And that’s a wrap, Australia.
As I write this blog it is still hard for me to believe we are leaving TOMORROW! Tomorrow evening my squad and I will head to the Darwin International Airport to fly to Singapore around 6PM-ish. Once we get to Singapore we will have an overnight layover, leaving Singapore around 7AM Monday morning. Our squad will arrive in Ho Chi Minh City Monday morning. We will spend around 4 days in HCMC as an entire squad debriefing the past 2 months. I’m pumped to spend time with 57 precious friends!
As of right now, we do not know what next month in Vietnam will look like. We were told plans, but were told late this last week that plans had been changed, and still in the works. We have been told we will be in Da Nang, but we do not know what our ministry will look like or if we will be with another team. Stay tuned for more details.
With all of that being said, Vietnam is a closed country, meaning they do not allow any social networking in their country. I will not be on facebook or twitter starting when I arrive in Vietnam. I would love to hear from y’all so please send emails to [email protected] or add me on skype: caitlinlanemartin. If you have an iphone I can also imessage using wifi, and it doesn’t cost to do so for either party. Hopefully I will be able to blog, but nothing is certain at this point.
Our time in Darwin has been challenging for all of us. Along with the challenges have come many lessons learned.
In no particular order here is Cait’s Top 5 conclusions from Month 2 brought to you by time in the Aboriginal community of Bagot:
- I was incredibly blessed to grow up with TWO parents in a functional, supportive, Christian home (who are still married to this day), where I was loved unconditionally no matter the circumstances. Praise God.
- My parents wanted/needed/had to know my whereabouts, especially during my childhood…something I hadn’t appreciated until I saw 5&6 year olds running the dark streets at night, with drunks on every corner. (Granted, I didn’t live in Bagot, but I hope you see my point :))
- I knew Jesus loved me even before I was born.
- I had dreams and aspirations of what I wanted to be when I grew up. (yes, they may have changed 78 times, along with the number of colleges I went to, but I knew that there was something greater out there..) *when you ask these children what they want to be when they grow up, they stare at you and absolutely no idea* We need these generational chains to be BROKEN in Bagot in the name of Jesus!
- I had/have a safe place to lay my head at night. I didn’t have to worry about who’s fighting who, or when mom is coming home from the pub.
These conclusions are just a glimpse of how God has shown me to be grateful for the wonderful childhood I had. So, thanks mom and dad, for setting the best example. I love you both to the moon and back.
I would like to give special thanks to the participants of Bike the Bull, and all of the volunteers who made this benefit possible. Jamie, words can’t tell you how much this meant to me. You are awesome! I know I’m leaving so many of you fabulous people out, but just know thank you doesn’t do my feelings justice.
With that being said, know that I am still around $2000 short of my December 1st deadline. By that date I will need $11,000 in my account. My heart is overflowing with love for all you gracious, GRACIOUS people who have made my race possible thus far. Your hard earned dollars have allowed me to share the Gospel with adults and children I would have never come in to contact with had it not been for this race.
I CANNOT imagine ending my race in December due to lack of funds. I know God has provision for His children.
Again, a HUGE thank you to my supporters for giving me this life-changing opportunity.
Will YOU be my next supporter??
Serving Him who served us all,
Caitlin
