God is good...all the time.

     This week has been loads of fun.

     Thursday started our orientation. On Friday we started sharing our testimonies. There are thirty two students on the MAD DTS, plus staff, so testimonies took all day Friday and Saturday morning. Its amazing hearing how God brought all of us here and what we're all working through. He is so good. 

     Yesterday (Saturday) after a morning of finishing up the testimonies, we went to a park for the afternoon. We played games on the soccer field and had dinner in the park. I've only know these people for a week but it feels like forever. And lectures haven't even started! Our official schedule starts tomorrow and I cannot wait to get into the swing of things. 

     Today has been a relaxing day. I've been listening to hymns and missing them at Stumptown. :)   

     Sorry its short, but that's all I've got to say at the moment. 

     In His Joy,

          Rachel Meck

The Start of the Adventure...

Hello! Welcome to blog number two, mate!   
     Traveling for two days wiped me out. I had a three and a half hour flight to Dallas and then a 15 hour flight to Brisbane. The flight actually flew by (pun intended). I watched a two hour movie and then fell asleep. When I woke up I found out I had "slept" for about ten hours and the rest of the flight was a breeze.
    I arrived at the airport Tuesday morning at five, was then picked up and arrived at the YWAM base around six. I spent yesterday super tired and trying not to nod off. They recommended that I stay up till at least seven to get in the right sleep pattern. There was a game night last night also so I actually ended up staying awake till about eight thirty. Success.
     There are two other DTS's going on right now and the base is full of people, so yesterday was also spent meeting tons of new people and answering the questions 'What are you here for: music, art, or dance?' 'Where are you from?' and 'How did God lead you to YWAM?' a lot of times. I love new people <3
    Today (Wednesday) I tried to sleep in but woke up about seven thirty. A bunch of the students from the MAD DTS went into Brisbane city and walked around for a while. The DTS officially starts this evening with a welcome dinner that I am about to get ready for.
     I cannot wait to start classes. I was talking with a few students from another DTS that started the beginning of August. They said the two months they've been here have flown by. I want to savor every moment.
     Again, I thank you for all your prayers. They are definitely felt.

     Thanks for reading!  

In His Joy,
   Rachel Meck

Six days...

Hello friends, welcome to my blog! I guess I will just start at the beginning.

     Next Sunday at 4:25 in the afternoon I will be aboard a plane taking off for the Land Down Under: Australia. This past year I have felt God telling me that a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) DTS (Discipleship Training School) was the next phase of my life. It is a Music, Art, and Dance school and one of the things I am most looking forward to is worshiping God with new friends.

     These past two weeks have been a lot of goodbyes and I have to keep reminding myself that I'll only be gone for six months. This week, my last week in the US of A, will consist of a lot of packing and prayer. Also petitioning all my friends to get skype. I'll call it the three P's: Packing, Prayer, and Petition.

     I thank my church family and friends for all the support I have received and I have definitely felt the prayers. I welcome all the prayers I can get. :) You can specifically pray for a great seventeen hour plane ride. If you feel led to write a letter for me to read during that ride, I would not object. I am also still on the tail end of the a cold and you can pray that it leaves completely before I fly.

     I suppose that's all for now, folks. Thanks for reading!

In His Joy,
       Rachel Meck