Week One

I cannot believe it has already been a week since I left home.

First, God has already been answering prayers. I have my student visa and made it to Australia safely.

With that said, it has definitely been a rough week. Typing this post is not easy and makes me feel very vulnerable but I want to be honest with all of you about where I am at. Coming into this trip I definitely feared that I would not fit in. I was scared that I would be alone. Going into something as big and different as this and not knowing anyone is scary. I guess that fear has seemed to become more of a reality this last week. I have felt out of place. I am the type of person who needs to be around people to re-energize, but at the same time I am not always the type to put myself out there. I feel like I am surrounded by people but somehow alone. Slowly it has been getting better but it definitely has a lot of ups and downs. I know it is not unusual to feel this and most of the people around me are having a similar experience, but that does not make it any easier. 

One thing God has already been challenging me on is not believing lies about myself. Whether they be things people say, messages society surrounds us with, or lies from the devil, I need to fight them with truth. I am excited to learn more about my identity in Christ and who He says I am instead of who the world tells me I am. I am challenging myself to not let those lies hold me back from God working in me and through me.

Now for the more logistical stuff. This first week was orientation. While we have had some lectures already, for the most part it has just been going over a lot of information about schedules and assignments. Every Monday during the next eleven weeks we have track day. So I will be spending the day with others in the Justice and Mercy track. We will have lectures and activities directly for our track. We will also have a time to prepare ourselves for outreach, not sure what exactly that will look like yet. It is also one of my favorite nights because it is pizza night! Then Tuesday through Friday have a similar morning schedule. We will have breakfast then go to our base for lectures till lunch. After lunch we have different activities depending on the day. On Wednesday we have a worship and lecture night and Fridays we have outreach in the afternoon with our tracks. My track is going to be at a trailer park for outreach. We will help them make dinner and just connect and minister to the people there. We have free time on some of the other days and the weekends allowing us time to connect with a local church and complete our studies. Some of those assignments include a book report, leading a fifteen-minute devotion, giving a group presentation on a nation and leading people in prayer for that nation, and we also have a lot of reading and written homework covering each topic. 

After just one week I already see how much God is going to be stretching and growing me this trip. Often, staying in my comfort zone is not even an option. They consistently remind us we will only get out of this trip what we put in and I have decided to fully commit. To step out of my comfort zone and embrace it despite the fear. I am ready to see God use me and grow me in the uncomfortable moments. 

I will probably have more interesting stuff to share after we start lectures next week, but this is all for now.

Prayer Requests:

• To make meaningful friendships
• Peace through all the changes 
• Wise time management
• Reliance on God as I step out of my comfort zone