Throughout the past year in preparation of this trip abroad, I have faced a number of discouragements, some that have at times almost caused me to turn aside and give up striving. They have included worries about finances, unexpected changes in advisers, anxiety about where I will stay and what I will do, being denied an exchange spot, and even my own insecurities about my abilities to do the things required. Throughout it all I have ridden out the wave and trusted that this was something that I was supposed to do and that despite the set backs, I had to press on. And boy how that has paid off!
Within the last few weeks things have really begun to fall into place. I have officially been accepted into James Cook University, I was granted my Australian visa within a day of applying, I have found a place to live where I know I will be happy and have fun, I have obtained plane tickets for the dates and the duration I need, and I have already made connections with teachers and administrators that I will be interacting with while I am there. So I guess it's safe to say, I am going to Australia!!
There are certainly still a number of things that I am uncertain about such as how I will be getting to school (the student lodge I am staying at is a 10 minute drive to campus but I don't have a car and public transit could take a while), what I will do for food, what activities I will do, how I will go about getting a part time job to help with finances, how I will go about making friends and how I will react to everything being so new and unknown. There are so many things that I really don't know much about, but this I know... I am going to have a blast! I know that this experience will be one that I will look back on with excitement and remember for years to come. I just have to trust that everything will work itself out and that I have no need to be afraid. Shoot, it's not like I haven't traveled before!
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| Mission Trip to Uganda, Africa 2010 |
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| Mission Trip to China 2012 |
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| Family trip to England |
