september 30!

beautiful.incredible.amazing. australia. ah, i literally just got goosebumps typing that word. i’m in love with this place. it is absolutely amazing. i got to the ywam base about 6 days ago, and have had an awesome week. i have the most incredible girls that i’m living with. everyone has such different talents, it’s so cool. we have so many musicians in our room, so everyone is always singing and playing the guitar. we are all so artistic, but share the same heart and love for Jesus. it’s crazy because i hardly ever get along with girls. i usually cannot stand them. but these girl’s that i’m living with are amazing. each and every one of them is so beautiful in so many different ways. i can already call them my sisters. anyways, here on the base everyone is so friendly. when i got here, i had to tell literally 70 different people (usually at different times) my name, where i’m from, and what track i’m taking here (photography). oh goodness, did i mention how much public speaking i have already had to do? in front of the whole school, (about 100 people) i had to introduce myself on a MICROPHONE. if you know me at all, you know public speaking is something i absolutely cannot do. also, everyone in my class (music, art, and dance) all sat in a circle and over two days we all shared our testimonies. it was awesome to see the different lives/backgrounds of everyone. it’s crazy to see how many people have struggled in the same ways i have. i honestly came into this program thinking i wouldn’t be able to admit to my past and that everyone would be goody-goody’s. how wrong was i! it’s so incredible to know that each and every one of us have such different backgrounds and different experiences we have dealt with, yet God has called us all to do the same thing for him. for example, the girl i’ve become closest with here is from switzerland. we have so much in common, yet we have lived on opposite sides of the world our entire lives. carrying on…the food here at the base kinddddaaa sucks. haha, not gonna lie. but it’s fine because they give us the freedom to walk down the street and we have a bunch of options just like 4 blocks away. there’s even a mall about 7 blocks down the road with a target, cotton on, grocery store, the store called “city beach” which is like pac-sun, and SO MUCH MORE. seriously in the mall it feels just like america haha. okay…so the city of brisbane…. BREATHTAKING. i’m in love with it. there’s a river that runs through the city, and when i say river i DO NOT MEAN LIKE SAN ANTONIO RIVERWALK. this river is HUGE, and sooooo beautiful. in the city at night, i went and saw a light show that they did above the water, and it was amazing. also, the city is SO ME. like, there are a bunch of clothing stores, and they are ALLLL my style! it’s crazy! and every store i went into was playing dubstep/electronic music. it’s like i belong here haha. anyways, it’s just amazing how much i can see God working in my life here and everyone’s lives around me. seriously i have never met a group of such faithful, loving, and accepting individuals. i am SO EXCITED to get to know my family here even better. i know i’m going to change so much, and i honestly cannot wait for it. although there are deadly spiders, and disgusting bugs, and did i mention lizards living in our dorm…i think i’ll get used to it. this place is amazing, and i can feel the presence of God here, every second of every day. i love and miss each and every one of you, and i will try to blog whenever i get the chance!