Cert 4 Training!

Jackie and I about to walk in to town

Jackie and I left bright and early Monday morning to hop on the train and go up to Brisbane for our two week training course. We are working on getting our Certificate 4 so we are able to do one on ones with our students and take part in their assessments. One week down! One week left to go!

My Cert 4 Classmates

Here is a picture of us with our classmates! We have the opportunity of working with an awesome group of people from all over the world, all working towards the same goal! The base here in Brisbane is so different than the base I am from on the Gold Coast. Its loads bigger and has a lot more people, my base is quite small and we only have 3 small houses. Here there are several buildings for housing and also for student areas. Even better, they have exercise equipment! Jackie and I have been taking advantage of it and been working out every day, its awesome!

Me and Jackie in front of the class giving a demonstration

The classes we are taking are very interactive, we are learning people's learning styles and intelligences, how to write lesson plans, how to actually facilitate a teaching, and then how to assess what the students have learned (among other things). This course is required for any person who is becoming a teacher or trainer in Australia. Since we will be staffing a school, it is a requirement for us. Its been a great learning experience and I feel like this is information that I will be able to use in many other situations in my life. The picture above is of Jackie and I showing the class the importance of taking notes, kind of goofy looking but we had fun! :)

Our Cert 4 Class being just a little crazy!

We only have one more week here in Brisbane and then we are back to the Gold Coast to do one more week of staff training and then the students start arriving! I cant wait!

Training!

September 2011 DTS Staff!

(From Left to Right: Jackie, Mariann, myself and Daniel)

Since I've arrived here in Australia, I have immediately jumped into training for the DTS (Discipleship Training School) that is starting in September. Every day this week we have had staff training and it has been a really awesome time of connecting with each other and growing together as a team, as well as cultivating a heart for the students that will be arriving soon!

I literally began training the day after I arrived, there was no time to waste! But, it has been a bit overwhelming since there is so much information to learn and my jet lagged brain is having a hard time keeping up. Throw into that a bit of homesickness and its been kind of tough. Please pray for me that my mind and body adapt quickly so that this transition will be smooth. Today we had the day off so I had the opportunity to sleep in a bit which definitely helped! :)

Tomorrow I am leaving for Brisbane for two weeks for Certificate 4 training. This training will enable us to have one on ones with the students where we can work with them and process through the things they are learning here as well as be involved with their assessments. Jackie and I are hopping on the train to Brisbane early tomorrow morning and we are so excited about what we are going to learn on this course.

Also, just a little side note...notice we are wearing sweaters, jackets and scarves? Its winter here! It has been such a shock on my body to go from the hottest month of the year in Florida to come to a cold month in Australia. I find myself freezing quite often and my body keeps asking me why, its not supposed to be cold in August!! ;)

I love and miss everyone at home so much, thank you all for your prayers and kind words. They have helped carry me through this time already. Please keep in touch even though I am far away, your thoughts and words mean so much.

Finally in Australia!

After about 30 hours of traveling I am finally in Australia! I left Florida on Saturday afternoon at 3pm and arrived in Brisbane at 8:30am on Monday morning. (After you do the math, you discover that there's obviously a time difference. I skipped an entire day of my life!) I'm still struggling with a bit of jet lag which will take a few days to get over. Its only 6pm here right now and I am completely ready to snuggle into my bed and pass out. I am fighting the urge though, 9pm is my bedtime goal. I feel like such a granny! ;)

I had an amazing last few days in America. My mom flew into town to see me and it was such a blessing to have her there. We had a great time together and she helped me SO MUCH to get the last minute things done before I left, thank you mom! Also, my friend Simon from Germany flew in as well and it was so great. I haven't seen him since the end of our DTS together in Australia so it was so great to catch up and have him with my family. On my last day in the country we had a little family get together at my dads house where we swam and ate great food all day! It was the perfect way to say good-bye to everyone, with lots of laughter and fun!

Today was my first day of staff training here at the base. I met with the others that I will be staffing the school with and we pretty much had a time of introducing each other, sharing our hearts and creating some goals for the DTS. It got me excited about what I am here for: to work with and disciple young people. I am convinced that God is going to do awesome things during my time here and that I am going to learn so much.

I am trying to upload a few more photos from the last few days I was in America but for some reason, I'm not able to. If you'd like to see photos, I'll be posting them on facebook during the next couple of days! :)

Also, several people have asked for my address here in Australia. Here it is!

YWAM Gold Coast

Jasmine Abenchuchan

PO Box 1560

Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217

Australia

Thank you all so much for your love and support, it has made this journey so incredible to know that I have such amazing people backing me in what I do! If you would like to know how to support me financially during this time, you can use either option on the right side of this page. If neither of these are good for you, please contact me and I will be happy to give you other avenues for support.

Packing Packing Packing

Would you believe me if I told you that this chaotic room is actually looking GREAT compared to what it was a week ago??

Life has been crazy these days with all of the packing I've been doing and also with saying goodbye to those I love dearly. I have been continuing to unpack and repack, unpack and repack some more, and as you can see I'm still working on it. I emptied out my storage unit completely and decided I was going to consolidate everything I have and minimize my possessions down to only the things that I absolutely cannot live without. Thats been quite the feat given I had enough to fill an entire one bedroom apartment.

This has probably been one of the most intense emotional and spiritual journeys I have ever been on. Its hard to believe I made the decision to give up everything I have and move across the world only 2 1/2 months ago. Everything has changed since then. This is by far the biggest leap of faith I have ever taken and I am trusting that the Lord is going to be waiting on the other side with great things in store for the future.

I didn't realize how hard it would be to uproot and say goodbye to my family and friends. If any of you know me well, traveling is very much a part of my personality and lifestyle but there's something different about it this time and somehow that has made things harder. But I know that God is good and that He is doing something amazing here and the journey I am about to embark on is going to be one of the most life changing experiences I have ever had.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

So as of now, only 5 days remain before I get on an airplane and fly across the world! My main focus is to finish packing and finalize what will be coming with me to Australia. Also and more importantly, to spend time with my family and friends before I go. Please keep me in your prayers as I finish up this last week in the States. Thank you all for your love and support!