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There are a variety of characters at the hostel that I'm staying in. What surprised me is the amount of people who are here to live. Looking for jobs. Working at restaurants or in construction.

I just watched a very heavy, older guy, named Gus, leave all bundled up with suitcase in hand to walk down the snow covered street to the bus stop so he could move to a hostel closer to downtown Anchorage.

I talked with him some on my first night here. Deeply religious - loves Billy Graham. He asked me what I do for a living and after finding out that I work for a church - played two of his favorite worship songs - one by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. He wanted me to guess what the songs were. He quickly told me that his one hang up about the United Methodist Church is baptism. "It shouldn't just be a sprinkling. Jesus set the standard and we should do it just like God's standard." We had a short conversation about faith and trusting God versus what people think they can do for their faith... What struck me is how sure he was that what I had to say is wrong.

But this morning before he left - he wished me well at my new church in Lebanon, TN. He quoted Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it".

He's hoping to find a job here in Anchorage.

I just said a prayer for him.

...like a concord grape exploding...

Wednesday, October 14th

So I woke up today super determined to have a better day than yesterday. Our goal today is to explore the Northern Hunter Valley Wine region. Lots of small but very nice vineyards. I guess I should point out that I am not a wine drinker- I don't like it. It's so...dry! It's kind of like olives- I will try them but I never like them. Ick.

But, I like to go to vineyards- try some, meet the people...so we are heading a little west before we continue south to find 3 of the vineyards on the route.

The first one had a gorgeous front lawn with a gentle hill right above a lake with ducks. Well, I just HAD to roll down the hill. So I did. Listen, if you want the whole story then ask me someyime...cause I haven't laughed so hard in long time. I was crying...so much fun!

We tried some wine and then drove to the next one...all in all I found one wine that I could drink. Eh. What was more interesting to me is that at 2 of the vineyards the people that served us the samples admitted to not really liking wine either when I told them I didn't!
Ha!

We got back on the road after an okay meal at a pub in Denman...and man, the closer we got to the Blue Mountains the more the scenery changed! We are on the mountains- I love it.

We drove on a road called Putty Road and after we passed the first "town" with not even one building on the road that we saw - Candis noticed that we were getting low on gas. So I told her how far away Putty wad and we hoped they would have gas/petrol. Um...so Putty had
a town hall that we drove 4k's to see. No petrol. Now we are sweating it. The mountains eat up our gas quicker than nothing else! Will we make it to Colo and will Colo have petrol? We drive for another 30 minutes and we see a sign for food coming up. We don't want food! But it does give us hope...we round a corner going into Colo and....they have Petrol! Thank goodness.

It takes another hour or so to get to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. When we stepped out of the car - the temperature was much colder.

You should have seen Candis move! She ran from the car to the building and then when she came back to the car - she actually put her jeans on IN the car before going into the hostel!!! :)

We are staying for two nights at the Blue Mountain YHA- which is a fantastic hostel in a great location!

We bundled up and braved the cold and shrieking wind tonight to get our first glimpse of the Three Sisters. Amazing.

I can't wait to hike around in this area tomorrow!

On the left side of the road.

Wednesday, October 7th

Okay, today has been my favorite so far. I woke before 6 to head out for a run down by the water and found many other people already out walking/running. Imagine me- in a running skirt & green tank top...standing to the side of the path waiting for my Garmin to realize that we are not in Pensacola.

I stand there.

For a looooong time.

While Aussies walk by and mutter to my cheerful Good Morning, "dressed light, aren't we?". I don't think they could figure out why I was just standing there -in low 50 degree weather.

Anyways, I ran. Down the jetty, across two beach fronts, up lots of stairs to an overlook that literally took my breath away. The Pacific ocean - a deep green and turquoise, crashing against rocks, a variety of green trees, the sun rising while the moon is still in the sky.

Oh. The colors and the feelings. Have I mentioned how much I love to see the world we live in - on my feet? Running and hiking - doesn't get much better. (pictures coming at some point)

I took Candis to the overlook after breakfast and as we were heading back up the stairs to the car- we passed a group of women from the local Anglican church at a picnic table that is situated at an overlook. I took about 6 steps up the stairs & told Candis that I was going back. We walked up and explained we were on a holiday and just wanted to ask them some questions. Haha. They were delightful. We only talked for about 10 minutes -they have been mtg together for about 4 years and were connected thru the church. They gave us ideas
of places to visit and recommended that we both move to Port Macquarie.

Then. It was time for me to drive. I hated leaving Port Macquarie but I can now drive on the left side of the road. We continued up the coast to a town called Murwillbah to find a cabin in Mt. Warning National Park. We will be waking early tomorrow to hike to the top
before sunrise.

Ate salt & pepper calamari for lunch in Coffs Harbour.

Let's say that...

Let's say that...
I am currently sitting on delta flight...heading west-out over the
Pacific Ocean. Candis and I connected in Memphis and even though the
flight I am on now is longer, flying to LA took forever! Then we got
some iced coffees-hers for real, mine starbucks in a can. We both
heard that we should try to stay awake as long as possible on the
flight to Sydney. So we got caffeine to help.

I think I have been on this plane for 12 hours at this point. There
are many different kinds of people(though I would say the variety was
more obvious when the Nigerian team flew to Nigeria) on the plane and
a great variety of accents. I have really enjoyed watching everyone.
Ph and right this second, the sun rise is beginning to show itself.
There are no words to describe the combinations of colors and just how
vast it all is.

Couple of interesting conversations worth remembering:
I met a guy on the first flight named Mark, he is an anesthesialogist
at Sacred Heart and he doesn't believe in organized religion. Hehe.
We had a great discussion about who Jesus was/is and how I would
believe something so primitive, nevermind that it would be my job. He
was pretty open to hear what I shared and told me a lot of his
stories. I tell you it's these stories ya make life worth living.
Now Candis & I are sitting with a young guy from canada and he is
taking a month to backpack in Australia as well. But he doesn't
really know why yet... Not in school and figured it would be fun.

FYI- the sunrise is still revealing - mmm.

As Crowder says - "I'm so bored of little gods, while standing on the
edge of something so large. While standing here so close you You. We
could be consumed. What a glorious day!". I am so tired of seeing
this world through my perspective... I am ready to learn and receive
Gods grace for when I don't really see Him in others and in his
creations. I am ready for this month with my Father.

Who do I think I am?

I know the things about me that are despicable.
There are so many.

Why is it that I feel justified to judge another person?
Where do any of us get off?

I was actually told by someone(that I don't know that well) this morning that a guy I like wasn't good enough for me. REALLY?
Who is?
Who am I good enough for?

When it comes down to it...we all have struggles, compulsions, lies, hopes, fears, joys, loves and so much more that are part of who we are.

As someone who does try really hard to understand individuals hearts - I know that I see potential in people even when others don't. I want all people - my students, family, friends, guys I like - to live up to their potential and to live life as huge as possible! And if I can help people get there...then all the better for me. I love that! But that's part of the twisted little game for me...I help you - and somehow I benefit. I am still working through all of that. But I can acknowledge it.

Before you judge the next person with a tattoo or green hair or four kids or a 13 year old or a slow driver - why don't you look at your own heart and try to figure out why that person makes you feel like you have a right to feel superior to them?