Before we arrived at LAX I reminded myself how smoothly everything was about to go. After all, I was being obedient to where I know the Lord has called me, so He will make sure I don’t have any problems with my “slightly” over-packed luggage, no delays getting on the plane, and then 2 lengthy bulk-overhead seats waiting for me and my dad to stretch out our 6 foot legs for the entire 14 hour flight. “What? I’m sorry, did you just say my dad needs a Visa in order to arrive in Sydney for a week and he doesn’t have one on file? Umm, the plane is full and the seats we reserved only fit small children? I think I heard you wrong about my heavy luggage. It sounded like you said $300… “(gulp) This is where I completely lost it. Yes, tears began to fall. I held it in through all the good-byes, all the final hugs and kisses, and then at the airport in front of the luggage lady, it all came out. The world hates me…what am I doing…THIS is the sign, I’m not suppose to go. Take me home! I was distraught. God left me…something had to be wrong up there.
“God, don’t forget I’m being obedient!”
I know what you are saying. Slightly naïve form of thinking, Heather. Blame it on my emotional levels or the mean luggage lady, but I was treading unrealistic waters feeling like I was untouchable in this world I was stepping into. I was exempt from this test called Life. Everything was going to be better. But, God never allows me to wallow in my own self-pity for long. A few hours over the Pacific, I unfolded myself from my seat to reach my Ipod and turned to the good ole Jentzen Podcast. As if he only spoke the sermon for my ears, I quickly shifted back to my purpose. “Satan doesn’t ever attack a retreating army, but an advancing one.” That was what I was doing. I was advancing. I had to stay strong and realize there will always be battles. Its just part of life. But I will choose to pray, fight, and still look for God’s miracles.
Landing in Sydney was already going so much better than taking off. Successfully passing through the friendly Australian customs officers I felt like, this is perfect, I am one of them. I am a Sydney-an. No one thinks I am a foreigner. But as I approached the final line to exit out to the blue, warm skys of the south Pacific, this little guy with a big badge approached my dad and I asking if we had any fruit, nuts or food of any kind, including Ranch dressing. Cover was blown. Apparently, I look so American that he had to ask if my over-sized luggage was full of Ranch dressing.But, for fear of more fines, I had to confess that I didn’t have Ranch but I had a ton of guacamole mix to last 2 years!
The first few days exploring the northern coast of Sydney we were running on adrenaline and delirium. We were going so fast to register every aspect of my new life…buy car, drive on left side of road, move into apartment, buy insurance, register car, drive on left side of road, shop for groceries, visit Target (surprise they have Target), drive on left side of road, buy cell phone, buy internet connection… I never had time to realize that I was really making myself as permanent to this country as an Aussie sun burn. I am really doing this!
While driving on the RIGHT side of the car on the LEFT side of the road, I measured the effectiveness of each day based upon how many honks I received. There were some days I got four in a one second moment. I guess that made up for the moments that no one honked at me at all out of sheer shock as I was coming towards them. But I triumphed through bracing the steering wheel like an old lady in a Cadillac and peering over the dashboard, saying to myself, “I will survive…this country will not beat me!” The roundabouts also were something to graduate from. I had to learn how to courageously roll into the parade of cars following each other in a circle then spit out into four different directions (I mean you pick one of the four). When in doubt, just circle around and around a few more times and eventually you will flow out into the right spot.
I would have to say hands down, beyond the car shopping, insurance buying, and re-learning how to drive, the biggest stress was going grocery shopping. Those that know me will not be shocked right now. I can probably count on one hand how many times I go to the grocery store in a year. I thought of every way possible of how I could survive without doing this but everyone of them ended with just not eating at all which is not a good idea according to my family. I learned that the nearest grocery store was only 3 roundabouts down the street, and then take the first exit on the third roundabout. Sure enough, at the bottom of the first exit I rolled right into the car park (parking lot) of a Woolsworth grocery store. My survival mode kicked in again as soon as I stepped out of the car.I can do this. It’s only a grocery store in another country. What could be the big deal?
Once again, if I could step into this food world, buy what I need and not look like a foreigner while doing it that will be success. Under the awning of the weather worn store I spotted green shopping carts. Perfect! They have four wheels and are identical to the ones where I am from. We are doing good so far. As I approached the carts, I pulled one to claim it as mine to begin my adventure of food shopping, however, the cart would not move. They were all chained with a little lock that connected each cart together. For fear of appearing that I had never experienced a chained cart at a grocery store, and to prevent opening my American voice to actually ask someone what I needed to do, I just stepped back away from the cart and stared with a sort of bewildered look, thinking, I have absolutely no idea what the heck I need to do. I’m not quite sure how long I was staring, but it was enough for the guy in the bread aisle to see my stress flares and come to my rescue. He was a grocery angel. He explained that I needed to put a dollar coin in the lock in order to free the chained cart. I told him Thank you in my American accent and then it all made sense to him.Cover blown once again.
Wading through each of the aisles you instantly search for something familiar. A familiar brand, label, bottle, anything that reminds you of home. Unfortunately, energizer batteries and Coke-a-Cola was all I could come up with, however, the double digit prices immediately made them quite unfamiliar. That “free the cart” bewildered look instantly came back on my face as I stopped looking for food and decided to walk the aisles just looking at the prices like a museum. A six pack of batteries back home would be close to $5…here $12. Medium size box of laundry detergent $35. As my father as a witness, we did even see a 36 pack of coke cans for $32. How about just needing 2 single banana’s and 2 single apples (not bags, just individual)…$3.50. And with the American dollar and the Australian dollar almost equivalent, there is not much of exchange rate. Standing in the middle of the aisle, I began fighting back every form of fear that was trying to creep in. Fear answering the question, am I truly capable of surviving out here?
Did I mention everything was double digits??
Anyone want to save money and go on a picnic?
My first Sunday arrived and I was able to officially visit my new church (myc3church.net). Andrew and Janine saved my dad and I two seats in the front with a “reserved” card. I felt like a celebrity. I was able to meet so many amazing leaders in the church, the president of the college, the dean of students, even one of the executive pastors. I felt right at home. I was so encouraged there. The sermon was, once again, spoken right for me. It was on Grace. The pastor referenced a scripture that was on the power point screen and I felt compelled to look up in my Bible. I quietly thumbed through to 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” And then...wow...I was so humbled and encouraged...hand written on the left side of the scripture were the words “Australia 2010”. My eyes began to well up. I don’t remember when I wrote that note near the side of that scripture, but God was bringing me back to it. He was reminding me that no matter how scary the roads gets, how expensive the stores are, HE was able to make ALL grace about to me.I will have all I need. He is my income. He is taking care of me. God provides where He guides. This is the beginning a new adventure. An adventure of Grace.
It's going to be amazing!
