I'm ready!

My bag weighs in at around 28kg... 5kg over the weight limit but no matter what i can't seem to reduce it!

 It's not filled with clothes, in fact i'm slightly concerned that i only have a few skirts and a couple of shirts...those missionaries are going to be sick of my attire after day 3- certainly i won't be in the running for the title of most fashionable missionary!
I think its the pile of books and the huge amount of medication i'm taking over... yeh pretty sure that is it! It's a cross between a library and a pharmacy in that bag!

It's now less than a week before i say adios to Perth and howzit to South Africa. I'll be spending a night in Johannesburg before flying out the next morning to Blantyre, Malawi- i'll be met by the Cranes and Beecks there!! We'll then enjoy a 6-8 hr road trip up to Lichinga, Mozambique where i'll be spending the next few months or so!
I said goodbye to  the wonderful people at the Travel Doctors in Freo today. They've been so encouraging as i've come in each week or so for injections and prescriptions. I had the last rabies shot this morning. Unfortunately i found out through a trial that i have a reaction to the malaria medication, so i'll be making my suitcase all the more heavier with heaps of insect repellent!

So I'm ready...excited for the adventure! I have no idea what to expect- and i think that's ok... God taught me last time that he exceeds expectations so i'm just going to work on being flexible and allowing Him to use me over there...we'll see how it goes! I know it's going to be challenging at times, but what is so encouraging is knowing that i have a strong support network here who are praying for me during this time.

I'll leave you with this video... it shows a bit of the trip to Africa i went on as part of a Global Xposure trip in January. We only decided to make a video part way through so there's not a lot of footage...but it shows some of our reflections as we faced certain situations.... enjoy!

Wow!

The most incredible thing just happened- and I have to share it!!

I had an amazing time in Geraldton, and while there an incredibly generous friend gave me a donation towards my Africa Trip. It was really thoughtful and went straight into my bag for safe keeping.
I got home tonight, exhausted from a fun filled weekend and long road trip. After unpacking my bag, chomping down a meal and having a bath I went to bed.. It was then that I remembered the envelope with the donation in it. I got up and looked high and low through my stuff and couldn't find it anywhere.. I realized I must have left it in my friend's car who had driven me back to Perth - so I tried messaging her but my phone had run out of credit...
I figured it wasn't too much of a drama considering I had seen the envelope in her car while we were driving home- so knew it had to be there, and when I got credit tomorrow I could just message her then.
So I hopped back into bed and decided to pray the money would be safe and that I would find it.. I was in the middle of praying when I got a sudden urge to check outside. Now remember at this point I was super tired and had just gotten into bed.. So I shook off the urge and kept praying I'd find this money... The urge just got stronger and stronger to check outside. It was disrupting my praying so I very begrudgingly got up. I'm so tired and wearing my pj's and I'm sure the envelope is in the car but fine I'll go check.
So I walked outside ....
and there it was! Sitting on the edge of the driveway near the road, highlighted by the street light above- the most beautiful brown envelope you'll ever see- with all the money still safely tucked inside.

This is the same street where some nights ago a stolen car was dumped. The same area where two cars got broken into last weekend...the road that many a dog walker takes to get to the river. How the envelope wasn't taken when it had been out for at least 3hrs during the peak time for dog walkers is incredible! I haven't even mentioned its roadside collection for us so everyone's got there eyes focused on what's on everyone else's front lawns!

God is good!!! That's my only explanation! He answers prayers- sometimes immediately (or before you've even finished praying). I have goosebumps realizing he led me to the driveway tonight to reclaim my envelope. It took me a while to discern it was Him who was leading me outside. Just like it sometimes takes us a while to know why God has put us on the path we are on. It may seem like a struggle but God will give us the strength (to get out of the bed when we're too tired) so that we can follow Him.. And our reward will be great. Even better than my reward in the driveway!

So I thought that was pretty cool! And I wanted to share it before I attempt to sleep once again!

Thanks for reading :)

Boa tarde

I have four weeks and a day to learn the basics of Portuguese!
My room is now decorated with lots of pieces of paper taped to walls/door/wardrobe/shelves....each with a phrase or an important word i'll need to know in Portuguese...I'm kind of hoping that by looking at them each day it will help me remember them....but so far no such luck...i think i'm just terrible at learning a new language!
It doesn't help when there are so many other things to do either!

This past week and a half i've had the opportunity to go to help out at a Pre-Kindy, have interviews, get a whole bunch of injections and tests (i'd forgotten about the medical prep!) catch up with a bunch of friends and family, look after two five week old kittens, edit a video for the last Africa Trip (Finished!!! YAY!), sort out HBF and bank stuff (can't really have these things if you don't have an income) read a couple of books, watch some movies, go to a kitchen tea and a few hens parties and be a carer at MOPS.

The days are just flying past and i'm loving every moment of it... I'm very grateful that my brother is a uni student because he seems to have so much free time- and i'm loving getting to hang out with him before i leave.

So what to do next?

Pack! - It sounds silly to do it so early, but i'm a bit of a freak when it comes to organisation and at least if i know that everything is in my bags i'll be able to sleep at night and not stress that I've forgotten something important!

Transfer Money- and work out how to take it over...hmmm...any ideas?

And in all of this preparing I need to remember that it is God who is leading me...therefore i need to spend time with him... discerning, recognizing and praying.. It is so easy to get caught up in the practical day to day things that need to be done but i think it is just as important (if not more!) to start each day with God and remember why I am doing this.

For those wondering how i'm feeling about the trip- well i am certainly becoming more aware of the challenge it is going to be, and with that comes a bit of nervousness, but i am also very excited! I've been having to say goodbye to some close friends already, so it's certainly getting real!
Mondays seem to be the worst day- i can't really work out why...but that's when most of the fear/nervousness/questions really get to me! But the joy and excitement are much stronger emotions- so they're winning out at this point!

I'm off to Geraldton this weekend to spend some quality time with some good friends- i'll be sure to post some photos of the lovely beaches- to make up for the lack of photos in this post!!

Happy Easter everyone!