Thursday, 3rd March, 2011
Well I just wrote that it's 2010. It's not. I'm a little out of it still, as you can possibly tell. I'm a wee bit jet-lagged from my 34+ hours of travel that it took to get here to Newcastle. But I am here! And that is what this post is meant to inform you of!
I arrived into Sydney at 6:30am on the 1st and got to Newcastle (via cab/bus) by 11:30am (due to dropping off several other passengers before me). After arriving at Lewis House and dropping my bags off, I quickly changed out of my winter garb and into shorts and a singlet to be better prepared for the warmth of the day (107 degrees fahrenheit!!). Afterwards I went right down to the warehouse for STS (Staff Training Seminar) lectures for the morning. I spent the rest of the day unpacking and getting my room set up with my roommate, Hannah. Here is where I will segue briefly to tell you a bit about my lovely roommate. Hannah is a great friend of mine I met while I was here doing my DTS. She is from Sweden, and is pretty much one of the coolest peeps I know. I'm pretty stoked to be rooming with her!
I've found that the best way to get used to the time difference is just to try and not sleep at all until bedtime. So that's exactly what Hannah has been forcing me to do--stay up til at least 10:30pm every night watching Gilmore Girls and chatting til my eyelids feel like they're being crushed down by entire elephants sitting on them. I guess it's working..but I still feel like I'm walking around in a dream mostly. (;
For the next 3 weeks my mornings are filled up with STS lectures, getting me prepared for my time on staff. The other people on my STS are Susy (a returning staff member), Talea (from my DTS), and Brooke (also from my DTS and my old roomie). My afternoons have me working in the YouthStreet department for the next few weeks. I am working with some of my awesome friends, which is such a great privilege! Sam, Jaso, Sez, Stevie, Brooke, and a group of 4 college kids from Washington here on a mission trip for 2 months are among my co-workers in the department. My job is mostly focusing on the logistical/planning side of things right now, and on evangelism. I get to go into a lot of schools where we have lunch programs and that during the week. So excited! A bit nervous, to be honest, but mostly excited!
Another thing I want to fill you in on is a thing called provisional staffing. This is what I will be considered to be doing for the next 3 months. Basically provisional staffing means that I will be in a position where I can kind of bounce around from department to department to sort of get a taste of what they are all like. It doesn't make me any less of a staff member than I already am, it just means I get a little more freedom to roam. (: While I am on provisional staff (and once I am done with STS in 2 1/2 more weeks) I will be spending my mornings working in the Creative Department, and my afternoons in YouthStreet.
Right now I am sitting here in the warehouse offices working in the YouthStreet Department on some logistics and helping Sam plan out our next month or so of events and school ministry. It's a nice toasty afternoon so I have a fan blowing on me full blast here by my desk. And I am writing on tumblr and trying to hurry and finish before it's time to leave the office and, with it, the good internet.
Also, here's something you guys could keep in your prayers if you think of it. My computer has started acting up once again. My speakers aren't working and neither is my camera. Also, it sometimes won't turn on..all of these things are quite frustrating if I want to ever uh, you know, use the laptop. Sooooo..yes. Hopefully I can head to the Mac Store this weekend at Charlestown Square and see if they can help me out. Eep. /:
Anyhow, it's time for me to head off and I'm sure this is going to be much longer already than anyone really will want to read. (: Really quickly, though, I'd just like to say thank you again to my supporters! It's so crazy that I am actually here right now, and that is thanks to you!! I wouldn't be able to do what I do if it wasn't for all of you. I'm so excited to see what all God will continue to do here in Newcastle!
Lots of love to you all,
Christy(: