CONTENT. UPDATE.

Broadcasting from the local public library,... still. The computer I've been told is 'coming along', I'm crossing my fingers it will be soon. I miss my Photo shop friend, my solitaire ( if that doesn't sound nerdy), and just over all ability to feel like I can work on something practical towards leaving this winter wonderland we are currently inhabiting aka- updating the blog more detailed/ and often. I have pictures-- although cold it is beautiful, most of them I took from the warmth of my car because I've been fighting off numerous colds lately. Colds frustrate me- and that's all I'm going to say.

I've been getting stacks of books from the library... subjects on: Global Warming, how the aids crisis affects children, The Tsunami of 2004, Identity Theft, and The History of the Church. Subjects that I know (from experience) will come up while overseas. I know my heart is prepared- but my mind? Matt has been reading a book about Australia, that I read over last summer. He and I are on the same page I guess - not really meaning to be punny. haha

Oh yeah and I purposefully went to Macca's yesterday. I hung out with my fries, coffee, and Obama signing in on TV. I don't have a TV anymore, so I had to see it myself, even if I was by myself.

Ive been painting too- good stuff-- I'm excited-- pictures coming soon.

All is well on the mission front, still waiting to hear back from the Perth Base.

Being content, and actively patient, if that makes sense.

PICTURES SOON!!

Bumps in the road.

SO sadly our computer is in the shop. (a buddy's shop) Our power cord connector broke. Grr. SO I'm on a public computer and don't have a whole lotta time.. so please excuse my grammar/spelling.

We have been having some ups and downs... Faxing out applications; we found- is OUTRAGEOUS! soo,.. we checked into FED-EX,... haha they don't deliver to the area we need it to go.. So the UNITED POSTAL SERVICE we went. The promise was that it would be there by the middle of next week, but Ive been told not to trust such promises from them-- Last resort. Grr-right? Hoping to hear back from the Perth Base Leaders soon... to know if we are officially accepted..

I've done this before but never felt soo many road-blocks.. It just seemed easier.

In good news we priced plane tickets--- and because (we think) of the economic strain on soo many services/products lately companies are desperate for sales.... SO it looks like we may be paying significantly less than we thought... BUT just pray that the prices stay there. ha ha

Oh boy-- my time is up. I knew I shouldn't of checked my email--ha ha

Please pray that things would level out.. continue to fall into place. Leave a note if you want. you dont have to have a blog like myspace and facebook.

STARTING OFF THE NEW YEAR WELL

“Don’t panic, there is no need to panic.” a bright voice on the other side of the phone said with a polite American accent.

PRESSING ON, shackles undone, war waging un-won -it’snot ova yet.

Passports……………………uh………................................. Check.
References; Friend, Employer, and Pastoral all passed out . ….. Check.
Pots, Pans, Kitchen/Living room stuff all packed (day one of packing 4 ½ boxes).... Check.
Extra Blood work for Overseas insurance done(required)……………… getting there… but we just found out we don’t need it till we leave.
Extensive relief …………………… Check.

_______________________________

We had been racing around and staying up uber late because of the time zone difference; trying to call the YWAM, Perth base. Leaving several messages, to get some possibly crucial questions answered. I hadn’t remembered it being like this before. I have to this point been praying that God would confirm and affirm that we were still to remain on course. Honestly mostly because of my distracted and worrying conscience. Going half way around the world is no small task, but for this purpose totally worth it. Currently Reading Philippians 4:4-9 (you are not alone)
So we got a call about 8:30pm-ish unexpectedly,… 10:30am their time. ‘Finally’ I thought as Matt answered his cell. We asked some questions about the applications and details that concerned us,… then I told Matt to ask her how long the applications would take to get accepted, and how long the international visas were taking. (FUN TRAVEL FACT 1 : a visa is an official stamp or sticker put in your passport if you are in a foreign country for more than 30 days; and you apply for it by filling out a costly and thick application with an official Embassy) “There is no need to panic, the apps only take about a week and my visa application only took a day to process- & I’m American also.” (FUN TRAVEL FACT 2: many Embassies dislike Americans just enough to hesitate to process them quickly, and a lot of Americans travel creating an influx of applications- Lucky-us -cause YWAM is liked.)

Also in the last couple of days…….
-We got Matt’s criminal record check back- long story short we were having some trouble with this- via the U.S. postal service. Wha-whoo! Those can tend to take a while too- and I already have one so I’m well off already.
-Other good news the long-term-fasting-of-meat (vegetarianism thing) is going quite well. The original plan was 3 months even if we didn’t like it or it wasn’t ‘working‘. Matt and I are feeling a lot healthier, clearer minded, sleeping better and it has been much easier than we thought, so we may keep it up. The discipline has been our focus and has helped us consume less, and consciously pay attention so that we don’t stumble into gluttony. “Waste is waste no matter where is goes”, says my wise friend Mrs. Porter.
-And It appears I have a possible job. My mom is getting involved with a special foster program, and will need a babysitter a couple days a week. I will go through some training with her but a job is eminent. Yay!
All and all mucha weight has lifted off our shoulders... Just stuff falling into place.
Newest Scrimmage -- trying to find a cheap faxing service that will let us fax internationally. Staples charges 6 bucks a page- outrageous huh, we just wanna get our apps through fast but we may have to just snail mail it all. Grrr…

APARTMENT COLORS

OTHER RECENT PHOTOS (NEW YEARS EVE)

CHEER, CIRCUMSTANCES, AND GOALS

So Matt and I, and his creative cousin Mark visited some friends in Pittsburgh for New Years Eve. (Happy New Year by the way!) We braved the treacherous icy roads to see this view and take these picture(s). For those of you that don’t know- Pittsburgh is a hilly city, and Pennsylvania roads can be incredibly neglected. Thank you fearless-McDaniel for driving, and thanks Ollie n’ Mark fo tha warm socks. Otherwise a very chill and late New Years eve, nice to hang out with such unique and interesting people.
When you are leaving the country, and/or looking to move, its hard to say goodbye and every visit/opportunity is crucial and not to be taken for granted.
Note to self: Don’t ever forget how cool, down to earth Donny, Ollie, and Mark are. (Bracken, Elise, Dusty and Oh sh’ you rock too)

There is a tree outside our apartment window that caught my eye. A branch on it looks like it was previously a broken limb, because it has does a perfectly straight 90 degree turn. Granted the tree is a genuine ugly betty year round; its kinda beautiful because of the crook. The crook in its trunk that can only be seen this; the harshest time of the year. Such is life, and where Matt and I feel that we are.
I’ve noticed that idea or feeling seems to be the general consciences of many people in the out-look of 2009.
Romans 5:3-5 ..we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. . . And hope does not disappoint us because (paraphrased>) we know that it is an opportunity to draw nearer to God and , the source of all our hope. Circumstances are out of our control, but as the cliché’ phase goes ‘whatever doesn’t kill us will make us stronger.’

Hence here are the opportunities for God to work in our weakness:
1. Saying goodbye to our friends, and family L
2. Getting laid off from my job 3 months before we leave for our DTS, including bumps in the road with unemployment.
- watching the restaurant I poured my heart into close; and the best bosses I’ve ever had, dreams filter away.
3. Living in chaos, piles of things everywhere; organizing and finding places to store everything we own.
4. Being ahead in all of our plans for 2 years and now all of a sudden being behind.
5. Grateful for the enormous amount of financial gifts, but still looking for more long-term supporters. (trying not to worry)
6. We only have 3 months left. Which at times can be a little intimidating.

What we are doing (beyond prayer):
1. Taking up extra opportunities to see our friends/family,
and authentically letting them know how much we value their relationships.
2. Pulling back our personal expenses, and being wiser about our money. Trusting God to provide, without hoarding.
3. Continuing to test our character by realistically getting rid of stuff we don’t need, opportunities to donate and bless others.
4. Persevering ahead, and doing what we can every day to get to do, and go where we feel God has called us.
5. Working on our discipline and as a result our health by becoming vegetarians (something we have been praying over all 2008)
Goals:
primary
1. To have everything packed in storage boxes and mostly sorted by the end of the week - secondary benefit; getting rid of distractions from our vision and goals (using our time together off wisely- thankful for our circumstances)
2. Having the last of our paperwork faxed to YWAM, Perth by the end of the week. Including all of our references.
3. Sending in our visas and buying our plane tickets by the end of the month.
4. Mission support application for our church finished by the end of the week.
5. Finding possible part-time work.
Secondary
1. Matt - Finishing music EP CD, make copies- to possibly sell.
2. Steph - Finishing a Painting series for Art show/Sale before we leave, and artwork for Matt’s CD.
3. Copy music/important pictures to our MP3 player/flash drive. Back up hard drive programs/documents.
4. Finishing Painting the apartment as a gift to our landlords (currently ¾ done)




Thank you for all your help, storage and travel stuff this Christmas, everyone-- please leave a message after the beep………………………………............... BEEeeeeeP!