Settling

I have come to like that word- settling. It’s beginning to be a word of comfort, a word that stirs something inside of me. It’s the same place that is stirred when I think of sitting by a campfire under the stars with my family, a chocolate gravy breakfast on Christmas morning or that feeling when you’re driving home from school for break and you see your exit up ahead.

It’s a word that represents peace, accomplishment, rest, place and belonging. And thankfully, all of those words are describing feelings I have felt this week while here in Australia.

It still has been a struggle and I have cried my fair share of times on the phone with my family. But in the midst of it all, God has been giving me glimpses of joy and comfort.

My first glimpse was that my first week of classes went really well. I’m taking Photography 1, Indigenous History, Cultures and Identity, Theology and Creativity, Discipleship and Learning and The View From Australia.

Photo 1 should be incredibly fun. The lecturer is really nice and relaxed, the perfect combination for a photo class. I’m really looking forward to learning all I can and getting some incredible shots of this beautiful country.

Indigenous History, Cultures and Identity will be a stretch. It’s very similar to American Indian history. And for a girl who grew up in the California public school system, it can seem like I’ve been there done that. But I just have to keep looking for those hidden gems that will keep me interested.

Theology and Creativity is all about blending the different modes of creativity with world theology. Wesley Institute is an art school so learning about theology and creativity from that perspective will be a growing experience. I’m looking forward to having my mind stretched and my pre-conceived notions challenged in that area of life.

Discipleship and Learning is a class I’m really looking forward to in a twisted way. We’re learning about the art of disciple making and how to apply Matthew 28 to our lives. At the end of the semester, we’ll create a lesson of our own filled with learning objectives, lesson content, resource materials, anticipated outcomes and more. The geek in me is excited to really put a lot of heart into that assignment. As of right now, I think it’s one of those classes that you get out what you put in. If I only went to class and did enough work to just get by, I’d probably not like the class. But if I make the assignments my own and really try to like them, I think I can glean a whole lot from that class.

The View From Australia is a 9-5 class. The morning is actual lecture and the afternoon is field trips. The class looks at issues in religion, politics, economics and culture values throughout Australia’s history and examines their impact. We’ll also compare, contrast and critique our own culture values and look at the distinction between culture and Christian truth. I’m looking forward to experiencing the challenges of this class. The director of the program I’m over here with is the lecturer and she’s really dedicated to teaching us how to think (not what to think) and to stretch those pre- conceived notions yet again. We’ll spend a whole lot of time looking at the grey areas of life in what can be a very black and white world.

As for the little ins and outs of Sydney…

I’ve gotten lost here who knows how many times. I thought the other day that maybe I should start counting how many times I’ve had to ask for directions. But then I realized the amount of times I’ve asked is higher than I know how to count. So there goes that idea. I have to smile every time I stop a random stranger to ask for help. I used to never want to go out of my way to talk to different people. My mom would try so hard to get me to be a little more outgoing. It’s paying off now, mom!

I’ve been getting the hang of Sydney public transport. It’s confusing still but I’m slowly but surely learning. On Tuesday a group of us went to the mall to get cell phones. We spent a good 15 minutes walking in circles trying to find our bus stop to go back to school for our night class. Thankfully we saw the bus and started running and the angel in disguise pulled over (not at a stop) to pick us up. Gotta love when God shows you that He is always in control.

My host family has been more than welcoming. My host mom is from Singapore and is the sweetest. She loves to tease us for our American ways but is always helping us with something. She spoils us in a way because she never wants us to help with anything. So she’ll make dinner, do dishes, do laundry. And no matter how many times I ask if I can help, she insists she loves doing it. She is a great cook and even taught my roommate and I to make sushi Friday night. My dad has already put in his request for me to make some when I get home. I think that’s what I’m most excited for this summer, to just share my experiences with my family. My host dad is from Australia and knows more about American history and politics than probably 90% of those in the States. I finally was able to answer one of his trivia questions the other day (thank you to whoever first told me that FDR was the president who’s served the most terms with 4). He always has an answer for every question I can come up with. If I can retain about 10% of what he shares, I’ll be able to win Who Wants to Be a Millionaire when I come back. We spent Monday evening talking about the Australian government system and I learned all about their respective parties, how they elect a prime minister, how the Queen plays into all of it. It was really interesting to learn about a government that does things so differently than the States.

I have found a church, which is a major answer to prayer! It’s the same church my host family attends but I’ll go to the 7pm service which is a different sermon, more upbeat music and a younger congregation. I’ve even gotten plugged in with a bible study that takes place on Wednesday nights. We have dinner there, talk about our own lives and then will delve into the book of Hebrews. After, we have ‘supper’. The first time I heard that I couldn’t figure out why they’d eat a whole meal again. But I learned that it’s just another word for dessert. The group is incredibly welcoming and makes me feel quite at home. I have desired that fellowship and am ready to take advantage of it.

All of these ‘new things’ this week will now be part of my new routine for the next 3 months (except getting lost, let’s all pray!). And having a routine is beautiful medicine to the Type A souls. I’ve been getting into a routine of when to make my lunch, when to do homework, when to do this and that. The small, little things that you only miss when they’re absent. I have begun to eventually like learning the new ins and outs of life here as I have come to feel I belong here.

Sunday evening, I was searching for a word I could use to describe my feelings right now and that’s when settling immediately came to mind. Because that’s what I’m doing. I’m ironing out the kinks of this new way of life, I’m riding the bumps of this new season. As I learn to navigate, I’ll make mistakes but eventually I will settle.

I’ve come to think of myself as an uprooted tree. The hardest part for an uprooted tree is regaining that place to put down new roots, that season of settling for the tree. It has to get familiar with the area and then it has to break through the new ground, as hard as the ground might be. But once the roots break through, they continue to deepen. To grow. They get stronger. Healthier. That’s when the tree can then begin to flourish.

It might come upon some rough spots in the dirt. But the roots can then move around it. It starts to weave in and out and around the areas of roughness. But all the while, the tree continues to grow.

Amidst the hard times I have come across, my roots will continue to search through the dirt for another way. But during the searching, my roots will deepen and strengthen. My tree will grow stronger.

Peace.

When something goes wrong, but you know it will be alright.

Accomplishment.

Successful transportation trips.

Rest.

Sleeping a whole night through.

Place.

Finding adventures with new friends here.

Belonging.

Knowing I’m here for a reason.

It’s a beautiful feeling. When camping won’t happen until the summer, when Christmas is 10 months away and when driving home is impossible, I’m thankful I can still be reminded of that joy hidden in the corners of my soul.

Thank you Australia for giving me these beautiful glimpses of purpose as I settle.

I’m forever grateful.