Cleaning is My Happy Place

It's afternoon here in Townsville.  I decided to sleep in this morning and so slept through my normal blogging time.  Between traveling, jet lag, information overload, and working this week has been a little exhausting!  I'm looking forward to sleeping in this weekend.  :)

Yesterday we had all campus worship.  All of the staff came and we had an hour of singing and praising the Lord with the whole base.  It is so amazing to see how free YWAM Townsville is in their worship!  After that we all got loaded up in the vans to head to the new campus.  My assigned group was on "Hillside Duty".  We cleaned up a huge hill (I have pictures and video... I'll try and add them later) behind the campus.  We cleaned up lots of random trash and gathered a lot of downed limbs and trees to put in the dumpster.  It was hard work, but very enjoyable!  We had a good working group with great attitudes!  The City Campus is such a blessing.  Every time we go I just can't help but feel joyful and inspired!

After base cleanup we came back to do Ministry Placement.  I love the group of girls that clean the ship with me.  We work very well together and are efficient in what we do!  And I just can't help but take joy and be honoured that I have the opportunity to serve my brothers and sisters by taking care of them this way.

This morning we had an all campus prayer session.  The staff presented a few different topics and we prayed over them for about 45 minutes.  It's so good to see the Lord at work!  This morning during lectures we heard from two of the base leadership team.  One spoke on communication and the other was Ken, who is the base leader.  It was neat to hear his heart for this ministry and to see his humbleness in it all.  He is an aspiring leader.  The Lord is doing great and mighty things at YWAM Townsville and it's such an amazing opportunity to be a part of it.

We have to go back to the ship for dinner tonight and then we have free time.  I think an early bed time will be in order.

That's all for now!

Prayer Requests:
1. That all of us with colds would be healed soon.
2.  That we would be well rested and be able to do everything we need to with our 100%

-Katie

Placements

Good morning!  The sunrise is beautiful here this morning, although I think the saying, "Red skies at morning, sailors take warning; red skies at night, sailors delight" is appropriate this morning!  I'm praying for a cool weather so that our campus work day will be nice!

The good news this morning is that my throat feels better!  Hallelujah!!!  Yesterday was an odd day, but good overall.  On the way from the ship to campus yesterday morning, I got sick.  I hadn't eaten anything, which is a blessing, but it was super weird.  Generally when I'm sick I can just sit and close my eyes and make myself calm down.  Not yesterday.  My poor, new backpack had to go through the wash.  Today I have a bit of a stuffy nose, but otherwise am feeling much better.  Thank you for all of your prayers!

After my eventful morning we received our ministry placements.  A ministry placement could be compared to a chore of sorts.  It's the heart of YWAM Townsville that everyone live in community and that we help and support those in full-time staff.   My ministry placement is Ship Ops.  Essentially, I get to clean the ship every day! (:  It was my first choice, and I'm glad to have gotten it.  There's something special about being able to take care of and clean the place your DTS is staying.  It's two hours a day and there are four ladies on the team.   We are responsible for cleaning the bathrooms, mess hall, accommodation, lounge, medical clinic, and the bridge.  I'm honoured to have been chosen to be a steward of the ship.

Yesterday in lectures we went over some more orientation things and also about the assignments that we will have throughout the lecture phase.  I'll tell you more about them as I'm working on them.  Each week we have a journal and a workbook we have to complete and turn in.  In addition we have two creative devotions to lead in our small groups and two book reports.  One of the book reports is on a book written by the founder of YWAM, Loren Cunningham called Is That Really You, God?.  The other is a missionary biography of choice.  If anyone has any good suggestions, let me know in the comments below or through Facebook!

Each week we will get to meet with a mentor in a 'one-on-one' and also a small group.  I can't even tell you how excited I am to be here and to be living in community with other believers.  I can't wait to see what the Lord has for all of us and how He will move in great and mighty ways!

Prayer Requests:
1. That I would kick this cold
2. That the Lord would be forming deep, lasting relationships between all of us on this journey

That's all for now, folks!
-Katie

With Praise

I still haven't had a chance to post (or take) pictures, I know.

Here's a picture that my friend Raylee took though to hold you over.

(: This is my home for the next 6 weeks or so!  And the home of 40ish other people as well.  It's a blessing and quite the adventure.

I thought some of you might be interested in what our schedule looks like here.  

0630 - Get picked up from the ship and taken to Old Campus

0645 - Breakfast at Old Campus

0730 to 0830 - Quiet Time

From here it changes a little every day but generally it goes something like this:

Worship Time

Lectures

"Moning Tea"

Lectures

Lunch

Ministry Placement

Lectures

Dinner

Free Time

Head back to the ship

That's the general idea of the day for now. 

Yesterday we had a great time of worship and then got to hear the hearts of all of our staff for these two DTSs.  We got to have Moning Tea with the base staff and mingle and chat with them and then our first speaker was Robyn Mulligan, one of the base leaders.  She told about the history of YWAM Townsville and about Ministry Placements, which is a couple hours every day or every other day that is set aside for us to come along side the full time staff on the base and help in numerous different ways.  We find out today what we will all be doing.  

It's been fun getting to know everyone.  We have a great group of people here and I know that the Lord has great and mighty things planned for us.  

Prayer Requests:

1. That this sore throat would go away

2. That as a DTS we would be sensitive to the Lord and walk in obedience

That's all for now.  I'm going to go take a nap.  

-Katie

The Beginning of the Beginning

Good morning!  So far, the Lord has blessed me with minimal jet lag.  I'm turning a new leaf and getting up early.  This morning and yesterday I got up at 0400.  Living on a boat with 50 people sort of inspires alone time though. (: The sun still hasn't risen yet here this morning, but I'm sure it will be beautiful.

I want to be intentional with this blog and update it every day.  (Because I'm putting this in writing, I think it will be easier to accomplish.)  I believe that all we really have in this world is the grace of God Almighty and our story to tell.  My goal is to share what He's doing in my life and what this season with Him looks like.  After just spending a day and a half with these people that are my brothers and sisters in Christ, I already know that He has great and wonderful things planned for us.

Yesterday was a sweet time of fellowship with about 7 members of our group on the ship.  Everyone else ventured out to find the beach (which they discovered was an hour away walking) and spent the morning there.  The seven of us that stayed behind sat in the Mess Hall (Mhm... that's what our 'dining room' is really called on the ship!) and told stories and just got to know one another.  Since yesterday was Sunday here, the small group of us decided that we wanted to have some sort of worship service.  So at about noon we gathered in the Lounge of the ship and sang in praise and worship to the Lord for an hour.  It was sweet time spent together and so refreshing.

Most of you know that I've spent the last 10 months in Arizona working.  I spent more time at work the last 6 months than I ever have.  I LOVE my job, don't get me wrong, but it definitely impacted my ability to go to church or even have a normal quiet time.  So yesterday, just relaxing and being able to worship the Lord for one of the first times in 6 months was just amazing.  One of the students in my DTS is from Papua New Guinea (PNG).  He played the guitar and one of the guys that was on my flight over played a bongo drum.  It never ceases to amaze me how God moves, even in the simple and humble acts of worship.

This DTS has a pretty good mix of younger and older (well, not really older.. the oldest person is 28) and we also have one married couple that is doing the Trekking DTS.  They are from Austria and some of the sweetest people I've met here.

The rest of yesterday afternoon was spent bonding over a card game from Germany that I can't remember the name of.  At 1430 we all went down to the City Campus and had our orientation.  We also got to tour the place.  It is awe inspiring, and the story behind it amazing as well.  The Lord has amazing things planned for YWAM Townsville and it is very exciting that we get to be apart of it!

We had a BBQ and got to tour the grounds of what used to be a trade school.  It was so neat to walk through a place that you know will change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people over the coming years.  After we finished at the new campus we came back to the ship for more orientation and finally participated in our first Tim Tam Slam.  Tim Tams are chocolate covered wafers... I think that's the best way to describe them.  Anywho, you bite off opposite corners of the Tim Tam, and then you stick it in a cup of hot chocolate and use it as a straw.  Then when you've drank all of your cocoa through the straw you aren't supposed to use your hands to get the Tim Tam out.  (: I think we all used our hands.

Speaking of the ship, I know you all want to see pictures!  Have grace and patience please as we figure out this wi-fi thing!

Today we start our first day of classes.  I really have no idea what it's going to look like, but I am so excited.  Last night at our BBQ while talking and mingling with other people there was a sense of "We're ready".  The same at the worship time we had afterwards.  This group that the Lord designated to be here is so ready to commit themselves to whatever it is that God Almighty has for them.  I'm honoured to be a part of this journey and to be with these people.

Prayer requests:
1. That we would continue to extend grace to one another while discovering how to live together.
2. That the Lord would meet us all right where we are at and that we would have open hearts and ears.
3. I've woken up with a slight sore throat the last two morning.  Pray that I wouldn't get sick?

I'm off to watch the sunrise.  Have a great Sunday to everyone in the States.

-Katie

Here

Well folks, I finally made it to Australia!  It is warm (I'm not going to say hot because it still isn't hot like Phoenix) and I live on a Medical Ship.  It's pretty cool. (:

My travel here was blessed and easy.  I traveled alone from Reno to Los Angeles, but I knew from our Facebook group that there would be three others traveling with me on the same flight from Los Angeles to Brisbane.  I was the first to arrive at LAX and had about a 5 hour layover.  I was the first of our group to arrive and got to stand at one of those charging stations for about an hour so my phone didn't completely die!  The other three finally did arrive from all over.  The other girl on my flight is from  Arkansas, one of the guys is from Pennsylvania, and the other from Canada...I think Ontario.  It was nice to sit and chat for a while and share some of our jitters about the flight and just the fact that we were all finally there!

Once we boarded our flight (Which was HUGE.. Two stories on a plane is just crazy!) we said our goodbyes for the 14 hour flight ahead of us.  None of us were seated next to each other.  I had a window seat and once we were all seated, the guy next to me introduced himself and we got to talking. We soon discovered that we were both going to Townsville although he is doing the Trekking DTS while I'm doing to Reef to Outback.  God is good and I have to believe He also has somewhat of a sense of humor.  Come to find out, this guy I was seated next to was a wildland firefighter.  Who would have ever thought that 2 people from our field would end up in the same city, on the same flight for that matter, seated next to each other?  Coincidence?  I don't think so.  It was fun to be able to talk to someone and not really have to explain too much when they ask what I do for a living.  It made the 14 hour flight seem much shorter (That also might of had something to do with the fact that I slept for 10ish hours...).

We got off the plane in Brisbane and decided to wait for the rest of the group.  Altogether there ended up being 8 of us on the same flight.  After making sure everyone had filled out their entrance cards with the correct address we got in line to start the customs process.  We had a two hour layover in Brisbane which was just enough time to make it through customs.  It wasn't nearly as nerve-wracking or odd as I thought it would be.  My favorite part???? We still got stamps in our passports!!!  Someone had told me that they didn't do that anymore, so I was very glad to receive one!  After all 8 of us collected our luggage, we exchanged some money (Australian money is so pretty.  It's colourful and feels different than ours!  I'll post pictures at some point when I'm in wi-fi again.) and then proceeded through the next step in customs which in essence was standing in a line and letting a bomb-sniffing dog sniff our bags and persons.  We all passed!

In Brisbane we had to switch from International flights to Domestic flights so at this point we had to re-check in.  It was pretty simple though since we already had our boarding passes.  So once again we dropped off our luggage.  At this point we had to catch a bus to the Qantas domestic flight terminal.  We were a little concerned because we had a little more than half an hour before our flight started boarding.  When we arrived at the domestic flights we realized that we had to go through security again.  So another line, and we all found out that Australia is much more lax then America in their airport security.  You don't have to take your shoes off (yay) and you can have anything but sharp, pointy objects.  They do make you do this thing where they swab your bag and your arms and legs for explosive device stuff though.  All 8 of us made it through security fine (apparently I'm a mother hen sort wherever I go.  I kept counting everyone and making sure we were all together at every stage of our journey through the airport...and I may have learned everyone's name before we got on our next flight. Haha) and up to our terminal with about 15 minutes to spare before our flight to Townsville started boarding.  There we met up with one more of our group for a total of 9.  We had representation from Arizona/Oregon, Arkansas, California, Montana, Ontario, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington.

I've never been on a flight where they serve you the choice of a cookie or an apple before.  I chose the apple.  Chocolate chip cherry cookie sounded a little funny to me!  It was a nice flight and only about 2 hours long.  The sun was actually up (it was about 0900 local time) and I had another window seat, so I got to watch the scenery below.  A lot of farmland and ocean!  On this flight most of us were spread out.  There was a lady in the aisle seat in my row, but no one in the middle.  I have to say that I'm blessed to not have really felt nervous at all!  I was filled with excitement and a little bit of awe and wonder when we started to land that it was all happening and that the time had finally come.

We all got off the plane fine and once again congregated to proceed together to baggage claim.  Awaiting us there were two of our staff members with YWAM signs.  So they were easy to find!  We all collected our baggage for the second time and loaded it up in the bus and made our way to campus.  Our group of 9 was the first to arrive on Saturday.  3 were in the Trekking DTS and the other 6 of us RTO.  Those of us on RTO got to store our luggage temporarily.  We all connected to wi-fi briefly to let our parents know we made it and then decided to head off on an adventure to the mall.  We had about 7 hours to kill.

Good news is there is a Target not far from base (:  We all got a few things and wandered around for a few hours before heading back.  They have this cool cafe with a library and free wi-fi and tons of tables and chairs at base.  So we hung out there and drank lots of water.  Finally another guy and I decided that we had enough of just waiting and zoning out and got everyone together to play some group games.  (It was either that or fall asleep...) At this point another large group of girls had joined us but no one was really talking.  So we convinced everyone to play Mafia and introduced ourselves.  After an hour of that we played some other group games.  One called "Whoosh Ball" which was pretty fun.  I was the last of our group, and actually ended up winning!  Haha.  Then we played "I Never" except we just did things we had done.  That was pretty brutal with 30 people.  But fun as well.  We managed to kill 2 hours of time, which was our goal before we had dinner with the Street Youth program.

Finally we made our way to the place that will be our home until December.  The ship is pretty cool, I have to say.  Although most of us were too exhausted to really have much interest last night.  I was very happy to have spent the money to invest in good travel packing cube-things-that-I-don't-remember-what-they're-really-called.  It made unpacking SSSSOOOOO easy!  (Living on a ship = pretty much no room)  All of our luggage is now stored in some hole in the front of the ship.

There are 40ish of us on the boat.  3 showers and toilets for the girls and 3 showers and toilets for the guys.  Pray for us and that we would all extend grace to one another as we figure out how to live together in such tight quarters!

Today we get to hang out until 1400, at which point we will go to the new campus for orientation and a BBQ.  There isn't any wi-fi on the ship yet, just 3 iMacs.  Until I get a SIM card for my phone, my online presence will be spotty.  Please don't be offended if it takes me a while to answer back!  Love you all and I'll talk to ya later!

-Katie

Ready or Not

My laundry is clean and nicely packed into a suitcase that still seems too big.  But I'm ready.  I'm ready to fly across the Pacific and land in another country that I realistically know little about.  Sure I've watched every episode of McLeod's Daughters at least three times and Man from Snowy River more than I can count - yet I know I'm unprepared for what living in a new place is really going to be.  And that's alright.  I'm one of those people who is prone to anxiety.  Only recently have I discovered some of the why to that (through a very interesting and informative journey on temperaments), which I feel has allowed me to step back and give that part of me more freely to the Lord.  I have a long way to go, but it's always nice to find out you're not crazy! :)  So while anxiety in new situations is something I have lived with all my life, I'm not feeling that yet.  I'm ready to let God take control. 

I have been so extremely blessed the last week and a half to see all the beautiful faces and hear the wonderful voices of friends and family!  The outpouring of love and support has dumbfounded me a little!  I appreciate every single moment with all of you.

I am so excited to be dedicating this next season of life to the Lord.  Drawing near to Him after such an indescribable summer will be wonderful I know.  Pray for me and that I would fall more in love with Jesus.  Would you also be praying for safe travels for myself and the others traveling over the next three days as well?  That flights would be caught, luggage in the correct places, and wheels on the ground safely?

My parents and I leave tomorrow morning for Reno.  I love that I travel two states to get to the airport!  We'll stop briefly on the way to see my brother and trade cars (his has been in the shop here this week) and then I get to have lunch with a sweet childhood friend!  My first plane leaves at 5:25pm.  I might post from LAX. :)

Until next time,
-Katie

Oh yeah, brudar.  I drove your truck.  :)

Closer

I can hardly believe that less than 48 hours separate myself and a plane ride that will change my life.  The last plane I hopped on eight days ago brought me back to my beloved Oregon for a short time of friends and family before my great adventure.  For some strange reason I keep thinking that this next season of my life will be a break of sorts and relaxing.  Ha.  I think I'm delusional!

Coming to Oregon before heading Down Under may have surprised me in a few ways.  When I originally planned this, I didn't really consider the fact that I would have to pack for Auzzie land early  (because you know, I came to Oregon first...).  For some reason that threw me off big time.  The good news is I arrived in Portland in one piece.  The better news is that my best friend got to pick me up from the airport and I had a wonderful 48ish hours with her!  Oh, how my heart sang being back with my deary who is such a kindred spirit.  We all have those friends that know with just a look.... they don't care about the crazy and they love you because you are you.  After a very lonely summer, being with my people has been amazing.

After best friend time (and maybe too many Target adventures) I traveled south to stay with my grandparents for a short time as well.  It was so wonderful seeing them!  This next six months is going to be stretching, I know that.  Not being Stateside for the holidays is going to be interesting.  I have no idea how it's going to hit me.  Thank goodness for technology and Skype!

My travels continuing south made a stop at the new home of my best friend from college.  Oh, how I love this sweet woman of God as well!  A couple hours of conversation and lunch was a special treat.  I'm so blessed to have such amazing friends!  Even more so because I have had the opportunity to see so many of them in such a short period  of time.

Finally, my travels brought me almost as south as one can go in this great state.  This place we so fondly call "God's country".  It's beauty astounds me every time I come home.  Even more of a treat for my journey before my journey to the Outback was to visit the place my heart truly calls home.  A place that on a map looks like a blip and nothing else.  Just my daddy and I traveled the road north we'd come down the night before to spend the day with great friends.  He was master tri-tip BBQ man.  I got volunteered to slice tri-tip, and I did it wearing a dress.  ;)  It was a great day!  And I got to see some of my favorite people on earth!

Sunday at church I was honored to help lead worship and also was commissioned for my missions trip!  Somehow it got lost in translation between here and Phoenix that the special service for me was happening.  It was a great message though, and I appreciate all of the love, support, and prayers!  AAANNNNNDDDDDDDDD the most amazing part of the whole entire week?  My ENTIRE family was at church.  I cannot remember the last time all five members of my family were in church at the same time.  Praise The Lord and His wonderful ways.  It was great to have them there with me.

Yesterday was a trip to the next town over for grocery shopping and of course a stop by my favorite childhood babysitter/ current hairdresser for a color before I head across the world!

In short, the past eight days have been anything but relaxing.  And yet, amidst the hustle and bustle I've found joy and delight in the people around me.  I've spent more time in crowds while being back in Oregon than the last ten months in Arizona, which has left me a little drained and seeking alone time to recuperate, but that's alright.

This post seems a bit scattered to me, but I'll finish with one more thing.  Last night I was able to participate in a video conference with about 12 other people that are going to be in Townsville!  The leaders/staff of our school were also on, and the whole thing was rather exciting. :)  Other good news is that I will not be flying alone.  There are 3 others that I know of that will be joining me on the flight west.
OH!  Also, a nice tidbit we found out last night on our video chat was that we will be living on the Medical Ship for a few weeks!!!  Super exciting and pretty cool.  YWAM Townsville just purchased a new campus and so they're in a transition of old campus to new campus.  We get to be sequestered out of the way on the ship.  We'll be shuttled back and forth everyday.  I think the 35 of us will probably become family a little faster living in such close quarters!

That's all for now, my friends.  Be praying for me as I finalize my packing and make the trip south to Reno to get on that plane.

-Katie

Just This

With the days creeping closer to this next big journey in my life, I thought I would share these two videos that I came across today.  

This, for all the women in my life.  

This, mostly for myself.  Because I feel inadequate every single day.  Only God can use me to make a difference.  Only He knows why I'm living in Phoenix with a job that is an out-of-this-world blessing.  He is the only One capable of making my life worth something, and I pray He does.  

-Katie

October - This is Real

It's amazing how time just continues to fly by, whether we're ready for it or not!  In 23 days I get on a plane to Townsville.  It's finally sinking in.

I'm starting the process of packing my bag... mostly to make sure that everything I take has a purpose and is useful!  I opted for a smaller bag for this trip.  Less is more, right?

I'm thankful that I have 10 days to spend with friends and family in Oregon before I head out.  There are too many faces I haven't seen since I moved to Arizona!  I'm excited to spend a couple days with my bestie in Portland and then time with my grandparents before heading south to that place I call home.  :)

Thank you all for your continued prayer and support.  The countdown has begun!

-Katie