An Attitude of Gratitude

After a 37 hour day, 3 flights and 22 hours of traveling I've made it home. I'm so excited to finally be home, but this summer heat definitely makes me miss the winter temps in Pakenham.  I didn't realize just how long I was gone until I began catching up on life at home from the past 11 weeks. It was quite an overwhelming feeling to finally be home and try to process all the happenings of the past weeks.

Dear Pakenham family, you are missed heaps already. You will always be my home away from home. Feel welcomed to come visit when ever you would like. And once again, thank you so much for giving me the chance to serve among you.

I want to thank everyone who prayed for and financially supported this trip. We may never see the full impact we made this summer or see the seeds we have planted grow, but I know God had a purpose in sending me. Everyone who prayed and supported me helped make that possible. The task in Pakenham (and Australia as a whole) isn't over though, we only handed over the baton to other leaders that will carry out the work and ministries God has planned in Pakenham.  Please continue to pray for blessings on Pakenham Baptist as they grow as a church body and continue to reach out to the community around them. As for me, my task doesn't end in Pakenham either, this summer was just part of the master plan and task God has for my life in full-time ministry. To God be the glory, great things he hath done!

This will be probably be my last blog, so thank you for following my journey in the land down under.

Hoo-Roo Oz!

Well Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Pakenham anymore. We made it to Sydney yesterday and took a ferry to see the infamous Sydney Harbor. I’ve now seen the Sydney Bridge and Sydney Opera House. The only thing that’s missing is locating P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sydney. 

Who's ready for some Opera?

Today has been filled with reflection on our time here in Australia and reconnecting with the rest of our Aussie team. I feel like I just arrived in the Land of Oz and it’s already time to head home. As I've continually learned, mission trips aren’t only about me ministering to others, but I always find I’ve been blessed, as well as grown personally and spiritually by the end of the trip. This has been such a learning experience for me, through the good experiences and the bad. It’s been really hard for my impatient self but God’s definitely shown me how to have patience in difficult situations. I can do absolutely nothing on my own, but through Christ I can do anything. 

Tomorrow I’ll begin the long journey home. We’ll leave Sydney Wednesday afternoon and after the longest day ever (37 hours) I’ll arrive back home Wednesday night. Please pray that the Qantas airlines won’t organize their much anticipated strike tomorrow and there will be safe travels for our entire team of thirteen that will be traveling back home.