The first team from our school heads out tomorrow to start their overseas outreach! They are headed for seven weeks in Malaysia. The rest of us start our various outreach trips this week as well. I'll be heading out for Japan in a week.

Its been really neat to see God provide over the past few days- many of us still needed funds to pay for outreach and God has done some amazing things.

Personally I was feeling a little down on Wednesday because I really wanted to give, but as it turned out, the money I had been sort of depending on hadn't come in yet. So, as I tend to do, I was getting a bit grumpy, and maybe a touch sassy with God, wondering why He wasn't "allowing me to be generous". (I'm a brat sometimes, I know, I talked with Him, we're cool- He loves me even when I'm a jerk.) I even had to borrow money to finish paying for my outreach.

So, after a day of feeling like an annoyed person, I woke up to a text from my mom letting me know that the check I had been waiting on? It came! The money I needed and more. So cool.


I'll keep everyone updated as I know details about my trip to Japan. Right now, we're looking at leaving in about a week (plane tickets are purchased!) and we are planning on doing children's and student ministry, teaching English classes and using the arts to minister to the people in Japan. The first two weeks we'll be at the YWAM base in Osaka, and then last four weeks we'll be staying with a fellow YWAMer's family in Tokyo. I'm really excited to see what God has in store for us as a team- I'm sure I will have amazing photos and great stories to share over the next 7 weeks!

After Sydney, our whole school traveled 16 hours by van and bus to Airlie Beach for an outreach week with two other YWAM groups from Australia. For a couple evenings, including New Year's Eve, we set up a large tent and served Chai tea, had live music and hung out with locals, backpackers and anyone who stopped by. The goal was to have a safe, chill place for people to come and hang out during the crazy festivities. Plus, a lot of the backpackers are really open to talking about God and life.

One of the evenings, a guy friend and I spent some time chatting with two men who attended school in Melbourne, but originally were from Dubai. They were really friendly and we had a good time hearing about their travels and sharing about what we were doing in Australia.

It was kind of a chill week, we spent time praying for the area, hanging out at the church where we were staying, making Macca(McDonalds) runs and on one of our last days, a few of us booked a day on a tropical island. (what!? Photos to come)




































At midnight on NYE, they set off fireworks directly above our tent. We had front row seats. So… fireworks, in Australia, on the beach, on New Year's Eve. Hello 2014- you're already 100x better than 2013.

So- a lot of people have been asking for updates- what I've been up to etc… mainly, lectures… and more lectures. We are planning our outreach to Japan, which is exciting, and there will be so many challenges and stories there I know… but for now… more pretty photos from Christmas break in Sydney!