When I grow up...

...I want to be happy...



Just like these two.

Oh Yeah

So...I got a new job! It fell into my lap actually (much like this one did.) I wrote an email to ACCES, an NGO who work with newly arriving refugees and I asked if I could do some volunteer work with them to gain some experience. About 2 weeks later I received a phone call from Mary, the Senior Counsellor and Co-ordinator asking me to come in for an interview. So I went in to meet them and they offered me a job as a full-time (paid) case worker for the refugees. The position involves picking up refugees from the airport; organising housing; counselling; showing them around Brisbane; organising schooling, TAFE and childcare assistance - Basically helping them to settle in to Australia.

I've given my couple of weeks + to HHH International College and we are in the hunt to find a replacement Jes. Hopefully one of my Christian Japanese friends - Sachiko - will be able to work here. She would be great! Anyway, between now and the 7th of May I have A LOT to do (this includes moving house.) I am excited but also a little nervous at the challenge. Mostly though, I am thankful that I was given this great opportunity to FINALLY do something I am passionate about and that has something to do with a Bachelor in Social Science! God has really blessed me in this and I hope I can do a good job.

So...that's my big news. Yay me!

The beauty that surrounds us

Faith and Jessica

There were two little girls named Faith and Jessica. They both had small hearts.

Faith decided that to increase her heart's size she would love as many people as she could. "Maybe love will make my heart bigger" she thought. So every day Faith met people and built friendships with them and became a part of their lives. She ate with them, cried with them, encouraged them and loved them deeply from her heart. Faith made friends with the aged, children, men, women, teenagers, - the loveless and the loved . Her heart was sometimes broken by those that could not love her back. Sometimes she was betrayed. Sometimes she felt unlovable. But her heart grew and grew.

Jessica was scared that her small heart would be broken or trodden on if she allowed people too close. Her heart, like Faith's, was very small and she feared sharing it with anyone. "Maybe my heart will grow if I hold onto to it tightly and don't share it with anyone" she thought. So every day Jessica avoided the love people offered to her. She shied away from compliments and withdrew from those who cared. She didn't allow anyone to come too close to her heart for fear of being heart-broken. Jessica never had a broken heart, she was never betrayed but she always felt unlovable. Her heart remained small and she was devastated.

One day, Faith spoke to Jessica. "Look at me dear. My heart has grown! Why don't you try to open your heart to others. It worked for me - I'm sure it would work for you too!" Jessica was a little frightened because she knew the risks Faith had made to expose her heart to others. She didn't fully understand why she had to give something of herself to gain something. She knew that Faith had been hurt. She knew that Faith had been broken. But Faith had a big heart and that's what Jessica wanted too.

Jessica decided to listen to her friend Faith and she began to love.

Her heart grew and grew.

Heavy Heart

Just breathe - little heart; swollen heart.

Just breathe - hurting heart; sorry heart.

Just breathe - breaking heart; mending heart.

Just breathe - don't fall apart.


Hold tight - little one; fallen one.

Hold tight - hurting one; sorry one.

Hold tight - broken one; searching one.

Hold tight - look to the Son.


Don't worry - little girl; angry girl.

Don't worry - hurtful girl; sorry girl.

Don't worry - broken girl; mended girl.

Don't worry - don't trust the world.


Sleep a while - little friend; fallen friend.

Sleep a while - hurting friend; sorry friend.

Sleep a while - broken friend; searching friend.

Sleep a while - dream again.


Pray a minute - little heart; heavy heart.

Pray a minute - hurting heart; sorry heart.

Pray a minute - broken heart; lovely heart.

Pray a minute - and then we'll start...

again.

Menacing Heels

Today the school is being auditted in the hope that we will be able to have a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) course mid-2007. Some of the staff have been working on the proposal for 2 years and there is a LOT of paperwork involved (my eyes are sore from proof-reading!) Everyone really wants the thumbs-up to start this course.

Soooo, we are showing off. We bought macadamia biscuits and the ladies are wearing heels. Since I am a lady - I am also wearing heels. I had to dust them off. I have worn them twice since I bought them 2 years ago. Once to my graduation and once to a friend's wedding (both times I packed thongs to wear when no one was looking.)

I just don't get why they are supposed to be attractive. Sure, you're taller (which is plus for stature-challenged people like myself) but they are so uncomfortable. I feel like I'm going to stack it and land on my face. Now THAT wouldn't be attractive! So why do all the ladies wear them? Is it part of the constant quest to be more powerful...more manly even? Or is it more sinister? A western alternative to the Chinese's feet binding?

If I didn't wear heels today - would we still pass the audit?!

Contentment and other things

I have recently been reading through some stories of famous missionaries. David Livingstone who served in Southern Africa; Jim Elliot who served in Equador and Amy Carmichael who served in India. I am itching to serve God and his beloved people overseas but feel that God has urged me to stay-put for the time-being... For the time-being!

I am so encouraged and challenged by people who have committed their lives to serving others - whether in their home country or abroad. My heart cries for the lost people of this world. The men, women and children who have never had the opportunity to feel loved or to know the grace of Jesus Christ. I love the richness that comes with relationships of different nationalities. I am in Australia and yet I am surrounded by people from different countries.

Yet, sometimes it is so hard to feel content; to just 'be still and know;' to listen; to wait. It is in the frustration of quietness that I often realise - I am frustrated because my focus is all wrong. I am focusing on 'doing doing doing.' Instead of resting in the Lord I am fretting over an unseen future. How silly!

So I am practicing contentment.

Instead of focusing on myself (persistent pride) I am fixing my eyes on Jesus (perfect peace.) Not-so-alarmingly, I find my worries pale in comparison to the vast joy of being close to God. It is such a blessing to have a Lord who has suffered so that we can be comforted in our trials!