Hualien, Taiwan

Have you ever pictured a place where mountains reach up to the sky, green and fully of life and that seem to roll unendlessly on one side of you while an ocean of aqua blue sea and white sand greet you on the other? If not, picture that now. You have just pictured Hualien, Taiwan.

The greatest and most breath taking image I have of Hualien is us slowly getting closer to shore after our 10 hour voyage from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and being greeted by mountains that go so high the clouds block the view of the top. And there isn't just one mountain, there is a whole country of mountains.

We were so blessed to have such a calm voyage. We departed Hualien at about 4pm Tuesday afternoon and arrived at about 9am Thursday morning. The voyage wasn't long but it kept many people in bed due to us sailing from the South China Seas into the Pacific Ocean. The South China Seas are amazingly rough!!!

Then we see her; Hualien County. No matter where we looked, mountains surrounded us. There was a coolness in the air as the overcast weather reminded us that we are travelling north. It's kinda weird, but for Taiwan, we've been chasing Spring, arriving in a port to experience the lovely cool weather then after a few days, the heat turns up. So strange considering that I come from Australia - currently sneaking up to Winter. But they did say, we' basically have Summer for atleast a year onboard the big MV Doulos.

As you can see from my picture above, Taiwan is not big. On the west coast is where most people live - its flat there. Kaohsiung lives on the edge of suburbia in a sence. Then we sailed around the Hualien, where not as many people live. The mountains fence around Hualien and really help create the calm atmosphere. Then we sailed north, to Keelung. If you picture Fremantle, Keelung is alot like that. Keelung is like the port of Taipei, like Fremantle is the port of Perth. All through the middle of the country is mountains. I was so blessed to be able to go to Taroko National Park - the main attraction for Hualien...

Unemployment and PFT Training

Hey you funtastic people...

So this is a little update to let you know what I'm doing... or something.

I've been back home in Adelaide now officially for just over a week. That blows my mind to read that but its actually very true. One week yesterday. Life just seems to have stopped, that I'm still in July only with no job. But alas life has certainly continued - for all of us.

So we are here in November. This evening I spoke with the Elders of my church about my desire to go back to the MV Doulos. I kind of expected the response I got, which was totally and utterly behind me every step of the way, but its just nice to hear it from them. It was a full-on rush of blood to the brain... followed by a pause and then a distinct unwell feeling in my stomach.

How am I going to do this? How am i going to pay for this? How is this even possible and why am I not running away from this... at all?

This is probably all coming to head because I dont have something occupying my time during the day like a job would. And it also helps that before I can go back to the ship I have to go to Pre-Field Training - and that starts Monday. Thats right, Monday coming. No rest for the wicked - and Carola too it seems.

So - with the blessing of the Elders, I'm now here writing to you the latest in the dramatic saga that is my life just now. With some of the little money I have remaining I have paid for my flight to Melbourne for the 23rd of November, and I return to Adelaide on the 29th of November. The course, which covers a wide range of helpful and informative things like who OM is, raising support, presenting my vision, writing a prayer letter, giving a missions testimony, cross-cultural & team living and importantly - prayer, as well as participating in a Life Direction Workshop amongst other things... all this an more for the low low price of.... $... - well its plenty and I'm going to believe it will turn up before I need to leave on Sunday evening. Oh my goodness - what am I doing???

Humanly speaking I should be running away - screaming and heading for the hills. Yet, I'm still compelled to do this. I still believe this is where I'm meant to be going. I still believe this is the door that is opening and despite the circumstances and frail footings, I'm walking this path. God is bigger than absolutely EVERYTHING, so why shouldn't I believe He will come through? Sure, it might not be right now, but at somepoint, God's plan is going to work out - its just that I have faith to think it is now...

Please pray for me! This is bigger than me and I cannot possibly do it alone! I haven't been more excited and passionate and utterly scared of my choice in something like this before, and just thinking about it all scares me more! I am but a servant and I only want to do what my Master instructs - I just pray I'm listening correctly!

Please also pray for OM Australia - they have a problem on their hands - me! Okay, I'm not that big a problem but I certainly am giving their stress levels a good workout - mine too!

Well... here's to living by faith... it certainly keeps you on your toes...!!!

Cause I gotta have faith...faith... faith

Since being in Sydney, we’ve certainly begun experiencing more of our Australian winter. Most people on the ship are ‘suffering’ from the cold – particularly when they arrived in New Zealand – as they had predominantly been living in mostly ‘summer’ weather for a year – or had arrived while travelling in countries like the Philliphines where its often warm. Mum has been informing me of her ‘puddle’ status – currently I believe she still has some puddles existing – which make her glad. And Dad has informed me that they’ve been having a reassuring stint of rain to keep them hopefull that perhaps this is the year the drought will change. I hope wherever you are your lawns and gardens are getting a well deserved watering.

I have appreciated the cool weather as I more than understand we’re in a drought, but have ashamedly found it frustrating as our Café is exposed to the elements being on the ‘Car Deck’ which is practically the bow of the ship. Because we also haven’t had efficient weather proofing – particularly from the wind and rain, [having it open gives people much more picturesque views not obstructed by shelter], so we have been braving the bitter chilling cold instead. Our demands really are not many. We want something to stop the rain getting to us, and we’d like a couple of those heaters that café’s with outdoor areas have. Having the heaters would trick us to believe the wind isn’t as chilling, and with the shelter the rain wouldn’t affect our entire area like it does. But it might take us all getting sick before that happens…

Saturday I spent my first money in what feels like months by going to my first IMAX experience with Timothy [UK], Mikaela [USA], Tomas [Sweden], Naveen [India], Jeff [Paraguay] & Christian [Paraguay], dude and dude [Naveen’s friends]. Oh-my-goodness. I’m not even gasping bout the slightly pricey cost to watch a movie there [only a sweet $25]. No, I’m talking about the overly impressive screen we got to eyeball. This was such a MASSIVE screen! I joked to my Jeff & Christian [picture me jammed between 2 well-over 6ft guys] that it would be hilariously nasty if IMAX tease us with this massive screen and show the movie with black defining top & bottom lines. We laughed, but I think we were all thinking how low that would be if we cough out that much money for half an awesome screen. Luckily after previews and really bad advertising [seriously, Sydney, I am appalled in your terrible graphics and advertising in cinemas!] the movie started and we were comforted to see that the screen disappears in front of the people in the front row and goes all the way to the ceiling, and wide enough that you have to slightly turn your head to keep up with the action. Amazing… so worth it!

I also went to the Hillsong City church – which was a lovely way to spend Sunday. A group of 5 of us walked about 45 minutes through the city to a stop where a ‘courtesy’ bus collects attendees and drives them the 5 minutes to the campus. The group was Noelle [USA], Jen [Canada], Timothy [UK], Tersius [SA] and myself. When we arrived I was honestly truly surprised that we had people recognise we were new. Our first greeter was really informative and encouraging – and upon hearing that we all live on a ship and are from all nationalities in the world – informed one of the head Pastors about us and soon we were talking to him too. They really found the whole idea fascinating, which isn’t really a surprise. They also had never heard of OM – which also did not surprise me. And for Hillsong City – it was tiny. I had imagined a humungous venue – but it was so small. And I was expecting to be bored of the message because I wouldn’t find anything of value in it – when infact Robert Fergusson actually preached the Word. He was reading verses from all over the bible and actually using them. He said don’t come to church and focus on the speaker, the singer, or the place. Focus on the message, the worship and completely on Jesus. I was encouraged greatly by his sermon.

When we had finished we caught the courtesy bus back into the city [it almost felt like a wasted drive when we could’ve walked that distance rather easily], and had a really awesome lunch in Darling Harbour for under $10. Shock. I really didn’t think there would be anywhere to get food there for less than $25 – so I was impressed – particularly as my chicken, avocado & salad sanga was a great size in price comparison.

Life otherwise is exciting. I worked my longest shift on Monday, working from 12:30pm till 10pm. It was meant to be 1-11pm but the Bookshop closed early from having less than 100 people come through all day. But Mondays on the ship tend to be quiet anyway as most people have Monday as their day off, which means to keep departments running, whoever’s on shift that day works ALL day.

Tuesday was then my official Off day I left the ship [you have to – or you’d go nuts from never leaving] and wandered the city with Cara [Brisbane]. She’s a Salvo, so we were actually in the city for her to do some Salvo things at the head office, and I tagged along because I was free and we have rules about how many people have to go with you if you leave the ship. When I got back I changed and ended up at work [it’s the hang out place for Douloids that just happens to come with AWESOME coffee or hot chocolates!] and ended up in this great DnM with Crystal [USA], Liza [SA] and Tomas [Sweden] about knights in shining armour, do they exist, that most women want a manly man, that even though Tomas isn’t that much a blokey bloke we’re sure he’ll fight for the chick he loves when he finds her, and other really random but interesting things like that which drinking coffee’s and eating chocolate in the sun. Then to randomise the afternoon, I hung out with John-Lee [SA] who really is like my brother [kinda annoying] but he’s cool and we just laugh a whole bunch, the tripper. And last night I got to hang out with some of the Bookshop Douloids, particularly Semih [like Sammy] [Turkey]. He is SOOO funny! And random! He reminds me a lot of Monty – we can just say a whole bunch of whack stuff and laugh about it and its all fun and fancy free but totally random. Nothing from ‘Lilo & Stitch’ has been mentioned [personal joke with Monty & Ali…]… hahhahaha!

Today I have had the pleasure of just doing random things that appeal to me till I have to go to work @ 3pm – earlier than normal because I was REALLY late to our Barista devotions [completely had forgotten them actually so I totally missed them] and therefore get to go to work early – haha! Then I watch the drills take place which today meant all the lifeboats on starboard side were lowered with crew and drills were practiced. This evening I work till close and that basically will mean just hanging out with Elliott [NZ] and telling him I can’t understand what he’s saying… hahah so funny! One example is that he says “Chux” when speaking about “Chicks” – which puts me into giggles. We’ve not been able to hang out as much as with the rest of the Barista’s and STEPpers – so it’ll be nice to just muck around with him.

Tomorrow I swapped a shift to work early because Silvan [Switzerland] came and asked me if I would sing with him at Prayer Night – which was really cool! I think he only asked because for one of our programs in Brisbane they were playing “Hosanna” by Brooke Fraser/Hillsong and I’d offered to do harmony as I knew it from Church but due to time restraints they decided to go ahead without – which was fine. But it seems I opened the door to sing on the Doulos. Lucky I’ve done it a few times back home J.

So - that’s really the latest update that I can give! A couple of weeks more and I’ll be only 1 state away! I have no idea exactly how many Adelaidians are coming to see the ship [and me?], and I can’t wait to see whoever does arrive!!!! I think Pandy & Dee Dee might make an appearance which might make some spontaneous precipitation occur from my eyes… but we’ll laugh it off! Note to them if they read this: txt message me when coming if you know – then I can see if I’ll be around! That goes for anyone really…

But please pray for 2 ‘incidents’ that have happened in the past week, particularly that they be resolved quickly…

One of our van’s was involved in a car accident with a Jeep on Sunday evening going to Hillsong Church – Hills campus. Out of the three vans and one car that were going, the third van was hit. Please pray that the shock of the accident wont affect the children who were in the car particularly as well as the other Douloids involved. Pray also that the driver of the Jeep could realise that it was an accident and not carry out the threats she has made.

Pray also for one of the STEPpers [Karl] who today was involved in a car/bike accident. He was with 2 other STEPpers [Samantha [Brisbane] & Elliott [NZ]] when he and the car collided. It seems that neither parties saw the other, and because we have no fixed address on the ship, the driver took Karl’s camera as security and is expecting a call back from us [the ship]. Karl by the way is okay.

Just to add to all the excitement already happening.
Please pray for me for patience with a couple of other Douloids who require more energy and patience to work with. Pray also for the right words when speaking to these people and to remember that God loves them and the person they are so I too should give them that grace.
Pray for energy to work and for enthusiasm to do my studies everyday. Pray also for my relationship with God as I’ve been so busy and then tired, or consumed by life that I’ve started to not be as consistant in my talks with God.

Thankyou sooo much!
Kisses…
Carola

The 'honeymoon' is ending...

Salut! I think I have now been here long enough to finally allow reality to set in. Or, I'm just really tired from working alot and from the past two nights of staying up late giggling with Cara.

Its all been a bit kaotic lately as I have had soooo many scattered morning shifts [9am-4:30pm] closely mixed with soooo many night shifts [4-11pm+] that its beginning to wear me out. We tossed up the idea of working one week all mornings and one week all evenings, but somehow we universally came to the conclusion that we enjoy having shifts with different staff each day. And we can have some days to go out or some evenings to participate in programs each week - instead of only evenings one week and only days another.

Wednesday was a public holiday up here in the Big Q which concluded being our biggest and busiest day thus far. I worked all that day, then worked all Thursday, which really just smacked all the sanity and normality out of me. I also had to change rooms on Thursday evening, so straight after work I had to cart my gear from one end of the ship to the other - something that certainly wasn't high on my "Awesome things to do today" list. The move actually refreshed me because both Cara and I got to put our stuff wherever we both wanted - instead of being provided a slither of space to occupy and live in from those who already resided in the cabins.

Random side note: I could easily say I feel like I am on school camp. Most people on the ship are around my age - so basically from 18-28. There really aren't that many people older than that in comparison to how many people are onboard. This means there are loads of riff-raff and cheeky ninja-pranking behaviour, which also means a load of laughing. Add to that the confusion of new languages and translations and words being used that mean one thing in one culture and something different in another, and bouts of random laughter just flow from all sources.

Speaking of laughter - I have become humbled to my own since being onboard. I used to think I was unique and had too many varities of laughter, a characteristic to be shared and enjoyed by others. Then I met Thabo from [insert country here]. He trumps my laugh and its so hillarious. Its soooo much louder than mine, so high squealing, so out there, so contagious... if you are a Simpsons fan, think Dr Hibbert [who always laughs at the most innappropiate of moments], times that by 10, crank the volume, and make the "hee-hee-hee's" top shelf high pitched. He is soon to leave - like so many other awesome people I've only just been getting to know - so until he does, I taunt him with the "Why, hee-hee-hee's". I've even gotten to a point where I don't have to say the whole thing... just "Why..."... hahahaha!

Anyway, back to my update...

The rest of the STEPpers arrived yesterday. I have only met about 7 girls and 3 guys so far - there could be more. Its really weird having them finally around because we've already been here for 2 weeks and have established friendships, know how to get around the ship, and have our jobs already. Its like an invasion into our group and I know that sounds nasty and judgemental from their first day but here me out. We've already done the awkward moments, got introduced to our group, got to know each other and the rest of the Crew, we've been there - done that. Now they have finally arrived, we certainly don't feel like we fit in with them. We're still apart of their crew but - not. Its like we have one up on them because of our arrival earlier, so its like its two groups instead of one. And their jobs are interchangeable because all STEPpers do those jobs, and they don't necessarily like them, whereas we actually applied to do our job as Coffee Barista's, so our job is more personal to us, and our time isn't the same everyday. It really will be interesting to see how the dynamics work out. I really pray we do gel well with them all.

So other than that - all is well. I am finally almost over being sick. My sprained ankle unfortunately is not healing fast at all - still very swollen, very sore and just an annoyance I'm ignoring - which means its not healing because I just keep doing life on the ship. Add to that the fact that I totally bashed myself up about a week ago with one of our external doors. [I may have mentioned this earlier... sorry]. Some of the doors are really heavy, and most need a key to open them. There is also a variety of door step sizes, which has been tricky to avoid tripping over when I'm in a hurry collecting milk or cookies for work. So picture this...

I arrive at a door needing a key to open it [crew only]. I have my key on a neck chain for covenience as I brought work pants with no pockets [great idea]. I open the door, and while trying to get my key out again, begin stepping through the door - not quite getting my leg high enough over the step, the key finally releases from the lock, and while loosing stability I grab the door to correct myself, resulting in pulling it closed with my legs caught between. This has got to be the most random way to be jammed - you seriously cannot correct yourself gracefully.

Hope you had a laugh. I certainly did writing that. I am uncoordinated at the best of times - but I feel that since being on the ship I've become so much more awkward and easily damaged . Bruises adorn most of me from just running into random things - or randomly assaulting myself like the above.

Another cool thing is that it seems we have free dental - and I'm having un-wise wisdom teeth problems again, so I'm going to look into seeing if I can get the problem ones removed. I mentioned as a joke to the Dentist if she would like to pull out some teeth - and she all too quickly and excitedly said that she'd love to - scary woman. I'll go suss her out.

And that pretty much concludes this update! We set sail [hahahahah] on Tuesday afternoon - bound for Darling Harbour, Sydney - berth 5. Please pray for efficient cleaning and packing for all of us, pray for good sailing weather and seas, particularly that sea-sickness is minimum. The biggest prayer point for me right now is my future. I haven't been here very long at all and the suggestion of returning in Feburary as a Pre-ship has been thrown around by my crew mates - but also from some in leadership [wowsers] - so I really need your help in prayer as to a direction and to know if God wants me here and not accept the idea because I'm having a great time - you know how it is...

Love, love, love... [doo be doo...]

Mucho Update-oh

Its been a crazy few days! I am totally EXHAUSTED! It could be because there are endless stairs to be climbed and decended throughout the entire ship [I'm sure I'm going to come back half the person I used to be - ba-dom-cha!]. It could be because for 3 full days its been all go and the only stop I get is when I’m vertically standing. I could be from all the information we’ve had to absorb in 1 day that any other STEP team/crew had atleast 3 days to take in. It could be because Brisbane has FINALLY pumped out some better Brisbane weather instead of Adelaide weather [it got to 5*C at one stage I’m sure they were saying!].

But I am having a total blast!!! And I really can understand why so many people do this for longer because the experience itself is truly amazing. I think I’m going to really miss leaving all these wonderful people! And you would be so shocked to know I didn’t act at all like the person I'm usually being [loud, crazy, chatterbox, clown - You know the one!] - until today! That’s a pretty big challenge but don't act so shocked! I can’t take all the credit - I had the flu :( – so I was far more intent to listen to everyone due to lack of voice. So I had you going back there. You were thinking “She hasn’t even been gone a week and she’s a totally different person!?”. I think that would probably take something really big..

So I’ll describe what the ship is like…. its TOE-TAH-LEE OOR-SAHM!!! [Have you watched “The Incredibles” anytime recently?]. Coming from afar it looks so …Majestic. Intriguing. Facinating. Superb. Even as I continued to walk up closer to it, its sizing did shrink a little but I realised how real it was! And then I was onboard. Well I managed to haul myself on board anyway. Mr Holland [or other country - I never got his name or nationality] was cleaning the sides of the stairs up to the ship [as you do] and saw my luggage [it wasn't shocking!] and without me even putting its lah-di-dah roller handle down he was hauling it up the stairs. And inside. And through some doors. And all he said [and has said since] is "Ya!". Hahaha. Good introduction to the ship and crew!

Mr Daniel Wong [STEP Co-Ordinator] then collected myself and my luggage [I know!] and showed me my room - and its TINY! Sooooo tiny! I will show pictures soon. But its sooo tiny! I get the wonderful blessing of sharing with Gerdia from South Africa. She has alot of stuff [really puts me to shame!] and its really - everywhere! But she's been here for almost 2 years, is about to get married, and has shared a room with herself for a while! She's sooo lovely! We have our own telephone box sized shower & bathroom - thank goodness! Its so groovy!

Up stairs from my floor [known as "Main Street"] is the dining room. And upstairs from that and around a corner is my "workplace". I believe I was blessed with such a good location so that I could get my ankle & knee back to some working order - so that by August or September I'll likely to change rooms when Gerdia leaves *tear*.

Thursday evening [the day I arrived on the Doulos] was "Prayer Night". This lasts for up to 4 hours! Its intense! Its a bit of info night, a bit of singing, a bit of randomness, a few skits, and oh - some mega praying! Its very spirit filled. I unfortunately lasted till 9pm and then "karked" it, exhausted from the flu and Brisbane weather. I unpacked what now seemed like very small amount of luggage and pretended to go to sleep. Pretended because I was so HOT! Having been used to going to bed with a hot water bottle in a cold room, to then go to having a regular temperature throughout your whole home/office/gym/library [note it mention some random things because these are all on the ship and this is where I spend most of my time!] ...of 23*C [perhaps?] was really bizzare and I felt so stuffy!

Sleep did finally arrive and I was awake at 5am when Gerdia went for a run, and then managed to drag myself actually off my bed at 5:30am to get ready for early breakfast with our crew which magically grew from 4 to 7 for coffee sampling in a cafe within the city. Wee Ooh!

So the team which originally consisted of Bev - NSW, Cara - QLD & John - QLD, has now grown to Liza - South Africa [on a long journey with the ship and is also our Cafe' manager], Elliott - NZ [who sailed on the ship to join us as Barista's around Australia - cool!] and Marcelina - Malaysia? [who is also on for a long journey]. We also met Brett McDonald - brother of our Cap'n Ashley and Barsita extrodinaire. Due to the early start we enjoyed the coffees [note - plural :)]. It was a funky way to learn some things - and invade someone elses Coffee making space. Then we had orientation for the rest of the day. That probably was the most intense and exhausted me the most as it was so full on and jammed in because instead of 3 days Orientation we had only 1. When I really had no brain left, I managed to have dinner and do more learning in the evening [I've seriously forgotten what we did because I was so brain dead - and it was only last night].... wait - we all practices making coffess, I remember. Then most were so exhausted that they went to bed and Elliott, Brett & myself set up and practiced making coffees on random people until one of the randoms brought back his friends. So I got to give it a whirl. Wee Ooh. Said Random actually returned today.

Wrapping this up quickly, my first shift was today, and it was pretty crazy! We had about 3 hours off as we used up all our milk [all 14L's!] and then finished my shift technically at 4:30 but as I'd had register/money/EFTPOS experience from Bi-Lo, I got to teach people how to use it - with the guidance of Mr Paul C - IT crazy man from IRELAND! :)

So - thats about it! Make sure if you write me emails you send to the email at the top of this page - the one in red - and replace the [at] with @.

Kisses to the ones I miss-es...

Carola

Day 1: Brisbane [Not in Kansas Anymore]

The journey has officially begun.

I'm still coming to terms that I am going to be sailing on a ship making coffee around Australia for 3 months. Despite having only left Adelaide last night, even arriving in Brisbane couldn't secure some guarantee that this really is happening. I even went into town today and yet for some reason feel like I've wagged a day of work. Its a rather strange feeling! Added to that is the great blessing to already be updating this.

At the airport I had a wonderful send of by some dedicated N'worthians who really wanted me on that plane - delayed or not! As I was walking the gangplank to the plane I obviously had something stuck in my eye, because it began to weep, but God busted a move and let me sit next to this cool 6y/o called Jennifer. Jennifer is vibrant, bubbly, entertaining - and has Scoliosis. She has had one lot of surgery to correct her back last year, and in 5 years time she has 2 more operations. Her Mum, Amanda, is legally blind and her brother who is 13 [not on the plane] had his feet amputated as a baby. Talk about wow! Jennifer and I exchanged drawings and we watched cartoons and laughed. And then I was in Brisbane!

Trav wonderfully collected me and my delayed flight from the aiport, drove me and my luggage back to greet his lovely wife who was waiting in the warmth of their very Queenslander-esque home [one of those houses on stilts kinda things]. The Mad-Oxes and myself then chat for an hour or so. Night owls much? It was great to catch up with them!

Finally calling it a night I haul my slightly over-weight [hahah] suitcase onto my bed where the top handle decides that its previous attached location does not suit its style any more and therefore detatches itself. Nice.

Bed. Ah. Bliss. I wake only to hear Trav & Jo tip-toe out the house about 7:45am and I roll back to sleep. 45minutes later I receive a text message which I begin to reply to before accidently falling back to sleep [I really didn't mean to!]. I wake half hour later discovering I'd not finished the text - consider doing so - before rolling over and falling back to sleep. I wake at about 9:45am.

After pottering around and trying to fix my suitcase I have some breakfast and consider the days events. I should get out and explore, though the ankle isn't terribly excited by this:

Lovely. Who sprains their angkle 5 days before leaving on a new adventure anyway. Oh right. Me!

Proof that I am actually here in Brisbane. And if you sit outside on the CitiCat's you look like this:

And now for some random snaps from the day to tie you over till the next post.

XOX Carola

Officially-Officially Accepted, Update and Police

Well, I missed the point of telling ya'll that I was officially officially accepted on the Doulos... that was only about a week ago anyway...

I have about 6 weeks to go...

My passport - fresh off the milkyway press of delights - should be arriving soon...

Birthday pressie from 2 lovely lassies is to purchase the bag for all my luggage - thank goodness - because I have no idea...

Have bought the first flight - to Brisvegas from Adelaide: Carola departs 8:30pm Sunday evening, July 27 2008...

I'm soooooooooooooooo excited...!!!

I'm scared, too...

I officially handed in my resignation from work *tear!* today...

I have ALMOST tracked down my digital camera I left in the Starbucks Cafe in Melbourne a month after filing a report about its geograpic misplacement. Its only taken ringing the Cafe 5 times, ringing 4 different police stations numerous amounts of times and getting help only as of today, all because a lousy receipt number and Constable name the Cafe chick has would've told us where my camera has been taken to in the first place... like the police told anyone that... but thanks to them and their help anyway...!!

I ---- trully have now run out of things to say...!!

Wait - no I appologise I forgot one thing...

Its very cold now that "winter" [according to the calendar] has set upon us... *brrrrr - this is the time to find someone to cuddle to warm you up - I found my giraffe stuffed toy... he's goooooooooood!*

Un-officially Official

...that has got to be the weirdest combination of words.

But, you have indeed read correctly. I'm [basically] accepted!! I just have to wait for the final dates & costs and details to be confirmed and then I am sign, sealed and soon-to-be delivered!

Be blessed!

A Bee's Knee short of officially going on the Doulos...

Its so close!

The interview went really well! I had Mandy, who I had met in the very early stages of my decision of going on the Doulos, and she was just as encouraging now as she was back then! So that was a huge blessing!

And it wasn't hard! Which was really good because I was feeling pretty shocking with the cold I had [insert communal "Ew!" here...]... and because most of the answers came from general conversation, that was also just handy!

And Mandy even let me in on a secret... she said she'll definately be recommending me for the STEP Program and the Australian Leg of the tour. How AWESOME!

So, now we're full steam ahead with fundraising. I mean, we can now steer towards full steam ahead with fundraising. People really are generous you know. I 've had many offers to do things, and its just a blessing. I am trully blessed with my Family, both my immediate family, and my Church friends and family - family... They really do rock my socks off! Or, they really want me to leave :)

From tomorrow, there's only 2.8 months to go. I want to take a friend with me, but I could never decide! So instead they can all come with me, a little piece of them all will be on my journey with me!

May you be blessed this evening!

I'm off to dinner [at the local "Windy"] and then onto Bible Study...

After the Awakening...[The Happening]

Right... so its kind of all official now!

The registration fee has been paid.

The work situation has been sorted.

And now i have to acknowledge the fact this is really happening...

It feels kind of surreal. I will be missing some things while I'm gone which right now feels kind of odd but it will be great to hear how they all went. Also, a 'delivery' is scheduled to be made in the last few weeks of my time on the ship, which with little details just now makes that something not to focus on completely on just at this moment. I'll fill you in a little later about that...

Exciting! Gosh! Fundraising Ideas! Hmmm...

No more spending money when its not needed I think. This means, lessening up on how many lunches I buy at work, DVD's & CD's, clothes, shoes, and mags on the car etc. That last one is a joke - haha!

Must tell the family - they will be surprised it's happening so soon!!!

And the other family - my church family - they would like to know I'm leaving I'm sure!

"Finally, peace and quiet!" I can hear them say. Funny you are - f-u-n-n-y...!

So thats the latest! Hope life is giving you some crazy twists and turns too! I tell you what, its just a little bit exciting when things start happening, don't you think?

Take care and tell me whats going on in your life... I would love to hear it!

Carola

Before the Dawn [The Awakening]

I have never really felt the pull to leave the comfort of my life, the surroundings, my friends, the safety of understanding [most] people, the little things we take for granted everyday or even the bigger things we pray for a solution to swiftly come upon us. So I really never thought that I could - or would - venture abroad and do something mission based.

Armed with the most convenient of excuses, I defended any thought entering my head about any possibility of going into the mission field. "I'm still a young Christian". "I have yet to find my feet". "I believe I am already working where God has put me, so don't need to go". They might be mostly true, but they are excuses. Sure, I am a young Christian, but it probably will help me grow. Sure, I might not feel comfortable to do it, but if I feel there's a need, a void I could fill, then why not do it? Sure, God probably has put me where I am right at this moment to do His work, but, maybe I have also been waiting for such a time as this.

God's not going to just give me life on a silver platter and say... "Hey kid, come over here and pick out all the fun things you want to do in life, and then come over here and tell me when and where you want to do them"... but are we expecting Him to do that? I am pretty certain I was. I am pretty certain that I have been waiting too long for God to drop a big neon sign with an even bigger neon arrow that says "THIS WAY... NOW!". God also forgot to send me my to-do list which would really help with identifying the things I want to do. Not to mention a map for some direction. Gee God, what are you thinking?

I'm thinking that God is thinking "Make your own way there". But where is there? Is it near? Do I have to move overseas to find it? Do Arnott's have a never-ending supply of Tim Tams available there? Why do we always feel the need to know everything before we're satisfied that we're going in the right direction... when if we think about how long we've been thinking about that for, we might've missed the gravy boat. The opportunity. Why don't we just try a handle and open a door? The only way you'll know if its 'not meant to be' is to try it. You'll soon know if the door is closed. Or you might be part-way walking through the door when it starts closing - and then you freak out. I tell you that would be scary! You have committed all that time, energy and resources into making the walk through that door - when now its closing in your face. What do you do?

Its simple to say and yet hard to live out. Believe. Have faith. Trust that there's a Man of higher power who is guiding your way with an impressive Light! Give it all to Him!

In Psalm 25:5 it says "...Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

and Psalm 37:7 says "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."

and Psalm 40:1 says "I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry."

I find those words so encouraging, and I pray that you do too.

"So, what has this all got to do with anything" you ask. Well I'm glad you did! You see, this is all probably as new to me as it is to you. I really hope I am not displaying what might appear to be someone who has God in everything they do. Nope, not me. Did I mention I struggle earlier? Well I do. I dont make God a priority as much as I should. I dont hold back on being quick to anger, like I should. I dont love everyone, including their faults, like I should. I struggle to commit to prayer and study of the Bible on a regular basis. I dont give with my whole heart like I could. I get frustrated too easily and I doubt too often. I get tired doing something I know is for God.

But do you know what the best thing is? The best thing about all of my faults that I have, including the one's i've not even mentioned? The best thing about all of this is that God still loves me, no matter how many times I stumble and fall. No matter how many times I think i'm travelling down the wrong path, think the wrong thing, curse, get mad, get frustrated, rebel, think of only myself, but most importantly, when I dont make God my number 1.

You know, God is pretty fantastic. He does not keep a tally of the things we do wrong - how great is that! He surely would disprove of it though! And he loves us unconditionally. That means - no matter what! You could say or do or think anything and God will still love you. God IS good!

God has changed me so much from the young woman I was a year ago. He has opened my heart and my eyes and my possibilities. Right now I am in the process of joining one of the Operation Mobilisation Ships, the M.V. Doulos, on a program called STEP [Short Term Exposure Program] [hopefully as a coffee barister! BIG PRAYER!]. Its basically a way of introducing you to missions work - and at the same time - giving you opportunity to learn from being confined to small spaces with a variety of Jesus believers. Make sense? Okay, well put it this way; Everyone is unique, with their idea's and habits and personal quirks that make up who they are. And because of this uniqueness - someone is not going to necessarilly agree with yours. So, you dont tell them they are wrong, and your not wrong either. But you have to make allowances and not get toey at them, but love your Christian Brothers and Sisters for their differences. So if you've never been on a mission trip before - this experience might help out a bit!

Prayer Points: Please pray for...
- an awakening of God within me
- a sense of peace and understanding that this path i'm heading down is right - even if only for now.
- a joy that this adventure will bring me into a closer relationship with God
- a hunger to read His Word and to have a better prayer life with Him.

Be Blessed!

Carola