I would say that this last month has been amazing, random and uplifting. I am so blown away by the love the Lord has shown me and to the others around me. I am in awe at all the laughter and comforter I have received in this last month. I was walking back from the super market and was amazed at the fact that I can afford to by some of my own grocery's now! I also had the sense that Darwin isn't unfamiliar anymore, Indiana seems like the one that is foreign. It is bittersweet having the "normal" transition into  abnormal and as the streets of Indiana fade, the streets of Darwin become more clear to me. I know the Lord continues to build up the community here for me in Darwin and I'm blessed beyond words but I can't help but long for Indiana at times. I need to know that even though I can be upset and sometimes its for no reason other then I miss the familiar, I must learn to rejoice.

 

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

But rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 1 peter 4:13

All these verses have a common theme to rejoice and be joyful. These verses tell us to have joy even as we suffer. We are even suppose to count it as a joy when we face trails and to rejoice always. That is a massive request if you ask me. How am I suppose to rejoice when sick kids are dying from common illness, people are attempting suicide and parents are walking away from each other? I am not going to lie, I fall short of rejoicing in every circumstance often.

However in the bible it talks about having a time and place for everything. So how does rejoicing always fit into that. I believe the answer to this is that as long as we are in the Lord we should have Joy. In Nehemiah 8:10 it says "Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” So although I be having a hard time and not able to see the whole picture I should still be joyous.

Mission Adventures/East TImor

I have just experienced a glimpse of God's love for Australia and East Timor and it has changed me.

 

During the first week with 21 students I had a blast. I was able to continue to be molded into the leader God wants me to be. I was able to speak life and influence girls to see the world in a different light. The Lord was at work in each students life. We had a great speaker who was able to connect with the students and also encourage them to seek the Lord. His name was Aaron and he came with his dad and they created a really cool atmosphere for the students to engage in. They also provided me with a lot of laughs and great music. We all know my love for guitar and I was blessed to listen to a lot of it. These students where from 2 different schools one school went to Cambodia and the other went to work with an aboriginal community. I was given many responsibilities and I even got to lead worship 3 times with the help of Katheryn. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have an influence in these students life's.

 

Then I met up with the local team from Darwin to head off to East Timor. Boy was I in for a surprise with this crazy bunch of students. I have learned the way Australian's show affection and it is through insult and sarcasm and man did they love me. This girl Piper must have loved me the most because did she dish it out ;] What was unique about this mission trip was that only 2 out of the 8 students called themselves Christians. So although we went with the intention of starting the process of rebuilding a community the Lord was softening the hearts of these students to know Him. I'm not a mind reader of what they took from it but they now know that the Lord is a loving God and no one is to far away to choose to follow Him. I hope that I was able to show Christ's love to them in a practical way. I know I made mistakes because I'm human but I think I showed them a practical picture of what following Jesus looks like. I'm so excited that I can keep in contact with these students because they live here in Darwin. There desire to see change and want to be apart of something bigger amazed me. They might not understand the Lord yet but the Lord is already using them for His kingdom. They were such a smart bunch of students and overall I was impressed. I can't wait to continue our relationships with East Timor either, God is at work every where and it's so amazing to see His heart for different nations.

 

I want to thank everyone for there prayers! So many things came together at the last minute that only God could have put together. I also didn't get sick once which this is the first trip I haven't at least got a cold so thanks heaps!!

 

As I settle back here in Darwin I'm so thankful for the people who decided to support me. I'm almost at my target goal for each month! Keep up the prayers.

 

 

 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7