Pancake is a bomb!

My roommate has been teaching one of our Finnish friends a new english phrase every few days.  The phrase the other day was "the bomb" and when talking about pancakes he said "Pancake is a bomb!"

So the other day, the Lord really surprised me (as per usual).  I've been praying for financial provision pretty much since I knew I was coming to Hillsong, but things are already tighter than I expected.  There's been a lot of free dinners which has been a blessing to all of us students, but those have become further between.  My bank account was set up here with just above the minimum amount needed ($50), but I have yet to pay rent for the past 2 weeks and transferring money from my BB&T account is proving difficult.
I say all of that to say that things were getting very stretched and I was down to $1.75 left.  One day during intensives last week I opened my folder and found money enclosed in a note speaking kind and encouraging words into my life.
What a surprise! I couldn't and still can't believe it really happened. I am humbled by the kindness of the community I now get to call my church family.  While things are still tight, I know to be trusting the Lord.  He brought me here completely aware of how much college and Sydney costs; He's not surprised.
He will keep me here as long as it takes.
I need not worry.

Small side story: we have wifi in the flat!!! VICTORY!! And I went to New Castle on Saturday with some friends.  The beaches were beautiful, of course. It was just a wonderful day. 
I see the beaches and coastlines here as breathtaking and it blows my mind that God, Creator of everything, views me in the same way. 
Christ is truly gracious.

............

.............

..............

My life right now. Seriously.  I am beyond words.

Today's happenings: "found" more money in my book bag (I have no idea how this keeps happening or who keeps doing it, but I am seriously humbled and grateful to whomever you are). 

And I GOT A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!

It is unbelievable to me, and that's probably why the Lord keeps surprising me like this.  The owner of the cafe offered me two days a week/5 hours a day. Literally perfect. As a friend of mine would say, I was praying for rain but not carrying my umbrella.  I trust God to provide and keep me, but I set such limitations.

My God is not limited. Not now. Not ever.

And he doesn't have limitations for me.

When the Holy Spirit lives in you, you have a supernatural power to...do everything.  

That power lives in me; time to embrace it. And expect it.

You have permission...

Before we get started, just wanted to remind you of where I am :)

“You have permission to be a leader and change the world.” 

That’s how orientation started.  
We were immediately and before any training ensued given permission to step up and in to what God has purposed for us.  Such a powerful statement! To think that I, measly little Veronica Lynne, could be used in a mighty way for the glory of The Kingdom...unfathomable.  Changing the world is for prestigious people like Billy Graham, Beth Moore, Brian and Bobbie Houston.  Not girls from Great Bridge (go Wildcats).  But then that’s what my insecurities, which do not come from The Lord, would tell me.

Insecurities are nothing but obstacles to having a Kingdom culture mindset. 
If I let them dwell in my mind, I am allowing them in my ministry. And I just don’t want any of that.  There are people going to Hell and we, as a church body and as individuals, need to stop that.  It’s our responsibility and our call.  We’ve been given the authority:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...” 

Matthew 28:18-20

During our first day of intensives (which make up the first week of college) the traditional “When in Rome...” talk was given.  Catrina, the president of City campus, got up and gave us three points about how to really “do Rome.”  Of course she was talking about how students should look at and get the most out of this time in Sydney at Hillsong. The points are as follows:

1) learn the language.

At Hillsong, the language is a Kingdom language.  It is made up of excellence, honor, value, encouragement, and heaps of other good things. 

“...whatever is true, whatever is noble, right, pure, whatever is lovely and admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

Try and be a part of the culture.  Speak the language; it has a powerful effect on one’s mindset.

2) cultivate a sense of wonder.

Take advantage of the opportunities allotted.  So you’ve seen the Sistine Chapel already; don’t you understand the beauty you can’t even see?! Michaelangelo spent a great deal of time on the details that can’t be seen from the floor.  God sees it.  

Those people at church who set up chairs or run words don’t do it because they love crisp rows or Power Presenter, they do it because God sees it.  The goal has not been lost on them.  Satan is waiting to distract us from the Gospel and all things relating to it.  Specifically for me, when there’s a grammar mistake in or on anything, I immediately lose focus.  That’s how Satan works.  He works in the details as much as God does, but for completely opposite reasons.  

Satan wants you to fail.  

He wants me to fail.  

He wants us all in Hell.  But praise be to God salvation is an unshakeable promise.  A promise from God, any promise, is unshakeable.  Too easily I let that slip from my mind and it becomes mundane.  Ain’t nothing mundane about the cross, homeboy.

3) don’t eat at Maccas (McDonald’s).

Those who travel know to switch their watches to the time of wherever they are.  For example, when I got to Australia, I fixed my watch on Australia time.  Fourteen hours ahead to be exact.  If I leave my watch on home time, I’ll never really be here.  

Being where we are, whether physically or in a metaphorical season in our lives, is often very difficult.  We are looking so far forward and to the next step that sometimes we miss the things we’re meant to see while we’re here...wherever “here” is.  

I am so looking forward to coming home in December; my excitement sometimes renders me breathless.  But if I keep thinking about how great that time will be (and believe you me, it will be great!) I’m going to miss some of the things God wants me to learn and appreciate now.

And so what if the peanut butter isn’t the same here as it is at home.

THAT’S THE POINT!  

I’m in Australia because it’s not the same as home.  The Lord brought me here to be trained in a way that could only happen here!

The ante has just been upped :) I will not return the same.  

If I did, I would be doing everyone such an injustice.  To be in the midst of such a spirited environment and not be radically changed is impossible.  The youth program here blows ANYTHING I’ve seen out of the water!  And I’ve seen/been apart of a lot of great things.  It’s not even so much the program here, it’s the leaders.  They are all so syked to be with students.  Everything and everyone is, as the Aussie’s would say, “full on”.  

I am fully aware of the growth and stretching that is going to happen in me.  To be aware of it is exhilarating, and yet slightly terrifying.  Just like stretching is painful at first, but the more you do it, the more natural it becomes and the further you can reach!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The Lord reminded me again today how gently He takes care of me:

There are things in my past I just don't dwell on or speak of.  Specifically one moment in time.  For clarity purposes, we'll call it "boxing".

At Hillsong, before working with youth all volunteers go through an interview and in the interview there are a series of questions asked.  My interview was Wendy.  I expected the "how long have you worked with youth?", "have you ever been convicted of child molestation?", and questions along those lines. All simply answered with a shake of the head.  But one question caught me off guard.  

It's difficult to describe without divulging all the details, but I had to answer differently than I had planned.  I haven't told many people about my boxing days and I had to tell her all about it.  It's not that I'm afraid of telling people, it's more that I used to offer it up freely and then most people mistreated it.  So God gave me a peace about reserving my boxing story until He wanted to use it. {I apologize for the vagueness, but my goal here isn't to reveal that part of my story.  My goal here is for you to understand the grace The Lord offered me through Wendy.}  I've never experienced it with my boxing story. 

Never. 

Not once.

I know I smiled the whole time I told Wendy about boxing, but it's not a joyful memory. Wait...it's not a joyful memory meaning it wasn't a happy time of life, but it was joyful in the sense that it was my first real encounter with God.

But when I was done and saw Wendy's eyes were a little pink from feeling for me...man.  I can't even put it into words.  I am still overcome with emotion when I think of her response.  She just genuinely cared for me.  Genuinely and sincerely.  Without a word, I knew that's what it was.  Typically I get a shocked response and people are more often interested in the boxing than in me.  I understand.  It's surprising.  But it's also true.

I'm not sure how to end this, but I'll try it with this: Boxing was something I had put away and decidedly kept it out of view.  Because of the grace God showed me today through Wendy, it doesn't feel so odd anymore.  After so many negative reactions to boxing I guess I learned that it wasn't something people knew what to do with and something of which I should be ashamed. 

Does that make sense?

In a very loose metaphor, it's almost like I was Eve running around with fig leaves on.  The fig leaves representing my shame.  And the Lord told me it was OK to take them off and be free in The Garden again.

To be free.

Freedom.

That's what I feel.

And it's indescribable.

What a God I get to serve!

Lord Jesus, I didn't even know I needed to be freed from anything anymore, but You saw my bondage.  You knew it.  You knew I needed freedom when I wasn't even aware of my shackles.  How aware You are of me!  I am struck by your love and care.  Thank you for freeing me! Now use me, God.  Use me for Your Kingdom.  Allow me to bring Your freedom to others.

You are so good. and always thinking of me. 

I love You.

I love You.

I love You.

Free in Your Name,

Amen.

Adventure: Australia

It's 73 degrees (Fahrenheit) and it's the middle of winter.  Oh yeah babe, I'm in Australia.
Things are going well.  I have a week of activities to catch you all up on, but I'll do my best to make it as interesting as possible as well as including as much "Aussie speak" as I can.

Arrival
After about a total of 20 hours of being en route to Sydney I finally arrived around 9am on Thursday morning.  I left the 9th of July (Tues) and arrived on the 11th (Thurs), so I completely missed Wednesday which is weird to think about.

Pretty sick view on the plane.

Donned in my yoga pants and Corolla sweater, I feel I arrived in true American style.  Getting to church wasn't difficult at all and there were lots of current students to greet me.  It was a very welcoming atmosphere and I was able to connect to wifi to let the "immediately important" people know I arrived safely.  After traveling about 13500 km and being completely exhausted, you know who you need to talk to and the list is very very very short. Please don't feel offended; you know what and who I mean.
I then paid my fees (about $550 AUD) and then was taken to my flat (Aussie for "apartment").  I'm located in the Atarah building of the Meritan.  It's about a three minutes walk from church, which as I visit friends' flats, I realize how lucky I am to be so close.
My flat was completely empty.
When I say "completely" empty, I mean empty.  The only thing in it, besides my roommate's bags, were 6 mattresses and the bed frame boxes.  No refrigerator, microwave, tables, chairs, washer, lamp, etc.

NOTHING.

And it was frigid!
Needless to say, homesickness was in full swing and I began to sob.
OK...sob is an understatement, I went into a full on ugly cry.  Probably for a good two or three hours.  I was miserable and ready to come home.

But the Lord is good always and after I fixed my face, my roommate walked in and was super kind.  Her name is Kendall and she's from Texas.  The more time we spend together, in and out of the room, I really just enjoy her.  She has such a kind heart and is so smart; not the smart that makes you want to hate her, but the smart that makes you really appreciate her being around.  She's great.  So we did the get-to-know-you sort of questions and then left for a new student dinner.
Having that dinner was such a gift from the Lord.  I met a bunch of new students (or "intake") and it was nice to have free food.  Everything in Australia is wicked expensive! For example, 1 post card and 3 stamps cost me $8 AUD or roughly $10 USD.  It's crazy.
So don't expect letters :)  #jokingnotjoking
And let's be praying for a job!

Activities during the week
Pretty much everyday has had something going on and the new intake group has been able to hang out together.  Our group has been meshing so well that it feels like we've known each other for years.  We took an IKEA trip the day after I arrived (fun fact: I've only ever been to IKEA in other countries. Austria and now Australia, never America).  That's really where the intake bonding began.  I'm really loving everyone, but oddly enough, I haven't met that many native Australians who are attending college.  We're in the middle of Winter holiday so I'm sure a lot of them are at home and will be back next week when school starts.  But I've met people from everywhere around the world: Finland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Vietnam, Peru, Mexico, Columbia, Canada, Germany, Russia, Domican Republic, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and of course America.

We're all quite fond of jumping pictures.

Other trips during the week have included the Opera House, harbour, Botanical Gardens, East Gardens (shopping mall), laser tag, bowling, and random dinners.  By far my favorite was today when we went to the Botanical Gardens right by the Opera House.  Sunshine all day and only the pastoral students went since today was worship student placement auditions.  It would have been fun to have everyone, but the scenery was so beautiful nothing could dampen my enjoyment.

No filter. Just God :)

I am regularly finding myself in awe that the Lord who created such breathtaking places also created me.  And even more awesome is that He finds me more beautiful than even the best view.  His love is crazy.  I love it :)

Flatmates
My flatmates are very cool.  There are 6 of us in a 3 bedroom, 2 bath flat.  Kendall and I share a room with a bathroom (benefits of arriving first).  Joanna and Sara, both from Sweden, are in another room.  And Emma, from Norway, and Koriena, from California, share the third room.  We are also getting along swimmingly.  Everyone is on the pastoral stream except Emma, who is studying worship.  I'm learning little bits of Swedish! That's always fun.  We're having a lot of fun together...when we're all there :)

General Hillsong College Info
The school is broken up into 2 campuses: Hills and City. I am at the City campus located in Waterloo, a little suburb of Sydney.  Hills is out in Baulkham Hills, about which I know nothing except that it's in what Australia considers the country.
Size wise the difference is MASSIVE!!! For a Virginian college comparison, Hills is Virginia Tech while City is Longwood.
At City, only 2 streams (or fields of study) are available, worship and pastoral.  So immediately it cuts down on the size of intake group.  Hills has all streams: worship, pastoral, dance, production, and TV/media.  Both have their pros and cons, but I'm beyond grateful that the Lord has me at City.  I didn't even know the difference between the two before I came so I didn't know I would like City better, but of course, the Lord knows me and what's best for me.  Hence, me being in Waterloo at City campus.



Missing home is still a thing, but like I said, I haven't cried since the third day.  I've been able to FaceTime and Skype with a few people, but they've done my heart such good.  The Lord is constantly pouring out His favor on me.  I am completely undeserving and humbled that he considers me and takes care of me in ways I still don't understand.  People.  That's not the word I want to use...
Blessings have come into my life I didn't even know to pray for.  Very specific blessings.  God reminds me everyday how great and deliberate His love for his children is.  So intentional and aware of my needs. Indescribable.


Prayer requests are still mostly the same as before: job, financial provision, fridge, stream decision (youth versus social justice), and continued assimilation in the culture.
Thank you again for your prayers.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I wrote this yesterday and am more than happy to announce that we have a fridge!!!! The Lord totally delivered and with haste!! Praise be to Him! I can finally store food.  And just in time for the commencement of free dinners.  What a blessing!

Also, my address is as follows:

Veronica Grosso
11/28 Crystal St
Waterloo 2017 NSW
Australia

Please send me lots of letters, pictures, peanut butter, and anything else you'd like :)

No Worries.

Hello friends and welcome to my blog.

I am in Australia! Safe and sound.

I'm actually in Waterloo and it's lovely.

I hope that through this avenue you will be able to journey with me on this adventure the Lord has for me.  Up until this time, my blog has been pretty much private so opening it up is a bit scary, but also very exciting!  Feel free to have a look around.  In the words of the Charles Dickens' Ghost of Christmas Present, "Come in, come in! And know me better, man!"

The weather has been beautiful and I've seen so much already. Unfortunately, wi-fi is not a common thing around Australia hence the lack of communication.

I apologize for such a small post, but once I have a better and more consistent connection I will be able to tell you all about my first few days here.

But the important thing is that I'm feeling very lifted and in the presence of the Lord. 

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts.  Here are some ways I can specifically and currently use prayer:

• financial provision (there are a lot of unplanned and lofty expenses)
• finding a job
• choosing a stream/field of study (I'm debating between youth and social justice)

And here are some praises:

• safe arrival
• the July intake (incoming students) are bonding SO WELL!! It's like we've all been friends forever.  It really is a blessed connection we are experiencing
• great flatmates
• adapting well to a new church atmosphere

All in all, the Lord is showing up and providing in ways I didn't even know to pray for.  Typical Jesus :)

Thank you again for your prayers and thoughts.

More coming soon :)

Bunker Down.

This could be a long one.  Trying to catch up and remember things is way harder than just posting every week, as if I've ever done that. But I will at least attempt to cover it all.

Australia
My wonderful small group, full of some of the most amazing women I will ever meet, held a yard sale solely for my benefit.  They donated items and spent time on a Saturday morning serving me, because they love the Lord.  I am still humbled by the idea that these women who I've only known for a few short months, would offer to try and fill a need in my life in such a way.  Seriously amazing.
Sort of reminds me of the Good Samaritan story (Luke 10:25).  In a loose way I was the man on the side of the road, financial worry the thief who beat me.  I was beyond self help and just waiting for someone willing to stop and notice.  That's exactly what these ladies did.  Plenty of people, good God-fearing people, offered to pray for me, which I covet those prayers.  But this group went beyond themselves and decided that action was necessary.  Their servant spirits really are inspiring.  But the story gets even cooler...
Immediately I began to pray over the yard sale and its success.  The Lord gave me a number so I kept praying for that.  The Tuesday night after the yard sale the group FaceTimed me (I was at VBS so I couldn't make it) and told me what the yard sale brought in: $300.  The number the Lord gave me was 300.  On the dot.  That is so like Him to do that.
His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).  Praise Him! I wouldn't have thought to pray for such a lofty number, but because He told me to, I did.

If you girls ever read this, please know that my gratitude towards you is immeasurable.  Beyond just the yard sale, the way you have displayed the kindness of the Lord has spoken vehemently to my spirit.  I am truly humbled and thankful for the time I have been able to spend and fellowship with you.

The packing process has started.  Needless to say I'm somewhere between level 3 and 4 of purgatory.  My dad was really proud that I already started due to the fact that I'm normally a night-before or morning-of packer. But even I, in my desired state of ignorance, understood that packing pretty much everything would require more than a thoughtless throwing of clothes.

It's weird, though.  Very weird.  
I've developed a (slightly stolen) motto: "If it doesn't fit, it doesn't ship".  So the process has been as follows: take out of closet/dresser, try on, put in "stay" or "go" pile, roll (since it has proven more efficient than folding), place on bed, return hanger to closet.  I haven't busted out the suitcase yet, but if I want to sleep in my bed tonight and not on it, I will be doing that when I get home.

The rolling vs folding debacle seems to never end.  With most things I know the rolling method works, but it's been proved difficult rolling my dresses, of which I have a multitude.  Trying on my dresses and seeing what fits and what doesn't has been amusing. I lost a little bit of weight thanks to some wonky stomach stuff that started about a month and a half ago, so it's encouraging to try stuff on and see the difference. But I digress...

I leave a week from today (at least when I started typing it was a week), which is very surreal to say.  And who knew traveler's cheques were obsolete?! An unsuspected hiccup, but I'm not stressing out about it.  This week is packed with seeing people and spending time with family (blood relatives and my family-in-Christ).  A little part of me is overwhelmed by all of it.  Like, didn't you know I was leaving 4 months ago and you want to hang out this week?! Seriously?! 
But mostly I'm excited to see everyone and get my "last" moments of fellowship in for a while.

One Direction Concert

Great.

Point. Blank. Period.

Tons of fun.  Screaming girls in the thousands was definitely a unique sound, but I get it.  If I had gone to an 'NSYNC concert in my teenage years, I probably would have acted the same way.  Twenty-four and I held it together: no tears or fainting.

Lindsay's pictures are wayyyyyyyy better than mine, but it's just too much effort to take them from Fb, save them, and then post them.  Lesbi-honest.

Summer Camp

It was great! Having Scott's organization was really great.  There was a definite difference between this year and years past.  Not that years past weren't great and fun in their own way, this year was just great and fun in a different way.
At one point during worship in the middle of the week, the Holy Spirit renewed the peace I have about Australia being in the Lord's will.  The feeling was wholly whelming and I am grateful to be reminded that all of this craziness is part of His plan for my life.  

{{Slight tangent...
And how cool that this is my life?! I've lived in Europe. Traveled up and down Italy. Visited and fell in love with England.  And now I'm moving to Australia. 

This is so crazy! He is so crazy!  I'm so blessed to have done so many things people only dream about!
In small group, Hannah brought up the verse about God's yoke being easy and His burden being light (Matthew 11:30).  The reality and truth behind the verse powerfully resonated with me in a new way.  People say when you're in love it doesn't feel like work, so I assume the same applies with Christ; because I love Him, what He asks of me doesn't feel like a burden.  Now, I understand that moving to Australia doesn't sound like too much of a "burden", but leaving family and friends, especially new friends pulls on the heart strings.  But I stand solid on His Word that tells me His plans are only good for me, so no matter what the struggle or stretching of myself, it is good.  I'm reminded of Crowder lyrics from "After All":

I can't comprehend Your infinitely beautiful and perfect love.

Oh, I've dreamed dreams of majesty as brilliant as a billion stars, 

but they're never bright enough...}}

Happenings at summer camp: 

• I didn't cry on the swing down from the high ropes.  Progress.
• Corn maze race...ummmm yeah.
• Lake Battleship - sounds cool and could be really enjoyable.  All the kids seemed to have a great time.  However, something about getting in a canoe for the sole purpose of being tipped over really trips me out. But I tried it. One and done.
• No cabin theme competition! It was stressful trying to think of an original theme and then remembering to pack all of that stuff.  Instead, we had an 80's night dance party.  That was a ton of fun!  My girl Arin won the costume contest (REPRESENT!!!).  I wore a onsie and my hair in what my mom deemed "the fountain" (hair in a pony tail on the very top of my head), since that's probably what I wore in the 80's...all 2 years I had in it. I know what you're thinking, "that's clever." I know :)

                    

I always have a fun cabin and this year was no exception.  I really appreciate and cherish the girls' willingness to share.  This year was the first year I had the girls in my Sunday group in my cabin and I really enjoyed it.  It made such a difference since I already knew them and we had a history with one another.  Overall, camp goes in the books as another successful summer trip. And still tick free :)

Things are progressing well, which is better than the alternative.  Today, in honor of America, I will eat hot dogs, play frisbee, and end the night with my favorite black pug, Moe.

It would feel almost delinquent if I didn't end with a quote from one of the most patriotic men I know:

Sniffle Sniffle. Cough Cough.

Here we are ladies and gentlemen, we are in the single digits of when I leave for Australia.
8 days.
I flipped my calendar yesterday to July and there it is: "flight to Australia". 
Whew, still surreal.
The past three weeks have really just flown by.  So many great memories and new friends.

Since returning from summer camp I've had a head cold that's completely drained me of energy, which is great since I don't really have anything to do this week...
SYKE.

The plan is to follow this post up with a more detailed one about the past three weeks and the fun that's ensued. For now, I need a nap...