Hello!

That's how you say "Hello!" in Australia. It's weird, I know; but when you move to a different country, you're going to have to start to try learning their language. It's been a hectic couple of days getting settled and getting used to life down here, but all in all, I'm thankful that the transitions haven't been too difficult. Here are some of my first impressions of Sydney life.

Opposite-side driving: More than once, I've almost gotten hit by a car and put out of commission before I even officially began serving! I keep forgetting that the Aussies driving on the opposite side of the road means that I have to look RIGHT before looking left.

Weather: So I've been checking people's facebook updates and apparently there's been a bit of a cold front passing through the Northeast. The last three days I've been to church, I've worns jeans and a t-shirt and at home, I immediately change into shorts! It's been a touch humid, but all in all, the weather is wonderful!

Coffee: Reverend Eugene is a HUGE coffee drinker and a little bit of a coffee snob (self-described!) and so I was blessed to start off my first official day (Friday) with a delicious latte that he made (shown above). Apparently Aussies are big coffee drinkers. Good for me!

What I've been up to: Since I flew in on Thursday morning, I spent the rest of the week just getting used to things and resting up from the jet-lag. I've met most of the Gracepoint (Burwood church's English ministry) staff, and all of them have been very welcoming and not too harsh about my American accent! On Saturday, there was an all-day conference for the 2010 Community Group leaders. I will be co-leading a College community group. The training was excellent, but tiring because in between sessions I had to meet and get to know all the other leaders.

What's coming up: Tomorrow will be my first official Sunday service where I will be formally introduced to two of Burwood's congregations; the Auburn (young married couples, couples with children) congregation and the 5pm (College/young workers) congregation. They will interview me and ask me about my plans for the future and what I hope to get out of the MAP program. I will tell them it is to one day return to my home, NYC and proclaim the gospel there!

This coming week, Eugene will be giving me an official "orientation" and giving me regular tasks. I will be involved with my community group, the youth church, and training up first and second year English leaders. More specifics to come.

Prayer Requests: More permanent housing has not been found for me yet, and so I am currently living in Eugene's mothers apartment while she is away on vacation. Please pray that I can find an apartment to get settled into long-term. Please pray that I can be energized for my first full week. As I continue to meet more and more members of the church, please pray that I wouldn't be too drained, and that I would find time to rest and be alone and regain strength through the Word of God.

Sixteen

That's the number of hours I'll be ahead of you in New York. That means when you wake up at 6am to get ready for work or school, I'll be at home, winding down for bed. That means when you take out your lunch for a well-deserved break, I'll be sound asleep (I hope). That means when you get off the bus and start walking home, ready to relax (or for HS students, start your homework), I'll in the office already, working on some Bible study or meeting with someone.

For those of you who aren't blessed to be on the East Coast, you can work out your own time difference relative to mine. As I sit here in LA, imagining what it will be like a week from today, wondering how I'm going to be able to maintain all my relationships back at home and still keep myself open for the amazing Australian people God will bring into my life, I feel both an overwhelming eagerness and excitement as well as a terrible sense of dread.

I can't lie. I will miss home. I miss home so dearly already. I love New York and all my friends in New York and at Gordon and scattered across the 50 states. However, I know there are so many opportunities just waiting to happen across the pacific. It's going to be a delicate balance, opening myself to the people I will meet in Sydney as well as keeping in my thoughts and prayers all my good friends and family at home, but I will do my best to be available for all those who know me and seek me out for anything.

This blog is an attempt for me to keep those at home updated on what's been going on in my life. I hope to write in it once a week. I will include prayer requests as well as pictures when I can. I appreciate your comments and notes on my posts; you don't need a blogspot account to leave a comment; you can just leave it along with your name.

I hope that you check it when you can to find out what Austalia's like, if there really are giant poisonous spiders there, how many koala bears I can take on in a fight, and what I'm learning in my ministry training!

-Dan Shih