Newsletter #2

THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN...
It’s december 17th, 1.30 pm. Outside it’s been snowing for the last couple of hours, but here inside the hous it’s warm. My bedroom looks like it has been exploded! That’s not unusuall, however, this time it’s full of garbage bags filled with clothes and other stuff I need to pick out. Keep, throw out, give away… In the background the X-mas Top-50 is filling the silence and then it hits me: it’s only 24 more days (576 hours, 34560 minutes, 2073600 seconds) before I get on the plane to Australia, together with my flight buddy Suzanne. (How usefull is Facebook!)

TIME FLIES...
These past few months, time has flown by like crazy! Over the summer it seemed so far away and after, amongst other things, my scooter passed away, I thought to myself many times that I could as easily buy a car from my savings. Luckilly, every problem has a solution, and for every dead scooter a new one can be found somewhere. (Thanks, mom and dad!) And that’s just one of the things that required a whole lot of perseverance. And as time went faster, September came and the ‘only-three-more-months’-time came closer, the realization of what I’m about to leave behind here in The Netherlands turned up.
Because, who would have thought that during the last two years of preparations, I would also find an amazing job with amazing collegues? And who could have imagined that leaving friends behind is far more complicated then I thought? One (or two) of them is expecting a baby next summer, while I’m on the other side of the world; another is getting married next summer, while I’m on the other side of the world, and so on.
But while I often think about that, those same friends keep reminding me, that in a month from now, I won’t be thinking of that anymore. That they would love to come with me in my suitcase. And for real, if I could, I would bring everybody, but sadly I’m only allowed to bring 20kg. But, I’m glad to be able to look forward to visitors at the end of the year from both my parents, as well as one of my best friends... That helps!

I'M READY!
Seriously though, what a hassle it is to move abroad! And since I’m not a superhero who understands all the tings that need to taken care of, rather I thinkg that’s boring and complicated, I’m happy to have had help with that from all kinds of different people. So most everything is ready, my visa and planeticket being the easiest off all. Oh well, me with my ‘no-criminal-record-cuz-I’ve-never-broken-the-law-before’, I am an easy review for the ambassy. Online, within a day, it was taken care of. They want me overthere.
I’m blessed with all the people arround met who are involved, both by prayer as welll as financial (i.e., I can bring a laptop with me, due to the support of some friends) and at the same time I’m proud of the fact that I saved up most of the money myself and didn’t buy that car!

MY HOME COMMITTEE
If I have to name two (or actually three) people without whose help I would’ve NEVER been able to get this far, it be Emanuel, Esther and Joy Blokker. My weekly lunch-dates with Esther, apart from just fun, have been very usefull for the earlier mentioned ‘hassle’. And my financial picture looks perfect, instead of chaotic, due to Emanuel. But even more their friendship and support is what makes them the sweetest, coolest and smartest home committtee I could ever wish for.

I'LL MISS YOU!
Only 3 more weeks… With Christmas and New Years coming up, time will go even faster. Packing up is the next step and then all the last ‘dates’ with my friends, at least for a year.
I’m going to miss everybody, but at the same time I’m happy with all the possibilities of this century, like Facebook, Skype, Hyves, Gmail, YouTube etc. And to use that right away, the link below is of a short trailer that gives a brief and clear impression of what I’m about to head into.

TO BE CONTINUED...
My next newsletter will be from Australia and at least filled with a whole lot more adventures!
Keep following me, from my blog, that will kick of January 1st!

PRAYER AND THANKING POINTS:
- Thank (and pray) for my family and my dear friends an collegues I’m going to miss so much!
- Thank for all the preparations that have been so easy and the financial part that is as good as done.
- Thank for the girl who will take over my room here at home.
- Pray for these last 3 weeks that are filles with packing and goodbyes.
- Pray for the last things that need to be taken care of, that they will go smoothly.

Link: http://vimeo.com/17345867