ADDRESS!!!

Paige Laurent
671 Samford rd,
Mitchelton, Queensland 4053

Send me letters and things! we could also be pen-pals which would be a blast! (so you could also send me paper and envelopes) ooo and pictures of you guys!

bib bic bic

Made it here alive! YAY GOD! nobody slipped crack in my suitcase and i didnt get arrested (which was probably my biggest fear of traveling internationally). i also had a very enjoyable ride down to the airport with the most amazing man i get to call my boyfriend. He among many others have been such an incredible support with this trip - that i dont know how i would have gotten onto that plane without the Holy Spirit consistently using them to encourage me in the most oppurtune times.

both plane rides went pretty well! but they were long. quite long indeed that when i finally did start walking around, my legs werent quite sure what to do with themselves. naturally, some stumbling occurred. but God placed me by a very sweet, talkative woman whose son had done YWAM for many years! her and her husband were so kind and just took me in as a daughter for the duration of the never-ending flight. she was just one of the many little blessings God pours onto us each day. 

Fiji was breathtaking! step off of the plane took my breath away and i felt that familiar smack in the face when you somehow forget just how amazing our creator can be. i could have stayed surrounded by those mountains forever! it was intense to see such a beautiful place with people flocking into it! then to pick up the local newspaper and read about the violence and poverty that goes along with it. a woman i met on the plane had just come from there and talked about books she brought to a classroom who literally had none. it boggles my mind how people can be snorkeling and relaxing on a beach where about 40ft away there will be men neck high in the water trying to hunt just so their family has something to eat. if you are reading this right now, i encourage you to pray for Fiji in any way you feel lead.

Australia is beautiful! i am excited to see more of it and will hopefully be going into the city tomorrow! the people are great and i feel as if i have already made friends with the people that are going to be sisters to me these next fews months! i cant wait. the jet lag is ridiculous, so i am going to try and rest. 

i miss you all! please be praying for me - that my homesickness eases and that i can enjoy all the blessings God has in store. please be praying the same for my fellow YWAMers. and dont forget Fiji!

10 DAYS TO GO! YIKES!

Yikes, there is no better word for what I am feeling right now! after anticipating a trip like this for the past 2 years now I am in panic mode! leaving in 10 days... that is basic math I can do in my head and that is when I know its time to worry! Each day I am experiencing conflicting feelings of "When will it come already" to "crap, crap, crap, i am leaving the country!". 

  Isnt it amazing how much of a rock our God is? I have been coming to appreciate that aspect of His character a lot more lately. My rock, my fortress, my stronghold - My God. As I flail about like a fish out of water, He just scoops me up into His hands; not intimidated by the mountains of fear in my life. That feeling in my heart alone makes this entire trip worth it already. Thank you Lord, for never-moving, never-failing, and always loving me. 

 With all my panic, I have just felt so unlovable these past few days and yet He showers me with it. In this frantic state, I have found myself whining to the Lord and as my true Father He just tells me to "Hush child". The idea of silence is a hard one for me and my character, but on this journey I am beginning to appreciate the value of a whisper. And when I finally do "hush up", He whispers His love to me whether its in the breeze that makes the trees blow or the baby in Starbucks smiling at me. 

  So by standing on a rock and feeling the gentle breeze, I could not be more excited for Australia!!! I cant wait to meet the people that will be my family for the next 6+ months, to see the beautiful country, to dance solely for my God, and to rely completely on my Father who loves me. 

Please pray for me fellow brothers and sisters! I could use prayer for my fundraising (I am about $5000 away YAY GOD), prayer for my health that is always a battle, and pray that everything this trip brings knocks me into the arms of Jesus.

Oh, and if you would like to receive monthly emails on my trip please give me your email! And also be in prayer for my friend Kristen who is going to England with YWAM (YAY GOD)!!!