Ok, from the top we have me on the beach here in Penang, in Batu Ferrenghi, as we walked through the surf at sunset. The second is me coming in from an exhilarating parasailing ride. Next down is Allison and I, exploring a little garden as we waited to go caving. The poolside picture is actually the view out of the window beside my bed at Harvest Haven, the Capernwray in Malaysia. And finally, our first accomodations in Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur, the Renaissance Hotel, relaxing by the pool. Yes yes, I know, you are all wishing YOU could be on missions trips right now.... :) Don't worry, soon these pictures will turn to dirt roads and beggars the have captured my heart. Until then, it remains fragile, but whole, still recovering from leaving home....

Hey Folks!
Whew....our last full day in Penang, well, to be more specific, Batu Ferrenghi, a beautiful beach-town sector of Penang. My days are full of.....adventure! I DID end up doing the fish exfoliation therapy done, it was awesome, VERY ticklish, although I didn't really notice that much of a difference to my feet. I went parasailing! Could there be a more stunning, awe-inspiring thing in the world? I could only close my eyes and sing out my praises to God as I flew through the air with my arms raised in exultation! What joy! Beautiful doesn't begin to describe it. My days are spent exploring and chatting with a friendly German fellow who has become a regular companion and part of my day. I think I will be a bit lonely when he takes off to the Philippines....but India awaits! Today was full of surprises and blessings....we attended the international church of Penang, and go figure....I found myself walking up to Bob Pagee and his family, who are missionaries from my home church of Beulah Alliance and know my parents. At a time when I felt as though God was a little bit far away, and I was lonely here in Asia, He surprises me with the finding of a familiar face, and a service filled with righteous teaching and singing. My heart was lifted.

The afternoon was filled with exploring Georgetown, the colonial area of Penang, taking a tour of a mosque, and talking with a gentleman there, and attempting to search out a chocolate factory where they gave out free samples. Alas....it remains a mystery, as the heat and promise of a cool pool at our hotel tempted us away from the treasure hunt. After a quick dip I decided to update this, and on my way, walking down the bustling street, past street stalls and little mini-marts, not able to resist a chocolate ice cream on my way (1.50 RM, the equivalent of about 46 cents Canadian...). The melting heat made me lose some of the chocolate on the way, but I suppose my stained dress, (and my waist-line) will survive the loss. The Thai food we ate today was scrumptious, and I am once again tempted to get some blended mango drink at the market tonight.....so many choices, it is impossible to choose what food you'd like, but all of them are greasy and rich, and I find myself, in the midst of such abundance, wishing for one of mom's refreshing, delicious, salads. :)

Although I feel like this part of the trip isn't exactly what I signed up for, I am utterly grateful for the easing of this transition, into a different country, a different culture, a different world.

I wish you all could be here...

Ate a Durian fruit-check
Walked in the surf of the ocean-check
Caught a miniature gecko-check
Got sand EVERYWHERE in our bedroom-check

The list could go on....but I will stop there :) I wish I could post some pictures, but unfortunately I left my camera cord back in our room at the Sri Sayang hotel, and can't plug in my camera! Maybe next time.....
I am currently in Penang Malaysia, enjoying +30 heat with a wicked humidity and lots of refreshing fruit juice and ice cream! I never thought I would be spending the first couple of weeks of my missions trip in paradise, but God has blessed us with this opportunity to experience a totally different place, with totally different people, and thoroughly enjoy ourselves as we do it! The scenery here includes lots of palm trees and white sand. The water is tourqoise, (I spelled that wrong didn't I? Well....maybe it's the Malay spelling :)) and the people are any mixture from dark brown to pale white (Me). Opportunities for adventure here are endless.....should I go parasailing today? Or maybe go to a restaurant that is inside an old pirate ship? Or maybe get my feet bitten by tiny little fish, so they come out soft and clean? (apparently it's the biggest thing here in Asia!) I will let you know what I decide...maybe all of them? Sending all of my love from Penang......I will return later, and possibly with pictures......
Ciao!

Lost but Happy at Sea

I am in Singapore. Actually! Ok, well, I'm in the airport...does that count? The adventure has begun. And how do I feel? Unsure....I suppose. I've never been this far away from home, with strangers, without any idea what my destination will look like. Saying goodbye was painful, I think I knew ahead of time that it would be, but that didn't change its difficulty.

Part of me worries.....what if this ends up being something I have to 'get through,' something just to 'survive,' until I am home again, safe, comfortable, ready to 'move on' with my life. I don't want that. Not at all. I suppose I am lacking a trusting faith......may the LORD complete his adventure that He has begun, may He finish the work He is doing in me.

It has been over 24 hours since I said goodbye to my loved ones, and already I miss them, but I am hoping that the tear in my heart will heal up soon, mended by the warm smiles and snack-sharing of my fellow-travellers; interns and future brothers and sisters. Praise God for bringing me this far, I must admit, there is an intense thrill in my Spirit at this time, to have jumped with both feet, to fall entirely without hold, into the arms of my Savior, in this new way.

Praise God <3

P.S. My love is extending over the ocean to all of you at home....be assured that you are on my heart and in my mind.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow! I'm scared of you...tomorrow!

I leave tomorrow. I should probably be asleep and not writing this right now, but I couldn't resist the urge, since I was checking email one last time, anyway! I had my first minor freak-out today, a beloved-roommate (totally innocently :)) put it in my head that I need Malaria pills, and that I might be bored there.....and suddenly I realized......what if I hate it?!
But with some prayer and an angel in disguise (My Twigg) I was able to move past it :)
Dang.....my family is being so nice to me because I am leaving! Sometimes I wish they would just be mean and grumpy, then I wouldn't want to stay so badly. Each and every one of them are such beautiful people. They are so precious to me.
Well....like it or not, I am leaving tomorrow (God-willing) and I am ok with that. I am ok with trying something this new. With trusting God to be that big. With learning my limitations. And, possibly, with admitting defeat. I will always have a home here, and that is a comforting thought. But truly, should not my home be wherever I am at the moment, because my Lord and Savior is always with me?
Praise God.....may He give me strength <3

Getting Ready

Whew! I suppose that most members of the female species would really enjoy a full day of shopping, but I, on the other hand, find it exhausting! However, the increased feeling of preparedness is a bonus. I have officially bought all the things I need for India. I am currently up to my ears in hand sanitizer, mini kleenex, vitamins (including fibre supplements :)), and wet wipes. It makes me really excited (especially the fibre supplements. Just kidding.....although I probably won't be once I'm there and actually need them.)

My to-do list is down to something like 3 items....which, coincidently is the number of sleeps I have left in my own bed. Do you remember being little and counting everything by "how many sleeps!?!" Christmas, vacation, birthdays.....it all came down to sleeps. And now that I am beyond that, I find myself wishing I could sleep....I am so excited I often wake up at about 7 o clock with my eyes wide open and my nerves saying "get up! You're leaving soon! So much to do!!!" and I drowsily turn over and wish I could turn off the excitement for a couple more hours. Oh well, all part of the experience, I suppose!

I am thinking that the one item I will miss the most, yet can't bring, is going to be difficult to leave behind. Can you guess? Yes....you're right. It's chocolate :) unfortunately I believe that the average temp of 29 degrees C will melt my lovely chocolate into a perfectly delicious puddle, and I will be left bereft, and therefore have opted not to bring any (well.....I do have some for the airplane....but nothing for once I arrive....). I guess that when I return home to the abundance of chocolate in my house at Christmas time, I will be duly rewarded for my abstinence.

Two and a half days......time is flying, it will be difficult to determine the best use of the little time left....but I suppose the Grace of God will suffice for all that I cannot do.

Scared

Tonight I am coming back to this blog in the middle of WAY too many things! :) It feels like I never have enough time to do everything, and yet I find myself bored and taking on more things. It's the procrastinator in me. So now that I am down to 9 (I say 8, I can't count the day I leave!) days, I find myself with a rather large list of things still needed to be addressed. Things like.....acquiring some Indian Rupees (is that even how you spell it?!), wrapping gifts for friends/family who will have birthdays while I am gone, and putting leather protector on the new walking sandals I bought. (Ok, well....mom bought them for me :)) I also have to stack my ipod with all the songs I am sure I will miss listening to while there.....who knows!? I might need an extra hit of Elton John one day, and Regina Spektor the next!

I said goodbye today to the family I have been nannying for.... I will miss them a lot. All those sticky fingers and screams of "I have to go potty" have endeared themselves to my heart to the point where I know I will miss them like phantom pains when one loses a limb. I'll miss the dimpled smiles.......the half-hearted attempts at the alphabet, ending with "j,k,l....I love you!!!!"........reading some of my childhood favorites and keeping them spellbound....

*Sigh. :) But it is a good goodbye. Maybe that's why they call it "GOODbye," because if you are taking the time and making the effort to say it, it is good. Good for your soul.
The next chapter awaits....only a few more sentences to finish this one off, and I can apprehensively turn the next page.....

I've made a map!

With much success thanks to Google Maps, I've created a map of my travels....it's quite exhausting just to look at, but I think it will be cool for everyone at home to see the actual starts and stops I will be making (and be able to appreciate how completely exhausted I will be when I arrive). If you would like to take a look, here's the link,


View Rise on the wings of the dawn.... in a larger map

Ok, so I know it's really long. It's really complicated, though! :) You can also just search it on Google maps, it's called "Rise on the wings of the dawn" (thanks, Psalm 139)

The beginning

Today, right now, comfortable at home, I begin my blog. This is for everyone who I will fail to email while I am in India, and lack the monetary assistance to call from such a distance. This is also for me, as selfish as that sounds. So in later years, when I am surrounded by mounting piles of books and work, I can read back and see that once, I was an adventurer. Once, I was brave. Once, I followed Christ to a totally different side of the World, and learned from Him there.

Thank you for reading my blog, I am quite honestly, flattered. I hope it brings you some joy, and some insight into my life, and the crazy twists and turns it shall take in the next three months.

So why, you ask, do I start today? Because until now I have been busying myself with working two jobs, and running around the place trying to organize things. I start today, because in 15 days I will be flying from the Edmonton International Airport at 12:30 in the afternoon, to (eventually) India. I am taking part in the Asia Practicum Program through Torchbearers International, and living at a small bible college for Indian students and teaching, working, and hopefully furthering God's Kingdom, there for three months. I am very excited. And very scared.

So what is the plan for the next 14 days? Pack. Buy the stuff I'll need (sleeping pills.... :)). Say goodbye. All of which I'm sure I will make more difficult and complicated than need be. But nothing can stop this from being, entirely, Christ's trip. I could not, would not, do this on my own. But in His name, by His power, I am leaping off this cliff, and can't wait to see how He'll catch me.

Stay tuned for more updates.....(I promise it will be more interesting as the time goes on.......)