gliding on my own power doesn't work

My flight itinerary came in. Looks like I'm going to be blowing through at least six bucket list items in a few days in May.

1) Go to L.A. Although it only half counts because I'm only in the airport for a few hours, I'll still have gone to L.A.

2) Fly across the Pacific Ocean. I visited the PO in August when my family went to California for a week, but I didn't go much farther into it than ankle-deep. This time, I'll be flying over thousands of miles of it.

3) Go to Sydney, Australia. Ever since I saw Crocodile Dundee when I was six years old, I've wanted to go to Sydney. (Not sure what the connections are there, but whatever.) I'll be there for a few days, so I foresee some mock-opera happening on the steps of the Opera House.

4) Go to the Southern Hemisphere. I've never been farther west than Monterey Bay, California, and never farther south than Cancun, Mexico. So this is a BIIIIIIIIIG deal! I'll be crossing the Equator for the first time in my life, and I've always wanted to be there.

5) Set foot in Australia.

6) See the Indian Ocean. Adelaide is technically on the edge of the IO, so I'm stoked about meeting the last major ocean that I haven't visited yet.

The closer I get, the more excited I am...I'm continually learning that I'm totally out of my league here. My understanding of God's power is gaining a completely new facet when I see His hand in everything and I experience His faithfulness through provision. It's hard for me to believe that He has chosen me to represent Him on the other side of the world.

rocky roads are pretty, too

Update:

So, yesterday I contacted my travel agent about my flights. She responded quickly and re-reserved them. Turns out, because of the uptick in fuel prices, my flight price went up by over $200. This increase brought my total trip cost to nearly $4700. Although my BCM is helping my cost and donating $1000 to my trip, I had to front the money for the plane ticket, creating a mini-heart attack as I made the biggest single purchase of my entire life so far.


Now, I know what you're thinking. "Two grand? That's nothing!" But for a poor college grad like me who has never had much money to my name anyway, this is a HUGE leap of faith. One of my weaknesses is money--it freaks me out to no end when I think that I might possibly not have money or the financial means to take care of myself. Granted, my monthly bill is pocket change compared to most of yours, but it's a big deal to me. God is wearing me down and forcing me to focus on this flaw of mine.
Going to the other end of the world? No problem!
Being away from home for three months? Psshhh, big deal.
Working and living with people whom I don't know? In the bag!
Dealing with huge financial responsibility and depending on the generosity of other people and God's provision to get me through? Um...

It's a big deal to me. However, God is TOTALLY coming through for me! I'm being blessed every day when I go to the mailbox and I see a little envelope with my name on it. I have been so comforted by God whenever I open a letter and see an amount that I never would have expected. People are giving left and right, and it's blowing me away that they would be so generous for me and my crazy idea to go to Australia and work in a coffee shop for a community church all summer. It's...crazy. Some crazy love, that.

So to you who have already given: Don't worry, you'll get a nice pretty thank you note. But I want to take the time to publicly tell you THANK YOU. You have already blessed me beyond what you can possibly know. It makes me smile to think about you. Just like Paul in Philippians 1, I thank my God every time I remember you.

And to you who want to give but haven't yet: I appreciate the fact that you're even considering donating. :) Your prayers are just as appreciated as your funds! Haha. If you decide to write a check, PLEASE make the check out to "Trinity Church Missions Fund" and specify "Australia 2012" in the notes section. My name cannot be ANYWHERE on the check, or else it is not tax-deductible for you.

Again...thank you. You are already blessing me beyond any of my expectations. :)