Last day in Australia...for now.

I leave tomorrow. My bags are packed. My heart is broken. And my life will forever be infinitely better because of these past two months. Seriously.

So, I don’t think it is coincidence that I have discovered some of the best things in Newcastle in the past weekend. I think these people might just be trying to make me stay here! Yesterday, three of my best mates took me on a surprise date to King Edward Park for a picnic. Check out this view:

After our picnic, we walked down to Bogey Hole, which is pretty much the most amazing place ever! It’s a man-made ocean pool made by slaves back in the day when Newcastle was first settled. It really is indescribable, so I’m not even going to try. Let these pics do the talking:

Then last night, I went karaoking. But karaoking in Australia is a whole different world of awesome. Six of us girls went to this sweet as bowling alley at this gigantic mall in Charlestown. And when you buy a drink, you get a voucher for an hour of karaoke. So, a few of the girls bought drinks and we had this whole little karaoke room to ourselves. There was a disco ball, costumes, and you just searched right on the little screen for any song and went for it. We belted out some classics and danced like there was no tomorrow. We had a few visitors come in and join us. And they take the whole one hour thing lightly, so we pretty much got our karaoke on all night long. 

It basically has been the best weekend ever, which makes it both harder and easier to leave. It’s hard to leave such amazing people and such an amazing place, but I feel like I’ve made the best of my time here, and this has undoubtedly been an experience that I will NEVER forget. I have been experiencing a lot of “lasts” lately…last day working at the house, last Youth Street, last time singing for Live, last time leading worship at International Church, last day in Australia! But it is only for now. I have a hard time believing that God won’t bring me back here.

As I was riding home from karaoke last night, looking out over the Newcastle city lights for the last time, I realized something. I really love my life. I genuinely, from the bottom of my heart love my life and everyone in it. I have never been able to say that before. I spent most of my pre-teen and teenage years hating my life and wishing I could just have a new one or move on to something better, more fulfilling. But ever since I have fully given my life to God and embraced life as a gift and privilege and mission, God has continuously put people, places, experiences, and opportunities in my life that I would have never imagined would actually be a part of MY story. I am beyond thankful for it all, and I desperately wish that everyone in the world can come to know the love and joy that God has gifted me with. I’m not saying that my life is perfect…it’s far from it! I still stress and have to do things that I hate and go through rough times and have days that make me want to just be depressed and let that be that, but that stuff can’t bring me down. Not for long, at least. I have discovered a true joy that can’t be broken. I love the One who defines love, who created love. And experiencing that kind of love makes it really hard to not be happy.

I love Jesus. And I love my life. And I LOVE Australia and YWAM Newcastle!

The end. (For now)

- Ray Ray