Life has been some of the same old the last few months, besides the few highlights of Australians experiencing an American thanksgiving for the first time, and me starting work. For those wondering how work has been going for me, it is pretty basic, with my main duties being at the register and at the information desk. I am getting to know co-workers better, which has been really good, and it has been helpful in terms of getting a firmer grasp of some of the cultural differences within the work place (i.e. a more casual relationship between workers and supervisors, not a super high customer service standard, etc). This has provided some good, and frustrating moments for me (Danielle).
Other than that, Luke and I have been getting into some opportunities to help out at church, or be involved in some way or other. Luke has been getting involved again with a ministry called Chili ramps, which is a local outreach to non-Christian skaters by having some free food and relationship building on a weekly basis. Please be praying for the ministry as Luke continues to try and build relationships with the teens who attend this weekly.
Also, since Luke and I have been here, we have been asked to potentially lead small groups, a bible study, and youth group (by different people at different times). While the idea of each is exciting in its own right, we want to only be part of what the Lord would want, and not over-extend ourselves and thereby wearing ourselves thin, and not allowing time to build relationships and have time for each other. Please be praying for the Lord's leading in a clear way, and that we would not be afraid to get involved in what He would have for us. I have been longing to be part of woman's ministry here, and will potentially be co-leading a woman's Bible study here starting in January.
There is more I could say, but for now I will leave it at this. Thanks for reading and praying!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Today's word is "Transition"
Again, thank you to whoever in the wide world is reading this. Luke and I are doing well, still adjusting to life here down under. We are still living with Luke's parents, which has its challenges (not because they are the in-laws, they are great people, its more just getting used to living with people again).
Some changes that should be mentioned are that, I (Danielle), finally hav a job! Whoo hoo! I think half of Brisbane has my resume under their belt, I was amazed at how long it took just to get an interview somewhere- but God used it to humble me, and to trust in Him in circumstances that are frustrating and overwhelming (a lesson I am sure I will be brought back to). Oh yes, the job. I will be working at Borders, a large book store at a busy shopping centre during Christmas. This is not what I anticipated doing, but felt peace after taking time to pray and seek the Lord during this time of transition. I will be working during Christmas time, and will potentially be hired on for longer, we'll see. For now it is nice that I will be able to get out of the house, get a discount on books, and hopefully share my faith with some co-workers.
Luke and I will most likely be attending the church that he was a part of before he moved up to Canada. Because we anticipate our time in Brisbane to be limited, we long to be part of a community where we are already known. Being part of a community and sharing life is one of the greatest functions a church body has, and with family and friends there, we are hoping that a transition into this will be easier than if we started going to a church where we didn't know anyone.
Luke has started working at a factory molding milk crates, where his brother-in-law is the manager. He has done this work before, when he had time here before the wedding.
We are still praying about what this time is meant to look like while we are here, beyond what I have mentioned here. This pertains to areas of ministry, whether inside or outside the church. Please be praying that we would be open and listening to where the Lord will lead us during this time.
Also, as I mentioned in an earlier entry, transition can be emotionally taxing on us as individuals and a couple. Pray that we focus in on the Lord and His purposes, and that we will know and trust Him in the big as well as small picture.
That's it for now!! Much love, Danielle and Luke
Some changes that should be mentioned are that, I (Danielle), finally hav a job! Whoo hoo! I think half of Brisbane has my resume under their belt, I was amazed at how long it took just to get an interview somewhere- but God used it to humble me, and to trust in Him in circumstances that are frustrating and overwhelming (a lesson I am sure I will be brought back to). Oh yes, the job. I will be working at Borders, a large book store at a busy shopping centre during Christmas. This is not what I anticipated doing, but felt peace after taking time to pray and seek the Lord during this time of transition. I will be working during Christmas time, and will potentially be hired on for longer, we'll see. For now it is nice that I will be able to get out of the house, get a discount on books, and hopefully share my faith with some co-workers.
Luke and I will most likely be attending the church that he was a part of before he moved up to Canada. Because we anticipate our time in Brisbane to be limited, we long to be part of a community where we are already known. Being part of a community and sharing life is one of the greatest functions a church body has, and with family and friends there, we are hoping that a transition into this will be easier than if we started going to a church where we didn't know anyone.
Luke has started working at a factory molding milk crates, where his brother-in-law is the manager. He has done this work before, when he had time here before the wedding.
We are still praying about what this time is meant to look like while we are here, beyond what I have mentioned here. This pertains to areas of ministry, whether inside or outside the church. Please be praying that we would be open and listening to where the Lord will lead us during this time.
Also, as I mentioned in an earlier entry, transition can be emotionally taxing on us as individuals and a couple. Pray that we focus in on the Lord and His purposes, and that we will know and trust Him in the big as well as small picture.
That's it for now!! Much love, Danielle and Luke
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
You know your in Australia when...
Since arriving a few months ago, Luke and I have been visiting several churches looking for a "home base." Last week we had the privilege of going to a preview service for Citylife church at the University of Queensland. After, there was a free BBQ where they were serving snags (sausages on a bread roll).
As Luke and I approached the food line, it looked like it was in a bit of disarray, mainly due to it going down a set of steps that people used to navigate the crowd. The line probably had, oh, 8 people in front of us. After about 10 minutes, I began to look at the trays, half expected them to be empty and people waiting for fresh snags from the barbie. They were full! I then scanned the people loading there bread rolls, only to see them casually chatting with friends, slowing adding in a few words between each action, fulling enjoying their friends with the food as an afterthought. I put my hand in front of my mouth and whispered to Luke, "right now this is such an Australia moment, if we were in California people would be freaking out right now." Even as we approached a section where people finished up grabbing their food, they stood in front of the trays and started talking about wives and babies. I had to laugh and feel repulsed inside all at once (at myself).
Now, for those of you who are Australian, you may be thinking get a grip. And I think that about myself as well. And for those who are California, you would be saying, "Are you kidding me? Get that line moving and then start talking to people!" You would think two cultures that are so affected by beach culture would both have a laid-back, chilled out pace. There couldn't be anything further from the truth. And as much as I would like to say I have been mellowed out by the more laid-back-than-America Canada, I still seem to have that inkling of Type A SoCal in me. We'll see how I do after being here for a few years. I hope to progress to one of those people chatting at the front of the food line, and I can be cleansed a little from the part of my personality and busyness culture that demands quickly.
As Luke and I approached the food line, it looked like it was in a bit of disarray, mainly due to it going down a set of steps that people used to navigate the crowd. The line probably had, oh, 8 people in front of us. After about 10 minutes, I began to look at the trays, half expected them to be empty and people waiting for fresh snags from the barbie. They were full! I then scanned the people loading there bread rolls, only to see them casually chatting with friends, slowing adding in a few words between each action, fulling enjoying their friends with the food as an afterthought. I put my hand in front of my mouth and whispered to Luke, "right now this is such an Australia moment, if we were in California people would be freaking out right now." Even as we approached a section where people finished up grabbing their food, they stood in front of the trays and started talking about wives and babies. I had to laugh and feel repulsed inside all at once (at myself).
Now, for those of you who are Australian, you may be thinking get a grip. And I think that about myself as well. And for those who are California, you would be saying, "Are you kidding me? Get that line moving and then start talking to people!" You would think two cultures that are so affected by beach culture would both have a laid-back, chilled out pace. There couldn't be anything further from the truth. And as much as I would like to say I have been mellowed out by the more laid-back-than-America Canada, I still seem to have that inkling of Type A SoCal in me. We'll see how I do after being here for a few years. I hope to progress to one of those people chatting at the front of the food line, and I can be cleansed a little from the part of my personality and busyness culture that demands quickly.
Friday, September 18, 2009
A few photos..
Hello Everyone, I just thought I would post a couple of photos. The first two are from Luke and I camping in the mountains a couple of hours away. There is the photo of a wallaby, who enjoyed venturing throughout the campsite (I saw someone feeding it! Come on people). The next one is of a crimson rosella bird, who happened to be very cheeky and wandered all over our campsite. The next one is from the Sunshine Coast, about an hour north of where we are, in Mooloolaba. The photo is from the rock beds on a beach near there. As you walk on the soft sand nearby, if you kick the sand while walking it makes a type of squeeking sound. It was fascinating. That's all for now! Luke is starting a new job on Monday, and I am looking for work. We continually pray about what this season is meant to look like. I will write more about that soon. Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
AUSTRALIA....so far (this was written 3 weeks ago)
So here we are, embarking on a new journey. As I have told others, we are moving; to a new country, continent and hemisphere. For Luke, this is a big change as well, since coming back to Australia was not something that he had expected. As he has told others, "When I left Australia for Canada in 2006, I didn't think I was coming back."
We have now been here for two weeks, and have visited an ocean area once. It is winter, but in the 20's (upper 70's). I (danielle) have not had multiple moments basking in the sunshine, loving everything, absolutely everything. What I have had are conversations with a loving family that have welcomed me here as a daughter, some theological conversations, and a few driving lessons. I think those kind of moments (with the family that is), are of more weighted value that when Luke and I went driving and I saw some kangaroos, a koala in the next-door neighbors house, and a variety of parrots in our backyard. I think it is easy to underestimate the difficulty in a move, no matter how lovely a place is. People are still people, you are still you, and the realities of job-searching and cultural barriers can be frustrating no matter what part of the globe you touch. Finding any moment of understanding is like a touch of grace given directly from God. That you are not alone, that He sees you and will carry You through the times where something as simple as new slang and shopping in a supermarket can be overwhelming.
Thankfully, with the assistance of the loving Williams family, I am able to ask questions when something like "Your not in my road," or "Go for your life," are said. If I were to make a comparison to an American about this learning process, I would compare it to someone who has not seen text/computer acronyms and then suddenly seeing, LOL, BRB, and the like.
What the true test has been is learning to drive a stick shift. I have had a few moments of screaming, and yes, crying in the car. When something intuitive and once simple becomes a tasking chore, frustration is an automatic response. Luke is a patient teacher, taking me out even when he is tired.
Luke has, for the past couple weeks, been taking the role of his father's job, delivering papers starting between 3:30-4:00am. This has been a challenge for him as well, since jet lag and a general lack of sleep has not allowed him to catch up.
I have been taking it easy, something foreign to me. I am used to taking the reigns, hurrying up and getting to whatever the next step is. Except, as most of you know, Luke and I did not plan or anticipate what it would look like here, we stepped out in obedience to what we felt God was leading us into. Now, this could be some "big" thing, which is what the Christian mind automatically brings us to whenever there is a statement of him leading anything. But at present there is the mystery of just following, and being here is Brisbane could be the simplicity of working and saving, and praying for what life here means. I am seeking a job as a teacher aid, or something related to administrative work (I have a much larger preference for the first thing). The odd thing is, well, for North Americans, is that the school year runs from about March to December, not September to June. So most positions are taken for the 2009 school year, and people might be hiring for 2010. So any positions open are for people who quit mid-year. Please be praying that we can rest that as we seek He is in control.
Thanks for reading, we LOVE when you leave comments (well, I do : )
Be praying for adjustment to life here, to have time for each other, and that we would rest and seek out the Lord for what this initial time is for.
We have now been here for two weeks, and have visited an ocean area once. It is winter, but in the 20's (upper 70's). I (danielle) have not had multiple moments basking in the sunshine, loving everything, absolutely everything. What I have had are conversations with a loving family that have welcomed me here as a daughter, some theological conversations, and a few driving lessons. I think those kind of moments (with the family that is), are of more weighted value that when Luke and I went driving and I saw some kangaroos, a koala in the next-door neighbors house, and a variety of parrots in our backyard. I think it is easy to underestimate the difficulty in a move, no matter how lovely a place is. People are still people, you are still you, and the realities of job-searching and cultural barriers can be frustrating no matter what part of the globe you touch. Finding any moment of understanding is like a touch of grace given directly from God. That you are not alone, that He sees you and will carry You through the times where something as simple as new slang and shopping in a supermarket can be overwhelming.
Thankfully, with the assistance of the loving Williams family, I am able to ask questions when something like "Your not in my road," or "Go for your life," are said. If I were to make a comparison to an American about this learning process, I would compare it to someone who has not seen text/computer acronyms and then suddenly seeing, LOL, BRB, and the like.
What the true test has been is learning to drive a stick shift. I have had a few moments of screaming, and yes, crying in the car. When something intuitive and once simple becomes a tasking chore, frustration is an automatic response. Luke is a patient teacher, taking me out even when he is tired.
Luke has, for the past couple weeks, been taking the role of his father's job, delivering papers starting between 3:30-4:00am. This has been a challenge for him as well, since jet lag and a general lack of sleep has not allowed him to catch up.
I have been taking it easy, something foreign to me. I am used to taking the reigns, hurrying up and getting to whatever the next step is. Except, as most of you know, Luke and I did not plan or anticipate what it would look like here, we stepped out in obedience to what we felt God was leading us into. Now, this could be some "big" thing, which is what the Christian mind automatically brings us to whenever there is a statement of him leading anything. But at present there is the mystery of just following, and being here is Brisbane could be the simplicity of working and saving, and praying for what life here means. I am seeking a job as a teacher aid, or something related to administrative work (I have a much larger preference for the first thing). The odd thing is, well, for North Americans, is that the school year runs from about March to December, not September to June. So most positions are taken for the 2009 school year, and people might be hiring for 2010. So any positions open are for people who quit mid-year. Please be praying that we can rest that as we seek He is in control.
Thanks for reading, we LOVE when you leave comments (well, I do : )
Be praying for adjustment to life here, to have time for each other, and that we would rest and seek out the Lord for what this initial time is for.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Goodbyes to North America, Road trip.....
Luke and I have been on the road for the past month. We arrived in Nashville, Tennessee last month to hot weather, no trolleys for our baggage, and complete exhaustion. A man came by a offered Luke to help us with our luggage while I left to look for my stepmother, who was waiting for us. Now, if this had happened in Australia, it would have been a sign of helpfulness, as the man offering help would have done it out of generosity and not any expectancy for a tip. So, knowing this, I walked up to Luke, and rubbed my fingertips along my thumb, inciting a wide eyed "Oh!" response. We ended up having to ask Sally for the tip, which ended up being her only bill that happened to be a $20. Her response? "It will be a good day for him."
There were no other mishaps in the American chapter of our experience, I just wonder how many moments there will be like that on my end with coming here.
Being in Tennessee was relaxing, and Luke and I needed that. After moving everything, spending a week visiting friends in neighboring cities, and everything else that comes with moving countries, a time where we could sleep and vegetate was good.
But after that week of relaxation, we went on the road again-this time to Washington D.C. I could give you all the boring details regarding every site we visited, but I will spare you. The only details I will give is that my (danielle) personal favorite museum was the National Portrait Gallery, as well that we had the privilege of seeing someone from our DTS, Jessica Liddle. Luke had not seen her for 5 years (since the school), and I had not seen her for over 2 years. So this was a gift in addition to everything we had the chance to see and experience.
Tennessee and the trip to Washington D.C. was relaxing and hectic, but mainly great to hang out with my Dad and stepmother Sally.
While Tennessee consisted of seeing two people (though we saw some cousins as well), California included seeing friends and family. We had the question asked of us several times "Where do you want to go on this trip?" And our answer was "Well, no where." After living in California for 20 years, I had experienced the myriad of tourist spots- and with Luke's past visitations and a treck across D.C. within the past week, sitting at home with family and hanging out with friends was all we wanted and needed. The real adventure was surviving my sister's kitten, who would mislead you by purring and then going onto to bite your hand within a 10 second period of time.
And the month of visiting ended. It will most likely be several years before we see most of the people we visited in Canada and the United States, though we do know some of the adventurous type whom we hope will come down and explore a bit. We will keep you posted on any recent news coming out of Oz, and any funky or quirky news to come out of here.
Things so far:
1). danielle is learning how to drive a stick shift as well as dealing with learning to drive on the left side of the road.
2). We have already had multiple kangaroo sightings, as well as a koala sighting today.
3).Danielle has already felt a sense of guilt over not tipping a waiter.
4)Luke played a game of soccer this past week.
More to come-If you have any questions let us know.
Please pray for our adjustment, moving to a new place includes culture shock, which can be difficult emotionally.
There were no other mishaps in the American chapter of our experience, I just wonder how many moments there will be like that on my end with coming here.
Being in Tennessee was relaxing, and Luke and I needed that. After moving everything, spending a week visiting friends in neighboring cities, and everything else that comes with moving countries, a time where we could sleep and vegetate was good.
But after that week of relaxation, we went on the road again-this time to Washington D.C. I could give you all the boring details regarding every site we visited, but I will spare you. The only details I will give is that my (danielle) personal favorite museum was the National Portrait Gallery, as well that we had the privilege of seeing someone from our DTS, Jessica Liddle. Luke had not seen her for 5 years (since the school), and I had not seen her for over 2 years. So this was a gift in addition to everything we had the chance to see and experience.
Tennessee and the trip to Washington D.C. was relaxing and hectic, but mainly great to hang out with my Dad and stepmother Sally.
While Tennessee consisted of seeing two people (though we saw some cousins as well), California included seeing friends and family. We had the question asked of us several times "Where do you want to go on this trip?" And our answer was "Well, no where." After living in California for 20 years, I had experienced the myriad of tourist spots- and with Luke's past visitations and a treck across D.C. within the past week, sitting at home with family and hanging out with friends was all we wanted and needed. The real adventure was surviving my sister's kitten, who would mislead you by purring and then going onto to bite your hand within a 10 second period of time.
And the month of visiting ended. It will most likely be several years before we see most of the people we visited in Canada and the United States, though we do know some of the adventurous type whom we hope will come down and explore a bit. We will keep you posted on any recent news coming out of Oz, and any funky or quirky news to come out of here.
Things so far:
1). danielle is learning how to drive a stick shift as well as dealing with learning to drive on the left side of the road.
2). We have already had multiple kangaroo sightings, as well as a koala sighting today.
3).Danielle has already felt a sense of guilt over not tipping a waiter.
4)Luke played a game of soccer this past week.
More to come-If you have any questions let us know.
Please pray for our adjustment, moving to a new place includes culture shock, which can be difficult emotionally.
Good night everyone.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thanks
Through the travels of the past three weeks, I (Danielle), have come to realize that there is a group of people that regularly check this blog. The past month and a half has been pretty hectic with finishing work, moving, being in Tennessee (with minds completely checked out), driving to Washington D.C., and now being in California. We are presently leaving for Australia this Friday, and there is a feeling of excitement, nervousness and anticipation. We are still unsure of what God has for us there, and we are not assuming anything till He tells us.
I am hoping that this coming season will not be one where I apologize at the beginning of every blog entry for the late update.
I would love to write a full blog now, alas, it shall be unleashed when we have full internet access and are settled in Australia. For now, this is a thank you to those of you that do read this blog, who get annoyed that we are not updating it, and then go ahead and check it again a week later (only to experience the same cycle). We are blessed by you.
I am hoping that this coming season will not be one where I apologize at the beginning of every blog entry for the late update.
I would love to write a full blog now, alas, it shall be unleashed when we have full internet access and are settled in Australia. For now, this is a thank you to those of you that do read this blog, who get annoyed that we are not updating it, and then go ahead and check it again a week later (only to experience the same cycle). We are blessed by you.
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