I SAW I HOPPED I ATE KANGA

Lovely isn't it? It's on the way to Stanthrope.Well this last week we were in the middle of no where called Stanthorpe and it is on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. Lovely place really. We went to a National Park when we were there. It was pretty cool and reminded me of family trips so much! It was good fun. I knew that dad would be taking soo many pictures. And on the way there I miss stopping and taking pictures but I have to get used to it because they won't stop for pictures lol.

this picture is of the lake right beside the place we stayed at, the bottom one is from the national park a little jont away.

So in the maranara sauce the other day there was Kangaroo!!! AHAHAHA I ate kangaroo. I saw them the day after and hopped with them too :) I didn't even know I was eating Kangaroo when I was. Crazy eh??

Roos and Roo Poo!

Ah well, the week was pretty awesome. Lectures were probably the best yet, and the food was even good!

ya well I am going to go now but add pictures first! :D yeee heee!

Here's an update

(basically what I sent via email -- Coda this is for you! haha p.s. macs are gross)

Weather Wise--- It’s been getting a tad chilly out here. It goes down to about 22ish degrees and that makes me go for my “jumpa”. We were camping in a place called Toowoomba (it’s a fun name to say) last weekend and it was so cold it made me break out my toque! Yes, that’s right! I wore a toque in Australia. I am going to be messed up when I get out to India. We are flying into Calcutta which will be around 40 degrees, then we take the train (for about 12 hours) into Darjeeling. And yowza! That’s going to be a shocker! It will get down to maybe 10-15 degrees I think, and from 40-10? I sure hope it doesn’t shock my system too much! Well, as for the weather now, enjoy your cold weather for me J I am missing it! Can you imagine it? I actually miss rain. This part of Australia has been affected by drought for the last 7 years, and right now it is at it’s all time low and danger point. That is one thing that you could pray for – RAIN!

School Stuff --- well right now we are into week 8 in lectures. I have learned so much so far it’s amazing! We have covered: Father Heart of God, Bible Study, Evangelism, Intercession, Character and Nature of God, Hearing the Voice of God, Holy Spirit, Spiritual Warfare, and Stewardship. Wow thinking back it’s amazing to see how much we have done so far! And it’s even crazier to think that in less than 5 weeks I will be in India!!!
Right now there is a lot more than one DTS on base so things are a little more cramped than usual (about 60 extra people in a small place adds up). It’s pretty cool though, they have some really nice people in their DTS and loads of Canadians! There is even a guy here from Chilliwack! I don’t know him but the fact that he is here from Chilliwack still shocks me! Anyways, enough about them, the people in my DTS are wonderful. The leaders and students alike are really neat people. I am so happy that I could meet them and start friendships with them.

Myself --- As for me, I am learning a lot. I really feel that God has changed me a lot so far. I have been emotionally physically and spiritually drained but I have grown so much through that. I can’t wait for outreach! Presently I am sick: stomach and head sick at the same time. It’s pretty nasty. A few other people are feeling a bit “under the weather” too. If you could pray for health that would be really appreciated. I am getting worried about India, thinking that if I am sick here what it’s going to be like in India :S

Prayer Requests:
Team India - to have a real heart for the people that we are going to be witnessing to, also for our team to not have a bad cultural shock when we head get there.
Health – for us to be and stay healthy out in Australia, and especially when we are in India
Finances – not for me (I have all my finances together, thank-you!) but for the other teams. There is one person on our team that needs financial support, as well as a few from the other teams. We have to have our flight funds in for next week and some people don’t have it. So if you could pray that would be wonderful.
That God would continue to work in me and make me into the woman of God that He wants me to be.
Protection – I know I am not even there yet, but the fact that India now has nuclear capabilities is a little scary, and just pray that things don’t get worse.

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Oh and on the last weekend we went to a music festival called AGMF. It was awesome. I got to see superchick, barlow girl, and other bands there :) right close and center! sweet eh? anywho here are some pics to lighten it up!

There were cool dancers.. I have video somewhere.

We were camping too, it was a very nice sunset too :)

There were so many stages in tents and outdoors, it was cool. So many people too like 20 000 I think?

YWAM set up a tent where we made chai tea for donation. It was sooo good! Best chai ever! but ya, it was packed all the time and it was the best place to hang out. Just nice music, chai, and it was nice and relaxing.

Cowboy Party!

The other day we had a cowboy birthday party for Philip :D It was a blast and I made a complete fool of myself when I played a game but oh well. haha

here are some pictures!Nate killed me.

Here are the cowboys ..... (for those wondering what the blob in the middle is it's Justice... he was a marshmallow on a stick)

Becky and myself.

The CowgirlsHere's Micah, Kim, JJ, and Philip.

It was one halarious night!

Randomness

There is guy on a different dts (same base) from Chilliwack.
I was definately weirded out. Never really met him before but he is from Sardis. He's on the MAD (Music Art and Drama) DTS and he went to India on his outreach. haha can you say weird?! from a hick town to across the world at the same YWAM base in Brisbane Australia, overlapping a little time in the same base. Creepy.

Random Stuff:
I love going round and round in traffic circles for fun
I am used to driving on the wrong side though when I see drivers in the wrong spot it's weird.
There are geckos in the bathroom
Coffee is good, though instant coffee is what I am living on
In our DTS : 10 countries are represented
Green Ants are evil
Cross walk signs are green and make funny ticking/whirling noises
I like to go everywhere barefoot.
I have been to Wolly's (Woolsworth's) and McDonalds barefoot hahaha gross eh?
My friend had a sun glasses tan and that was pretty funny
I have tried vegemite, tim tams, and fried bananas ? those are some weird things
Tim Tam Slams are my favorite dessert ( I think)
Caremel tim tams rock my socks
pedestrian signs are little legs walking on the picture
Spiders dont scare me much anymore -- I had one (little one) crawl on me yesterday and I didn't freak
I don't think I have seen a snake -- only big lizzard/geckos
McDonalds sells 50cent ice cream cones
the stars are so much clearer here
Salad is weird here
Main Lunch = wraps or sandwiches :( got old really fast
People can live off toast here, and when we go on the road we miss "the bread bin"
There is no "no shirt no shoes no service" here. Or else nobody would shop.
late night ice creams at maccers (Mack-ers) (McD's) rock

ya there is more random stuff but I have to get to class

Ta keep y'all in da loop

ok here is a pic to grab your attention! hahaha sunrise at byron -- we got up really early, drove a little ways, went to the lighthouse, and saw the sun rise on the most easterly point of Australia. It was so amazing.

I am back from a long week at Byron Bay -- An amazing place. there are no fast food/ chain resturaunts there (not allowed), it's small, yet I think it was 2 million backpackers go through there yearly? It is a hippy town, and there is a lot of hippy stuff going on there too -- like witch craft stuff too. But it is still a really cool place. The YWAM base there was pretty cool, the beach was about a 15-20 min drive away, and the beach was awesome.

front and back of the house :)

It is shallow for a while and then there is a place where it's shallow and big waves hit -- that was intense and so much fun. This time I didn't have my head smucked on the sand for a while, just bashed my knees a whole lot and got sand burn? haha oh well it was still amazing.

The Gals and the Guys.... the guys were "doing eachothers backs" hahaha

One night we did a free "sausage sizzle". It was a place where people could come and eat, hear a little about God, and have some awesome music playing in the background -- ie: from my IPod -- Damien Rice and Coldplay! yay!

Another night we went to basicaly a soup kitchen. We helped serve and clean up and set up a bit. I got to serve and it reminided me of camp! I miss camp!

We also had lectures at a church there the entire week -- this week = Spirutal Warfare and Identity in Christ. It was pretty intense all week, for me it was pretty hard emotionally. It just shows that you really do need to equip that spiritual armour every day. I have been since I learned about it, but before I was just getting knocked down over and over again and it was pretty difficult. By mid week I felt completely drained - physically spiritually, and emotionally.

But then I went for a walk along the beach at night and just prayed and cried out to God. That was pretty intense too. After, I felt a whole lot better, and I know that there was a whole lot of warfare going on around me. (pic of that night's sunset at the beach)

Anywho, the rest of the week was pretty good, I got even closer to some people on my team, and I am so happy to be back home. Yep, I now call this place home - for now at least. I really do love it here :D

We also saw the sunrise at Byron Bay and it was amazing. Here is one pic of a zillion I got from friends (since my camera is dead :'( )

Well yet another intense thing happened again with my friend. Her brother is not responding to chemotherapy anymore and the cancer is inoperable. Right now she is having a pretty hard time so please pray for her, I know that she and her family can use all the prayer they can get right now :)

Well, today has been pretty good, though I think this procrastinating will bite me this week. I have a whole heck of a lot to do now so I will add some pics and be off.

Later guys!

Island Party!!!!

Well, my camera descided to pack it in, push up daisies, die, suiscide it, and take me with it!!!!!! well I guess I didn't die but it still sucks :( My camera died and I need it! It died a day before we had Pauline's Birthday Party -- which was so awesome because everyone dressed like Islanders since she is from Vanuatu. I now have to rely on other people's pictures and videos for my own. This is until I get a new camera or get this one fixed. Here are some of their pictures:

The Sistas minus Pauline since she was getting ready and going to be surprised. Pualine -- A full out true Islander did our makeup and arm thingeys and put flowers in our hair! She is so awesome.

Well, the guys on the other hand.... they didn't know how to dress islander so they came up with some random stuff..... They all had skirts of some sort on too... UG I WANT MY CAMERA!And this is out group - minus Beau who was taking the picture. Birthday girl Pauline is in the middle and she has a traditional Vanuatuan dress on.

Well I am off to Byron Bay for a week so I won't post for a while. Have a good one guys!

Just an update I guess.

Well I haven't done this in a bit so here I go:

we went to this missions fest place and it was pretty good, we were camping and that was interesting.... the food tasted like fire, and every morning we had oatmeal--- looked like snot and has the same consistency -- tasted like fire.... we had sandwiches every lunchtime.... didnt taste like fire but we're ok, supper -- depending on what night... tasted like fire... and I really do wonder about food safe there. Since it didn't seem like we had any. Ah well, nobody I know is sick so hey! It's all good. This is a picture of the tent city we had going.. loads of one man tents, and like 6 - 8 person tents or something like that

Yep. So we went to the beach on the weekend too and that was super awesome. we went to Surfer's Paradise, and had loads of fun... post pics later....

and lately I have been doing lots of book work and not getting around to doing blog or emailing or whatever else. Ah well :P hahaha I have a goofy smile and I look funny but you get the point... It is school after all!

well I have to get going, it's gardening time!

More pictures!!!!

These are all in downtown Brisbane... they even had a beach!

Picture time!

yet again its picture time!! These are from Mooloolaba Beach on the sunny coast :)

Beach pictures and pics of my friends Rebecka Shane and myself ^_^

Beaches Waves and Sunburns!!!

I went to Mooloolaba Beach today. It was FANTASTIC! I went boogie boarding? and playing in the waves.
I was just playing around and this one wave was so massive that it flipped me over a couple times, dragged my head on the sea floor, and then pushed me on the beach. I think I did a few sumer saults. I'm fine of course, but I have never gotten that much sand in my hair before, and it was pretty scary. I also got some scrapes on my knees from being smushed on the shore ah well, that will heal.

Here's the best part now: I need some sun-burn remedies???????? Please??! I have never been this burnt in my life. I did use sun screen a few times, and we were only out there for a few hours, but still I am stinging and sitting on the edge of the seat right now because the backs of my legs are burnt.
I burnt my:
face
chest
shoulders
feet
back
LEGS -- they are the worst I think --- both sides too so it is going to be a fun time sleeping tonight :S

Oi any tips people besides putting on mass loads of sun screen next time?? I sure did learn my lesson by the way.... re-aply sunscreen every hour min. :S

Ouch.

well at least it was fun and I got some italian ice cream which was fabulous -- forest berry mmmmmmm on a waffle cone

well I will definately add pics later

but now I am going to get ready for church (I'm going to the Vineyard tonight) and supper

Later guys :)

I'm going to....

DARJEELING INDIA

Signs from God

Ok well this last few days have been almost stressful for me. We found out our outreach locations two days ago and had to find out from God which one we were supposed to go to.

So when they were going to tell us where the options are to go they had the white board and hang-man drawn up. So people were guessing and everyone was really shocked at the first place that was revealed... it was Iraq. The next... Sudan.... and last but not least Cuba.... well the whole class room was freaked out and amazed at the same time. My first thoughts: my mom is going to bawl her eyes out. Second thought: woah I might die.... third: how the heck do I tell people????? and I was just getting around to thinking I was going to go to one of them and BAM they said just kidding hahaha. *out of the three I felt either Sudan or Iraq fyi* They told us those countries as a joke/mean trick because our entire class was talking about the real three options the whole time and thinking "I want to go to _____" so ya, they thought of a surprise.

It was a pretty good surprise if you ask me.. One guy is really dissappointed right now though.... the ignorant american guy. Ah well, I think he will be a little happy because there was Africa on the options list. Well specifically Namibia, there was also China (don't know exactly where yet though) and Darjeeling, India.
Those are 3 places I have always wanted to go to so this was a really hard descision.

So I was praying and praying so much lately and trying to figure out where God wants me to go. I felt on my heart to go to this one place which I will mention when I know for sure, but ya. This morning I was like Ok God I need something like a confirmation: Make the sky completely clear by the afternoon (when i had to tell them my destination) so ya, this morning it looked like rain, and it was completely covered by clouds - big grey ones... Right now, I don't see any clouds and it is clear blue sky.

God answers prayers and I love it.

Some might think of it as coincidence but I think of it as God's love and confirmation for me.

Yay for blue sky! I love it even more now! :D

Later guys it's supper time.... more rice... stir fry... chicken..... I've had it so much lately :S

So....

This is from when we were in the middle of nowhere and it was very loud because of the weird animals....


hehehe I can't remember what I said but oh well :)

Finally my own images!

Yay my computer is online! TIME TO CELEBRATE WITH SOME PICS!

hehehe this makes my day!

These are the birds that live in the tree I love to sit under. Right across from me right now :P

This is one of 5 massive spiders I see on my walk to the mall every time. Do not let the barbed wire decieve you, they were about a meter away from it so ya, it's massive. I would guess like umm half a doller bill big?

ok well I have to go now, but that's it till later when I'm bored again haha.

laters

Well, here are some more pictures

I am getting impatient with the tech guy. Plain and simple. Everyone else has their internet connected and stuff and I really want to use my OWN pictures!! :"( These are all compliments of my friend Shane so far.

Late night coffee time with Shane and Susan. I have been drinking a lot of tea here, there is lots of tea times.... and the coffee is disgusting :"(
We went to this lookout point to see the lights of Brisbane and ya, flashes, and pictures were being taken like every 30 seconds for a while. It was a blast though!
JJ, me, Rebecka, and Marietta :D on the bus towards the lookout
This one is of Micah, Shane, and Hans with Brisbane i nthe background! So awesome!

MORE PICTURES!

I can only get to the posting picture part of it on this one computer. So I was getting pretty cranky about it lately. Well, here are some more pics then!

So the pictures are: across the street, the inside eating area, the courtyard, Marietta and Rebecka at the BBQ, and the last is the outside eating area/ courtyard

S


These are some pics from Australia so far compliments of my friend :)

There is the infamous spider, the courtyard, some friends, our first shopping trip, and the computer lab so far :D

I'm lovin' it!

So far it's awesome

ok well this is going to be random, so just to warn you...

Well we went on a three day "bonding time" with our group of 10 (plus a bunch of leaders) to the country side in Australia. It is so green here I am shocked. Then again, so are they.

well for our "bonding" experience we went to this house that YWAM bought and renovating. It's a small house in the middle of no where. It was alright there though. There were loads of spiders and frogs, and toads, and sooo much more. I SAW MY FIRST KANGAROO!!! It was far away but still I saw it!

This house that we were at had a wood stove, it had to be on for hot water, and the water tasted soo bad I had to mix juice mix (which was pretty nasty too) to drink it. Or tea.

I really have been drinking more tea out here. We have tea time in the morning every day and that is neat.

tea times remind me of british people, birtish people remind me of accents. here there are tons of different accents. I love it so much. Worship is sooooooo amazing to hear everyone sing the same songs that I sang in church, yet so differently. To hear all the accents, representing different nations, all singing in one voice in worship to our wonderful God is really and truly amazing. I enjoy every moment of it.

when we were in the middle of now where last night we sat around a camp fire (until it poured on us) and people sang songs in their languages. It was fantastic. we heard some German, Korean, Samoan, Vanuatu-ian (? haha), Norwegian and a couple others. It was fun.

It really was a good bonding time for us and that was really good. We haven't even started lectures yet!

Well I am going to head off to bed. I'm beat.

Oh I love your comments, and if you could comment me with updates from you guys that would be sweet!

Laters!

P.S. I am finally getting a tan!!!!! hahahahahha and hopefully this burn will turn into one better too!
G'night from Down Unda!

Stupid Ants!!!

They are everywhere! They get into everything! They drive me nuts!
and I think one bit me.

We had orientation today and they were talking all about what to look out for and stuff and told us that if they bite than you feel really achey.

Well it could be just a new bed or something, but this morning I woke up with a bug bite on my foot and I am soooooooo achey it hurts to laugh even. That's no good especially when we are teaching people how to say funny stuff with different accents... Like teaching my british friend how to say "word to yo motha" HAHAHA now that is really funny.
Ah well I have to pack now.

We are going to the country side? for 3 days, in a house they have out there I think, ah well..

Oh and I still have yet to get my internet on my computer. My pictures have to be put on here still :(

Thanks for the comments guys! I love hearing back from people.

P.S. there are gecko's in the bathroom. Ants in my room, and crickets everywhere. haha and a possum out back.

Frist few days in Aussie

I love it already.
Except for the spider I saw that is as big as my hand/fist. Or the end of a snake I saw creepin in the bushes.
But I love the hot weather, the rain, the birds (which are soo colourful and pretty sounding too)
I have yet to get my lap top hooked up so no pics yet.
So now I have been here a day and a bit, I have gone shopping twice, coffee once, movie time, and tons of new introductions to people. So far it's a blast
This afternoon we are having games then a bbq. Hope it goes well

there are people here from everywhere! In my team there is someone from England, America, Vanuatu, and Korea? and our leaders are from norway and canada :) yay

So far the people are sooo awesome, and it's only the first day.

this is going to be awesome.

I have to get going though to let someone else on.

Laters :)

5 Days till go time!

5 Days away and I have to cut back on what I want to bring >_<
I limited myself to a backpack, a carry-on, and a small bag.
One word: Harsh
2 more words: vacuume packing!

haha I know they said that I don't need much but I really want to take a lot, you know, "just in case" .. oh well.
I have to cut back and take out what I really don't need.
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OH but one thing I do need is a good book to bring with me. I am going to be gone for about a day in airports and planes. So my music batteries might die, and I might be sick of wandering all by myself, so I need a book.

The question is: what ones!?

I really like books and lots of genres too, especially ones that keep my attention. So if you have a good book that you know of LET ME KNOW! :D
That would be really really really appreciated.

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Oh what else do you do in airports and planes? I've only ever been on 2 flights (there and back haha) and never by myself. Any ideas?

Anywho, I think that is all for now, my brain is going mushy from all this emailing blogging and web surfing.

13 days

Today is 13 days away. I am off to Brisbane Australia (the east coast) for 6 months!! I am soo excited and getting so scared.
I was shopping with mom today and it sorta hit her like a brick - I am leaving in 13 days -- less than 2 weeks away. So she said she got this knot in her stomach and that I shouldn't say it again :P That was sorta hard to do since it was for stuff for when I go.

Cherie did you get homesick lots?? and what was it like travelling alone? I don't really know how to conact you so I'll give this a shot >_< haha. Oh and the pictures on your xanga are amazing! do you have more??

oh crappy I have this super big head ache coming on and it's hitting me like a brick. ouch.

I'm going to try to do more blogging later.

What the heck am I going to do?!

Well I hate spiders. I had an "encounter" with one yesterday and it got me to thinking : what am I going to do in Australia?!

Here is my spider story. hm I have had a bunch on here about spiders hahaha

So yesterday I was taking a shower and singing and stuff then I turn around and HOLY CRAP there is this giant daddy long legged spider right behind me on the shower curtain. Well I got out of the shower asap and then I tried to find the spider (while yelling and being freaked out) and then I can't find it. Second try I see it and its wiggling and climbing to the top. I got the nerve to squish it but still. Oh and then there were spider bits on the floor that was sick. It made me feel like I had spiders around me all day - well at least it made me think that even little fuzzies felt like spiders. Creepy.

So Australia has 9/10 most deadly spiders? or something like that -- at least I think that's what Jamie told me, well anyways, I don't deal well with spiders, let alone deadly ones.

I think I am a bit of an over-reactor to say the least. Yikes. But still, I better get over this fear/freaking out bit right quick!

I also don't like bugs but that's a different story.

In the past week I've had 3 gross spider stories and all of them make me feel creeped out.

maybe it's the eyes.. eight eyes staring at you? and eight legs to crawl on you with? and the sickest looking face imaginable.

19 days till spider land.

I am excited and getting more nervous.

21 Days till go time!

21 days! I am so excited! And getting nervous. I have most of my stuff ready to go and I am just working on the last bit details.

I even got an email today from the Frontiers DTS leaders telling me about who the staff are and everything.

It's soo cool! Our leaders are from USA, Canda, Norway, Malaysia, England, and Australia. And those are just the leaders. I can't wait to see where all of the students are from.
Last time I checked there was about 10 students this term for the DTS I am in, but there are 3 different DTS's running at the same time so there will be from 10 to like 50 people on campus.

I am so excited!
things are coming together nicely so far so let's hope nothing bad happens :)

Oi! My mom is planning to get me some vegemite to try before I go.... yick. It sounds soo gross but I will try it at least. Have you ever seen or read what's in vegemite?! It's SICK!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegemite

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On another topic, I went dress shopping with Miranda and mom on Friday and that went well. We got her dress, and picked out mine. All we do now is order mine in and hope to God that the other brides maid looks good and fits it. The scariest part of it all is that I get back from YWAM 21 days before her wedding, so I better not gain any weight while I'm there otherwise my dress won't fit >_<
ah well let's hope it works out just fine.

Well I am off to help with dinner, so
ta ta for now.

The good and the ugly

Well I finally got it done and over with. My application went in last night and I was soooo nervous. This morning I checked my mail (with wishful thinking) and what do ya know?!
I got accepted!!!! YAY I got one of the longest emails ever but it still said "your student visa was accepted" so happy

Oh well.
Anyone have any good party games? I am planning our annual party with friends from high school, and I think movies and this game with exchanging presnets by numbers. But what else?
It's getting frusterating because at the begining I asked if anyone wanted to help plan (not to make people feel left out) and so my friend said she would.

well now it is at her place, and she is freaking out cause she thinks I have no plans. I don't get her at all. And she is driving me insane.

I think it will all work out, and hey I'll learn for next year, have it at my house and change a bunch of stuff.

well if ya have any idears let me know :)

Have a merry Christmas people :)

Hating the internet

All I can say is yikes.
I was applying online for my student visa a few days ago and I finally finished. I was just putting in the last details. Then I clicked the next button and *POOF*. A page comes up and says 'page cannot be displayed' or something like that.

This means I don't know if my visa application went through or not.
It also said at the bottom of the page if you click more than once you could be charged more than once per application.

All I can say is oh crap.

I hope it went through, otherwise it might be another hour of sitting infront of the computer with numbers and personal info going out and desperately hoping that I'm not charged twice!!!

Oi!!! I don't need this kind of stress!!

oh well. Today I will phone the visa company and HOPEFULLY find out.

arg.

Australia!!!

Wow this whole entire year has gone by so fast! In two months I will be in Australia and getting things together for school.

I also found out after re-reading some stuff that our outreach will be in either Ethiopia, the South Pacific islands, East Malaysia and I think that's it.

right now I am really stupendously bored. I don't know what to do but update a blog. and this is usually a last resort for me haha

Well until the next time.
Goodbye :)