Gearing Up (mostly mentally)

So, I've decided I've got to begin posting on this blog now if it's going to turn into anything during our travels. Heather has a widget countdown on her desktop until our Aussie departure and I think it's around 68 days or something. It's coming up fast. Are we prepared? Well, we're on track for preparation which is pretty good to start with. We have sold some of our furniture and a lot of the kids' stuff. We have another Mom's to Mom's sale this weekend and then a garage sale planned the weekend after that. Hopefully those will give our house another possessions enema so to speak.
Yesterday morning I woke up before the kids and had a minute or 2 so grabbed my Western Australia/Perth Lonely Planet Guide which has gone untouched for a while. I have to say that reading it really got me psyched. Australia itself isn't what excites me as much as that it represents the next chapter for our family in this beautiful novel the Lord is writing with our lives. Btw, if Western Aus were a country it would be the 10th largest in the world! It's beyond huge. -B

Josiah in West African Garb

Getting excited!

With this early spring and knowing that spring
means its almost time for us to go we are starting to feel a stirring of excitement!! Wow! its actually happening..
everything that we have put our plans towards over the last 8 years is coming to pass. We finished our Discipleship training school with YWAM, started a family, Bruce finished school and I added to my schooling, Bruce finished PA school and now has almost completed 2 years of working as a PA and now on to Perth!!




God has been faithfully guiding us and as I sit with the open window behind me and tangibly hear, smell and feel spring I am over whelmed with God's provision for our family over the last few months. Things that could have been challenging have gone off with nothing other than a few hiccups.
God is so good. Even in the challenges we can feel his hand guiding us and sustaining us. Selling our things has gone well and we were amazed at his provision at the Mom 2 moms sale that we had this last weekend.. getting so excited!!

Here is the latest update from the current Birth Attendant school that is going on right now. Its amazing to here about the things God is doing through this team and this school. We are so excited to join in and be a part of what God is doing!

http://www.ywamperth.org.au/bas/?news

is something missing mom?

This morning Abbs noticed the large coffee table missing.. she looked at me with glee and said "mom, did you sell it already?" I replied "yes" she starts dancing and squeals "Yes! more room to dance!"

I am humbled by my daughters ability to release things as though they are just things. Mind you this has come after a few tears and lots of preparation "talks" lots of telling her that things are just things and as long as we are together we are safe and ok.

But its amazing how we walk through life and store up for ourselves a "life" here. I have said many a times that my things are just things and that I could get rid of them.. and its true.. with little problem I have let go of items in my house (there are those few irreplaceable things that will be stored somewhere) but if I am honest I would have to admit that its a little unsettling dismantling the life B and I have set up for our family. Its not the things in our lives per say.. but what they represent. Security. not having to worry about where we will lay our heads, whether our kids will have a place and things to call their own.

I am thankful to God for His provision in our lives and thankful that no matter where we go the "important" things will be taken care of. "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." Psalm 37:25

I am also thankful for this opportunity to check my heart and truly realize that my security doesn't come from the things I own or what I can provide for my children.. but in our faith in father God.

"For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!" Psalm 117:2

It's Official... we are going down under!

after lots of paperwork, filling of applications, waiting, scanning of documents, more applications, many emails, more waiting, more waiting, bumps in the road, confusion, waiting and slight frustrations with the 13 hr time difference.. Plane tickets and visas granted.. We are all cleared to go!

July 1, 2012 I (Heather) start the Birth Attendant school with Youth With A Mission in Perth Australia! June 24th our adventure as a family begins as we board our first flight for the long flight down under.

For those of you who have not heard what this is all about.. Bruce and I have had a semi-structured plan over the past 5 years with the end of that plan being attending this school... from here we will complete the school and then see where the Lord will lead us. We are so thankful to have a sending church and so many great friendships to continue as we jump out into the great unknown. God is so faithful to us and we are so grateful for our family and friends!

The school is 11 months long. 3 months studying in Perth and then 8-9 months on a practical field assignment outreach in 2-3 developing nations. We are still waiting to hear which ones but as an example this years team went to India, Uganda and Tanzania.

For those who are interested in seeing a little more what this school is about you can click here. A day in the life of a YWAM Midwife its a 6 min video.. this just gives a small overview of a day on field assignment.

Now starts the giant task of widdling our lives down to 8 suitcases (storing a few irreplaceable things) We look forward in the next few months to spending time with and sharing with you all as we take this major step!

YWAM BAS

Our application are in! we have completed and sent in phase 1 of our preparations for me to attend the Birth Attendant School with Youth with a Mission Perth, AU. Now we wait to hear if I am accepted. Bruce also had to apply to be on staff with the base. Once we hear the news we then will move forward with visas.

The other night Bruce and I were discussing how last year this time we were going to meetings and preparing to go to South Africa the following April. That trip came and went really fast and we were thinking about our preparations for next June and how if April came so fast.. June is not far behind. all that to say its coming really fast!

We are really excited at this point. I know we will go through a range of emotions. but even through the nervousness we've both stated what an amazing adventure this will be for our family and even with all the things we could be nervous about.. its only 1 year.. and we can do 1 year. :)
we will keep you posted!

Missing South Africa.. the fresh air mixed with wood smoke, the dirt, the smiles, the huts and the avocados!!
Trying to walk through life here with a bit of my heart in another place. Everyone who has been to Africa has said to me that you leave changed and you leave part of yourself there. I now completely understand that statement. Life here is good and now that its warm being outside a good portion of the day is helpful. Its truly an interesting feeling.. one that is hard to put into words. Its like I'm going through the motions here of this life that I am very accustomed to... yet I feel so different.. everything feels new and strange.

I'll miss Africa... until we meet again....

-H