, but I had to do it just once, so, there you go.

Me and Perth!

Americans! Me and Kelsey!

You can talk to each other this far away with this wall. Sound waves are so cool!

Us on the tree top walk overlooking the city!

This is planking. Strange I know. Its what they do here.

The Lord is blessing me with a place that was initially totally out of my element, but I love it here. Please continue to pray for the people of Australia. My heart is burdened for them. Please pray that in my next speaking roles with youth group and the girls’ Bible study that the Lord will give me the words to say and that I will communicate the Word effectively. Also, please pray for my supervisors, Jeremy and Kelsey as they lead this youth group. Finally, pray for all of the summer missionaries around the world that we will all be able to communicate God’s love to each person that we come in contact with.

Fun Times!

2011-06-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

For the week, I did lots of other cool things. I get to hang out with some of the Somerville Baptist College (high school) students every Tuesday. They come to the recreation center for their sport classes. It’s awesome to get to hang out with some of the students then. Thursday, I got a really unique experience. Somerville has a special needs student. The teacher did not come in this day and the administration knew that I have a background with special needs children. I was asked to go to classes with K. for the day. It was good to get to know him and help him in his classes.

Friday was my day off, but Rhiannon, one of the sweet daughters of my host family, had an assembly at school. She was playing a dancer for an opera segment in the presentation that her and her classmates put on for the school. Here is a couple of pics of her.

She is the middle girl!

The one on the left!

This past weekend I got to go on another excursion. Lakeside had a girls Retreat about an hour away from Lakeside. I really got to connect with some of the girls more and finally get their names to sink into my brain. Let me tell you, it certainly is a task to learn everyone’s name. I’m working on it though. Anyway, we had several talks from the leaders about our worth to the Lord and how we each have our own talents. We also learned how we are each beautiful and are made just the way God wanted us to be. It was so amazing to see what the Lord is doing in the girls here at Lakeside. We also got to have a shaving cream dress up competition, shaving cream fight, and a treasure hunt in the downtown of the city we were in. Overall, it was a great and memorable time. I loved it.

Here's a glimpse of our fun!

Team Awesome! You know!

Our lovely creation!

Hanging out!

Grace! We have random dance parties! Its loads of fun!

Jordanna, April and Me with our painted canvases!

Posting for the fluro (neon) fun night!

Some of the leaders!

Set up for party!

Smile Rachel! with teeth gummies!

My yummy dinner!

Boomer and me!

I have also found out that I will get to be a bigger part of my time here. Getting to be a part of a girls bible study, help teach the youth Sunday school, and speak on different occasions and speak to youth in general. I am so pumped to see how God is going to stretch me.

Loving Life

2011-06-02T22:43:00.000-07:00

I am loving working for Lakeside! Everyday I get to come in to smiling faces and I have a great time being an intern there. Lakeside is very close to the school Somverville Baptist College, which has grades 7-12. We help them alot with between teaching Bible classes, hanging out at lunch, and helping them with whatever we need. Here are some pics of what I have done with them recently. I have gone to help with an athletic carnival (track meet). They needed me and Jeremy and Kelsey, my supervisors to come be extra help that day. Also, I helped with the surfing class. It was alot of fun to watch kids surf.

Running at race! Here comes the finish line!

A couple of the girls-Grace and Ashley


The whole team after a long day of races!


I also was another helper at the surfing class! They have surfing as an actual class! How cool is that?

Finally, I have had a lot of cool dishes while I have been here. Asian cuisine is a big thing over here because of the proximity to Asia. All of them I have had have been wonderful! Just to name a few: Cottage pie - which is hamburger meat with some carrots, onions, and some spices topped with mashed potatoes and grated cheese, all in the oven. I have also had Rogan Josh which is an Asian curry type dish with meat and spices over rice. To top it all off, I have had kangaroo with a mediterranean salad here is proof that I had a plate. It was so yummy!

I am enjoying my time here so much! Thank you for your continuous prayers!
Prayer Requests: that I am able to grow and have the discipline to keep learning, even though I am tired.
that I continue to build relationships with the children that come through Lakeside and the ones I visit at the school.

Made it to Perth!

2011-05-28T23:38:00.000-07:00

I have officially landed in Perth and started with my duties. I have met my host family, Steve and Sarah. They are so nice and Wednesday night we had a wonderful time at dinner and just talking about the differences of the US and Aus. They are a very sweet couple and their house is wonderful! We had an amazing dinner made up of Indian chicken on rice and capsicums, which are peppers. After dinner we had lemonade, but not typical American yellow lemonade, it was more sparkling and less tart. I have enjoyed getting to know them everyday even more and more. Here is a picture of their wonderful home.

The church runs a recreation center all through the week. When I got there, a women’s game was going on and there were people in all of the courts. Mostly adults play in the day and then children come in after lunch. Most of the schools here are private schools and do not have their own gym, so Lakeside is able to provide the courts for them for PE classes and such. It is only a short bus trip to the church. Also, doing sport though school is not how you “get up in the ranks”. If a student does basketball at school its more for fun, but if you do it though a recreation program, like the ones Lakeside runs, you have a better opportunity to get up in the big leagues. So, over the afternoon there were several junior games, elementary games. As I was leaving at about 4:30, more college age kids started to come in. (college is grades 7-12, and they call their grades years 7-12).

My actual official duties started Thursday. When I met up with Jeremy and Kayla, we went around the campus some more and I met a couple of more people. I was explained what all the programs were about. I did learn that Lakeside has a semi-pro team and they are actually quite good. After I went around for a while, we went to one of the local private schools and visited during their lunch there. It had years 7-12 in it. Kayla and I went around to the girls she knew, and I was introduced to a lot of them. We also told them about our girls weekend that is coming up. We are going to have games, crafts, a dress-up dinner, and all sorts of fun things. It was quite funny that the girls we talked to asked me where I was from and if I knew Miley Cyrus, and those type things. They also loved my accent. So cute! When we came back from that we had lunch and then planned for the youth event on Saturday night. Most of the youth events are more outreached based and not so much like we think of youth in the US. We came up with lots of challenges and games. Jeremy will also planned and did a devotion. Here is a picture of one event from that night

Well, since I have every Friday off, I was off and I got to go to the supermarket with Sarah, my host mother. The semi pro basket ball was that night and it was so close at the end. Go Lakeside Lightning!

For the Sunday evening service, I get to share my testimony with the church, so that will be so exciting! I cannot wait to share with them. Here is a picture of what Lakeside looks like. I will give you a tour soon with the inside!

Prayer requests: please pray that I will learn as quickly as I can and not become overwhelmed with learning about the church. Also, pray that I will be able to share my testimony effectively and that I will be calm during the share time. Pray for the Church and the people we are trying to reach and that the wall will be broken down and that we can reach them the best way possible.

I cannot wait to continue my time here! Thanks for your support!

Brekky! And lots of other cool things!

2011-05-24T05:07:00.000-07:00

Just in case you didn't know, Australia is very different from the United States. Training has been very informative and helpful in learning about this summer and there are alot of differences to remember. I have learned that learning how another place works does not just happen overnight. Even though Australia speaks English, there are so many other terms and ways they do life. Brekky for instance, is breakfast. The eating schedule is really different. There is brekky, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, tea (which is dinner and tea not at all) and supper(which is really tea and dessert). And thats just meals. Also, I have been able to see a real live kangaroo in the wild. They are like deer in the south US. Driving is also backwards from the US. The steering wheel is on the right side of the car and you drive on the left side of the road. Pay attention to that picture. I just love this culture so much!

On another note, the Lord is really stretching me to rely on Him more. I think I have just started to get a taste of what the Lord means to fully rely on Him. I am getting a little anxious to be in Perth, but I know the Lord will have me in His hand, and if He sent me and provided my way to go, everything will be in His will. I will keep remembering Matthew 6:33-34 Do not worry about tomorrow, for each day has enough trouble of its own. Perth sometime tomorrow!

Hello, Sydney!

2011-05-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick update. I have officially landed in Sydney, Australia! The flight was fairly easy and I am not as tired as I thought it would be. Even though it is Approximately 7:20 pm Sunday eastern time, it is 9:20 here in Sydney. Its hard to believe that the time difference is that much. The world is so small, yet so big!! At the LAX airport, everyone got to the same port and found each other. All of the students working here this summer are so amazing and I have had fun with them! The Lord has blessed me so much through this travel! Perth in a couple of days! Matt. 28:18-20

Here we go!

2011-05-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody!
As you probably know, I am going to Australia on Saturday! I am so excited to see what God is going to do in and through me and what all is in store! For the title of the blog, it relates to where I am doing and will be a continuation blog when I get back. Living down under is about going to Australia, but also living down under heaven and doing what the Lord has called me to do. I am truly excited to see what will happen! Here is my journey to get where I am right now.

Fall semester of my junior year, I was going to BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministries) like I have been for the past couple of years at Winthrop. Since we still did not have a campus minister, we had pastors from around Rock Hill to come and speak at our weekly meetings. For just about every week, something was shared about doing missions and why its important. At the same time, the missions through BCM was being advertised and why we should do it. I started to think about doing missions and took a look at the booklet of the options into consideration. When I initially looked at the options Australia just stuck out to me for some reason. I kept going back and forth of whether I should go for it or not.

I then went to Passion in January of this year. Passion is a college aged conference in Atlanta, Georgia led by Louie Giglio. Over the couple of days of the conference, through the encouragement and teachings at the conference by different famous Christian leaders and the Lord laying it on my heart, I decided that I needed to do missions this summer.

So, it was official. When I came back, I had to start the application and selection process. I filled out an application describing me, giving the top three options of where I wanted to go, giving my testimony and explaining why I wanted to do this overall. Much praying and decision making went into this process.Through the application, all of the missionary applicants were given a time on a specific day in February when we had to interview. The week after, I had been accepted to go to Australia! I was so excited that the Lord had given me this opportunity.

Over the next couple of months, I have been receiving information from the SC Baptist Convention coordinator for missions and my supervisor for when I am in Australia. The Lord has also afforded me to have all of the financial support that I will need to go.

I have been so blessed in this process and I know the Lord will do great things this summer. Thank you for your love and support.

Throughout the summer I will post and give updates along with a few specific prayer requests each time so everyone can help me pray for this summer and what is going to happen.

Please pray as I am preparing this week, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Please pray that I will do everything that needs to be done and not become too stressed. Finally, pray for my other team member, Ariel as she is preparing this week also.

Can't wait to be there in less than a week!