Here's to this crazy new adventure.

About a week and a half ago, I hopped on a plane to fly across the Pacific Ocean and start this new adventure.

Since then, it's been crazy, and nerve-wracking, and weird, and incredible.

I don't think I've had a single moment of boredom since I got off the plane.  There's always things to do, or shops to visit, or books to read, or beaches to enjoy.  I can tell that I am exactly where I am supposed to be for this season of my life.

I feel like I should tell about where I am and what I've been doing.

First. My base is in New South Wales.  We're a 15-minute train from Wollongong and a 15-minute walk from some of the most beautiful beaches and ocean views I've ever seen.

 Second. This is not a town for night owls-- most shops seem to close at 4 or 5 in the afternoon! Plus, the sun sets at about 6pm, so any time after that feels like it's 1 in the morning.  Cars drive on the left side and pedestrians do not have the right-of-way (that change took some getting used to).
We're in a smaller town, and the main street is pretty fun.

We're in only our second week of lectures, talking about communicating with God. I can say, without a doubt, that even if I was to come home after only 11 days of being here, I would not be coming home the same.  They made sure to tell us, and remind us over and over again, that we are in a safe place.  That we're loved and cared for here, and this lecture phase is to cultivate a place of growth.  They've definitely succeeded at their goal.

I'm also blessed to be part of such a cool group of students in our DTS.  We all clicked really well together right off the bat, and everyone is so loving and caring and accepting.  Even though we've only been together for not even two weeks, we're talking, and praying together, and tossing a frisbee around, and reading books together, and really embracing this base's priority of being a family.

I'm excited for what the future holds and I'm so happy I'm here. This is a beautiful place, living a beautiful life, serving such a beautiful God.

Here We Go.

In one week, I will be on a plane, headed halfway around the world to Australia, to know God better and to make Him known.

I feel like I could repeat that to myself about a hundred times, and it would still be pretty hard for me to believe. I mean, me, living in Australia?   Crazy.
Going to places that I've never been to, while at the same time not having a clue about any of the people I'd be spending the next 5 1/2 months with, all because I know God is calling me into all of this?    Pretty much insane.

But I guess that's the beautiful part, huh? If we're looking at the paths that God calls us to walk on from the outside-in, then it all looks crazy.  It looks reckless; maybe even stupid.  God never called us to "practical Christianity".  Jesus spoke out the Great Commission not as an option, but a command to be obeyed, whether that means going across the street to help a neighbor and live out God's love locally, or literally going to the ends of the earth to be examples, both in actions and in speech, of God's grace and love. It may seem crazy from the outside-in, but following Jesus is the greatest and most vital decision one could ever make.  And saying 'yes' to God, whatever He may be calling us into, is the greatest and most incredible adventure we could ever be part of.

So this crazy journey of mine is me saying 'yes'.  It's weird, and nerve-wracking, and exciting, and wonderful, and it's my faith being put into action.  I don't have a clue what's waiting for me there, or what will come of the next 6 months, but I'm ready, so here we go.