Transition

The pic is of warriors in Papua New Guinea...where Corey is! Kinda cool huh? Anyways...

Back down under! Things have been good albeit full of transition. I changed jobs, moved houses, changed from snow to intense heat...and came back to a girlfriend-less base.

For the next six months I will be working in our registrar office. I’m answering phones, writing emails, and doing whatever else it takes to get our students here safe and sound and ready to rock 'n roll. There are four of us in the office…and I am the only guy. Which leads to more than one joke about “Aaron the Registrar girl.” I know….cute.

I also moved into a long but narrow flat/apartment that is off base property. It’s “off” by about ½ a block. Me and two other guys (Ivan and Buddy: an Aussie and a Kiwi respectively) live there and we had nothing….no plates, silverware, shower curtain etc. I was living out of my suitcase. Someone did give us a 12inch tv and Ivan already had a really nice surround sound system…so we had a small screen that could go really loud. What else do we need right?

We have now acquired a few more things…don’t worry about us. The bathroom floor appreciated the shower curtain.

While it is quite hot and really humid….it is also SUPER rainy. We had cyclone warnings (a hurricane that spins the opposite way) but it broke up right before it hit land. We have only had two dry days since Christmas and we are talking tropical downpours. Flooding is really bad…one of our base houses got flooded, roads are shut all over the place, and some towns are totally isolated with no one able to get in or out. There has been a LOT of rain. I did take advantage of it last night though…after work we went and played rugby. Footy shorts in the rain….what could be better?

And I still have not heard my incredible girlfriends voice…now over 5 weeks. Her team leader traveled 2 hours to a satellite phone the other day so we could know that their team is alright. She said they held a small seminar about malaria under a tree for a few people….and 350 people ended us sitting around the tree! I’m sure she is gonna have some stories when she gets home. I look forward to those….and her getting home. :)

I think that is all for now. Hope everyone is doing well. It was great to be home!

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about a girl

I would like to introduce you to someone.

Her name is Corey. Corey is 23 years old and hails from our great northern neighboring country of Canada. Corey currently lives at the YWAM base in Townsville, Australia (which happens to be the same base I live at...) and she started in YWAM in 2005. She has an amazing heart for missions and is currently a staff member of our base's Primary Health Care school and will soon be heading to Papua New Guinea for over 2 months to deliver medical aid as well as the good news about Jesus. As I said she has an amazing heart.

Corey also just happens to be a really cool girl. She loves sports (rugby is her favorite and she happened to captain her hometown team) as well as any other type of adventure that involves being outside and a hint of excitement. Skydiving, snowmobiling, rock jumping, jet skiing...she loves it. She doesn't like to be bored. If you want her to do something, just tell her she can't do it...and she will prove you wrong. She is strong and not afraid to stand up for who she is and what she believes in.

Corey is also sweet. She carries herself confidently and she is very well spoken. She is quick to smile, loves to laugh, and there is a serenity about her that she takes wherever she goes. Everyone loves having her around no matter what the occasion. I include myself in that. She is sweet, innocent, thoughtful and kind. She is a girl to be admired.

Corey...is also my girlfriend.

Woohoo!! As of December 7, 2008, this amazing and incredible girl is MY girlfriend!

I met her this past July and our friendship quickly formed and grew steadily. My attraction was immediate (as you will see when you see her pic!) and it was amazing how well that we not only got along, but have similar interests and personalities. We spent the first 3 months here at the base and then cultivated our friendship over the phone and through email over the 9 weeks that I was leading my outreach team. Upon my return home it was evident that we have something special. And by evident, I not only mean between the two of us....but also to all of our friends who would constantly give me no small hard time about it! Haha!

So we decided to make it official! We are officially dating!

So now we enter this new stage of our lives. I would love your prayers and support as we walk this path that we have began to travel. I'm so excited! She is an incredible girl and it is an honor and priviledge to be such a part of her life. It's awesome and fairly unbelievable! But unbeliveable in the best possible and most believable way! I think my eyes are a bit starry even as I write this...you can't tell can you?

Just wanted to fill all of you in...I'm also coming home soon! Hopefully I will see you then!

Love you guys.

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