A Perthian Introduction

So here is my first official Australian blog update since my arrival. I pretty much recapped each day to give a little insight into my new lifestyle. As detailed and thorough as it might be, hopefully you will enjoy the following…
I arrived in Perth on Wednesday afternoon after about 48 hours of traveling. It boggles my mind that just sitting and waiting can be so tiring. My body was wrecked after the 4 separate flights, feeling very sore and weak. But, I was quickly re-energized when I saw the 7 smiling faces waiting for me at the airport. After we loading my beasts-of-luggage into the car, Josh took me to a café called Nando’s for lunch. Although sitting was all I had done for the past two days, it was nice doing so relaxingly in the company of a new friend. Jet lag had really started to sink in by now, so after lunch, I went to my new house and fell asleep for a good 14 hours.
Thursday morning, I woke up bright and early and spent the morning hours chatting with my housemate, Cathy. Fortunately she didn’t have to work that day, so we had the chance to get acquainted. Cathy is a nurse from England and she has been in Perth for about 18 months. I feel so fortunate to have snagged such a great living situation with her. Our house is adorable, situated in such a wonderful area of town. I really like the sidewalk streets and plush yards. The house has hardwood floors, which give it much character. A 10-minute walk up the Boulevard takes me to a shopping center—grocery, bookstore, post office, cafes, clothes stores, etc.—and a library, and if I walk that same road another 30 minutes I reach the beach. For the next few weeks, until I get a car, walking will be my main mode of transportation. However, people have been great about picking me up and taking me places that are further away.
Thursday mid-morning, Josh picked me up and ran some much needed errands with me—purchase a mobile phone, groceries, a converter, exchange money—and then we took the train into the city center. Perth is such a clean city with a beautiful skyline. After seeing the city, Josh took me to the area in which he lives called Hillarys. We went to this boat marina and while he worked on some sermon prep at a cafe, I ventured towards the beach and spent about an hour sitting on the boulders overlooking the ocean, journaling. That night, I went to a women’s Bible study at the Nevill’s house. This particular devotional night has been going on for about 2 years and I felt welcomed to jump right in. I got to meet some women from the church and a couple friends around my age, Sam and Amy, which was quite cool. One of the highlights of Thursday was getting to talk to my dad, sister, and best friend Jessi on Skype. (here comes my shameless plug…) If you are wondering, “what is this ‘Skype’ that she is mentioning?” well here I am to inform: In simplest terms, Skype is a computer program that you downloads for FREE that enables you to talk with another individual over the computer who has Skype. And if you have a mac computer with a camera or purchase a webcam and microphone headset, you can hear AND see the person. It is like they are in the room next door rather than across the world (literally across the world in my case…) I foresee this little program doing wonders for potential homesickness and keeping relationships strong back home. So, I am requesting that all my lovely friends and blog-readers to seriously consider utilizing this amazing technological advancement. I’ve already reined some of you in, and I am now waiting on the rest…mwuah-ha-ha!! Okay, onto more updates…
Friday I spent the morning unpacking and trying to get my mobile to work. Finally, after my friend Dylan came to the rescue, I actually got it up and running. Turns out I just had the battery in the wrong way. Boy, did I feel silly. I also walked up the shopping center again to have a look around and buy some food for the night’s BBQ. For lunch, Dylan’s grandparents, Helen and Ron, had Dylan and me. Afterwards, they drove me around the area, taking me to Subiaco and King’s Park. King’s Park is a 1000-acre area near the city center overlooking the Swan River. It is filled with benches, wild flowers, and locals lying out on the grass soaking up the sun or throwing a football around. I have a feeling that I’ll be spending many summer days and evenings at this gorgeous place. I am excited for the outdoor cinema that begins there in a couple months!
Friday evening, a guy from Westchurch named Kim came to pick me up and take me to a youth Bible study for a nearby church called Mount Lawley. About 15 of us met at a family’s house and had a full-out BBQ dinner before the devotional—sausages, chicken, hamburgers, lamb cutlets—it was great food and fellowship. The preacher of Mount Lawley and his wife, Ed and Melaine, are from Memphis, and it was comforting to hear a southern accent and bond over our Tennessee connection! They have been in Perth for 11 months and had great things to say about their experience here, which was comforting as well. I also met a guy named Rob. He is 22 and volunteers with the youth in the area, so I assume we’ll be fast friends. The topic of the Bible study was evolution vs. creation and some great, thought-provoking discussion came up. I was still feeling quite jet-lagged, and could barely keep my eyes open and head up for the latter part of the evening. But, it was wonderful meeting new people and making connection with some Christians in the area.
On Saturday, the Australian Football (“footy”) League had their version of the American Super Bowl. All week, the anticipation of the big game was a central topic of discussion with everyone I came across, so I was excited to have arrived in time to experience this sporting phenomenon. Kim picked me up around noon and we went over to Rob’s house for the game. We arrived just in time to chow down on some grilled sausages and veggies, ya know, the typical pre-game feast. I found the footy game quite mind-boggling. These grown men run around with no padding gear or helmets, tackling each other left and right. I put it lightly by using the word ‘tackling’, so envision head-butts, chest punches, hearty shoves, and scrappy wrestling for the coveted ball. I’ve been told that serious injuries happen all the time, but luckily all the players made it through the Grand Final without any life-threatening damage. After the game, we all took a little jaunt down to the beach, during which I officially touched the Indian Ocean for the first time: freezing cold but glorious! It’s so different (yet exciting) having the beach as my new playing ground. While at the beach, I had a great conversation with Melaine about her experience of moving from the U.S. to Perth, adjusting to the Australian lifestyle and culture, and the differences between the Aussie and Southern views of religion and spirituality. I can already tell that Melaine will be a vital mentor and encourager during my time here in Perth.
Sunday morning, I went to Westchurch for the first time, which will be my home congregation while I am in Perth. Now, coming from Nashville where its common to have several hundred people worshipping together during church, it was quite a shock to meet in a school classroom with only 40 other Christians. Yet, I found it very family-like and supportive. Everyone I met was extremely inviting, having already heard that I would be coming out. So, it was common to hear, “ah, you must be Sarah Kate, we’ve been expecting your arrival. Welcome!” One of the highlights of the morning was when the church leaders brought me up front and prayed over me, thanking God for my safe arrival and for the ways God will use me during my time in Perth. After church, the congregation enjoyed coffee, tea, and biscuits (cakes, cookies, shortbread, etc.) Only in a church with such small numbers can I imagine this type of familial fellowship taking place. Westchurch only has about 2 teens that consistently come on Sunday mornings; so part of Josh’s vision for my time in Perth is to make connections with the teenagers in the local middle and high schools and surrounding youth groups, spreading the love and joy of Christ by building relationships with them. I did bond quickly with one 17-year-old girl named Nikki at church, though. She is an avid surfer chick, and I told her how much I want to learn. So, she offered to teach me in the next couple weeks when the water is warmer. Sweet! After chatting with several people, I went out to eat lunch with Josh, his wife Hayley, Kim, Sam, and some other church friends. Then we went to the beach, but our afternoon got cut short due to the rain. So, here I am on my lazy Sunday afternoon wrapping up this blog.
I hope this update finds you happy and healthy. I miss you all and hope to hear from you, as well.

Blessings,
Sarah Kate

sealing the deal…

so, it looks like i am finally finalizing plans to head over to perth. i plan to leave monday, september 24, which is in 8 days! i have been preparing and praying for this opportunity to become a reality that it almost seems surreal that, yes, i am going next week. the religious worker visa that i applied for back in june never came through, so i have decided to enter australia on a tourist visa. this allows me to stay in australia for one year; however, i must leave the country every 3 months. therefore, God’s divine timing brings me back to nashville for the christmas holiday. knowing that i will be back in a couple months makes leaving alittle easier. my plan is to apply for a new type of visa while i am home over the holidays that is called a ‘working holiday visa.’ it becomes available to americans in the fall and would allow me to hold a job in australia for up to one year. if this visa doesn’t work out, i can always re-enter australia on the tourist visa. so many hoops to jump though, but i am learning a great deal about trust, patience, and perseverance.

this morning at midtown, ben ellis commissioned me to australia. let me explain what this entails: i went upfront with ben, along with friends and family who came to support me, and ben asked me several questions about what i am doing, how God has prepared me for this endeavor, and what specific prayer requests i have. then my loved ones embraced and stood around me while ben prayed over me and my journey to perth. it feels so comforting to have so many people cheering me on.

here are my 2 specific prayer requests that you can pray for:

(1) that God would give me a sense of peace and trust as i encounter any type of fear that will arise: fear of my current funds (or lack there of…), fear of leaving my friends, family, and comfort zone here in nashville, fear of the unknown that lies ahead…

(2) that God would open the hearts of the people, especially the teenagers, in perth that i will encounter and develop friendships with. that He will be the center of the relationships that i cultivate and His will will be done through me.

this blog is getting long, but i did want to update everyone on the progress of things. below is my new address just incase you want to either…
(a) google earth my house and be jealous of how close i am to the beach…OR…
(b) send me a dearly cherishable handwritten letter. always the best kind.
7 Crosby Street
Floreat, WA, 6014

cheers,
sarah kate