Life, Love and the Everyday

LIFE Today I woke up in my own bed after two and a half weeks in another country. Fiji was just...incredible - I learnt and grew so much during those two weeks. People don't travel to see another country, they travel to see other worlds - like Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy in C.S Lewis's 'The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe'. Although there was no wicked ice queen on the other side of my wardrobe, I saw poverty and homelessness amid a culture of giving and happiness. Even now I am trying to process completely what I saw, all I can put it down to is in Fiji, there are two worlds living side by side - the wealthy and poor. The mission God has put on Ally's heart in Fiji is a very important piece of the puzzle to break the cycle of poverty. Some struggling families in Fiji have to make hard, life-altering decisions because they are desperate for a roof over their heads and food for themselves and their families.They turn to thievery, prostitution and a...

In four days I am leaving Fiji and have so many stories to share with you all, it has been a really incredible experience and one I couldn't have had at a resort. Mind you, I don't mind a bit of resort R&R myself; but if you go there you don't see much of the real Fiji - most people here are very helpful and if you make an effort to talk and spend time with them, they will make sure you feel at home. Upon first meeting, Fijians will courteously offer their hand for you to shake; a Fijian hand-shake is like a Byron Bay hug, it's lingering while pleasantries are spoken and when you say goodbye most of them will pull you in for a peck on the cheek.  The warmth, strength and kindness of the people in Fiji keeps beguiling me and I have fallen in love. On Monday afternoon Ally, Leez and I took the two'0clock bus to Ucunivanua where Leez comes from. Her grandfather is Ratu of the village there. Ratu is chief and Ucunivanua, roughly translated means "the ...

Sarah On the 12th of May around 2:30pm in the afternoon, Ally and I begin our adventure in Fiji. Ally is one of my best friends and is currently living in Fiji to run the Bringing Hope Ministries, last year in September she graduated Rhema Bible Training School in Brisbane and felt God call her back to Fiji where she spent four years with her parents, Bryan and Lynda Hope. What was supposed to be just a mission trip in 2007   for the Hope family turned into a ministry dedicated to helping families break the chain of poverty by standing with them in prayer and offering solutions as well as financial aid and mentoring. Although the Hopes returned to Australia two years ago, they left Bringing Hope Ministries as a legacy which has been in effect since November in 2007 with their first sponsor program implemented in January 2008. Ally and I struck up a friendship working in Rhema Cafe - for four months we had a Friday tradition where we would go shopping for groceries for cafe a...

When does it feel like you are going travelling? Is it when you decide to fish $700.00 out of your life savings for a return ticket to Fiji? Or is it when you have that crazy dream of being already there with your best friend in a caravan park and suddenly Jim Carey pops his head out a caravan and hollers. "Sarah! Ally! Wanna have drinks with me?!" And then from out of nowhere, your Dad runs out yelling. "I'll have a drink with you, Jim!" (Mind you, this is my Dad who has the seldom white wine!) I suppose the realisation hit me as I was packing my large, pink suitcase yesterday - packing and repacking just to make sure I had everything. And then saying goodbye to A. this morning, when he said. "See you soon." Finally, when I wheeled my ridiculously heavy luggage outside at mid-day and hauled it down the street - that's when it hit me, this is the first leg of my journey. Before embarking on an oddessy with Frodo to save Middle Earth, Sa...

Whilst pondering what I would write about next on Life, Love & the Everyday, I just thought I would share my wonderful *cough cough* photography skills with you! Because I was just a tad bored this morning, I decided to do some photography featuring plants with textile backgrounds. Since I am here, I will bring you up to speed with a few things! 1. 12 Week Challenge is over in two days! Halle-frickin-ulah! I did learn a lot about myself though. First and most essentially, I cannot live without chocolate! Also, I have noticed I no longer feel obligated to stuff my face to the point of nauseousness. Lastly, exercise is very important even if I don't feel like doing it - I was surprised how I always seemed to have enough energy to expend on that forty minutes. 2. Baby blues are no longer at the forefront of my mind. In fact, they are not there at all! As soon as it is appropriate, I will tell you why! :P 3. I am obsessed with Autumn right now! I feel especially ...

Life As of 12am on Friday morning. Australia is five months into 2015! Un-freaking-believable! Where have these past four months gone? With June coming up in twenty-nine days and the mid-year reflection fast coming - what have we done great so far? I'll tell you a bit about what I have been up to... 1. I have lost ten kilos these past eleven weeks (GO ME!) and am currently finding all my pairs of jeans are too loose to wear!  2. I have been given three hour shifts in the afternoons at work three to four days a week and that has been a huge relief and blessing. 3. I have been exercising at the gym three days a week!  4. I stayed true to myself (More about that later) Love My brother-in-law, Nick, as of last week became Good Life Ambassador for 2015! So damn proud because he is absolutely amazing and spent hours on his campaign, which included going around to the other Good L...