Aussie Bound in 2 & 1/2 weeks!

I'm going to get back into the habit of writing on this blog so I can remember to write every day while I'm gone.

Right now I'm in the process of planing and packing and more planing and purchasing.  Every time I make a list, a new one forms in my head.  I finally have a backpack to carry (well it's more like a large duffle bag) and a few things to keep myself organized.  I still need more small compartments to store things though.  I will be traveling with my friend Lori, whom I met while living in Amsterdam.  She's a fellow nomad at heart and I'm really excited to show her Australia.  This will be my 5th time in the country and my 2nd time to live there (the other time being 7 years ago when I studied abroad for a semester in college).  The plan is to go and live for a whole year.  Lori and I will be traveling quite a bit for the first 2 months and then settling down to HOPEFULLY find a place to live and a job.  I think this whole idea has completely shocked a lot of people but I know it is what I'm supposed to do.  It's not going to be easy and I know there will be times where I think I've made the worse decision of my life, but I'm hoping it will be an experience that I look back on with warm memories and a happy heart.  I've been praying a lot about this journey for many years and I continue to pray about it now.  These decisions are never easy; it's so hard to leave when things are comfortable, but I know that when I'm comfortable is when God wants to use me.  I'm not sure what the next year has in store, but I hope and pray that I can be used by God in another foreign land.  Although my actual intent is not mission work, I understand that no matter where I go, God will use me for missions.  I just pray that I can recognize what He wants me to do and have the boldness and strength to show Christ.

So here I go.... Australia bound in 2 & 1/2 weeks.....