This past week, we road-tripped to Byron Bay for a week of outreach with the organization Red Frogs. In Australia, when students graduate from high school, they have what they call "schoolies". They travel to a location (Byron Bay in this case) and drink, party, do drugs etc for an entire week. Similar to spring break in the States, but with 17 and 18 year olds, not university students. Eighteen is the legal drinking age in Australia, and you can drink and be drunk in public. Its kind of crazy. Working with Red Frogs meant hanging out with students, visiting them in their hotels, doing walk-homes if they were intoxicated or not wanting to walk home alone. Assisting them as they threw up, accompanying them to the ER if necessary (unfortunately, it was). It was a crazy week. But through it all, it was so much fun, and an amazing time. Red Frogs is a Christian organization. They believe in taking Jesus out into the streets, to people, serving them and loving them as Jesus does. We had so many good conversations with the schoolies, many people were able to pray with them.




Our mornings were spent going to their homes, hotels or apartments and making them pancakes just to serve them and show the love of Christ. It was amazing how receptive and grateful they were. It was a hard, long week. It started it with a crazy thunderstorm on the beach and torrential rain, and ended in much the same way. There were late nights and a lack of sleep. Sleeping on a church floor with a ton of people and cold showers. But there were also crazy dance parties on the beach (so much fun! Friends, I danced like an idiot all week with the schoolies and my team and LOVED it. I'm a new person!) Free time spent on the beach and walking around the artsy/beachy town of Byron Bay. Lots of pizza and Coca-Cola consumed. So much laughter with friends. Our YWAM team grew so close during this time. It was a great week, and makes me super excited for our week of outreach coming up over New Year's… and then Japan in February.

I have so many photos to share! We visited a lighthouse, the beach… the town was so pretty! I'll be posting more soon!

Its back to normal here in Brisbane- lectures and classes. Work duties, sleeping in our bunks again (gosh the mattresses feel so comfy now!) We have a few weeks of Christmas, then, over our Christmas holiday, I'm traveling to Sydney with two girlfriends to spend a few days traveling there! Excited to see the opera house, visit Hillsong, and lots of beautiful beaches.

On Thursday afternoon, a few of us drove up into the mountains to try and catch the sunset… and we did. Eventually. We also got caught up in the storm clouds and rain, which was a lot of fun. It was great to see another part of this beautiful country we're in.

Enjoy.

    From where does my help come?

2 

My help comes from the Lord,

    who made heaven and earth.

-Psalm 121:1-2

Currently, late is about 10pm. Most people and activities on base here at YWAM Brisbane start to wind down around 9pm. A lot of people are up pretty early in the mornings, and almost everyone has very full days. So, currently, its thunder storming (again! yay!) and I'm sitting in my bunk bed (bottom bunk for this old one) typing away while the other ladies in my room are settling in for the night.

There is so much in my heart and head currently… and, at the same time, I'm fairly peaceful. Classes and lectures here are going smooth. I am a bit further along in life than most of the other students (not that I don't have plenty to hear and learn!) so most of the lessons are really good reminders of things I am very aware of.

Its a good time to look deep into my heart and to really focus on what I know and believe about God. To see what my relationship with Him is truly based on. I'm definitely seeing that there are really big areas where I need a lot of work. I am stubborn, and independent- I hate to ask for help. From friends, from God. Its hard for me to relinquish control… So, we're working on that.

Being here is good. I am surrounded daily with people who are on similar journeys. God has brought some wonderful ladies into my life- people I am able to connect and talk with. I have a full schedule, but also plenty of down time. Time to be creative. To study. To think and pray.

This past weekend I made it to the coast with some friends… and gosh, I love the ocean. I could take the same photo, 100x and love each and every one of them as though they were different. (does that make sense!?)