Time is such a crazy thing! It seems to go so fast and then
slow and then there are times when were just living and being in the moment. I
have been here for a little over three months now and have exactly one month today
left in Australia. It blows my mind every time I think about it. I feel like I have
been learning so much so there is so much to write about but I’m not sure where
to even begin. So I think ill just fill in what has happened in the past month
or so. School has been busy lately, so it feels as if I am just doing school
and this is just another place to do that, not Australia. In the month of
October alone I have already written three 8 page papers (which they do word
count here so 2500 word papers) and have three more to go and an exam left for
the next two weeks. The set up in school structure is so different in that way
since now all these papers that are due are worth like 40% of my overall grade.
I have still been able to take some adventures and see more of Australia besides
Sydney and Drummoyne but for the most part it’s been focused around school.
I have been so blessed by the fellowship here. I’ve been
attending a bible study at St. James Anglican church and they have really
welcomed me and a couple other Americans into their group and allowed us to
feel at home there. It has been so good loving and learning about the fellow
Americans here as well, there are such beautiful people who decided to study
here like I did and they have challenged me and loved me in ways that
continually bless me and remind me of how good God is. It has been difficult
being away from home this long though, not because of a lack of love for
Australia, because it is completely wonderful here and I love it, but just
because I miss being in community with my family and friends. Thankfully it has
not taken away from my time here and I have been able to still be present here
thanks be to God, He answered my prayers in that way. It’s been so good to have technology, I have been more thankful for facebook and skype than I have ever been before because it has allowed me to see the pictures of weddings I’ve missed and stay in contact with people through messaging which has been a great blessing. And as this program comes to a close I can see how God is again preparing me for the next stages of life by being home for a couple months then heading back to APU. We have been talking about the difference between being a pilgrim- someone who is traveling and exploring the world- and being a monk –someone who is able to be hospitable to those traveling- and so I am excited to be able to be a monk again, to open my home to people and be a stable place for those who are traveling since I have spent time as a pilgrim so much. And this is just one of the ways this semester has been opening my eyes to new perspectives and changing my mindset for the better, allowing me to have a new found excitement to go home and bring my new knowledge with me to be able to apply it and teach others. I’m sure it won’t be easy but it will be good and am feeling so blessed to have grown in confidence with Christ as well to know that even when it is difficult, I am never alone.
So just a quick update between papers, I’m not gonna be able
to stop talking about everything when I get back home so you all will have to
stay patient with meJ
Thanks for continually praying for me in this journey, I have felt that love
and support from here. Please keep me and the other students in your prayers as
we mentally try to prepare to come back home, and have to pack up everything
and go through culture shock again once back in the United States again. Also
there have been a few people in my life having big life events happening back
home and although I can’t give the details, just keep praying for people in
your community and mine if it comes into your mind.
I recently memorized this verse and it has contributed in my
mind transforming process:
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no
longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. This life I now live in the body,
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved and gave Himself for me.”
Peace of Christ be with you. Live life freely because you
have been set free through that sacrifice on the cross. 
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