The Start of a Dissertation on my Australia experience...

An update and a half...

I will start by sharing my traveling adventures...

I am officially in the United States and I am now located in Beaver Falls, Pa. I arrived in Los Angeles after a semester in Australia and a week in New Zealand on June 20th. From Los Angeles I ventured to Seattle for a week long road trip. The road trip with Jenn Reill (my Resident Director, my boss for a year, and now a very dear close friend) which included over night visits to: Oregon, Utah, Nebraska, and Indiana. This week long road trip was a blessing - Jenn helped me to process so much from my studyabroad experience....new ideas/thoughts/perspectives/convictions all within the context of faith. I am hoping to forever share from my experience in Australia. My semester in Australia is another season of life that will be forever pouring into who I am today. I'm excited to share with you along the way.

I could not have asked for a richer experience in Australia. Sydney, Australia is a very easy city to fall in love with - so many free opportunities to see and do so much. There are free museums, free exhibits, short films in the Opera house, and live music on all the city sidewalks. Public transportation as the only means to get places can be cumbersome but it surely slowed down my fast-paced run from event to event lifestyle. It also makes for long conversations and sometimes even suprise friends, life-long friends.

My OZ mother - Gail was more than any study abroad student could hope for in a caregiver. My three roommates and I were spoiled - a role model and someone who truly loved and cared for us, wonderful food, a beautiful home, travel opportunities, and a place that I was excited to return to after every short trip our group took-home... it was home.
Michele, Laura, and Becca were my three amazing roommates -"The Anderson Girls", I miss that. We shared laughs, tears, late night gab sessions, shopping, walks (long - hour longwalks I might add to school), travels, sky-diving (just a side note :), growing experiences and so much more.

Wesley Institute of Drummoyne was a small campus with about four main buildings. Wesley Institute was one of the most lively campuses I have ever encountered. From early mornings until late nights you could hear instruments, dramas being practiced, people singing, and watch dancers prancing from one side of the campus to the other. From one grassy knoll you could scan the entire campus and hear so much of what takes place on campus. "The Gathering" on Wednesdays contained just about every instrument imaginable and was a beautiful picture of the diversity in the Kingdom of God.

I'm not musically talented and I can't dance so what did I do with my time? My classes were as follows (please ask as you feel so interested or check my Blog on my classes:): A View from Australia, Indigenious Cultures, Sociology Internship at Newtown Mission Church, Old Testament Covenants, and Faith and the Contemporary Artist. The last two were with a lecturer named Grenville Kent who is truly a genius and is so willing to engage in learning with each of us students. If you havent picked up yet - I am reminiscing as well as sharing my experience so feel free to push forward. :)

My Sociology Internship at Newtown Mission Church was one of my most meaningful experiences in Australia. Thursday evenings I spent at a "Drop In" meal where those from the community dropped in for a meal and good conversation. I was given the chance to meet people from so many walks of life. Again, this was a picture of God's Kingdom, His people coming together and being down to earth and real with one another. I experienced community here in a different way from any other experience I've had. Every status, gender, and racial line discounted...More than beautiful...

Our Australia Studies Center group of 27 students bonded most after a 13hr trip to the Outback. From this week on - the group became closer and closer with each week (or so I would say). It would be unrealistic to think I will keep in touch with every single person but each person challenged me. I am so excited to see where God's plan leads each passionate person after this life-changing semester.

Our two directors (Kimberly and Melanie) and our intern (Matt) were strong, well-rounded, and loving. These three individuals were passionate about the things they taught and were eager to have good conversation and help each of us to not just learn but apply this semester. In addition to developing a life-changing program these three become a part of your heart...

I became close with volunteers from Newtown Mission Church, my church House Group, and the Chinese Community Church. Mel and Selina were two women who I grew closest with through Newtown Mission Church. Selina and I spent my school break in Port Stephens with many laughs and late nights filled with games and fun. Selina has such a kind heart and did such a wonderful job of being my first OZ/Aussie friend :). Mel and I after connecting spent 2 or more days a week for two-three months venturing to friends' houses, house group, church, Newtown Mission, learning to drive a manual car, a church retreat and so so much more. Mel is an inspiration and leads a life of service and ministry. Lastly, I met a friend of Mel's - Jeremy through the Chinese Community Church. Jeremy is a hoot, a gentleman and a good friend all rolled into one! Each of these three are doing such a great job of keeping in contact and keeping me connected to Australia. :) Anyone reading knows words do no justice to what is within a person so know this is all I can do in words (for now) but these people have forever changed me and made my semester.

I joined a House Group (a small group as we might call it) led by a couple - John and Bec. I also joined the Chinese Community Church. These two opportunities were filled with challenging teaching, in depth conversations and a very intentional welcoming family to be a part of. I would love to go through each person involved in the study but it would take heaps of your reading time I know. I looked forward to each Tuesday night study to be in the presence of so many people who were driven and seeking God's hand in their lives. John and Bec and Pastor Pete were so kind to me and made me feel right at home right away. This is so important to someone studying for just four months - making a place home right away.

Lastly, after Skydiving in Wollongong I met someone who was also waiting for a train ride home. Crazy right? More than crazy... Pradeep took the time to show me so much in Sydney. Pradeep probably knows more about me than I know about myself through three months time. Our conversations were priceless and endless at times. I learned heaps about living a life of love. I became more confident in who I am through Pradeep and will forever be thankful for that.

Isn't it weird how tears sometimes seem like a way to connect back to something? LOL... I better end my dissertation on Australia.

Ill close with two things that I've written to keep this semester alive first, (thanks to my House Group) a verse that resonates with my time in Australia and then second (thanks to a challenge from our directors) a quick summary of ways my thinking has changed or been challenged:

I have been reading through scripture to find a verse that resonates with my experience here in Australia. Acts 18 speaks on Paul's trials in sharing the Gospel with the Jews. Acts 18:9 tells of the Lord affirming and comforting Paul, "One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent." Acts 18:6 says Paul was even abused for the sake of the Gospel. I've experienced nothing to Paul's extent and nor do I anticipate that. I do know though that through conversations already people can have a real resistance to a passionate conversation that challenges. I have been convicted or challenged through my relationships, classes on culture/diversity/social justice/politics, through prayer journaling and much more. I want to live in light of all I have learned. I want to share so much of what I have learned. I know though that the mundane comforts in life will be tempting and that words from others can deflate one's "idealistic" hope. I hope though that I never stop pursuing people in conversations that bear fruit for the Kingdom. With that I have chosen Acts 18:9 as a verse to summarize my Australia experience. :)

And key points of learning...
I learned to think critically about my faith, how beautiful ethnic culture is and how much I desire to value it. Ive learned about a nation's failings through falling in love with another nation. I've learned about the impact our nation has on the world and how little we truly know and in response how little we are caring for others in our lack of knowledge. Sydney became home to me and will forever be in my heart. The experience opened my mind, set passions on fire, and changed me.

It goes without saying I could talk on my experience forever so feel free to ask anything about this time... And thank you, thank you for taking the time to read what I can put into words from my four and a half months away...

To close briefly... What's next? I will begin my Graduate Assistant position with Geneva College's Campus Ministry office. I will work with student leaders. This assistantship starts August 3rd. I will begin my classes for my Masters in Higher Education on August 25th. In the mean time, I will be moving into my very own apartment in Beaver Falls. I will be working two part-time jobs. Oh and I will be living up the last days of summer! :)
Thank you, thank you and thank you again for reading this... Please do ask about Australia. I have a small slide show and probably 300 additional pictures if you're interested. Oh and roughly 400 additional stories to share. :)

Now it's your turn, tell me about life for you!

With love always,
Lee-Anna