Aus Adventures #2

So many events to share…

What you need to know are these…

No.1-
Australian sun is no joke. ‘Don’t believe me? Ask the dishes.’ -Be Our Guest from Beauty and the Beast. Literally there is a hole in the ozone layer over parts of Australia and Antarctica, therefore the UV rays are incredibly feisty. Skin cancer is one of Australia’s top killers.

No.2- Never walk outside at night in Sydney barefoot. I even leave my socks on walking around the house, because we leave windows and doors open so frequently (Typically Aussie houses don’t have A/C). I’ll say the word cockroach and leave it at that.

No.3-

Who knew didgeridoos came from the Aboriginal tribes of Australia?? And to think, my brother bought one in an antique shop in North Carolina. Oh my gosh, that’s the same antique shop I bought my tree carving of a Kookaburra! ‘Oh yeah, it’s all comin together.’ -Kronk, Emperor's New Groove

No.4-

‘Fish are friends, not food!’ -Bruce the Shark
Fish and chips. Ew. If a smell makes you gag, I don’t understand why you would eat it.

No.5-

Now I’m not one to promote Starbucks, just because McDonalds coffee is cheaper and just as good. BUT Starbucks Australia is several notches above Starbucks USA. Just look at the baked goods selection! All we get in America are old scones.

No.6-

Pancakes on the rocks!!! This is a popular restaurant that everyone has to try when in Sydney. ‘The Rocks’ is an area in Syd where the colony first was established. It’s a really cool place with street markets. ...Yes, chocolate pancakes.  Somebody shield Granny, I give you Devil’s Delight…

No.7-

Circular Quay is pronounced Circular KEY. I shall not make that mistake again. This is where the ferry ports are as well as the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.  Yes, it is as awesome as it looks.  Probably even more awesome than it looks.

So I’m going to stop there with numbers because 7 is a good number. But I did want to share a few more bits of excitement.

A) I went to the store to get groceries today and only spent 20 dollars! They had peanut butter, I was thrilled! I guess I expected to see Vegemite and Kangaroo meat. Anyways, I got excited and took a bite before the photo, but here is the first meal I cooked myself in Australia that's not Ramon Noodles (I squirreled away a couple 5 in my suit case).

B) I participated in my first public transportation in this huge city. By myself. I’m not proud or anything, because I did get antsy and get off 4 stops too early. BUT the point is I did it and made it safely to my destination.

C) I WENT TO HILLSONG CHURCH!!!! SYDNEY CITY LOCATION!!! Trip’s complete. Let’s go home. Ha I’m kidding, I still have to hold a Koala, take my roommates to church and eat a homemade meat pie.

Stay tuned for Exotic Animals gone wild...

First Week in Aus.

So guess what? I’m in Sydney, Australia! Proof you ask? ...

Alright. So now that we cleared that up…I’ll give you the run down of my trip so far.

I said goodbye to this darling creature on Friday afternoon: (Tigger Chilton)

I flew to Dallas Sunday morning and got to meet this darling creature: (My cousin George Chewbacca Scott)

I flew over the entire Pacific Ocean all of Monday:  (Shout out: Qantas Airways treats you right)

I arrived here on Tuesday afternoon: (My new home)

  

I walked with my roommate Dylan and his friend Ryss around the city:

I discovered there are many gross things like this:

And I have done a good bit of walking around my new university:

So there are some cool pictures you can hopefully enjoy. I really try to be secretive when I take photos because I don’t want to look like a tourist. I can totally blend in and look like an Aussie as long as I remember to stay to the left when walking. I keep wanting to go right and end up getting in the way. I’m bound to get run over looking the wrong way crossing the street. Speaking of blending in, a foreign student asked me for directions to a building yesterday. I pretended I knew what I was talking about and gave him directions. Who knows if he made it or not. Several international students have asked me questions for help. I guess they see white skin and think Aussie. Well I’m honored quite frankly. That means I must look as though I know what I’m doing. Success!

Quickly I’ll tell you how things are going. Honestly, I nearly came home earlier this week. I was completely overwhelmed by the initial shock of a new place and new people. Clearly the culture here is different and it will take some getting use to. I’ve decided that I will keep trusting God’s purpose for me in this place and try harder to get connected. Having said this, I do like my roommates Dylan and Lucas a lot. They are both very kind people. We have nice neighbors as well.

I wanted to thank you all for your support. It really REALLY means a lot to me and helps HEAPS. (Heaps being an extremely commonly used Aussie word. I don’t think they know the phrase 'a lot'. Everything is heaps.)

Staying United.

I am a wee bit scared to embark on my Australian journey, however, it grieves me more to leave my family and friends.  I've been aware this would be my most difficult obstacle while away, so I have a plan.  Actually in all honesty, God shot me this idea about a month ago.  Here's my reasoning:  I want to know that the people I love most are safe and happy.  The only way I can be sure is if God is the one taking care of them.  But people are sinful, so how will I know if God's being welcomed into their lives?  Well, if I'm sure they're saturated in God's word of course!! BINGO. It's foolproof.

So, having said this...I invite anyone who would like to, to join my family and I in reading books of the Bible together.  I haven't made a schedule yet.  Perhaps that special feature will come soon!  But here is what I was thinking, we'll read Romans (I decided we could start with Romans because it's my personal favorite) at our own pace over a 2 week period.  Maybe 3 weeks for longer books.  I like to take notes and journal because it makes it real and applicable and permanent.  But others may do it differently.  However anyone goes about studying, I think it's important to afterwards discuss what God revealed to us and what questions come up.  It'll be awesome and it'll be a huge blessing to our family.

I see unity as one of the most important things that can exist.  A fellow community group member said 'When the church comes together, Christ gains power'.  That is golden. Unity in Jesus is an unbreakable force.  For the occasion, I found a verse of coure.  It's Psalm 133:1 'How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity.'  GOOD and PLEASANT.  Those are nice. Those are what I want to know my friends and family are feeling.  I'll let you know ahead of time what the plans are, and you let me know if you have any beneficial ideas.

Hey Jeremiah 29:13 I believe it is, says 'you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'  So let's seek Him together eh? For NARNIA!

P.S. I used the phrase 'wee bit' at the beginning in honor of my irish friends. Shout out to you mates!

Won't Be Long Now.

Who knew packing to move to another country could be so difficult.  It's all about strategy really.  Try to take the bare minimum.  Consider weight, space, appropriate items for carry-on baggage.  It literally took me a whole day.  BUT...I have successfully packed and feel pretty accomplished.  I'm sure I forgot something, but no need to fret.

 I have updated news also!  Ready? ....I have a place to live!  I don't know details yet, but I will be living on campus, which is quite a relief.  No house hunting when I arrive.  I will, however, have to go buy a cheap pillow and blanket when I get there.  No big deal.  Now let's pray I can get an on campus job of some sort.  That would be lovely.

So currently I am getting excited about the trip as a whole.  I haven't been sleeping much, but come on!  Who would who's moving to an unfamiliar country across the world?  Once again, God has not failed me but given me hope and a future.  Just as Jeremiah 29 reads.  I actually have a few words to share on the matter.  The past 6 months have been a roller coaster.  There's just so much uncertainty in life and I think everyone would agree that that's sometimes difficult to deal with.  Having said that, I have found a way that is easier.  People so often get bogged down in circumstances and begin believing things will never be good again.  And I'm guilty of it too.  But let me proclaim this fearlessly..NO circumstance can take away the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  None.  I've felt it, I've lived it, I know it to be true.  It doesn't matter what darkness you're experiencing, there is always a better purpose.  Don't believe me, let God prove it...

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." --Hebrews 12:11

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." --Romans 8:18

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." --James 1:2-4

I like to think of it in the analogy of lifting weights.  You lift weights in order to tear your muscles (hints being sore afterwards).  But the pain is worth it because your muscles grow back stronger and better.  That's where we get the phrase 'no pain, no gain.'  Such is this in our life serving Jesus.  I know this to be true and I will show you...

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." --Romans 8:28

"The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." --Isaiah 58:11

"The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place." --Deuteronomy 1:30-31

Ya know, I can look over my short life thus far and honestly say with certainty that God has never failed me.  He's protected me, looked out for me, provided for me, blessed me, favored me, and loved me literally my entire life.  If He's taken me to it, He's brought me through it.  Examples.  I went off to college having not a clue of what to expect, God placed me in a college designed perfectly for my character.  That was the best year of my life.  The summer after, I took on a position that was out of my comfort zone at that time, God allowed me the opportunity to have my best friend as my co-worker.  That was the best summer of my life.  I changed colleges and the only two friends I had there..left, God gave me a spirit of boldness and I found a church community.  This gives me life during the school year.  The events on this timeline go on and on and never stop.  Because God never stops loving me.