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