First Week

I've been here 7 days so far. So much has gone by me it's amazing. I don't know how to write it all down! I guess I'll start where I'm living. I'm staying in a homestay with the Hume family with a student from New Hampshire, David. They have one son who lives at home and attends Sydney University. Terry, the dad, loves to educate and he knows a whole lot. Bee-hoon, the mum, is also a school teacher and loves to cook. She's very good! :) David and I get along well and we both enjoy living with our family.

I've been through orientation and also gone to Sydney Harbour (I like spelling it that way) for a scavenger hunt. I've ridden the bus every day and have gotten used to it somewhat. You just have to know where you are, but it's sometimes hard to see the street signs! By the way, there are tons of round-a-bouts and the bus rocks and rolls getting around them. It just squeezes by all the traffic!

The people are amazing. Just the sort that I imagined. I tend to think of myself fitting in with my laid-back attitude of life. I know most of the 33 people coming from America and I've learned a few Australians as well! It's so hard to keep track, but I smile and wave anyway. No doubt I will know a lot more by the semester's end. O, and I HAVE to learn the accent. I've tried it a few times but I'm not so confident anymore. There are a bunch of terms that are different, such as gas stations (Servo's), Salvation Army stores (Salvo's), and music students (muso's). It's pretty typical to add an o at the end of a word to sound Australian! "No worries" is common of course, as well as "mate." So, know that I'm not calling you my special someone when I greet you like that!

Something else that amazes me is the scenery. There are so many different trees (and some are even planted in the road way--people park next to them beside their house). In the parks there are palm trees among pines, just to give an example. We've heard rumors about a creature called the Drop Bear which lives in trees and drops on people's heads, and then scratches them ferociously. Another legend is to spread some Vegemite on your forehead to prevent this occurrence! And then, of course, there are the beaches. Sydney is loaded with them and you're always within a good distance of one. A few days ago I went out with a bunch of the ASC students to Manly beach. That was a good trip even though we didn't set foot in the water...too much.

I'm off to talk someone in the Theology department to iron out the details of my class, Adventure Based Camping Ministry Field Experience...so got to run! Ttyl, mate!

Counting Down the Days

As time draws near to takeoff, I feel much stress has been added. And from what I hear, it is happening to lots of my fellow ASC-ers. We all need lots of prayer. For example, at least one of us had an issue with getting their visa accepted, another couple of people are barely able to pay for it. We are (all of us probably) very excited to leave and we still have lots to do until then. I'm trying to arrange getting together with friends before I go (some of them I haven't seen in a while) and also enjoy the summer and the freedom from homework. And errands and stuff.
I also notice some of us struggling to keep meeting with God. This is crucial! Nothing is worth while compared to time with Him, why can't we remember that! "Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added onto you." I regret to say that I've put this off for a while. I sometimes have an excuse or i just don't feel like it. And this has probably got to do with recent struggles of lust I've had. When you really meet God in the face, nothing looks as pleasing. And I've lost that.

So, we've still got 11 or so days to work with to get stuff done. I don't know the extent of it, but I hope you will join me in praying that it all gets accomplished. Whatever is causing us to turn away from Him to enjoy something else I pray that it stops. We are His! :)