All Kinds of Crazy

At this point, I am scared, nervous, excited, anxious, worried, sad, happy, and slightly nauseous. Everything is set to go. I have everything I need. I know God wants me there and can't wait to see what He's got rolled up his sleeve. I'm on the "meet and greet" list which apparently means that every time I get off a plane someone meets me to take me to my next flight... Awkward - but that goodness.
I take off at 6:50 from Toronto and arrive in London at around 6:30 AM or something London time. Then I wait for HOURS until my next flight that's around 11:15? London time. THEN once I land in Singapore to change flights I have only 1 measely little hour to somehow get to my next flight to Perth. So basically if there are any delays.. my life is ruined lol. Just kidding - but seriously.. that would not be a good day. Not to mention I will already be in a bad mood for not sleeping for like 30 hours.. anyhow. So then, if I do make it to Perth, I will arrive there at around 3:50 pm AUS time.. so 1:50 AM our time. (14 hour difference) I am going to be one tired girl by the time I finally arrive. I hope I'll be able to sleep .. I usually can't in airplanes.
So I started saying my goodbyes this week - harder than I had realized. Especially just realizing how long these 6 months are. I know they'll go by fast, but it'll be tough to be a lone for the first little while. Hope everyone had a good Christmas.. I'll be blogging whenever I get internet connection - idealy.
Keep praying that everything goes smoothly in the airport. No searches or anything - never a good time, or lost luggage - because that is also not so fun.

Uno Weeko

If you can you read clear spanish than you know that there's 1 week left till I go!
I'll arrive 2 days before the course starts and I have pretty much everything I need to start. I'm still working on getting the guts to actually get on the plane and somehow entertain myself for 30 hours alone.. sketching can only occupy me for so long.
Anyways, I'm off to the grandparents for Christmas like every year.
Merry Christmas everyone.

13 Days!

I cannot believe how fast the last 8 months have gone by. While they were happening it seemed like forever until I would leave but looking back it was so fast. 13 more days till I leave .. and only 5 more shifts at work as of now. God has brought so many people into my life and really started making me feel confident about leaving and this being the right choice for right now. The Lecture Phase is completely payed for! And now I'm just working towards those funds for the outreach. Thank you again to everyone who's been praying, asking questions, and supporting me through this.

Voice of Truth

So to fall asleep at night I ususally listen to my ipod. The other night I was stressing about the trip and everything I still need to do to get ready. And then I started freaking out because I hate airports, and thousands upon thousands of potentially murderous strangers and how I will most definitely get lost. So I was like alright God, I'm never gunna get to sleep worrying, please make it stop and ultimately give me peace about all this, please. So then this song came on, Voice of Truth, by Casting Crowns. Love it.

Oh,what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown
Where Jesus is,
And he's holding out his hand
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me time and time again
"Boy, you'll never win, you'll never win."

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Obviously that's only the start, but that's the part that hit me the most.
20 days and I'll be in an airport headed off to Australia! Woot, Woot!

23 Days & Counting

23 DAYS! As the time until I go shortens the amount of hours I sleep at night is also shortening. I'm very excited to get to Australia and meet a lot of new people and start a new chapter. I can not wait to see what God has in store for me there and the new relationships that will be built. I'm not going to lie, I am terrified of being alone those few days on those planes and in the airports. Navigation is not one of my strengths and neither is staying awake for 36 hours.
It's just starting to hit me now how long 6 months is... I have a lot to do in the next 3 ish weeks to get ready. Please keep praying that everything will go smoothly the next few weeks and through all the airport stops and everything.
Thanks for all the support the last few months/years. I can't say thank you enough. xoxo

My Inspiration

It surprises me sometimes the impact someone can have on your life. There are a few people in my life that I can truely say have changed my life to the point that I know i would not be living the life I am now without their input. I've been asked before in interviews and by friends or relatives about what inspires me. Whether it's art or just life they are talking about the answer will always be the same. People inspire me. The people that have changed my life are my inspiration. I want to be that person to someone else because everyone deserves to have someone. Even if the person that changed their life only said 1 sentence or didn't even speak but by their actions affected them, then they were successful. Hopefully at some point in my life I can be that person to someone else. Even if they don't my name.

Crazy Dream

Oh my lanta, okay, so last night was insane. I had the craziest most amazing dream ever. When I woke up from it at like 4:18 AM I stayed awake for hours thinking about it.

So it started off with me and a girl from work going out for dinner which then turned into her friends bachlorette party - random. So then she was doing all that stuff and I was feeling really awkward so I got changed like 4 times and was really stressed for some reason. It was kinda creepy and really weird cuz we were in this dark light room, low ceilings looked like a basement - wasn't, there was a bar with like 6 of the brides close guy friends who were all gross but anyways. So then that's over and I leave and somehow it becomes Suzy Shier, where I work, but the front of the store looks like the curvey part of Galaxy's front floor. So I was standing there talking to a lady about the DTS and she was all excited and getting me excited then another man, who knows my dad heard about it and I talked to him then I got interrupted by this lady (I know who it is, but I'm not gunna give names) and she says "How long are you going away for" so I tell her "3 months Australia, 3 outreach" and she replies "So why do you think you can go away to a strange country and do things you couldn't do in Jamaica. You'll be all alone. I don't think you should go." So I'm looking at her like, are you crazy? And say "I'm not discussing this with you. It's none of your business," and leave.

So my mom is on her way to pick me up so I start walking home which is normal. It's dark and raining, I left all my stuff at the store - purse, coat, scarf, etc. I started running and I get past the stop lights and the appartments and start limping and this old man pulls over with his little walker as I'm limping and says "Don't worry I wasn't partying" .. like what? lol Anyways, so my mom drives past me stops and turns around. She stops the car, jumps out like really fast and is holding the Bible. I'm still crying so I'm like mom come on and she runs over to me and suddenly the sky is blue like day the Bible is soaking wet but the pages aren't wrinkled. The Bible was gorgeous though it had layered sheets and golden edges - hard to explain but anyways. So she holds the Bible up to the sun and the pages turn. She reads what it says in the middle of the road and it says, "Let God give you the strength you need, let the Spirit of God pour down on you." I dropped to the curb crying and then woke up. I don't even know if that's in the Bible but those words ran through my head for HOURS after I woke up. You're probably like - girl you're crazy. But after the week I had, I know that that dream was from God at least those words are. If anyone finds those words familiar can you let me know where from?.. Thanks.

I need a Daniel..

Yes? No? Maybe? ... Question Mark

This last week has been fairly boring. I got my wisdom teeth out last Tuesday so I was laying around doing practically nothing since it hurt to move my face, talk and eat. So I watched TV and went on the computer and slept a lot.. crazy pain meds = crazy dreams.

So in that time I had lots of time to think. My new obsession is figuring out all the costs for the DTS and bringing it to a final number - which keeps swaying so it makes it challenging. I've been stressing over if God wants me to go because everythings been so unpredictable and slow lately. So that got me wonder if God changes his mind. Like maybe where I was 6 months ago God wanted me to go, but now that I have maybe a little He's like well maybe not. Anyways... That is my questions at hand.. talking it through with a friend and myself - which usually ends up in in me running in a circle but hey - that's life.

Plane Ticket

So it's getting pretty official!
My maj (mother) picked up my ticket from the travel agent yesterday. Thanks to good old facebook, I've been able to talk to other students heading to Australia in December as well - pretty exciting and a lot more comforting making somewhat of a contact with others.
I was talking with one of the leaders of my DTS, Quenton, and updated him on my financial situation and he said compared to many others I've got a fairly decent head start over others. Thank you so much everyone who's been a part of that head start!
Quenton said that there are more updates on current DTS's online as well if you're interested. Feel free to check it out.

Today I'm Chipmunk

I got my not so wise wisdom teeth out yesterday morning. Last night I forgot to take the pain meds before I went to sleep and sometime during the night. The drugs make me feel sick and reject the little food I had eaten and I was kind of on strike for a few hours. The unfortunate result of that was pure agony and I will now suck it up and take those medications.
Lesson learned - take those stinking drugs before it's too late.

Oh PS only 42 more days until I hop on that plane to Aussie-land!! woot woot! ... I'm totally going to get lost in those airports.

Pay it Forward

On the trips to Jamaica and Ethiopia the last few years I remember the feelings of not wanting toleave. Almost like I wasn't finished. I loved seeing the kids faces. It's not something that you can get here. I know it's very cliche to say "We have so much and we take it for granted" but that's why I love being with people that don't have what we have. Sure, life might be easier with a fluffy new feather pillow, fluorinated (word? haha whatever) water, 3 computers a lap top and 52" plasma TV attached to wall - but it's not necessary. I love that they don't have their minds clouded with the next big thing and they are totally open to God.

My mom has made comments before after I come home frustrated from work saying "Ugh, some people drive me insane!" and she comments "I don't know how your going to survive Australia and outreach." Ya, ya it makes sense HERE, I guess. It's just different working with people that have similar interests and aren't crazy materialistic. Plus the people I'm helping actually NEED the help, they appreciate it and would give anything feel loved and important. I love the feeling I got after leaving the orphanage knowing that the kids day was just that much better because we took the time, money and energy to spend a couple of hours with them. Will they remember any of us? Mabye, maybe not, but one wise ex-Youth Pastor of mine was talking to us one day and basically said it doesn't matter if they remember you specifically but maybe that time we spent with them will change how they treat other people. Or even better, maybe they see something different in us, want it, and find God.

Who really knows how our actions, even if they seem insignificant at the moment, could relay change in someone else for the better, no matter how big their TV is.

Online Support

God has done so many amazing things in my life through missions trips in the last years, it's amazing. The support is incredible and the people I've met on the trips are amazing. I've grown so much from all of it and cannot wait to see what happens in this next year.
If God is laying it on your heart to financially support me at all, please visit Youth With A Mission Australia's website at:
http://www.ywamperth.org.au
At the bottom of the page there is link called "online payments." It's fast and easy and they walk you through it - very simple :). Any amount is more than I could ask for - thank you.
On the website there are many other features. If you'd like to find out more about the school I'm going to click on Training (at the very top) and select DTS - Young People in the list of schools, or ask me!

Thank you everyone ahead of time for the support that you've shown up to this point.
And to my friends and family - I couldn't have made this decision to go without you - thank you so much.
Keep praying!

DTS Update: November 10, 2008

For those of you that are unaware on December 31st I'm leaving from the Toronto airport to go to do a Young People's DTS for 6 months. The first 3 months are indepth studies of God and his call on us as young people. The last 3 monts is outreach. We're going into other nations to spread what we learned and our passion for God and helping people to use, basically. I'm crazy excited. At this point I have all the funds to pay for the first 3 months of school and now I'm working on raising the $5000 for the outreach. I know God's definitely got my back on this, as He does on everything. I'm so excited to see it all come together and have an amazing time.
I bought my ticket 2 weeks ago (give or take) I believe, man it's pricey, but so worth it. So as of a few days ago my Australian student visa was accepted! So excited. It's getting very close - less than 2 months ALREADY. I'm so stoked to get there and meet everyone. Plus it's summer there when I arrive and who doesn't love summer?

Anyways, thank you to those of you who have been praying and supporting me on this. I couldn't do it without you. Please if you have any questions feel freet to e-mail or comment and I'll get back to you ASAP I promise. Please keep praying for all of the students that are going and all the many financial situations that are there, and for strength and safety while we're away.
Thank you so much!

Just Getting Started

So I've wanted to start a blog about what's going on my life, based on missions, and what God has been up to in my life for a while. Doing a DTS (Discipleship Training School) has somewhat forced me to actually do it. So here I am. I don't know if anyone will read it or care but mostly this is kind of just for me. Like a journal or a fuzzy diary without a lock on it. Which reminds me of the one I had when I was around 10 and Matt, my older brother, would steal it and read it. Those dinky little locks were useless in the hands of a 12 year old boy. Anyhow, back to the point, I also thought it would be nice just to be able to read back on what's been happening in my life in a few month or a few years to see how I've grown, or changed, or if my grammar has gotten better. (I apologize ahead of time for the many typos and grammatical errors that my english teachers would shoot me for.)

So all in all I called this My Life's Painting because, to me, life is very similar to a painting. You have to dedicate time to it to make it just how you want it. There are layers and layers of paint on that canvas, from trying to maybe cover up a mistake, or not having the right colour. To me that's very similar to life. Our lives are cut up into different stages like a painting and right now I'm in a new stage in life having just graduation high school this year. This next year is going to be full of new things, travelling, meeting new people, making new friends that I'll have forever and probably along the way losing others, but that's just life is unfortunately. All in all I'm excited for whatever God has in store.